31 days to go...to what, you might ask? Well, I've teamed up with Emily and the Spina Bifida Association to raise money and run the ING NYC Marathon on November 7th. It's a wonderful opportunity to run on behalf of Emily, and spread awareness about Spina Bifida. And, it's our chance to encourage everyone to GIVE GIVE GIVE to the Spina Bifida Association.
Can you believe November 7th is right around the corner?!
Here's the training update: I am in my third of 3 consecutive 40-mile weeks. It's about one extra day of running, putting me at 6 days a week of running. While the one extra day may not seem like much, it has been a challenge fitting it into daily life. Next week it's down to 36 miles, then 33, then 24 (two taper weeks)...and then 14 plus the marathon!
There was a time I wished for two to three more months of training, but those days are gone. I'm ready for tapering to begin. 12 minute miles seems to be what I've worked to, and so I've committed to that goal, hoping to complete the marathon in 5 hours and 20 minutes.
On Sunday I completed my second of 3 20-mile long runs. It was a cold, windy, rainy day complicated by the cars spraying me with water from puddles and the slick leaves on the ground. But I am thankful for the experience of running in that weather, better preparing me for a range of conditions come November 7th. There were many times during the 4 hours where I felt misery creeping over me.
But there was, and will continue to be, one thought that prevails: I am capable of doing this, I have full leg function.
When those misery thoughts start popping up, I think about how much more physically challenging it would be to be cranking uphill with my arms in a wheelchair. Or I think about how it would sound to other parents of kids with SB, or to individuals with SB (or other conditions that compromise leg function) to hear me complaining about how hard it was...how tired my legs were. I brought myself back to one thought: be grateful you can feel the pain. Be grateful you have the option to step outside and run. Be grateful for what you have, and don't let it go to waste.
Often, it is while I'm running that I find myself most grounded.
Here's the fundraising update: our team is 72% to it's goal of $25,000. I am 75% to our $5000 individual goal. There are only 21 more days to donate. Won't you help us reach our individual and team goal? Please click on the links at the top of the page for instructions as to making an online donation directly to the SBA website, in honor of Emily Keicher. Or, please make out a check payable directly to the "Spina Bifida Association", and mail it to us. We will send it in to our contact at SBA.
I cannot stress how important this is. By donating you are supporting one of the few organizations dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals/families of individuals with Spina Bifida. And since October is National Spina Bifida Awareness month, there is no better time than now to donate.
Thank you to everyone who has donated. I cannot say thank you enough. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I hope each of you are proud of your decision to give to such a worthwhile cause...we are proud to have so many people contributing and backing us! This is the final push, with all donations due to SBA by OCTOBER 29th.
Thank you for stopping by...I will be updating on here each week between now and the marathon.
Can you believe November 7th is right around the corner?!
Here's the training update: I am in my third of 3 consecutive 40-mile weeks. It's about one extra day of running, putting me at 6 days a week of running. While the one extra day may not seem like much, it has been a challenge fitting it into daily life. Next week it's down to 36 miles, then 33, then 24 (two taper weeks)...and then 14 plus the marathon!
There was a time I wished for two to three more months of training, but those days are gone. I'm ready for tapering to begin. 12 minute miles seems to be what I've worked to, and so I've committed to that goal, hoping to complete the marathon in 5 hours and 20 minutes.
On Sunday I completed my second of 3 20-mile long runs. It was a cold, windy, rainy day complicated by the cars spraying me with water from puddles and the slick leaves on the ground. But I am thankful for the experience of running in that weather, better preparing me for a range of conditions come November 7th. There were many times during the 4 hours where I felt misery creeping over me.
But there was, and will continue to be, one thought that prevails: I am capable of doing this, I have full leg function.
When those misery thoughts start popping up, I think about how much more physically challenging it would be to be cranking uphill with my arms in a wheelchair. Or I think about how it would sound to other parents of kids with SB, or to individuals with SB (or other conditions that compromise leg function) to hear me complaining about how hard it was...how tired my legs were. I brought myself back to one thought: be grateful you can feel the pain. Be grateful you have the option to step outside and run. Be grateful for what you have, and don't let it go to waste.
Often, it is while I'm running that I find myself most grounded.
Here's the fundraising update: our team is 72% to it's goal of $25,000. I am 75% to our $5000 individual goal. There are only 21 more days to donate. Won't you help us reach our individual and team goal? Please click on the links at the top of the page for instructions as to making an online donation directly to the SBA website, in honor of Emily Keicher. Or, please make out a check payable directly to the "Spina Bifida Association", and mail it to us. We will send it in to our contact at SBA.
I cannot stress how important this is. By donating you are supporting one of the few organizations dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals/families of individuals with Spina Bifida. And since October is National Spina Bifida Awareness month, there is no better time than now to donate.
Thank you to everyone who has donated. I cannot say thank you enough. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. I hope each of you are proud of your decision to give to such a worthwhile cause...we are proud to have so many people contributing and backing us! This is the final push, with all donations due to SBA by OCTOBER 29th.
Thank you for stopping by...I will be updating on here each week between now and the marathon.
I am in absolute awe of you right now. I can't even begin to wrap my brain around running for 4 hours. You are a super rock star momma!
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