it's been a while...

i've just been so busy with all the running, and hanging out with my TNT family, and doing a little fundraising... and life!! no time to write.

okay, so plenty of time to write... just low on motivation these days.

there has been a whole lot going on. after a couple of years of having it on my "to do" list, i finally achieved my goal of running the Ragnar Relay... and even ran it with a bunch of my TNT friends!!





RAGNAR this way!!







We're running 200 miles... what are you doing this weekend?

 

TNT is in the house!!!

love the bottle opener/finisher's medal








a couple of dear TNT family members died very unexpectedly last month... what more can i say about that? the one positive thing that has come out of that is that it has brought the National Capital Area TNT family closer together, in support of each other and the families of our friends...

(Sunday morning "Run to remember Coach John Park" at Fletchers )



training continues to go well.... the Nike Marathon & Half Marathon participants have run their last group training run (yesterday) and will head off to San Francisco on Friday (so excited!!). and the Marine Corps Marathon participants ran their longest training run (20 miles) before they begin to taper for their race at the end of the month.

gathering the troops before dawn, ready to run a few more miles in the fight against cancer

Coach Jack and teammates Sara and Laura, running with a smile on...

Teammates Ingrid and Rosa-Elisa also still smiling, at mile 10.25 of 20...

Post run stretching in the parking lot...

 Gotta dry out that stinky gear before heading home!

steamy...

it's been hot hot hot, and high humidity for weeks... ugh. like it's not hard enough getting up at 5am on a Saturday to go for a run with the Team!! last Saturday Laura and i thought we'd won the jackpot when we found a pile of ice on the side of the trail... nothing quite like stuffing handfuls of ice (and grass & dirt) inside your hat to keep you cool-ish while you run.

still, spirits remain high.... we're still getting a good turn out for the group training runs, and some people (myself not particularly included) are doing awesome with their fundraising. i'm struggling a bit in that department. having a job sure does interfere with all the kinds of fundraising i've focused on in the past... there's just no time to go sell donuts at metro stations anymore!! so, i'm trying to get more creative.

would sure welcome some suggestions though, if you've got any...

more a tortoise than a hare...

yesterday was one of those days where i was kind of struggling to get my 7 hot and sweaty miles on the W&OD trail done... feeling sluggish and lead-legged. one of those days where even when i remind myself that my aches and pains and fatigue are a drop in the bucket compared to someone going through chemotherapy, i still find it difficult to push on.

nonetheless, i was pleased with myself when it was all done. and, i made a new friend on this run... and, i saved this little guy from getting run over... so a successful morning all 'round!!

honoured teammates picnic

there was laughter, there were tears.... there was a whole lot of love in that room.

long drive, short run... good times

running the Capital Crescent Trail in Bethesda... first cool(ish) morning in a long time!!

blurry 'cos they're running so fast! (or 'cos i'm also moving as i take the pictures)

a little post run discussion about hydration and proper diet

a little post run good humour.... it must be all those endorphins ;)

mentor, training captain, and coach... all great people 

taking a moment after training to sign some cards for an honoured teammate who's currently in treatment

let the sweat and tears begin!

today was the first group training session of the Fall 2011 TNT season... temperatures in the high 70s after a week or so of heavy rain made for a hot and sweaty 3 mile run.

a few of the mentors were doing a little core strengthening work as we waited for the last of the runners to get back... and it turned into a planking competition... winner takes $10 toward their fundraising!!

looks like we're going to have a fun and feisty group of dedicated individuals, committed to making the lives of people affected by blood cancers better... and working towards finding a cure.

laces up my running shoes once again... this time i'm san francisco bound!

After a six month hiatus from Team In Training... and pretty much from running altogether,  it's time to dust off the running shoes and purple singlet, and hit the road for some major miles and serious fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

As you may already know, I lost one of my grandmothers to breast cancer. My other grandmother is still suffering the repercussions of treatment for uterine cancer. My cousin died of brain cancer. My mother-in-law died of pancreatic cancer. My mom's cousin died of lung cancer. My great-uncle died of colon cancer. My friend Dolly died of breast cancer... Several friends have undergone treatment for Leukemia or Lymphoma. Another friend is one year free of throat cancer. And my grandad is currently undergoing treatment for colon cancer.

On a more personal note... I am healing very nicely from a surgery to remove skin cancer from my face.

So my commitment to fundraising to find a cure for cancer comes from a very deep place.


This time around I am training with the team to run the Nike Marathon, which is a race dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Once again, I will be acting as a mentor for the Team... helping the other participants to reach their goals.

My personal goal for this event is to raise $3000 (three thousand dollars)... and I can't do it without your help.  Please click on the link in the upper right hand corner to make a donation on my Team In Training fundraising webpage. Any contribution small or large will be greatly appreciated.

M

taking a little TNT break...

after a crazy year of perhaps a little too much running and fundraising, it is time for a break.

i have a new dog that needs to age a few more months before i can start conditioning her to be my running companion... then i'll be back at it, running and raising money to beat cancer.