hanging in there

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. Last week was *crazy.* Two of my teammates and I decided to run Saturday morning instead of Sunday with the group -- I was supposed to work at a LLS triathlon event Sunday morning, and they were trying to help me out.
Well, I don't know why, but both Charlotte and I felt like absolute crap at the end. Charlotte was worse than me: she threw up in the bushes in front of a rental house while the realtor was showing the place! We had a good laugh over that.
Seriously, though, I have no idea what it was, but that run kicked by butt. I got home and promptly began to develop a migraine, which, of course, kept me from working at the triathlon in the first place. Aargh.
Today is a "short" run: we're running 12 miles to back off before we run 18 next week. I can't believe we're so close (we stop at 20!). I also can't believe I start teaching this upcoming week, Wednesday. It makes me nervous to be running such long distances and teaching simultaneously, but thankfully we're pretty far along. So having said all that, I should go RUN and put y'all's money to good use.

Me at 14 miles

So, this is a pic I took to send to people after running 14 miles. I think I look quite happy:


Unfortunately, my left hip and knee don't *feel* very happy, so I'm going to go to a therapeutic massage place tomorrow in hopes that it will help. I'm worried that I have ITBS (illiotibial band syndrome), but this isn't as scary as it sounds and can be resolved by stretching and conditioning--the former of which I'm too lazy to do, and the latter of which I haven't really had time to do. But I need to make time or I'll shred my knees before the race!

Also, this is my second time trying gu, this strange substance that we're supposed to ingest every hour or so...I tried some chocolat espresso last time and (yummy as that might sound) it tasted--mixed with water-- like chocolate pudding and made my stomach feel really really heavy and strange. So today I'm trying a lemon flavored one, because I personally like the tart flavors. We'll see how it goes...

Fundraising-wise, I think I'm doing okay (although that's relative, I guess). I've raised 51% of my goal, thanks to some really generous people and one person I'm not even sure I know! We're having a housewarming party next weekend, and I requested donations in lieu of food or beverages, so I hope that helps out.

So that's all for now, I guess. I just ate a banana and a peach and am contemplating some peanut butter before I begin my long run...but maybe I'll just leave things as they are, because my tummy is really fussy.

We're running 14 again today before we up to 16, so keep me in your thoughts.

It's getting hot!

People always told me the temperatures seem unbearable here in late July - August, but I figured- "how bad could it be?" I still think they are bearable...if you're inside in air conditioning! It is getting so difficult to run in this heat and humidity, and yet we're getting it done.

Also, I'm really motivated because I just formally submitted that I'm running in honor of my father, who passed away in 2001. I'm looking for a picture of him, but it was unfortuantely before I had a digital camera (rats). Anyway, after my father had cancer (lung the first time) and heart disease, we used to take long--or what I then thought was long!--walks together. I remember them fondly and hope he's proud of the fact that I'm now running a MARATHON to find cures for people suffering with cancer.

I don't know what else to say; it's hard to get my thoughts in order at 5:30 in the morning. I'm bringing my camera today and taking some pics of teammates, and of me, which I'll post later.

Farah Fawcett

I've been thinking a lot about Farah Fawcett and her battle with cancer, which she lost about two weeks ago. I watched the documentary she made - and later had her friend help her make- about her battle with anal cancer that spread obstinately to her kidneys. (http://www.nbc.com/farrahs-story/video/episodes/#vid=1105074)

Because Michael Jackson passed on the same day Farah did, we heard very little about her ultimate "defeat" or, in her case, the lack thereof. That woman always had a smile on her face and a strong faith in God. Yet she also had a strong faith in herself, and in medical science, being able to beat this ravaging disease.

Today, as I prepare to run 14 MILES, I think of Farah, how much she wanted to believe in a cure, to believe that she would still be around to truly experience the beauties of life. I'm running for her, for the many people like her who pray every day that cancer, in all of its forms, might finally become less of a death sentence.

halfway through with the running...

So, we're doing another 12 miler today, which seems more intimidating now that I know what I'm in for. I worked on the conditioning this week, so hopefully it won't kick my butt quite as much.

I'm having a bit of trouble with the fundraising (thanks to those of you who gave!). The amount is really really big and intimidating, especially since my entire family is in Hungary. But I have some ideas: a pancake breakfast at church, "admission" to our housewarming party...and I'm contacting some corporations this week. Hopefully I can do it!

Well, off to run. Oh, and here's my first (and hopefully not only) running pic:

12 miles and sore!

We ran our 12 miles with the team yesterday. Running on a Saturday was both nice (I get to relax this morning) and difficult (there is much more traffic in Charleston on Saturdays). It felt okay, but I'm definitely sore and need more conditioning exercises. My other problem is that I had an ear infection and was on antibiotics, which made me a) really thirsty, and b) really sensitive to the sun. So 2 hours running in the sun was just what I needed :)!
I met some cool people running as well. Joe and Charlotte are married and have three kids, and they're about my age. I always find that strange, that people my age are real "adults." I also ran with Colleen, who trains two hours away with her mother and drives down to Charleston for our long runs. Her father recently passed, and she's running the race in his honor.
Speaking of which, I thought I'd research some Leukemia/Lymphoma facts and post them on my blog. Here's something I didn't know: the difference between leukemia and lymphoma:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060613143804AA0HELb.
Well, I have to unpack some stuff now and hope my soreness isn't too debilitating (we just moved into a new house as well). Keep my team in your prayers, and I'll write soon.