Team Seattle Rock N Roll for Gracie

Well I wasn't in the picture, but it's great support for Gracie nonetheless. I wore my pink! I just got lost and didn't make it in the picture. Go Gracie! And GO TEAM! (That's how we Team in Training people are supposed to greet each other. At least, it seems to be in all the emails. It's hard not to get swept away!)

A lot of drama for a Saturday morning

I've been gearing up all week for the team run today. So when the alarm went off this morning, I wasn't too weary. But then the drama started. I had to go back in to the house, no less than 4 times to get things I had forgotten - the iPod, my gloves (it was 22 degrees when I left this morning), my Nike Plus thing ... you get the idea.

Today all of the runners and walkers training for the Seattle Marathon wore pink in honor of Gracie. It's her favorite color. (See in the picture above? I wore my pink proudly.)

We were supposed to be meeting in St Paul down by the river. I printed out driving directions last night but couldn't find the meeting location. I finally gave up and decided to just go run on my own for 8 miles. It was a beautiful morning, even if it was 22 degrees. There were already quite a few runners out. About 1.5 miles in, I came upon the Team in Training meeting spot. Well, at least I know where it is now! I met the coach, who sent me on my way for the run. All the way up Summit Ave (yep up - what little elevation exists in Minnesota, I experienced it this morning). So, off I went.

About another mile in, my iPod crapped out on me. Apparently a couple of minutes of charging isn't enough for a run that lasts an hour and a half! I had to run the rest of the way listening to my own heavy breathing. Like I said, a lot of drama for a Saturday morning!

But the most important is, I did it!! By the time I got back to my car, I had run 8.5 miles. Crazy!! I just might be on the verge of calling myself a runner!

Woo hoo! First major fundraising goal MET!!

I set a goal to raise $1000 by the end of March and it has been crushed! As of today, we've raised $1281! Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed. I am so humbled by your generosity.

Every dollar counts and gets us all one step closer to the ultimate goal - making a real impact in the fight against cancer.

I'm finding that there is at least a couple of weeks of lag time in getting the checks updated to the "official" fundraising site, so I'm adding my own wall of fame/gratitude here on my site. So, one goal down - just a couple more to go. Next up - the halfway point ($2000) by the recommitment date, which is April 17th.

As for the training plan, it's ramping up! I got sassy this weekend while I was home visiting family and decided to go run the Dundee Hills. Stupid idea. I was completely gassed after 1.25 miles but somehow managed to keep going until 4 miles (on level ground, of course).

Big team run this weekend - 8 miles! It will be the longest I've run yet ...

40 degrees = shorts! Oh, yes it does!

Unless you live in Minneapolis, you might not be able to fully appreciate this scene, but trust me on this - it's a beautiful sight. This is 45 degree weather from this past weekend and I got outside (yes, in shorts!) and ran. On Monday, we hit the mid 60s. It hadn't been that warm since before Thanksgiving. If 40 degrees = shorts, then Monday I probably should have been in a bikini but let's be honest - no one needs to see that.

It's the little (really big) things like running outside three days in a row.

I'm now back home for a week or so. Might be a bit of a challenge to keep up the training, but I'm at the point where I (dare I say it?) actually want to go running. I just might make it happen.

6am playlist

There's not much about life that I enjoy at 6am. So when I have to get my run in at the crack of dawn, I need some extra motivation.

Here's what got me going this morning:

All Summer Long - The Rock Heroes
Goods - Mates of State
Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm
Beat It - Fall Out Boy
Fidelity - Regina Spektor
Horny Hippies - The Dodos
Day Too Soon - Sia
Feel Good Inc - Gorillaz
E-Pro - Beck
Girl - Beck
Looking at the World From the Bottom of a Well - Mike Doughty
Mr. Brightside - The Killers

10% down!

Today I reached 10% of my fundraising goal! Thanks so much to those of you who have sent checks - those will be reflected on the official fundraising site soon.

Every 10% counts!


Here are the other milestones I'm working toward:

$1000 raised by the end of March (3/31)
$2000 raised by the Recommitment date - more about this in a minute (4/17)
$3000 raised by the middle of May (5/15)
$4000 raised by the fundraising deadline (6/16)

The Recommitment date is set by Team in Training as a halfway point. Half of the money is due by this date and I also "recommit" to the race and to raising the remainder of the money. It still feels a little daunting but maybe a bit more doable when I break it down into goals like this.

After a week of being under the weather with the winter crud, I was back in the gym tonight. It's always a little tough getting back in the saddle again, but I managed to make it about 4 miles tonight. Gotta work my way back up to the longer runs!

Marathon course map

The course map for the race has been released! At first, I was really excited. Then I looked at the map and it hit me just how far 13 miles is going to feel! (And, by the way, I thought to myself that I'm SO glad I'm not doing a full marathon.)

It looks like the course will have a nice view of the water. That will keep me distracted, right?? Maybe the music will help. I wonder if a new band every mile will be enough...

Do you think they will play "Final Countdown" for me as I cross the finish line?

Observations from the gym tonight

• LOVE: The guy who teaches aerobics in a tank top and briefs. I suppose if I was that ripped I might walk around like that too.
• DON'T LOVE: Lou Dobbs playing on the TV and no remote to change the channel.
• LOVE: The people at the front desk who are super friendly and know my name.
• DON'T LOVE: Running on the treadmill, especially if there isn't something good on TV.
• LOVE: The guy who wears bubble wrap on his head under his headphones. I am not kidding.
• LOVE: That the gym is just across the street from where we live.
  
• DON'T LOVE: That the gym is just across the street from where we live.
• LOVE: That I thought that tonight's 3 mile run was a "short" run. Never thought I'd see the day!
• LOVE: My NikePlus wristband. I'm so very addicted and it just might be the reason that I'm still running.

On my playlist

I've discovered an essential piece of running equipment - my iPod. I don't know that I could run without it. You know how just the right song can get you moving?  Well, I created this playlist for my very first 5k and I've used it a ton since then.  These songs just keep me going and I swear, I run faster.  (And yes, this is the trusty old school iPod I run with.  It's pretty indestructible.)

I have multiple playlists set up and thought I'd share a few of the essential songs that keep me going, especially when I've been confined inside by the Minnesota weather, running on the treadmill.  (The links will take you to iTunes.)

My 5K playlist
Paper Planes - MIA
Praise You - Fatboy Slim
Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) - Wyclef Jean
Just a Ride - Jem
Feelin' Alright - Joe Cocker
Wonderful Night - Fatboy Slim
Shake Ya Tailfeather - Murphy Lee, Nelly & P.Diddy

And for the strong finish ...
The Final Countdown - Europe   (It's my guilty pleasure song - cheesy yes, but the beginning of the song is perfect for the end of the run!)

What are your get up and move songs?