T-Shirt Quilt

Here is the T-shirt quilt I made with my shirts from training/running for the marathon last year. I had been saving them in hopes that Ammi would make me a quilt, but in the end, I thought I could do one myself and I did. Hers would have looked a lot better, but I am proud of my first try at something this big!

The Benefits of TNT

So when I joined Team in Training, I joined because of a person and a cause. I felt it was my way of doing something. I also thought, hey this is the only way I will ever get through a marathon and I'd really like to be able to do it sometime. What I never thought I'd get out of those four months is people. I guess I never went to the info. sessions and heard the stories. I saw pictures on the website, but I figured those were people who went into it together and were celebrating where they were on the other end. I never thought that they might not have been together from the beginning.

I remember my first run, that first Sunday morning at the McConnell Heart Health Center (MHHC), standing near a few people who appeared to be near my age as they talked about how in a few months these practices will take us all day and how they (like me) have no idea how they will be able to run 8 miles, let alone 26.2. They also said they weren't sure if they would run the full or the half (they ran the full). I thought, OK, I've got a lot in common with these people.

Then they ran. I was no where near their league. I found myself closer in speed to the fat old men or the little old ladies or the walkers for that matter. By the time I got back to the MHHC those people who in the beginning of the morning I thought I might have something in common with had already gotten in their cars and headed home. When was I supposed to bond with them?

Honestly, I have no idea when I did. Kevin and I started to talk at a golf outing. We had breakfast together another time with Brittini and J. We met up at a bar during an OSU game. We talked before practice. But I can't really tell you that there was anything significant or any one time that made it so these people are ones that I care about and treasure.

All I know was that sitting there, drinking a beer or two on Tuesday night with Brittini, Lynn and Kevin (those same people that I stood near that first day at MHHC)...I realized that TNT gives you more than the confidence to finish a marathon. It gives you what you put into it. It gave me people who I care about, people who I think about, people who I pray for, people who I can call and have a beer with, cry with, or hang out with.

I wouldn't have finished a marathon without Team in Training, heck I probably wouldn't have even started one, but I also wouldn't have some special people in my life that mean more to me than the 26.2 miles that I ran.

Tomorrow I Run

Tomorrow is the actual marathon. All my training is over. Tomorrow my body just takes over and does what it is supposed to do. Last night I put the names of those I am celebrating and remembering on my jersey. I celebrate - DANA MAZZARELLA, TYLER ALFRIEND and TALAT BUKARI that they are fighting to win everyday and that their win continues each day. I have more that I am remembering though. I will run in honor of their fight and their stuggle and most of all their memory to me and those that love and miss them each day - CATHY GREY, TOM KERLEY, JON WARDRIP, LOLA, AARON & LYNN GIOACCINNI.

While I am running I will be reminded that this isn't hard - fighting cancer - thats hard!

The Pros and Cons of a Running Partner

So I have been running three times a week for 4 months now and so days I run by myself and some days I run along side some one else. For me, my personal preference is to run as part of a group but alone. Here are the pros and cons of this relationship for me:

Pros:

• Someone to talk to
• Someone to pace yourself with
• Someone to complain about "why are you running, how much running sucks and how damn hot it is" (sorry for the language, but those are the things we say)
• A great way to learn about someone (for some reason you share a lot intimate info while running)
• A feeling of safety (you don't worry about that noise in the woods or the creepy guy walking the other direction when someone else is with you)

Cons:

• You feel obligated to keep pace (no matter what your strength, pain, comfort level is that day, you feel obligated to keep up)
• You feel obligated to slow down (our partner needs to walk, stop for water, use the port-a-potty, etc you feel like you should wait for them

Now although the pros far outweigh the cons, the two cons are so big. For example, last weekend (and I know it was really hot) I ran with a partner. Some who I've run with before and always enjoy running with. Well, last week neither of us were motivated to run, so we both walked more than we should and finished 18 miles in 4 hours (today I did 16 in 3:17 - much more realistic). Today though, he decided to run solo (fine with me). He started out way faster than I feel comfortable with (I usually start out very slow as to sustain my energy) an of course by mile 12 or 13 he was walking. He finished at least 15-20 min after me (I had already completed my stretches).

But there were many times today that if someone had said to me, lets walk I would have. Instead I ran all 16 miles without stopping for water, the bathroom, the water stops (I bring it with me) or the need to walk. I sure had a desire, but I knew that I could make it all 16 miles and that it was all in my head to get over the mental hurdle and run the whole thing. In the end, I am very glad that I did and proud of yet another run under my belt! Next Sunday is the long 20 mile race - the peak of my training schedule. I'll have to admit, I am a bit scared and nervous for next week. Lets just hope for cool temps and cloudy skies!

Training Update

We are now exactly 2 months away from the big marathon. Training is going great and better than ever. I am able to run for over two hours without stopping and surprising myself. I would not still be training (I would have given up long ago) if I was not doing this for a cause and because so many of you have supported me. For that I thank you. You keep me motivated and going strong. I am not going to qualify for the Boston marathon with my speed but I will cross the finish line, before they tell me to clear the course.

Here is how I am doing. I completed a 10 mile race a few weeks ago in just over 2 hours. This qualified me as second in my category - I am an Athena if you are familiar with the running world. I am running a half marathon this Sunday and then on Sept. 28th, I will run my longest distance before the actual marathon - a 20 mile race.

I practice 3 days a week, short runs (6 miles now and 8 miles closer to the marathon) on Tuesday and Thursday nights and a long run on either Saturday or Sunday. Columbus is a great place to train for a first time marathon b/c there are great places to run and a lot of training runs available to race.

Let me not forget though, why I am doing this and why I chose Team in Training. Please continue to read on about the stories of those close to me. For they are the real reason I am running this marathon!

For more information, please see my fundraising page

I ran 14 miles today!

Yes, you read that right, 14! Make it even cooler was I ran it in 2:38 (I know that's what the Olympic men finished their entire marathon last night ) but it was great for me. I think I might be able to run the half marathon in 2:30 next weekend. That would be a great goal and a great accomplishment for me.

So to describe the run, it wasn't horrible. It was long and I did sweat - A LOT, but it seemed manageable. Could I have done another 12.2 - not yet, but I'm working on it. I got to the end before some others who always finish before me (they stopped at the water stops) and that made me really proud.

Running is boring to watch though. I tried to watch the Olympic marathon last night and I just couldn't do it. I feel bad that I am making J follow me around to cheer me on in October. He is going to be so bored!

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Funny side note - this morning when I got up, J sat up and I told him to go back to sleep. He looked at the clock and said, no, its OK, I have to get up soon. He thought it was Monday morning not Sunday. I love when he does cute, funny things like that. Its probably b/c we had such a nice relaxing day at home yesterday.

Halfway in 3 weeks - YEA! and Thanks!

So I am over halfway on my fundraising goal of $1700 in just 3 weeks - YEA! Thanks to recent donations, especially the one from CNac, I have been pushed over that halfway edge. I have currently raised $890, only $810 to go to fulfill my minimum. I have some ideas in the works for other fundraisers since I think my donations are starting to run dry. A few more to trickle in soon, but for now, I am thinking of others....

A special thanks to all those who have contributed thus far!

BTW if you have not yet donated and would like to, please visit my Team in Training page. Thanks & love, E

My partner is injured

Tonight I ran the Circle of Friends 5K. I arrived with only a few minutes until start and it took me a bit but I found my partner and a few other TNT runners. So we got off to a bit of a fast start. We made it to mile 1 in less than 11 minutes (granted it was downhill). We went in the neighborhood of the New Albany CC. Now I finally know what everyone has been talking about, although I would never want to live that far out, its a nice community and I am sure its a great place to raise kids

Ok, back to the race...at mile 2, my partner stopped to start walking. I know he has knee problems and the run had been surprisingly harder on him than I would have thought. I wasn't ready to walk so I left him. I crossed the finish at 36 minutes even and at 40 minutes my buddy still wasn't behind me. His wife was a bit worried, but not as worried. I walked back to find him at the 3 mile mark, feeling very down on himself.

He didn't want his picture taken, his time recorded, or the day to be remembered. This made me sad. Selfishly because I am worried I've lost the perfect partner and unselfishly because he's hurting so bad and I can't help him. So sad :( Back to running by myself....

The Perfect Partner and a Cloudy Day

These two things make for a day of successful running. Today was our 5 mile run. We ran along the Heritage Rail Trail in Hilliard. I was worried that we wouldn't get the run in because at 5:30 in the morning there were severe thunderstorms that made it so we lost power. I was able to reset my clock and the storms cleared in time for us to run in a cooler, cloudier morning.

I also found my perfect running partner. He forced me not to give up and walk and I think I pushed him to keep running as well. We weren't too fast and kept a fairly even pace. We finished 5 miles in exactly one hour. That's a good 12 minute mile pace. I know, you runners say that's slow, but I am proud of that! Needless to say, I ran the entire 5 miles (the most I've run thus far) and it motivated me to continue this week.

On another note - we got back in the hot tub today. The temp. is only at 85 degrees so J will go in with me. Its was NICE!