TNT-Thursday

Time for another update on our training for the San Antonio Marathon with Team in Training.

Today I am going to show a few 'tools of the trade'! There is not a lot you need for running, but there are a few 'extras' that make things a bit easier.

The most important item bar none are your shoes. Investing in a good pair of shoes can save you many injuries down the road. We went to The Runner's Flat to buy our shoes. They have a sports motion system that videos you running on the treadmill and then they can analyze how you run in different shoe models so that you choose the shoe that is best for you. It was amazing to see the difference in how stable Steve's ankles were in different shoes, and after trying 5 or 6 pair, they helped him choose the pair that provided the most stability. Me, on the other hand, had basically no variance in pronation etc.. and they told me to basically choose whatever color I liked best! I chose purple!







The pod you see strapped onto my shoe is part of a watch system that Steve gave me for our 25th Wedding anniversary. I LOVE technical gadgets, and this one is very cool for running. The pod on my shoe is calibrated for my stride and sends the info to my watch that tells me my pace and my distance. The polar strap is worn around my chest and monitors my heart rate while I run, which is also displayed on the watch. The watch can also keep track of my lap time for each mile. It also has count down timers which I find helpful when doing some of my walk/run training. (I run 4 minutes/walk 2 minutes etc..). Not exactly necessary for running, but it sure is a fun toy.



Running attire is also important. (I mean, you gotta look good!)
Shorts and shirts that are made of light weight fabric (preferably Dri-Fit) are wonderful. And if they happen to be purple or sport the Team in Training logo, well, that much better!













And now that my long runs are exceeding an hour in length (I'll be doing 9 miles this weekend) it is important to stay hydrated along the way. That is where this water belt is very handy. It is extremely light weight and you hardly know that you are wearing it. It has 4 small water bottles that hold enough for my runs and a small pocket to throw in a granola bar. Too bad it doesn't come in purple! Oh, and the hat is necessary to hide my bed head as I usually run right when I get up and my hair can be a little unruly!


That's about it. And everything but the shoes is really optional. (Well, you should wear clothes, but they don't necessarily have to be 'running' clothes).

Training is going well. As I mentioned I am up to 9 miles which feels good. (Well, it usually feels good AFTER I run it!) Steve has had a few set backs with his back and knee, but he ran 4 miles with me this morning and did well. And we just have to make it across the finish line - and with all of the support and encouragement we are getting from friends and family, I know that we will. Knowing that we are doing it for such a great cause helps tremendously! Racing to find a cure. We can do it!!

Until Next Time....

TNT-Thursday

Well, it is Thursday again and time for me to update everyone on our Team in Training effort. (Steve and I will be running in the San Antonio Marathon in November to raise awareness and funds for much needed research to find a cure for Leukemia and Lymphoma) I'm continuing to build my base and am up to 7 miles for my weekly long runs. Steve is having a set back with his knees and back giving him trouble, but we are still months from our race and I know that once he gets past this set back he will do fine.

I thought I would just have today be a purple day. Purple is often a color used when raising awareness for cancer and is the primary color in the Team in Training logo etc.. I love the color purple and have been noticing it even more. This is my Clematis plant that grows on a wire frame at the front of my house. Each year it is fuller and fuller and is just breath taking, I think.












These are some Indian Paintbrush plants that are in Galena. Again, I just love the hue of purple.


















Even Sumo sports a purple collar!!











I was excited to receive in the mail today the yarn that Liz dyed for me to make a Team in Training colored scarf as one of the prizes for those who donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through our Team in Training efforts. The colors are absolutely perfect and I can't wait to cast on. Not only that, but she also dyed some matching roving that I plan to spin as soon as I get more time on my spinning wheel under my belt!! Liz donated not only this yarn and the roving, but 2 other wonderful skeins of her MacKintosh yarn. (She also sent a skein of Hawkeye colored yarn for K!!) Thanks Liz! You're the best!
(Liz is currently evacuated from her home in Iowa City because of the floods!!)






Here is the roving Liz sent. I really do need to get back to spinning. I keep thinking life is going to settle down......

















And although it isn't purple, I thought I would show another prize that a very generous anonymous knitter sent for me to give away. It is a sock kit from Yarnissima that features an incredible pattern and a skein of Wollmeise sock yarn. I think I will donate to myself so I can be in the drawing!! (If you are interested in donating, see my fundraising page here.)






Thanks for checking in. Keep your eye out for the color purple. And when you see it, remember all of those who are affected each year by cancer. We can make a difference.



Until Next Time.....

TNT-Thursday

I know that I have introduced my friends Cheryl and Renae before, but I haven't yet told you the strong connection they each have to my TNT training. The three of us have been friends since elementary school.. I introduced Cheryl's daughter, Lindsay, on a previous Thursday TNT post here. She was the beautiful 17 year old who was diagnosed with AML, which took her young life just 3 months later.






Today I am going to 'introduce' you to Renae's mom, Barb.
(Here is an picture of Barb in 1955) Renae and I met when I was just 4 years old and we lived just a house apart until after we graduated from high school. During those growing up years, Renae's family was like my own. I spent almost as much time at her house as I did my own. I went on many of their camping trips and Renae came with my family every summer for several visits to our cabin. I know part of who I am today is because of the influence she had in my life.

Fast forward now to this picture taken in 1999. It is Renae and I and our moms. (I'm sitting with Barb and Renae is by my mom). It will be the last picture that I have of myself with Barb. At this point she was not doing well, and doctors couldn't quite figure out exactly what was wrong. In March of 2000, Barb passed away and it was determined that she had died of lymphoma that had gone undetected.

And so I run in honor and memory of my second mom - Barb.

I run in the hopes that with added research there will be easier ways to detect and cure Lymphoma and Leukemia. I run because I think she would be proud of me and I know that she'll be there with me in spirit as I cross the finish line, cheering me on. Thanks, Mom.

(Barb- November 1999, just 4 months before she passed away.)

Until Next Time....