10 miles under my belt,,,

Hello all-

The big one-oh this past Saturday went well, I'm really happy about it. My first double digits! Thank you all for such wonderful support, I appreciate it so much. So, I guess I'll give you the run-down:

Wendy and I ran together for the first 4, but since she's training for Disney (a whole month later than Kiawah), she was running 8, so she turned around at 4 and headed back. I was kind of dreading running the last six on my own, but I actually kind of enjoyed it. I used my ipod for the first time during my long runs, kind of just tuned in and ran. It was nice. I ran the 10 in 1 hour 51 minutes, so not too bad. I was proud of myself- no walking! Thanks to the water belt, I didn't even have to stop for water :) I love running on Saturday mornings with the Team because there are so many people out, all running or walking different mileage (depending on what race they're training for), so the entire time I'm running I'm passing teammates and coaches, and everyone is always cheering everyone else on. It really makes it so much easier when you have people encouraging you along the way.

My knee was still bothering me, and we can't quite figure out what's up. I think I'm really going to need to focus on my stretching and icing before and after running. Looks like I'm going to be investing in a few bags of frozen peas :) I was a little sore on Sunday, but not bad at all. Mainly, I'm just completely wiped out after running. It's funny, because immediately after the run I'm on such a runner's high, I feel amazing. But a few hours later, I can barely keep my eyes open and my body just wants sleep. Needless to say, I don't get a whole lot accomplished on Saturday afternoons.

I am really loving the Bloks. They are easy to take, don't sit in my stomach while I'm running, and they actually taste really good. I had a half-open pack in my room, left over from the previous Saturday, and I randomly thought about eating them for a snack, that's how good they are. No kidding. I'm going to buy the margarita flavored ones.... I think I mentioned them, extra sodium to compensate for all the sweating, but unfortunately no tequila, ha. I'm also going back to the running store to ask them about my knee. I want to have my shoes looked at, just to make sure either the size or the model isn't causing foot and knee pain.

Tonight we ran as a group at the Y. It wasn't too long (probably since it was so humid, first day of Fall my foot), but we did do hills for the first time. I was expecting worse I think, but they found a residential street that has a pretty good hill, then dead ends up top a little ways. We had to do three loops, up and down. I just like running with the group becuase everyone is so positive, and we always manage to have a good time while sweating all our bodily fluids out at the same time. F-U-N.

I'm heading up to D.C to visit my boyfriend this weekend, and we have some friends meeting us too so I'm really excited. Not to worry, I'm going to be running my 12 miles on Friday morning. I'm looking at this 12-miler like a little test: 12 is almost 13.1, a half marathon, so it should be a good indicator of how I'm doing. I think Doug is going to be riding a bike along with me, so I'm sure he's really excited too. It will be a nice change of scenery, but Doug will really have to be a great cheerleader to make up for not having the Team with me :)

The purpose of life is not to be happy - but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. -Leo Rosten

big freaking news.

Okay, big news.... I have raised $2,755.00!!! I had to raise a minimum of $2,400.00, and I set a personal goal of $3,00.00, and I have been so amazed by all the love and generosity I have received. I am so excited I can't even tell you! Also, I got a surprise in my inbox today: a $250.00 anonymous donation. I'm guessing that whoever donated reads my blog, because they wished me luck in my 10 miler tomorrow morning. I hope you're reading this so I can tell you how much I appreciate your donation. Truly, your support of myself and this cause means so very much, thank you.

And thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. I can't tell you how amazing it is to open an envelope, or an email, with a donation and a little note of encouragement. I've been saving each note so I can look back when I'm feeling tired or lazy and I don't want to work out. Ha, you'd be surprised how big a motivation it can be. Thank you.

That's all, I've got to get to bed so I can run tomorrow. Lucy isn't going to be there, so I think I'm going to bring the ipod. I've just downloaded some Priscilla Ahn, Ingrid Michaelson, and Lenka. I guess I'm on a female empowerment kick. Anyway, they're great and you should listen :)


Blessed are those who give without remembering. And blessed are those who take without forgetting. -Bernard Meltzer

I look ridiculous in a water belt.

I know, I know.... it's been a really long time. To all of my five followers, I am sorry :) The good news is both training and fundraising are going really really well. I have been so impressed by the generosity of my friends and family, and so extremely grateful for so much love and support. Thank you! As of right now, I only have to raise $75.00 to reach the minimun of $2,400.00. That's it! It is such a relief, and I am just so thankful!

Running has been great, and it's starting to get challenging for me, which is a good thing. Like I said in the last post, Lucy and I did run together Labor Day weekend. We did 6 miles on the Greenway trail and it wasn't bad. I tried one of the gels..... eh. It's just weird to be sucking down a packet of goo. I tried chocolate, and it tastes like brownie mix so it was yummy, I just don't really love it. I felt fine throughout the run (I took the gel before with some water), but it sort of felt like the gel was just sitting in my stomach. Anyway, I tried it, we ran 6 and we had a good time.

Later that weekend, my boyfriend Doug and I went to Crowder's Mountain, just outside of Charlotte, and we climbed a few trails there. It was absolutely beautiful and we had the best weather, and I really liked Crowder's. It's completely free to go hike, you don't have to pay for parking or anything, and the view from the top is gorgeous. I would have to say the highlight was when we were up at the top and some shirtless, country guy climbs up on the rock where we're sitting and tells his friend that, "All that yankee smog has ruined the view. It's disgraceful how they're pollutin' our state". Ha, my boyfriend is from New Jersey :) Needless to say, you see a wide variety of people out on the mountain.

This past Saturday, the 12th, the Team met in our usual place and we headed out for 8 miles. Now, I was thinking that 8 wouldn't be really that much different from 6. I mean, it's just two miles, right? Wrong. There is a distinct difference between 6 and 8, and I can assure you that I felt it. It was fine, it just took a lot more out of me, does that make sense? I was able to run with my usual group of girls, Wendy and Linda had to run 7, so they were with us for awhile, and then Lucy and I were on our own the whole way back. My knee is starting to get tight, and my soon-to-be a PA friend told me that I really need to stretch out my quads, because they're attached to my knee cap and when they get tight, my knee will too. Brilliant.

I was sporting a new addition to my running apparell this weekend too: a running belt. Yes, I am now one of those people. I bought a four bottle belt, and it has a little pouch in the front where I put my key for my car, and a bigger one in the back where I can put my fuel for the run. It looks pretty ridiculous, and I feel even more ridiculous wearing it, but it worked well (even though I suffered mild hip bruising because of it. I'm not bitter at all). And apparently Kiawah is trying to make the marathon green and eco-friendly, so they're encouraging water belts so runners don't use a million little cups at the water stops. So I had my water belt, and I tried a Bloks this weekend. Bloks (no "c" on purpose, don't worry) are made by Clif and they are little electrolyte chews. There are six in a pack and you take them every 15-20 minutes once you're into your run. They were delicious and a lot better than the gel, so maybe I've found something that will work for me.

Again, sorry it's been so long since my last post. I hope I haven't lost any of my 5 faithfuls :) I promise I'll blog on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week, I'm learning about stride and number of strides/minute and it's pretty interesting. Next Saturday is ten, which is pretty intimidating, but I'll be ready.Thank you all for being patient and for reading this extremely long post!

At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want. -Lao Tzu

Hyponatremia and other fun words

So yesterday was the sports nutrition clinic, and I don't think I've had a better presentation of health and healthful eating in all my countless heath classes. Seriously, it was so informative and helpful. A woman named Tricia, currently studying to be a Registered Dietitian, and who is also a Triathalon coach with Team in Training, gave the presentation. We learned all about the additional calories we'll have to take in every day to make up for everything we're burning while training. I'll have to get around 429 extra calories in each day, which may not seem hard, but it goes against all that is the female psychie! We also talked a lot about what to eat before, during, and after the long workouts. Yup, we have to eat during the workouts too, which is where the gel packs and electrolyte/sports drinks come into play.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I'm actually a little nervous about this part. I knew of, but had never really experienced the science of running before my training began. Let me explain- your muscles use up glycogen when you workout (this is the stuff in your body that your muscles use for energy), but the glycogen is gone in about 90 minutes. In order to keep going, you have to somehow replace the glycogen. So, if you're working out for anything more than 60 minutes, you really have to replenish with things like the gels and sports drinks. I have to start playing around with the timing (i.e. whether I need to fuel up every 40 minutes or if I'll need it earlier of later than that), and products. I'll have to test out different gel packs and and bars, as well as drinks. Up until this point, I have been a hydration purist, just water for me. Unfortunately, water has no electrolytes, and too much water can cause hyponatremia, basically flushing your body with water and dumping sodium and electrolytes in the process. (Confused yet? Welcome to my world, haha!) During the race, I'll only be able to drink about a bottle's worth of water, everything else I hydrate with will have to contain electrolytes. It's a little mind boggling, but hopefully I'll find something that works well pretty quickly.

Luckily for me, the Saturday runs I have coming up this month will be the perfect time to try out new products. They are long enough to need fuel during the run, but short enought that if I try something that doesn't work I won't be miserable for too long either. Apparently, at every marathon there is quite a crowd around all the porta potties, and I have been warned that I do not want to be one of them. Gross, I know, but that's why experimenting and finding exactly what works for you is so important. Maybe my stomach can't digest protein while running, and it's in one brand of gels. Unless I figure that out, I could be doomed on the course, and I can't think of anything that would be worse on the day of the race.

So, that's my life currently. Lucy, a fabulous girl on the team, and I are going to get together and run on the greenway this Saturday. Since it's a holiday weekend, we're on our own to train. It's six miles on Saturday, so it should be a good one. Today I had to cross train, so I went to an hour-long body sculpting class with my mom, and even though I was the only person there under the age of 50, I am definitely going to be sore tomorrow :)

TNT is going to be sending out some of the formulas and spreadsheets that tell you how many calories you should be taking in, how much you should be hydrating during your workouts, and other fun things like that. If anyone is interested in looking at those, just let me know and I would be more than happy to email them to you. Also, you can create a personalized daily "diet goal" of sorts, telling you how many grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and proteins you need each day at www.mypyramid.gov. Pretty cool stuff!!

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power. - Alan Cohen