Another great practice! We started by remembering the folks who were killed 9/11/2001. Coach Jessi ran her first race, a community 5k, as a fundraiser for the family of a friend who died at the Towers. She also led us in a prayer. Then we went out to conquer the hills...
This practice was my longest run - 9.2 miles in 100 minutes. This was not my quickest time but it was a tough course. It started at Vassault Park and went thru the rolling hills of the North Proctor neighborhood. The hill training on Wednesday sure came in handy! As I went up the hills I could just focus on the form to take my mind off the length of the hill. It helps to focus on the basics when the task seems big, overwhelming and/or scary. You can do a few simple things over and over...you will make it.
You know, that helped on 9/11/2001 too. I remember where I was when I got that news - I had just dropped my parents off at SeaTac for a non-stop flight to Cleveland, OH. I had just got on the freeway when I heard the news report: Two planes had been hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center. It felt like a kick in the gut; how many other hijackers were out there? Were they headed to Cleveland? As I drove the ramp from I-405 to Hwy 167 I heard the announcement that all commercial flights were grounded. What a relief!!! My parents would be safe and sound at SeaTac Airport - in a crowd of thousands. Neither of us had a cell phone at that time. How did I find them? A simple basic that my Mother taught me - if we go somewhere and become separated, go back to the place where we came in. Sure enough, there were Mom & Dad standing on the curb where I dropped them off. They knew exactly where to go and I knew exactly where to look.
Whether it's running or life, it's good to learn the basics; they can get you up the hills.
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." - John Bingham, runner and author. A miracle is about to start - I am training to run my first marathon on November 28, 2010 at the Amica Seattle Marathon. I will be running in memory of my brother-in-law,Bob Price. This blog is to record and share the ongoing adventure of my training. For more info about Team In Training or to donate click the link on the right.
Monday, September 13, 2010
9/8 - Hill repeats...gotta love 'em
I was out-of-town on Labor Day weekend so I wasn't able to attend practice. I really did miss it though. As mentioned before, I love those long runs. Can't wait to see how I do next week.
I was able to be at our first mid-week practice - hill repeats on the Narrows Bridge. We ran thru a small park and over to the bridge. I wasn't looking forward to it because I don't like the Narrows Bridge - just me and my height issues. After some instruction on the fine art of running hills we headed for the bridge. Guess what? I didn't fall off. :-) Actually, as I focused on what I needed to do rather than what I was afraid of I did just fine.
I love this thought from Nelson Mandela: "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear."
Mickey 1, Narrows Bridge 0. Life is good.
I was able to be at our first mid-week practice - hill repeats on the Narrows Bridge. We ran thru a small park and over to the bridge. I wasn't looking forward to it because I don't like the Narrows Bridge - just me and my height issues. After some instruction on the fine art of running hills we headed for the bridge. Guess what? I didn't fall off. :-) Actually, as I focused on what I needed to do rather than what I was afraid of I did just fine.
I love this thought from Nelson Mandela: "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear."
Mickey 1, Narrows Bridge 0. Life is good.
8/28 - Goofy & Alyson
This was an AWESOME practice. One of our honored teammates was here. Alyson celebrated her 11th birthday on Friday. Our practice was dedicated to her. She was there with her family and a friend. The two girls were wrapped in blankets' sleepy heads who stayed up too late at the sleepover. She looks like a typical 4th grader. But her life has not been typical.
Some excerpts from her story: Alyson was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) at just 8 months old. Her parents were told that alyson had a 25% chance of survival and would likely experience kidney failure. After 6 weeks of inpatient chemotherapy, her leukemia was brought into remission. But chemotherapy was not enough to "cure" her. Alyson's best possible chance for a "cure" was a bone marrow transplant. No one in her family matched. Six months later a match was found through the National Bone Marrow Registry and Alyson received her bone marrow transplant on October 25, 2000, being just 14 months old. She spent the next 6 years under the care of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance fighting GvHD (graft versus host disease) taking all kinds of immune suppressants.
These written words don't communicate the feeling you get when you hear a Mom tell the story. This little lady and her family have been through a LOT together; because of that they share a very special bond. Words don't begin to describe that either. The best I can do is a bond of love so thick you could reach out and touch it. I wish you could have been there to see her; to meet them all; to see Dad put his arm around his little girl when Mom gets to a tough part in their story. Even now, it makes me teary-eyed.
Now I'm sure they aren't perfect but they do seem to understand how important they are to each other. And THAT is an important lesson to learn.
On a lighter note, Goofy's little addition is a sympathy belly in honor of the little addition Coach Jason & Anna are expecting.
Some excerpts from her story: Alyson was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) at just 8 months old. Her parents were told that alyson had a 25% chance of survival and would likely experience kidney failure. After 6 weeks of inpatient chemotherapy, her leukemia was brought into remission. But chemotherapy was not enough to "cure" her. Alyson's best possible chance for a "cure" was a bone marrow transplant. No one in her family matched. Six months later a match was found through the National Bone Marrow Registry and Alyson received her bone marrow transplant on October 25, 2000, being just 14 months old. She spent the next 6 years under the care of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance fighting GvHD (graft versus host disease) taking all kinds of immune suppressants.
Now I'm sure they aren't perfect but they do seem to understand how important they are to each other. And THAT is an important lesson to learn.
Monday, August 30, 2010
8/21 Week 3: I got Goofy!
I had a great run along the Scott Pierson Trail in Tacoma. I ran for 60 minutes - my longest run so far. But they will be getting longer every week. Bring it on! I'm noticing that the longer runs really feel great. It gives me a chance to just focus on the run and not on cares and troubles; the thoughts flow.
And I got to take home Goofy - our team mascot. Each week someone gets to bring him home; add a little something to his outfit; and bring him back to pass on to someone who, in their opinion, has team spirit. I'm not sure what I'll do. Two of our coaches, Jason and Anna, announced that they are expecting their first baby. Congratulations to them!! I'm thinking Goofy may need a pacifier or something.....
Update: I think I might be on to something. Henry Thoreau was pretty smart and he said "Methinks that the moment my legs began to move, my thoughts began to flow." I like that.
And I got to take home Goofy - our team mascot. Each week someone gets to bring him home; add a little something to his outfit; and bring him back to pass on to someone who, in their opinion, has team spirit. I'm not sure what I'll do. Two of our coaches, Jason and Anna, announced that they are expecting their first baby. Congratulations to them!! I'm thinking Goofy may need a pacifier or something.....
Update: I think I might be on to something. Henry Thoreau was pretty smart and he said "Methinks that the moment my legs began to move, my thoughts began to flow." I like that.
8/14 Week 3: Oops!
Oops! I got home late from my St Helens adventure. I didn't set my alarm clock and overslept. I did make it to the end of practice so I could attend the fundraising clinic. Coach wasn't worried about the missed practice though- my legs got enough of a workout on the Friday climb. My teammates had run a route at Point Defiance Park that included a hill. They were all, "You missed the hill climb." I just smiled. St Helens gains 1200 ft/mile for three miles.
What can I say...I had need of the sky
"I am sick of four walls and a ceiling. I have need of the sky; I have business with the grass." - Richard Hovey, American writer/poet.
When I flipped my office calendar to the month of May I found this wonderful thought. It struck a chord with me because I very often feel that way. So, I decided it was time to take my business to Mt. St Helens. I had never been there. Friday the 13th seemed like the perfect day to climb an active volcano. Turns out is was perfect - clear and warm, with a slight breeze. Well, there was a stronge wind at the top but that is typical of the crater rim. The views were amazing. Thought I would share a couple pictures here. Training with a view...doesn't get much better thant this. :-)
When I flipped my office calendar to the month of May I found this wonderful thought. It struck a chord with me because I very often feel that way. So, I decided it was time to take my business to Mt. St Helens. I had never been there. Friday the 13th seemed like the perfect day to climb an active volcano. Turns out is was perfect - clear and warm, with a slight breeze. Well, there was a stronge wind at the top but that is typical of the crater rim. The views were amazing. Thought I would share a couple pictures here. Training with a view...doesn't get much better thant this. :-)
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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