One note- more detailed post coming soon!

First off, thanks to Pat for mobile blogging on my behalf yesterday, and thanks to all of you for following along and sending comments- Pat would read them as they came in when he caught up to me, and it really did help- it was like a virtual crowd of supporters. Believe me- I needed it around mile 20. Things got tough- but I knew I had lots of folks cheering me on!

One small note- it did not take me 20 minutes to run that last mile. I did not do it super fast, but Pat didn't do that last "Amy's done" post until we were either in the tent after the race or back on the shuttle to the hotel- I can't remember. Either way, I wasn't QUITE that slow, although I was pretty slow at that point.

More to come (including photos!) tonight or tomorrow night, as soon as I get a chance!

Thanks again!

Week 21: In the Home Stretch!

First off, I have been an inconsistent blogger lately, and I apologize to the 3 of you who check this regularly. Things have been a little busy around here- first and foremost- Pat got back from Iraq last Tuesday! It is such a joy and relief to have him home, but I don't want to get into too much detail about that here. After Sunday, I'll let you know what a deployment more closely resembles- TRAINING for a marathon or actually running it. I still suspect that it is the former.

I also had a minor set back with my training- as reported earlier, I was feeling great after the 21 mile run two weeks ago- I was on top of the world! Then I woke up that next morning and had the same pain in my foot that I had a few weeks ago, only this time it was in the left foot. I didn't think a lot of it as I seemed to recover in about a week the first time, so I tried to stay off of it (although I didn't do as good of a job this go-round,) and iced it, etc. This time it didn't get better as quickly, though, and I actually missed our 12 mile training run for week 20. Luckily it finally started to feel better by early last week, and now I'm back in the game and pain free! Oh, and I completed week 21's 8 mile training run with no problems, AND I saw Ryan Reynolds (see post below) at mile 6! We yelled all kinds of encouraging phrases at him and told him that he would be fine in his marathon, and gave him the anti-nipple bleeding tips we've read. I think he thought we were crazy.

Here we are now in the home stretch- the marathon is just DAYS away, and I am still somewhat amazed that I am going to run a marathon. I AM GOING TO RUN A FREAKING MARATHON! If you had told me a year ago that I'd be headed to San Francisco on October 19, 2008 to run 26.2 miles, I would have laughed at you, and then sat down on the couch to watch TV while eating a bag of potato chips. No lie. But here I am- living proof that anyone can do it. I watched Spirit Of The Marathon this weekend, and I would recommend it to anyone thinking about attempting one of their own- it goes to show that anyone can do it. There is a 70 year old guy in the movie that started running the Chicago Marathon 5 years ago and runs it every year... amazing.

I don't think I would have been able to do this on my own- no way. Team In Training is a remarkable organization, not only in the training and support that they have provided me, but for the hundreds of thousands of dollars that they raise for Leukemia and Lymphoma research and treatment. At this point, I have raised $5,625, which is nothing to sneeze at, but my Westside Los Angeles team has raised- get this- OVER $257,812 as a team! A quarter of a million dollars- imagine what that money can do. It's a whole research grant, it is patient aid and education. It's pretty cool. My team consisted of 81 folks fundraising, which averages out to about $3,200 per person. Now- an even more impressive figure? There are 7,000 TNT participants running in the Nike Women's Marathon this Sunday! If each one raised even $1000 less than the $3,200 per person our team raised (and I am estimating low- I imagine the figure is actually higher,) That is over $15 MILLION dollars raised! How amazing and awe-inspiring is that?

At the end of the day- at mile 24, when my feet just don't feel like they can go any further, that is what is going to get me through. That so many of you believed in me enough (even when I didn't believe in myself) and care about this cause, and you reached into your wallets and helped us make a difference. I have no illusions- I know that Sunday will be hard. But I don't think it even begins to compare to the chemotherapy or radiation or any of the other tough stuff that folks battling blood cancers go through every day. I am running on Sunday for my cousin Ashley, and I will think of her and the folks like her when the going gets tough, and I will know that I can keep going, because I can. And I know that any one of them would choose a marathon over chemotherapy any day of the week. This is the least that I can do, even if it is more than I ever thought that I could do.

Please say a little prayer for me between 7 AM and 1 PM PST on Sunday as I will be slogging it out on the streets of San Francisco and I'm sure I will need all the help I can get. I heard rumors that there was a website folks could go to and enter your bib number to track your progress as you go- if that is in fact true, I will post that info here. I'll send an update once I'm done on Sunday when (God willing,) I am a Marathon finisher, and will post photos later next week!

Thanks again for everything- I can't believe it is here!

Hopefully neither Ryan nor I will vomit or bleed at the end!

I read this yesterday and thought it was worth sharing- from actor Ryan Reynolds.

Why I'm Running the New York City Marathon
by Ryan Reynolds

A couple of years ago, I walked uptown to Central Park on one of those perfect November days. The air had a bite to it while the sun shone bright. It was the day of the New York Marathon and I thought it might be fun to watch the runners nearing the finish line. So, I joined the crowd about a half-mile before the race's end at Tavern On The Green. With my arms resting on the cold cordon, I saw an incredible spectacle of people pushed to the very brink of collapse. I expected exhaustion, but what I didn't expect was to see just how much these runners had to EARN their prize. It was emotional. The pain was etched into their faces so deeply, you'd swear they'd spend the next 3 weeks looking like Abe Vigoda. I saw guys coming in to finish with bleeding nipples. Why in the hell were their nipples bleeding? People were crying. People were limping, hobbling, screaming, crawling. But most importantly, people were experiencing a sublime rapture that I couldn't even hope to understand. They were touching something magical no stalk-still mortal simply watching the race could comprehend. These people had accomplished something real. At that moment, with all the energy, inspiration and passion swirling through the crisp autumnal air, I breathed in deeply and decided something: I'd never fucking do that ever, ever. What in the fuck were these idiots thinking? Bleeding nipples. Bleeding. Nipples.

Two years later, by some tragic backwards prophecy, I find myself signed up to run in the New York City Marathon. Every other day I train. I run like a bastard all morning. Not since the discovery of Junior High School has a torture been so effective. Why on earth would I willfully do this? On behalf of my Father, Jim Reynolds, who's spent the last 15 years in a life or death struggle with Parkinson's Disease.

Let it be known at the outset, I am not a runner. I am a running joke. Waking up at 4:30 am and jogging anywhere from 11 to 23 miles has been nothing short of horrifying. Although, I've never given birth to a professional basketball player through one of my tear ducts, I can't imagine a worse way to start the day. Conversely, some people have real problems. I digress...

A year and a half ago, I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Michael J. Fox. Like so many before me, I found it impossible not to be touched by his story of overwhelming strength, passion and relentless commitment to help those afflicted with this insidious disease. The man is inspiration exemplified. Plus, he was in Back To The Future. Which was, well, awesome. In a moment of extremely poor judgment, I offered to do something big for him--I offered to compete in the New York City Marathon. Which was, well... dumb.

While I'll probably never fully understand Michael's struggle, I've had a first hand peek behind the curtain of Parkinson's. I've watched my father -- a strong and proud person who successfully raised 4 arguably insane children - slowly, cruely stripped of his independence. His golden years robbed without explanation. It quite obviously sucks. Witnessing my Dad suffer over the years galvanized my need to step up. On November 2nd, I'll join thousands of other men and women to march in lockstep solidarity toward searing psychic pain and physical humilation.

One of the reasons I chose RUNNING specifically, was because (as Murakami so eloquently put it) my competition is the most formidable foe of all; ME. The person I have to beat is the guy I was last week. The person I was yesterday. Indescribably worse, those affected by Parkinson's wage a similar war in their own bodies every single day. Unlike a marathon, their struggle won't end in a shallow pool of vomit just outside Tavern On The Green while waiting for an ambulance. They continue day in and day out, silently battling away in the most personal of struggles.

Yes. I'm asking for a donation. I don't do this with any degree of levity. I know we're in rough times and there are literally millions of causes worthy of your hard earned cash. It's my hope the story of my father combined with my own goal of becoming the first person in history to sob uncontrollably for 26.2 miles straight, may inspire you to give something too.

Please know that NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL - and certainly, no donation is too large. And If you don't give anything at all, maybe I've primed you for a future donation in someone else's name. For someone else's cause.

If you visit the site below, you'll be directed to my page on the Team Fox Website. Michael's foundation has raised over 100 million dollars in the fight against PD. On my page you can leave a personal note of support or mockery along with your donation.

In the end, no matter how much I mythologize this run, no matter how much I choose to romanticize this campaign against my own will, lungs and ambition... there's always going to be that guy who finished the marathon on a pair of prosthetic legs. And there'll always be my Dad. And Michael. And Millions of others who bounce back off the ropes against all odds. So, I promise I won't congratulate myself too much.

Finally, if you happen to be in New York on November 2nd, come down and watch. Feel free to bring a smile, automated defibrillator, or a fresh set of nipples.

Click here for my Team Fox page

On behalf of Me, my Father, and everyone struggling with Parkinson's, our endless gratitude.

Week 19: 21 miles? PIECE OF CAKE!!!

Who ever would have thought I'd say something like that? Much less, who would ever have thought that I would actually feel like that? We ran 21 miles today, and and it wasn't so bad! I actually would say that it felt pretty good! Particularly miles 13-17. For the first time in my life, I kind of get what people mean when they talk about the runner's high. I felt like I could have gone on and on at that point- I was running fast and feeling really, really good! I felt pretty good the whole time- my legs got pretty heavy the last couple miles, but I could have gone another 5 miles one way or another to get the marathon done.

So I feel great- I KNOW I can do the marathon! Who'd have thought 6 months ago that I would ever be here right now, but it feels really good to be here. We "taper" the next 2 weeks- we only go 12 miles next weekend and then 8 the week after that, and I'll probably only do 3 miles or so 2-3 times during the week over the next two weeks as well, so I'll be plenty rested for the Marathon!

In other great news- Pat gets home VERY soon barring an act of God or Robert Gates. I've got a very exciting next 3 weeks!

Personal Best

Well, I think I hit a milestone at our Wednesday night track practice this week. I think I ran a personal best on the mile, at 9:43! Given that up until this year, my most recent experience with a timed mile was probably back in the Spicewood Elementary School days, and that back in those days I was KILLING myself to finish it in the required 10 minutes, I'm pretty sure that running it in a full 17 seconds below 10 minutes must be a personal best. I feel like 10 year old Amy might have been at a slight disadvantage since my legs were much shorter then, but we are letting that slide.

As part of our track workout, we were running for 10 minutes then walking for 3, and repeating it for a total of 3 reps. I ran the first mile 9:43, the second in 9:59, and the 3rd in 10:10, so I averaged less than 10 minutes for all 3 miles! I feel good!

Week 18: Much better than week 17

Good news! I saw the very nice Orthopedist (Dr. Kwong) last Friday and got a clean bill of health to keep running! My feet felt back to normal by Thursday but I decided to keep my appointment to get things checked out anyway. I got some X-rays done of my feet, and Dr. Kwong did all kinds of wiggling and tapping of my feet and ankles- it was actually pretty cool.

I learned that:

1. I have "abnormally long" first metatarsal bones. I couldn't really tell that from the X-rays, but Dr. Kwong could. I'm not sure what to think about that. Apparently if I end up having pain at the sesamoids (where metatarsal bone connect to the toe bone,) this can be the reason. So far so good as I've never had pain there.
2. The big toe on my right foot is less flexible than the big toe on my left foot. Again, no idea why this is.

None of these things seem to be contributing factors to the arch pain I was having last week, but they are interesting none-the-less. I have always had a weird fascination with X-rays. Something about seeing your insides.

So Dr. Kwong thought that my arch pain was probably caused by the uneven surface we'd been running on last Sunday, and said I could have stepped funny, into a hole or something and not really even realized straining my foot. So he said just to be aware and if I had any pain at all, to stop, but that I should be fine to keep up with my training, which was great news!

So Sunday we were on a "down week" which means we only ran about 12 miles. Can you believe I just typed that we only ran 12 miles? 4 months ago 12 miles seemed like an impossible task. The run went great- no problems with my feet at all!

Next Sunday is our big 20 miler- the last big run before the marathon! So please say a prayer or two Sunday morning as you're beginning your day- I'll probably be somewhere around mile 14 and in need of a little divine intervention!

Week 17: Cautiously Optimistic

So Sunday's run did not go well. It was one of those things you hope doesn't happen- I got a little injured.

We were supposed to run 18 miles on Sunday, and we took a little field trip to Palos Verdes, south of LA. It was a perfect day for running- overcast and cool, and we were running along the ocean. It was going well- I made it 12 miles and was a little sore, but other than that, fine. At mile 12.5, however, I got a sharp pain in the bottom of my right foot- on the arch. I thought it was just a cramp, so I slowed to a walk and tried to walk it off. Walking seemed to help a little, so I carried on that way for another 1/2 a mile. Then I got to a fork in the road where I could have either gone straight to head toward the start/end point and gone about a total of 14 miles, or I could turn left and do a big loop, going the full 18 miles. I decided to push through it and go for the whole distance.

So much of a marathon is mental, and I have had aches and pains before, but usually I can work through it and finish. I was looking at it that way at that point- this was not easy but I would get through it and it was just a cramp. I kept telling myself I could do it.

Well, that turned out to be the wrong move. This was not just a cramp. As soon as I picked up the pace, it started hurting again, and a couple hundred yards later, I was done.

The fabulous TNT folks took good care of me, though. Coach Ed came along a couple minutes after I stopped and offered some good advice, and he called Ivanne, our Westside campaign coordinator who came over and picked me up in her car. She took me over to visit with Coach Gary. All three were really supportive and did their best to make me not discouraged that I wasn't finishing the run. Because at that point- that was what I was most concerned about- I really wanted to finish the full 18 miles and was concerned that I was going to be behind if I couldn't finish the miles. Gary particularly gave me good advice and a lot of confidence that I already have what it takes to finish the 26.2.

Well, I headed home, quite discouraged on the 45 minute drive back to Santa Monica. Getting out of my car was the first time when I thought- uh oh. I might have bigger problems than not finishing my 18 miles today- what if there is something really wrong? The coaches had thought it might just be a bad cramp, or it could be plantar faciitis, which is the stretching of ligaments that run along the bottom of your foot connecting the bones in your heel to your toes, or some other kind of muscle strain. Regardless of what it was, it HURT. I really couldn't put any weight on my foot at all. Not good.

I got home and did the ice bath thing- soaking my legs and feet/ankles in ice cold water, and then iced/elevated my foot all day long.

I woke up yesterday and unfortunately it didn't feel much better, and that's when I really started to worry. You know that feeling when you first get a sore throat, and you realize how much you take it for granted when you don't have a sore throat? Or a stuffy nose, or the Flu? How all you can think about is how much you wish you could just feel "normal" again? Yeah, so that was yesterday. And I started to really feel down and wonder what I would do if I couldn't run my marathon. I have put in so much work and to get sidelined by something that feels SO out of my control- I didn't even twist my ankle because I stepped in a hole- it was seriously fine one minute and debilitating the next. And I feel like I've got 80 people behind me, supporting me that I don't want to let down. That's why I didn't post yesterday- I didn't want to put anything out there when I was feeling so down about things. But I got some good advice from some runner friends on Facebook yesterday, as well as coach Gary and Ed from TNT, and I resolved yesterday to try my best to be patient- something I can always use some practice on. I iced it off and on all day yesterday and bought an ace-bandage type thing to sleep in last night that several people recommended.

I woke up today feeling cautiously optimistic- my foot feels much better. Not 100% by any means, and I think I am off running at least until the weekend (something else I'm having trouble being patient on- the idea of being "behind" frightens me even though everyone keeps telling me I've got the training in me already,) but it feels significantly better than yesterday. I have an appointment with an Orthopedist on Friday that i am going to keep regardless, and I may get custom orthotics for my shoes that should help keep my feet in line and keep this from happening again, assuming I get a clean bill of health and can keep going for the marathon.

I'll keep you posted.

16 miles on week 16!

So I was a little nervous this week, because our run was 16 miles, and when I ran 15 miles a couple weeks ago at the Rose Bowl, and the last week I had a down week when I only ran 6 miles in the Nike Human race. But I'm happy to report that 16 miles was not so bad! We ran from the Santa Monica Civic Center, along Ocean Blvd to Amalfi, which is really hilly, all the way to Sunset Blvd and then over to 26th street. It felt like we had been running forever and it was only 6 miles! That was the roughest part.

From there we ran up San Vicente all the way to Wilshire and then back down to the Brentwood golf course, did a lap around the golf course through a farmer's market, which was a little cruel because there was yummy smelling breakfast. Then all the way back down San Vicente to Ocean, and back down Ocean all the way to the Civic Center. I was definately ready to be done at the end, but I concured it! Just 5 more runs to the marathon!

WEEK 15: Human Racing in Austin!

So I spent Labor Day weekend doing a little bit of wedding stuff in Austin. Some good friends threw me a wedding shower, and my wonderful new mother-in-law Sara flew in town for it. We had a really great time, and I had the opportunity to run in the Nike Human Race in Austin. The Human Race took place in 25 cities all over the world, with over 750,000 runners participating. In Austin alone there were close to 14,000 runners participating. It was a great race, just REALLY hot. We ran a 10k (6.2 miles) at 6:30 PM and it was over 90 degrees. Tough conditions, but I did it! I ran it in less time than I thought it would take me, too. I walked a bit more than I thought I would on the first half (mostly up hill,) but I stuck with it and finished! I also felt like a pro doing the water toss- it was so hot that I poured more water on myself than I drank, but it helped quite a bit!

Here are some race photos:

The crowd at the start of the race:

Sara, Me, Mom, Dad














Me near the end of the run:














Austin's own Lance Armstrong:

Week 12: I feel like Michael Phelps...Ok, maybe not. But maybe like Eric Moussambani.

I have always loved the Olympics. I was totally that kid with the Mary Lou Retton leotard, imitating the moves while watching the 1984 games in Los Angeles. Some years seem to be more exciting than others, but I always enjoy watching. And this year is no exception- I was wowed throughout the opening ceremony (the thing with the people in the boxes is way up there on the list of coolest things ever,) I admit I cried a few times during the sappy Olympic commercials, and I've watched Michael Phelps win 5 gold medals so far, and set 5 world records in the process. But the thing that I think that touched me the most so far has been the entry parade.

Sure, it was long. I think I got up 3 times to make snacks (a by product of the marathon training is that I am now ALWAYS hungry.) But what's so cool is that there are so many countries for whom THAT is their Olympic moment.

In the US, we've got the Michael Phelps, the Shawn Johnsons, the "Redeem Team," these athletes of epic proportion who break records and amaze us with the ease and grace with which they perform.

But for other countries, that march into the Olympic stadium is as good as it gets. And let's be honest, that's pretty darn good. Just to make it to that stage- to set a goal and do whatever it takes to get there and make it happen. Even if you know from the outset that you aren't going to come home with a gold medal around your neck- you pushed yourself and challenged yourself and showed up to compete.

And their reward is that moment- walking into the stadium, knowing that you've made it. Have you ever heard of Eric Moussambani? Maybe, but probably not. Eric is from Equatorial Guinea, and competed in the 100m freestyle in the 2000 Olympics through a wildcard slot that encourages developing countries to participate. Through a stroke of random luck, the other 2 dudes in his preliminary heat scratched, so all Eric had to do was finish the laps and he would win his heat. Keep in mind that before coming to the Olympics, he'd never seen a 50m pool and had taken up swimming only 8 months before, practicing in a 20m pool at a nearby hotel. In the Hollywood version of the story, Eric would have gone on to swim the best race of his life in the final round, winning the gold for Equatorial Guinea and stunning the Russians, Chinese, French or Germans, or some other country the US likes to beat. But in the real world, some other guy set the world record at the time at 47:58, and our boy Eric, well, that's where the story gets good. It took him about twice the time it took the leader, but Eric finished the race with the stadium cheering him on as if he were going for gold. (If you want to watch his race, this is the best video I could find on youtube. No idea what language the commentators are speaking in, but the crowd cheering him on is great.)

99.9% of us are never going to win a gold medal. Heck, most of us are never even going to march in the entry parade, or even be Eric Moussambani. But we can all create our own Olympic moments. Moments when we can look back on what we've worked so hard for, and think, OK, I earned this moment right here, and I am going to enjoy it. I think mine will be around mile 25. Where all that stands between me and the finish line is a measly 1.2 miles. And I'm going to enjoy every minute of it, every step of it- because I earned it.

I could tell you about this week's long run, but in some good news, they are getting a little routine. This week was a mere 9.5 miles (which seems like peanuts after last week's 13,) although it was a little hilly which will be good practice for San Francisco. I could wax poetic about how crazy it is to be halfway there in distance, and over halfway there in time left training. I could spend this time thanking all of you who have donated so generously so far- I've collected just over $5,000 and that figure amazes me beyond words. For those of you who keep thinking, "Oh, I'm going to donate but I'll do it later," Thanks! Although we are kind of running out of later, so if you'd still like to donate, please do so at the link at the top right of this page by SEPTEMBER 15 (One month of fundraising to go!)

No, Instead of all that, I'm going to close by challenging you to find your Olympic moment. Life is too short not to push ourselves to do things that surprise us, and then to reap the rewards when we have done so. And I am proof that we've all got it in us. It doesn't have to be a marathon, heck, it doesn't even have to be an Eric Moussambani-style 100m freestyle finish. But find something...it feels good.

Check out this sunday's run...

We go down in mileage this Sunday to 9.6 miles (from 13,) but apparently it is a somewhat hilly course. Here's what we'll be running:

Week 11: 13 miles??? That's NOTHING!

First off, super thanks to JOANNA RUIBNER! Joanna is the one of the other 4 snarky ladies I had lunch with after mile 8, and she has quite possibly the coolest job ever. She does voice over work, and I actually just heard one of her commercials just now, which reminded me that I needed to blog. "Serious morning workout? Serious morning fuel! Carnation Instant Breakfast!" Thanks, Jo!!!

So this morning we ran HALF A MARATHON! Yes, that's right- I am now officially halfway there! And I gotta say, 13 miles wasn't nearly as hard as 11. I'm learning so much about how to listen to the signals my body is giving me. Last week my legs were NOT happy to be running past mile 7.5. Today, I did a much better job of continuing to move and stretch when we stopped at water stops. Today, my legs were fine!

My feet, however, were another story. I've been getting pretty bad blisters on my big toes for the last few weeks. They started on the outsides of the right big toe, and then moved to the inside left. I had 2 pretty gnarly blisters on my left big toe this morning, and by mile 7 I knew that I had a matching blister on my right inside big toe. I like to think of it as my toe's own personal way of asking me "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING?!?" I would post a photo, but I think that would probably make some folks stop looking at my blog all together. Completely gross.

So FINALLY it occurred to me today that my shoes might be too small. They fit fine for 6 miles or less, I can wiggle my toes and feel good as new. But I heard early on that once you start building up distance, your feet can swell up to a size. Sure enough, there was NO wiggle room in my shoes at the end of this run. So as soon as we were done with the run today, I headed over to top-to-top. By the way TTT is my new favorite hang out- I am in there at least once a week. I think it is fun to be surrounded by all the running gear and stuff, and the folks in there just know a lot. So today, I had them measure my 13-miles-in-totally-swollen feet, to see what they thought.

I am now the proud owner of a brand new pair of clown shoes. Not really, but that's how I feel when I'm not 6 miles deep into a run, because my new shoes are size 10!!! I was an 8 1/2 all through college, and my current running shoes are 9s. Apparently 9s are fine for a 10k, but for distance running, I'm one of the lucky many who's feet swell. The guy who fitted me for shoes brought out 9 1/2s and they were still not going to cut it. I am an over achiever in the swelling department- mine swell a WHOLE size.

I'm excited to give them a try next week and see how I feel with lots of room- I can't wait to see if it takes care of the blister problem, and if I feel like I actually feel like a clown in my new shoes.

Week 10: 11 miles is a lot of miles.

So I'm not sure why it took me so long to recap yesterday's training.

Oh sure, yesterday was kind of busy- I had a friend in town (hi Mindy!) that I had to take to the airport, and then I drove to Irvine to go see John Mayer (no, no Jennifer Anniston sightings) at Verizon Wireless. (Big thanks to Tracy Becker and the Live Nation digital folks for the tickets!) Today at work was nutty, so there was no time to dash off a quick recap. So all that makes sense.

But I'll admit that I had some time right after I got done running, before I took Mindy to the airport. But let's be honest, right about then, all I really wanted to do was sit on the couch and kind of revel/wallow in the knowledge that I had just run 11 FREAKING MILES.

Yes, that's right folks. 11 MILES. And I am not lying, or stretching the truth by telling you that 11 miles is a long way. Oh sure, going 60 miles an hour down the freeway, 11 miles is a drop in the bucket. But 11 miles when you're running them is quite a long way. According to my really cool GPS watch (on loan from the fabulous Jen Butler,) I burned 1,097 calories. Yeah, that's a lot of calories. It took a little over 2 hours, and I will admit that I hit a little rough patch at mile 7.5.

I was cruising along for the first 7.5 miles. We ran about 2 miles along the beach, hit a water stop, turned up San Vicente and ran all the way to Brentwood to water stop #2 (if you'll remember my blog from 2 weeks ago, this was the stretch where I got sidelined by the banana I had for breakfast.) I am happy to report I made it all the way there feeling great this week. That was about 5 miles into the run. Then we did a loop around the Brentwood Country Club Golf Course, back to the water stop, which was about a 2 mile loop. Well, I got to the water stop at the beginning of my group- we always wait for everyone else to catch up before starting off again. I SHOULD have continued moving, stretching, but I didn't. I drank some water and chatted- didn't stretch like I should have been. Well, when we started up again, I immediately felt pain in my left hamstring. It was pretty bad- there were a few minutes there where I wasn't sure if I would be able to keep going. But I slowed down and walked it out, pausing to stretch quite often, and slowly I worked the pain out and was able to catch up to my group at the next water stop (they had all passed me by this point.) We continued on back to the civic center all together- 11 miles down!

Usually I feel like I could keep going- that I'm glad to be done but I've got a little bit left in me. Not so much this time. I was completely ready to be done, but really proud of myself for hanging in there and getting it done.

Now if I can just get through the 13 miles next week! Can you believe it?!?! Pretty much running 1/2 a marathon next week! Stay tuned...

Week 9: The HILLS are alive with the sound of...panting.

So today we took a little field trip to Griffith Park for this morning's run. I'd never been there before, and it is a really cool park in the middle of LA- I had no idea how big it was. We had to be there at 7:30 AM, and it is a good 1/2 hour away from my house, so it was an early morning. Low and behold, there was some sort of construction or something, so even at 7 AM on a SUNDAY, there was traffic. I was stopped on the 110 freeway for about 10 minutes. Gotta love LA!

So today's run was 8.5 miles, but I might venture to say that it was the toughest run we've done so far. The first 1.25 miles was flat, and then we went off the asphalt for some trail running. Our coach Marissa said it would be hilly, and she wasn't lying. The next 3 miles were INTENSE. We're talking about some hills that were steep inclines where we'd be going uphill for a 5 or 6 minutes, and then pretty steep downhills for the same amount of time. We basically did 1 1/2 miles through the trail to a water stop, then we turned around and did the same thing back. The tough thing about that was knowing on the first half- ok- this downhill is going to be a TOUGH uphill on the way back. It was a WORKOUT and I know I'm going to be sore tomorrow, but I'm glad I conquered it. A girl I was running with has done the Nike Women's marathon in San Fran before, and she said the hills today were worse than the ones there, so that was good.

So after the hills we were only through with about 5 miles of our 8.5 mile run. We came off the trail and did a 2 mile loop around a golf course, and then jogged another 1 1/2 miles up back to where we started.

It was a good workout, and I felt MUCH better than I did last week. I think I made better food choices, and it was overcast and cool, which really helped. I'm back to feeling good about it, even though I had several "what the heck was I thinking" moments on the trail today.

More Thanks and mid-week hill training!

First off, today was a great fundraising day!

Thanks to ABBIE CONLEE, who I shared many great adventures with a few years ago when the two of us picked up and moved to Martha's Vineyard for the summer to sell overpriced T-Shirts and live it up on the east coast. It will always be one of my very favorite summers, and every spring when the weather starts to get warm, I start to reminisce about it. People say you can never go back in life but sometimes I really wish I could go back there! There is no one else I can imagine spending that summer with, and I wish I got to see her more often!

Next, JEN JONES! Jen and I share a special bond- we're both in love with US Marines! Jen's Fiance Keith is currently serving in Afghanistan, and it is so nice to have a friend in LA who knows exactly what I'm going through. Keith is one lucky guy, because Jen is the coolest.

Also, thanks to DAVE FORTIN! Dave and I worked together at House of Blues, and I have always been a little bit awe-inspired by Dave. He's been doing triathlons for as long as I have known him, and I distinctly remember overhearing him describe some of his latest training runs and bikes and swims while I was eating a chili cheese dog and fries. It feels so much better to now be in the healthy club!

JEANNIE LONG also gets big thanks!! I know Jeannie through my good friend Lisa Jenkins, and I'm so glad Lisa introduced us. We have a fun group of snarky women who sometimes lunch, and I hope we all lunch again sooner rather than later.

And thanks to JEANNE HART! Jeanne is a fellow TNTer who I've actually never met- she's completed 2 TNT events already and will be serving as the PR captain on the Long Beach team soon and just wanted to show some support! That's one of my favorite things about TNT- I really feel like I'm part of this really large family now- everyone who has ever completed an endurance event through TNT is so supportive and encouraging! I know I will be now from here on out, for the rest of my life, too. It is a great organization full of the best people who are working for a great cause, and really want to see you succeed. What more can you ask for?

Finally, thanks to BILL JOHNSON! Bill is my 2nd cousin, I guess. Or maybe another 1st cousin once removed? I think it is the same amount removed as Susan Kennedy. He's my mom's first cousin, and he's great. I have the most wonderful family! I wish I just got to see them all with a little more regularity.

Ok, so we did our first mid-week hill workout. It was pretty tough at first, but I got the hang of it and finished strong! We did 3 minute intervals where we ran up a pretty steep continual incline hill for 3 minutes, and then jogged back down. We repeated it 5 times. I know it sounds not too tough, but my butt is burning! I just kept thinking about what a workout it was getting and that got me through. I like these mid-weeks because it is always easier for me to work out with the group than by myself.

Beginning of the middle update

Those of you who know me pretty well know that my fiancé Patrick is a marine who is currently deployed in Iraq. This is our 3^rd deployment, and I’ve always said that getting through a deployment is a bit like running a marathon- it is an endurance event- not a sprint.

I’m glad that in just 3 short months, I’ll be able to say with some authority, whether or not a deployment is in fact like a marathon. I’m beginning to suspect that it may more closely resemble TRAINING for a marathon, and I’ll tell you why:

The toughest part of a deployment to me is the beginning of the middle- the part where the homecoming still seems ages away, and it already feels like the deployment has been going on forever.

I kind of feel that way about training right now. The first few weeks were new and exciting- each week I surprised myself with how far we ran. Then you get down into the thick of it when it turns into just plain hard work. Last Sunday I ran 9.5 miles, and it was a great accomplishment- I’m so proud of myself for knocking it out. I prefer to look at it like a 10k plus a 5k all in one morning. A 15k if you will.

But There are still 3 months and many miles left to go, and I must admit that this evening I was feeling a little bit overwhelmed by how many more runs I have to go before the big day. And I was tired and just didn’t feel like running. I had made up my mind that I was just going to skip tonight’s run and pick up tomorrow. Then I got an email from one of our coaches that said the following:

Finding it’s tough to get out the door for your midweek runs/walks? Very few of us are skilled enough at biochemistry to get in the lab to help find a cure. Does that mean we should throw our hands in the air and say its someone else’s problem, there’s nothing I can do about it? Absolutely not. TNT has already funded research that has directly saved lives, and that funding came from people just like you. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) used to have less than a 20% survival rate. Drug companies had done some initial research on Gleevac but had decided not to pursue additional research. Then LLS came in and funded the additional research, and patients using Gleevac now have a 95% survival rate after 5 years. How’s that for everyday people like us making a difference? The lead researcher responsible for Gleevac wanted to show his appreciation to LLS, so he went and joined TNT, fundraised, and ran the 2003 Rock ‘n Roll Marathon himself. So when you’re faced with the temptation of a comfortable couch versus going for a run, remember that you’re a part of something much bigger, and getting those shoes on and getting out the door is part of a much bigger fight. And helping to win that fight is something to be immensely proud of.

That was enough of a kick in the butt to keep me going for the rest of the week. I’m running for something much bigger than myself, and what I’m doing is really important. I am running for my cousin Ashley, who just celebrated the one year anniversary of her diagnosis with ALL T-Cell Leukemia. She’s doing much better, and you can read her story at ashleywingo.com. Her fight, and the one that all cancer patients go through is tough, and I feel like a weenie for even thinking about sitting on the couch.

I am proud to report that our West Los Angeles team has raised over $88,000 to date. I am humbled and honored to report that I am currently the lead fundraiser for our team, with my donations totaling $4,450, thanks to the generosity of all the folks who have donated thus far. My goal is to exceed the $5,000 mark, which will make a huge difference in the fight against Leukemia and Lymphoma. If you’d like to make a donation in the fight against Leukemia, you can do so by visiting my fundraising page here: http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/nikesf08/apolk

Week 8 is great...kind of.

First off, I want to thank DALE AND BETTY ZINN! I have known the Zinns a really long time- they live down the street from my parents and are wonderful people. Thanks so much!

Now, on to the details. This morning was our 8th long run, and I went 9.5 miles this morning. I prefer to look at it as a 10k & 1/2, or a 15k. For some reason, putting it in those terms really illustrates how long it is.

Now, today was not the best run I've had to date. I woke up just not so much feeling it. I was just tired (and I got a decent night's sleep last night.) The week has just been long, and the weekend didn't feel long enough. For breakfast I mixed things up a bit, and instead of my usual granola bar, I added in a banana. I won't be doing that again. At about mile 3.5, I really felt like I might loose my breakfast. We did the same basic route we did a couple weeks ago when we ran 8 miles, and the stretch up San Vicente blvd was particularly hot and that didn't really help. So I slowed myself down, and ended up walking that next mile with another really sweet girl in my group. The rest of the pace group kept going, and I figured they'd pass us once the turned around. To our surprise, when we got to the water stop, they'd all waited for us! It was really sweet and made me appreciate doing the marathon with Team in Training even more.

The way back was much better than the way down. Taking the walk break was the right move- it allowed me to finish strong and still make it 9.5 miles today. Don't get me wrong- I was REALLY ready to be done today- I don't think I had anything left when I finished- I put it all on the table today. It felt good to get it done, but I am exhausted today, and I hope I don't have many more training days like today.

Training Run #7

This morning started with a bit of dramatic flare- the fire alarm in my apartment went off at 6:15. Anyone who knows me knows how much I already hate getting up at 7:15 for our training runs, so this was a particularly rude awakening. But we shook it off, and then my parents came along this morning for our 7th training run. They took off a bit before we did and walked our running route and cheered us on. They took a few photos which have to be some of the worst photos I have ever taken. I have to say that I don't run pretty. I guess that isn't the point, but seriously, all of these photos were terrible! I'm posting the one that is the least bad. You can see my fancy hydration belt in the photo below.
















This morning we ran 5 miles at a 5 mins of running, 1 of walking pace. It was a nice change after last week's 8 mile run. Next week we go (gulp) 10 miles. I know I can do it, but it still sounds daunting.

4th of July 5k

My parents are in town for the holiday weekend, and they came with me to cheer me on in the 4th of July 5k in Redondo Beach. I was not the happiest camper to be waking up at 6:15 AM on a day off, but I'm really glad I got up early- it was a fun race. A few TNT friends who are in my pace group ended up running the race as well, so it was fun to run the whole thing together. Some other TNT folks ran as well, but they were a little faster than us so we held our own. That's something really fun about a race- you realize that you're not the fastest but you're certainly not the slowest either. Here are a few photos from the race:Mom, Dad & I before the race

Me, Kimberly & Stacey in the back (you can see us waving) at the beginning of the race

You can see my green shirt coming round the home stretch along the ocean...

We ran it in 36:37, running 7 minutes, then walking 1 minute, which is pretty good for us! We all felt great after the race, too, which is a good way to finish!

8 Miles?!? That's nothing! Training Run #6

So I guess I should get accustomed to being surprised on a weekly basis. Each week it seems like we go further than I thought I could. And each week I am really nervous going into it, and then I finish feeling like I could go even a little further than we did that week! Today we went 8 miles. 8 WHOLE miles. It kind of blows my mind a bit, but I did it!

At the recommendation of some friends who have run marathons, I decided to get a fancy contraption called a hydration belt. Mine is really fancy and holds 4 bottles. I was a little skeptical about having the thing around my waist while running, but let me tell you, I'm a believer now.

We ran from the Santa Monica Civic Center, down to the ocean, then all the way down the strand about a mile to Wilshire Blvd, then took the stairs up and over the PCH (anyone from LA can appreciate how cruel that is in the middle of a workout,) then another mile over on Ocean to San Vicente. Then we had a water stop, and ran up 2 miles on San Vicente to 22nd street. That was probably the toughest part- it was hot and slightly uphill, and I was really glad at that point that I had the hydration belt. Then we turned around at 22nd street and did the whole thing back to the civic center. I feel good, but I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow!