24 Days to Chicago! !

With only 24 days left before our Chicago Marathon, I am more worried about my "lack of fundraising" than I am completing the race.

Why in the world did we actually think we could raise $7,200?? I am usually not one to set my goals so far outside of my reach, but I believe I have. We currently have only raised $1,250.

So if anyone has any quick and easy fundraising ideas that would be FABULOUS! Or if you know of anyone that has suffered from leukemia or lymphoma and feel led to donate in honor of them, you can visit our donation page here: http://pages.teamintraining.org/vtnt/chicago08/mholleyxy5

I survived my 18 mile run Monday and will complete 20 on Sunday and then begin tapering down for race day. Does anyone else get a little nervous that the tapering down begins 3 weeks before race day. I am worried about the final 3 weeks before the race that the longest run we have is 9 miles. I am afraid my confidence for the LONG run will be diminished.

4 Weeks and Counting!

Time is ticking away ladies.... who is running St. George?  I need to hear from you.  What do you have left on your training calenders?  The heat down hear has been crippling my ability to finish my long runs.  I have done 2 back to back halves the last few weeks... and I am going to do a 20 miler this week, what are you doing this week?  I am so off my original schedule that at this point i am happy to try anything :)

My New Running Look

I cannot believe that I am at the point where I am saying "I hate to run" because under normal circumstances, I love to run very much. But this LONG distance stuff (anything over 12 miles) is pure torture. I am having serious knee issues and this is what I look like now when I go out for a run:

What a NERD I am!! I don't think I will have to worry about any of those scary men whistling at me now. The willingness to look like a complete nerd demonstrates how badly my knees hurt. I am hoping these braces will help. Jeff couldn't stop laughing at me when I put them on. I didn't care because he looked like a nerd himself with his little shin splint brace on his leg, which I tried to get a picture of but my battery died. I WILL GET ONE THOUGH!

I am at the point now where we have committed with Team in Training to run this thing and I am too stubborn to quit. I really feel strongly about the cause and the commitment we have made so I just can't do it. I may come crawling across the finish line, but I WILL NOT QUIT!

**Oh, by the way, our personal running blog of our journey to Chicago got taken down by blogger- - something about it being flagged as a SPAM blog, so I had to create a new one. In case anyone cares to follow, our new address is http://www.reason4running.blogspot.com/

Going loopy

Teuntje (9) fancied an Italian ice cream, and I fancied a run, so together we ran to the neigbouring town of Zelhem which actually boasts an Italian ice cream parlor! That is to say, I ran, and Teuntje rode her bicycle.

'And then you can run back the other way,' hubby suggested from the couch, 'so you can make your Sunday 16 kilometers!'

So, after polishing off our ice cream and a cup of coffee, I decided to follow hubby's advice and go back the other way, so as not to get bored by running the same old bike path.

Within minutes I had absolutely no idea where we were, feeling like little Hansel and Gretel, but without the bread crumbs to get me home. I cursed myself for not bringing a compass, but then I remembered I'm about as good with compasses as with finding my way. Besides: I don't own a compass, but I digress.

'Isn't this exciting Teuntje?!' I said encouragingly, as much to Teuntje as to myself. 'Quite the little adventure, isn't it?'
'Shouldn't we just go back mommy?' she replied in stern tones.
But I despise 'going back'. It's way too much 'Been there, done that, got the t-shirt'. So I firmly said 'No!' and added with more stubborness than whisdom: 'Mommy will find her way soon!'

Indeed! After about half an hour of being throughly lost I saw something familiar: Zelhem!

It turned out I was going the right way all along, but because I began to doubt myself I'd accidentally run in the direction of Zelhem again, running in a loop.

Which just goes to show: you should have confidence in yourself or you'll go loopy!

Running the Wildwood Trail

Today's long run adventure started at the Hoyt Arboratum (spelling, anyone??). M&M wasn't able to join us, but I went with 2 other Marathon Mommies - they are also both relatively new mommies (babies are 4 months and 7 months old) and sisters in law with each other. I love these ladies. Unfortunately they are a bit faster than me right now. We were hoping to find the Portland Marathon running group, but due to lack of sufficient info we never met up with them! So we ran the trail down to the Rose Gardens (beautiful!) and then back up to where we started, because we initially did not realize the bulk of the trail was in the opposite direction. We ran the other way for about 5 miles, then turned around and ran back. The trail is absolutely gorgeous - lush greenery all around, small trickling streams, bugs getting stuck between your teeth... There are a lot of hills... a LOT of hills, I tell you! And some of them are very steep. I soon found that I wouldn't be able to run the entire way. I let myself walk on the especially grueling uphills. I became quite proficient at sprinting on the downhills trying to catch up with my running buddies (unsuccessfully!) I only fell once! I met up with one of my buddies back where we started and discovered we had lost our third buddy along the way! We went searching for her and ended up running more than 2 more miles! I ended up running almost 13 before we were done. Everyone was found safe and sound and we called it a day. The trails are great to run - especially on days like today that are especially hot. The run is 100% shaded! I would love to go back again soon. Anyone want to join us?

While I was running I was thinking about the last post: What do you think about while running? I had brought both my iPod and my little FM radio, but I found that I didn't want to listen to either of them. The music and news on the radio seemed to diminish the peaceful experience of running in the woods. It seemed almost like a sacred place, and my running music and news about suicide bombings on the radio detracted from the pleasant spirit of the place. So what did I think about? Mostly, "I hope I can make it to the top of this hill!"

M&M, I hope you are feeling better and that you have a safe trip! We really missed you...