First of all, thanks to Aaren for her donation! She is now training for a triathlon (in MAUI!) with TNT! Go Aaren!
As I mentioned in my last post, I have been (more than) a little worried about my ankle. It started bugging me after the half marathon three weeks ago. So I haven't been doing much running lately, and have started looking for a physical therapist to see in order to figure out what I need to do to not hurt myself.
I was worried about my ankle today, so I did the 1/2 marathon workout instead of the whole marathon workout (8 instead of 14 miles). Wouldn't you know it - my ankle didn't bother me one bit. I spoke with the coaches and they assured me that even up until race day I can adapt what I do - I can walk if I need to or only do the half marathon if things get bad. So, my new plan is full speed ahead with training and fundraising, and we'll see what happens. In the mean time, I'm going to continue to take it easy and cross train, and maybe I'll try water jogging. Apparently you feel dumb but it's a good workout.
There is a reason all of this seemed urgent and worrisome over the past few days: Recommitment is coming up! On February 24th we are going to officially re-commit to raising all of our money and they register us for our events!
I've raised $1109.40 or 55% of my fundraising goal so far! And it's 73% of the minimum I have to raise! That's right, only $390.40 left before I am officially there. Which is really good, because the other part of recommitment is that you give TNT your credit card info and they will charge you the difference if you don't meet the minimum by the event date. So, it's a great motivator to finish the fundraising strong!
So here is my new fundraising angle: Please make a donation to Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society a) so together we can find a cure for blood cancers and b) so I am not on the hook for $390!
Click here to donate: http://pages.teamintraining.org/oswim/eugene12/rvarner
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Half Marathon!
Sorry this took so long!
On Sunday, February 5th I ran in the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon - that's 13.1 miles in 2 hours, 33 minutes and 7 seconds - an 11:41 pace.
I spent the weekend in San Jose to visit my friend Hale and run my first half marathon. I was a little nervous at the beginning, but as I said to her at the beginning of the race, whatever happened I was going to PR today!
We ran the first three miles together, and then I decided to really challenge myself and push faster. I was feeling really good in Golden Gate Park and ran pretty fast down the downhill (which I only slightly regretted towards the end), and got to run along the beach on the Great Highway. That stretch was the toughest I think - it was a long out and back with few landmarks except the ocean and all the runners who had already turned around. Miles 7-10 were probably the hardest mentally, and my legs were pretty tired.
I felt pretty good once I hit mile 10 - from here it was only a 5k to the finish. I passed some people I had been playing leapfrog with throughout the race, including a girl in a Wes Welker jersey - Go Pats :( - and the dude in the tiger suit. I employed Coach Neal's tractor beam method mercilessly on walkers and runners, which helped. There was a hill at the end, and as we were going up one of the spectators told us the finish was just around the corner. Yeah right, I've said that line before to runners to give them hope. I didn't believe her but we rounded the corner and there it was! My original goal was to run about a 2:30 half, and after the slow start and checking my times at the 7 and 10 mile marks, I adjusted to a new goal of under 2:40.
I didn't get a medal (there weren't any), but I did get this sweet shirt, a sore ankle and a fabulous blister as rewards. Unfortunately, that sore ankle is persisting and now I'm trying to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist to see what I can do about it.
Thank you to Hale's mom and dad for being such good race parents - my parents could take a lesson or two on attending my races, carrying my stuff, and taking excellent photos of me.
And shout outs to Aaren Weisz and Laura Frye for donating since my last blog post! Less than $400 to go!!
On Sunday, February 5th I ran in the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon - that's 13.1 miles in 2 hours, 33 minutes and 7 seconds - an 11:41 pace.
 |
| Commence photo shoot, thanks to Hale's mama. |
I felt pretty good once I hit mile 10 - from here it was only a 5k to the finish. I passed some people I had been playing leapfrog with throughout the race, including a girl in a Wes Welker jersey - Go Pats :( - and the dude in the tiger suit. I employed Coach Neal's tractor beam method mercilessly on walkers and runners, which helped. There was a hill at the end, and as we were going up one of the spectators told us the finish was just around the corner. Yeah right, I've said that line before to runners to give them hope. I didn't believe her but we rounded the corner and there it was! My original goal was to run about a 2:30 half, and after the slow start and checking my times at the 7 and 10 mile marks, I adjusted to a new goal of under 2:40.
 |
| I beat this tiger across the finish. |
 |
| Past mile 12 - around the corner, up the hill and almost there! |
 |
| Look at how sweaty my hat it. That is what I get for running in sunny weather. |
I didn't get a medal (there weren't any), but I did get this sweet shirt, a sore ankle and a fabulous blister as rewards. Unfortunately, that sore ankle is persisting and now I'm trying to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist to see what I can do about it.
 |
| Victory! |
And shout outs to Aaren Weisz and Laura Frye for donating since my last blog post! Less than $400 to go!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)