Thursday, August 30, 2012

Spooky, Scary Zombie Run!

Ok, so maybe it's not spooky yet, but it is definitely scary. I am attempting to organize a 5-K Zombie Run in October (20 or 21) for a fundraiser for both the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Diabetes Hands Foundation. Yesterday I met with Claire Blaney, who was wonderful and told me everything I need to do in order to make this even successful. It was quite a lot of things to do! I think the hardest part is the unknown. I'm scared that if I put all this effort in to the Zombie Run, it might be a waste of time if enough people don't show up and I don't make any money!

But I guess the only things I need to pay for are the permit: $160 and the race bibs: $150 and a $300 deposit. Hopefully I will be able to make that back and then a lot more, but I've never been a fan of throwing fundraisers that cost money, because there is always a risk that you could lose money.

But you know what? Enough being scared. I am just going to take this head on. One step at a time, which means today I will apply for the permits (or at least contact the Parks department to see if those two days are available). Once I get permits, I'll set up the event on EventBright and then start working on sponsors and volunteers. It looks like I might need at least 20 volunteers!!! Oh my, I hope I can find that many.

Anyone interested in volunteering? Of course that would mean you couldn't run in the race...which will be totally awesome if I can get it all together! There will be runners and zombies. The runners will all start with at least 3 lives (flags on a yarn belt that can be yanked off by zombies). Runners can only win the race if they complete it and still have lives left. Zombies can win by finishing the race with the most lives taken (in under one hour). I think it'll be a little crazy...I'm going to have zombies running the course both ways, but if it works out, we could make a lot of money for cancer research and to help connect, engage, and empower people touched by diabetes!


Monday, August 27, 2012

42 Last Week, 41 This Week

No, I am not getting younger, and by the way, I am not even in my forties yet, thank you very much! 42 is the number of miles I ran last week for my marathon training and 41 will be the number of miles I will run this week for my marathon training. Crazy, huh? I mean, I know I just did two Ironmans, but when training for them we were swimming and biking, and working out A LOT, but we never had to run more than 40 miles in a week, in fact, I think I only ran over 20 miles in a week a couple of times.

So do I like it? I think I do. I really like not having to swim. Chlorine is yucky, and my goggles always leak, and since it's never warm in the Bay Area, the thought of swimming never seems very appealing. I also like not having to drag my bike and all my gear around with me every where I go. I mean, I still love to ride, and get a ride in every Tuesday with my OSB buds (if you are free on Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 you should join us!) but it's so nice not to have to bring it with me every weekend!

And you know what? Running is kind of fun. You might think it would get monotonous, doing the same thing every day. But each run is so different and unique. Last Wednesday night I ran 9 miles at Inspiration Point. The fog was rolling in, the wind was blowing so hard, I felt like I was going to fall over. I was out at the very end of the trail all by myself, thinking that zombies were probably going to come out and chase me:


And then on Saturday I was running 5 miles on the American River trail. Even though it was only five miles, we didn't start until 11am, so it was super hot, and I felt miserable. It took every ounce of determination for me to keep going and not stop and walk. But then the next day we woke up at 6am, started at the exact same location and ran 18 miles. That 18 miles was mentally easier than the 5, since it was so early, and nice and cool, and there were so many people out running with us. It was really enjoyable.

So far I'm loving training for a marathon (ok, well two marathons). Maybe after this I will go back to tris. But for right now it's a good break.

Running from the zombies at Inspiration Point

Friday, August 17, 2012

Already Needing Encouragement!


So I thought when I signed up for a marathon that it was going to be super easy compared to training for an Ironman...but I already slept in this morning and missed running the ten miles which is on my Chicago marathon schedule (yes...I am training for two marathons right now...but there are 2 months between them, so I figure I should be totally fine). Yesterday I mapped out my course, and was super excited to wake up at 6:30am this morning and go do it...but then this morning I was super tired, and in a lot of pain from track yesterday! Coach Al made us do pushups and crunches, and squats and supermans..and well I hadn't done strength training in about 6 months...so let's just say I am hurting more today than the day after Couer d'Alene.

Anyway, I guess the reason I am writing this is because I need encouragement. I know I can still run the ten miles today..but since I missed doing it in the morning, it all of a sudden has become so much more daunting. But isn't that what this is all about? Physically I know my body can do it...but this isn't about what my body can do...this is a mental struggle more than anything else. Leave my nice comfy house with my adorable kitty cat to go out and spend 2 hours hitting the pavement. Right now it doesn't sound like too much fun...but just writing about it right now is making it more and more likely that I will do it. In fact the more I write about it, the more I am thinking, this is silly. I just need to get out there and do it. Someone who is getting Chemo doesn't get a choice about whether or not they want to. They fight ever day. That's what I need to do!

Ok I guess it's time to stop talking and start doing! I'll update you all later today!

Monday, August 13, 2012

Time To Start Again!

Think the Run team is ready for Embo? I hope so, because here I come!

So as you can all see from my last blog, Ironman Couer d'Alene was super hard. I finished it, and I was really glad I did. But it was a really difficult day. Of course the reason I began training to begin with was to raise money to help find a cure for cancer. So when I was out there, I just kept reminding myself of how lucky I was to have my health and to be able to partake in such an amazing feat.

Ironman Coeur d'Alene is over and I have sworn off another Ironman (at least until 2014), but the fight against cancer isn't over. So I've signed up for Team in Training again. This time I'll be training for the Honolulu marathon. I've already had a couple of people joke about how I am being a slacker, just training for a marathon. I somewhat agree with them. My long workouts only take 3 hours...which for Ironman training would have been super short. But I am looking forward to this as an opportunity to be able to spend more time fundraising. Even though I love the physical part of all this, the main reason I am doing this is to help raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Now that I am "just training for a marathon" I will have time to do that!

So I invite you all to follow my training and my fundraising adventures. And please let me know if you would like to help out, by donating, or volunteering your time at fundraisers, or even offering cool and fun ideas on how to fundraise. My goal is $5,000 in the next 3 months! Any and all help is appreciated!