On Tuesday, August 24, the TNT Event Staff, coaches, mentors, team members, and Honored Teammates came together for the Kickoff. This was the first time we all came together in support of the LLS mission, and essentially "kicked off" our season of four events - the Walt Disney World Marathon and Half-Marathon, and the P.F. Chang's Rock-n-Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon (held in Arizona the weekend after the Disney events). Our Honored Teammate for Disney, Jeff Allen, was introduced and spoke, which really gave the reason we are all running a face and a story. I also got to talk briefly with my coach, Linda, and my mentor, Ally. I even found out that I know someone who is going to be walking the Disney Marathon; I first knew Rita because she is the mom of someone I went to high school with, and who was in the band with me, and she also attends the same church as I do. Even though I know one person, there are a lot of great people I am looking forward to getting to know as we train together.
Speaking of training together, I am unable to go to the team run tomorrow night because of an event I have to be at for work. Then, on Saturday, I will be attending the wedding of two beautiful people, Nicole and Josh, so I won't make it to the first Saturday run (which is still technically pre-training). However, I am planning on making it to the Tuesday night run on the 7th, which will officially be the second day of the 18-week training!
So, back to this past weekend. But even before we get to that, I guess I should describe what happened on my 4 mile run that I did on Sunday the 22nd after my last post. For some reason, I decided to run out Erly Road, and up Mannsville Road to Middle Ridge. Well, obviously to run up to "the ridge", I needed to go up a hill - a pretty steep hill....or at least so it seemed to me at the time. I didn't make it up the hill without having to stop - twice. And I got sick...I didn't throw up, but I was feeling pretty awful (dizzy, nauseous, etc.) and actually had to sit on the guardrail for awhile. I attribute it to various things, and I'm sure the hill didn't help much. So, I wasn't entering this week with high hopes, especially knowing I wouldn't have much time at all until the weekend to work on my training.
This past Friday was an absolute gorgeous day! So, as soon as I got home from work, I packed up my bike (it barely fit in the Santa Fe with the seat folded down...I will need to look into a bike rack that I can attach to my hitch) and headed to the Cumberland Valley Rails to Trail in Newville. I biked from Newville almost to Shippensburg, turning around at the Shippensburg Township park. In two hours, I estimated that I went about 18.5 miles and it was awesome! The trail was lined with farms and the mountains in the distance paralleling the trail was a great backdrop. I was a little concerned as I had never been there before and was by myself, but the individual who told me about the CVRT assured me it was safe....and I felt pretty safe....until I saw a kid in a mask sitting on the side of the trail loading a gun! But don't worry, it was just a paintball gun:-). I will DEFINITELY be heading back several times to bike, and probably run, too, just so I can get off pavement once in awhile - I can't wait to see it in the fall with the leaves changing (my absolute favorite time of year).
Saturday I was to do 4-5 miles. Optimistically, I GoogleEarthed a 2.5 mile trek on Little Buffalo Road along the lake and headed out. I ran the 5 miles (okay, so I walked 2 minutes at both 20 and 42 minutes) in 59 minuts and 19 seconds. But the BEST part was who I literally ran into a little past half-way in to my run, and who met me back at my vehicle. One of my very closest friends Emilee (we go WAY back), her husband Ryan, and their Golden Retriever, Ellie "stalked"
me to Little Buffalo so we could go get ice cream afterwards! We ended up not stopping after ice cream, as then we ended up at Cluggy's for pizza, wings, fried mushrooms, (so much for those 596 calories I burned on my run) and LOTS of laughs! I haven't laughed as hard as I did Saturday night in a very long time...Sunday I attempted to go for hike along State Game Lands, but ran in to a sign that said "Danger. Unsafe Conditions. Keep Off. Pennsylvania Game Commission". Not being one to break rules, I turned aro
und before I barely even got started...it turns out that the sign was just talking about a bridge and not the trail! (I found that out because I have some pretty cool connections with the Game Commission - haha!) Oh well, I'll make it back to that trail for some cross-training in the near future. I took advantage of being so close to Em's dad's place, and since Em, Ryan, and Ellie were there already for the afternoon, I went to visit them and hang out by the pool for a bit before heading for some dinner at Mr. G's in Marysville on the deck. I was so lucky to have two great evenings with them in a row!I took 133 fundraising letters to the Kickoff meeting, and they mailed them for me last week. I know they mailed them for sure, because today at work, 2 of my awesome co-workers - Kathy and Mitch - gave me their donations! I also received a donation in the mail from Steve and Holly when I got home today! This'll be so exciting to get the mail everyday - sort of like getting our wedding RSVPs back (but not really since they were mailed to my parents and my dad just brought me bundles to work everyday)! I am still going to try to get a few more letters out, and also place collection boxes at both of my dad's offices. Thanks to Aunt Barb & Uncle Dave, Alexis, Kathy, Mitch, and Steve & Holly, I have raised $196.50 already - 5.8% towards my goal!
I can't wait to see what the coming week will bring in terms of fundraising and training!
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