The Waiting Game

Miles in 2013: 354

Last I posted I had just finished the Sarasota Half Marathon with Jen and was a little over a month away from the Kentucky Derby Marathon.  I ran a few races in between those.  My first 15k, and a 10k.  I had a great time in Louisville with Elie for the Kentucky Derby Marathon. The marathon wasn't easy, the "ring of Hell" that was all hills in the middle of the race was not enjoyable - but, I took off another 40 minutes of my time!  I finished with a 5:43!

Riverside Dash 15k

 



Heart Healthy 10k

PR in Kentucky

 

After the marathon I got back to running quicker than I have in my previous 2 marathons.  I ran a 5k for Lung Cancer, and kept my training in maintenance mode.  Our new season of Marathonfest starts back on Tuesday and I'm ready to get back to training hard.  It already feels like the middle of July, so I have no doubts that this will be a miserably hot and humid summer!  Several of us got the crazy idea to sign up for the Dopey Challenge during Disney Marathon Weekend.  If you thought I was insane for doing the Goofy last year, this is even worse!  4 days, 48.6 Miles, a 5k, a 10k, a Half, and a Marathon!  In addition to training for Dopey I am crossing my fingers that a charity spot for The NEW YORK CITY MARATHON comes through this week!  I didn't get a spot in the lottery, but I emailed in my charity application last Thursday and should hear back this week.  This week was also the 1 year anniversary of Jen being diagnosed with breast cancer.  It's been a rough year, but I can definitely say that this one will be even better!  Her thank you blog to me made me cry like crazy!  I am so happy to say she is doing great, looking great, rocking an adorable hair style and living life to the fullest! 

For now, cross your fingers that I get my charity spot and then be ready for me to start all my fundraising requests!  Jen and I already have flights and a hotel booked for NYC Marathon weekend, I can't wait to hug my friend at the finish line!

Best Day Ever!

Miles to OFFICIALLY CANCER FREE!!: 396
Miles to Date: 424

Thursday, November 1, 2012 - will officially be one of the best days of my life.  Jen texted me to tell me that her PET Scan results had come back completely clean making her officially 100% CANCER FREE.  I have never been so happy.  Then I realized that her one year cancer free anniversary would fall during next year's NYC Marathon weekend.  We are already planning a trip and Jen's on board to come along.  I cannot think of a better way to celebrate than to be in the city, crossing the finish line and seeing her there!  I'm selfishly hoping that the cancellation of this year's race doesn't put too big of a kink in getting a spot on a Breast Cancer charity team for the 2013 NYC Marathon.  Jen still has radiation on the books and starts that process tomorrow, but it feels great to know that she is cancer free and on the mend!

This week I took a break from my weekday morning runs a) because I was sore from my half marathon last weekend and b) because I knew I had a full weekend of running on the books this weekend.  This was another double run weekend for our Goofy Training.  Saturday we met early 10 run 10, which we took easy.  Then I went to the Fight for Air Stair Climb to benefit the American Lung Association.  Kathleen is a 14 year Lung Cancer survivor and I offered to take to the stairs for her team several months ago.  The stair climb is a timed event where you make your way up 25 floors in the Bank of America Building in downtown Orlando.  According to my packet paperwork this is 512 stairs! Thank goodness you get to take the elevator down!  I probably should have trained for this event, but I survived the climb and found my way to the top in 6 minutes and 42 seconds.

Our Stair Climb Team

 

Kathleen speaking before the event

The Bank of America Building - you mean I'm climbing up that?

 

Powered by Lungs - climbing for Kathleen and Heff

 

Today, we met to run 18 miles.  I was running late (iphones apparently don't update the way they should for daylight savings time) which is not at all how I operate.  I drove like Mario Andriette and we started about 40 minutes late.  6 of us ran 6 miles, before meeting up with 3 more for the last 12.  Running 10 miles and doing the stair climb the day before did not make this 18 easy, but in the end Leah and I finished together in an average 13:20 min/mile moving pace - right on track for a 6 hour marathon!  It was daylight for much of the run and we passed a peacock and 2 Boston Terriers (which I stopped and gave kisses to).  Now I'm resting and icing and getting ready for another week and more miles.

After 18 miles looking fly in my Nike outfit

Peacock we passed by

Viola - a rescue I met on Pennsylvania Avenue.

CoCo - a springy girl on Park Avenue