Marathon Day - we did it - go TEAM!!!!

what a day! I wish you all could have been here with us...amazing! the day started w/ the alarm going off about 5am....you know...snooze-time for a bit, of course! then fixed the oatmeal and got all geared up..... left my hotel about 5:50am...headed over to the host hotel where our virtual team was meeting to catch the bus out to the start-line! 7:55am....national anthem.....8am on the nose....START!!!!! by now it was about 50 degrees....I still had my gloves on! We traveled along the Glenn Highway for about 6 miles....then began our 10+ miles off-road.....gravel roadway mostly.....and I must say---so glad I did that "railroad tracks" training....it really paid off! we had a little rain on this part---but nothing to get worried about---thank goodness! back onto the asphalt pathway...schwew!!! mile 17.5 - Tim and Shanna were there with water and Nuun replenishment drink! traveled along and along and there they were again at mile 22....with a little more "treat" and away I went again.... we finished with a 15% incline on the last 3/4-mile and on into the finish line! took me about 5hrs 23minutes - a bit over 12minute/mile...but not much.... was an awesome experience all the way around!!! LLS-TNT people were not the only participants....but we sure made up a good portion of the field! We heard last nite at the inspiration dinner that over $700m had been raised by the LLS-TNT participants for this event! pretty incredible....don't you think? and so many stories...why people are doing what they're doing.....I cannot wait to tell you some of them....from the guy who was running in honor of his best friends in combat, to the guy running for his student, Jamie, who's winning her fight against leukemia, to the lady who's still volunteering because she believes in the mission of LLS and so did her husband Bill!

MANY thanks to YOU for your support - there's no way I could have done this without you...!!!!!

it's 9:10pm Saturday nite!

just have to write a quick note...we had a nice day...went for a quick practice run w/ my VIRTUAL team-mates this morning in DT Anchorage.....then pretty much just hung around and chilled! went to a place called Humpy's for lunch - blackened halibut sandwich! nice!!! then we joined TNT'ers from around the nation and Canada for the traditional inspiration dinner....of course, it was a pasta-feast as well! we're all ready for tomorrow....it's a great thing we're doing and I think you all for your support and love!

on the way to Anchorage!!!

it's 2:10pm Seattle time---we left Vero 4:50am....Vero time...............plane's supposed to leave from here 3:30pm and head to Anchorage! getting psyched....just checked the weather in Anchorage---low's to be 46 on Saturday and 60% chance rain........I've made Tim and Shanna promise to have my coat and dry shoes ready for me after the race!!! anyway...getting psyched....and am so grateful for everyone's support!!!!! together we will make a difference!

good morning all! 8.5miles this a.m.----hitched a ride over to beachside w/ Tim on his way fishing....and ran my way home..... got to see the sunrise at ConnBeach! man-o-man!!! lotsa good reasons why we've been on this journey together....and I'm convinced we're making a difference. Luv you all....thanks for your support! I'll send you a note next Saturday or Sunday......from Anchorage!

we're tapering.............

so Saturday was fun.....I had decided it would be a morning for just a short-short bit of exercise....so I slept in....... had my runnin' shoes on by 7:40am'ish..... it was a beautimous morning...... then my fone rang!!! what a treat....good friend Yvonne and I got some good quality time in and chatted and chatted..........while I walked and walked! and so by then I had reached the 17th street bridge....and decided to call nephew Conor......he didn't answer----but walk on I did! got to his Nana's house and woke him up....and away we went - to South Beach.......played in the surf some w/ nephews R2 and Roger, and MeeMaw too............then Conor and I walked back to his house!!!! Kristy took me home---she was ready for a "Dunkin break" anyway....and boy was I glad.....11+ miles later!!!!!




and then came today - we're tapering (thank you CoachJoe!).....so that means I only had 16 miles on the agenda for today! you know the routine
....3:15am....snooze.....oatmeal....snooze....ibuprofen.....grease up and get dressed! out the door/drive-way by 4:3oam! what a georgeous moon this morning! did you see it?!!! wow!!! stayed in the neighborhood....just cause I could......today - works out pretty good......from our driveway to 20th - 1mile..........easy to calculate! out-and-back and out-and-back and so on...! about mile 11 I was getting a little bored....so did some looping around's............worked out great!!!! just about the time I was finishing up........got to talk to Linda----and wish her a most fab day in O-town at the show!!!!! averaged about 11.5minutes/mile.......not too bad.... I'm wondering tho----will this humidity help us out in Alaska?!!!!!!!!!!!! here's hoping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so that's how I started my day........it got better from there..............breakfast w/ the newphews.....then 5th grade graduation/celebration for Robbie2-----------wonderful day!!!

here's to you all----thanks as always for your support------- did I tell you? part of my "virtual" Leukemia Team was in San Diego this weekend----the Rock-n-Roll marathon was yesterday.......that was my first marathon.....12 years ago! I know they had fun......and many thanks to them too for all their hard work and fund-raising efforts!!!!!!!!!!

thanks R2 for the run this evening!

was a good workout.....3.51miles from the mapmyrun.com site! you did good---and I appreciate your "coaching"!!!!! and wasn't it fun taking Terri a treat?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxoxo

encouragement.....

thanks JenS for the encouragement! yes indeed---u'r a grand mentor and I appreciate you so much! I had planned on doing my training run Sunday morning...so when I got your email Saturday afternoon....and learned that you and Joyce had done 22 already-----well.......I knew then that I too would do more than the 20 that was on CoachJoe's schedule for the week!

Sunday morning came w/ lightening and much rain........so----back to bed I went (I knew I had Memorial Day still to get done!)...........

Monday came - 3:15am the alarm alarmed! I said a quick good-morning to Tim and headed out to the couch.... then snooze I did as usual..... 3:45am----oatmeal was in the microwave! all the other rituals took place....you know what they are! 4:40am----out the door and away I went..........beautiful morning......cool'ish and a light breeze.........was glad I waited til Monday!!!!! check out the map.......I've not done so much zig-zagging and zag-zigging before! but wanted to get some extra variety in and just a tad bit more mileage.....some beachside travel (o the sunrise was amazing!), 4 bridges, some rocks along the railroad tracks and then decided to turn down Uncle Bruce's road to see if he might be outside....if I had figured right....that would put me at almost 22miles-----he was and we had a great chat while I cooled down............and I was reminded again why we're all doing what we're doing and have a couple more names to add to my t-shirt!!!!!

21.5 miles later - I thank you Jen and thank you everybody else for your encouragement and support-----together we will make a difference and win this battle.................