A Few Things My TnT Experience Has Taught Me:

• Running with a group makes the miles pass faster
• Try and stay on your feet
• Stay away from balloons (They mark the last of the runners at Disney ... anyone after the balloons gets picked up by the bus!)
• Listen to your coach, mentor and fellow runners -- they know what they're talking about
• Running without music is a good way to be alone with your thoughts
  
• I don't like cross country (I'm still sorry, Jamie!)
• There are a lot of supportive runners out there
• No one looks good in a Christmas sweater
• A run is a great way to start the day
  
• Rebel never gets tired
• Running in the rain is actually enjoyable
• Running in single-digit temps is not
• People are generous when you ask them to support a good cause
• Nothing beats a good pair of shoes
• People throw a lot of trash on the side of the road
  
• The first mile never gets any easier
  
• Showering at work isn't the end of the world
• Everyone should push themselves to do something they never thought they could
• Drivers don't pay attention to the road (or people running on the side of the road)
• You can never stretch enough (an IT Band injury hurts like hell!)
• The body can be hot and cold at the same time
• You really can change your life (and the lives of others) just by putting one foot in front of the other

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW

The Big 1-0 (and a half)

Well, this is it. My distance training is done. If I'm not ready now, I won't be ready for the race.

Sunday was the Big Day -- the day I ran my first double digit distance. It still feels a little strange to say that, despite the fact that over the months of training I've slowly started to think of myself as more of a "runner."

I'm definitely not fast, I'm sure my form is way off and I certainly don't have a runner's body (darn it!). But I like running. And, to me, that makes me a runner.

I ran 10 miles on Sunday. Yes, 10 miles. (Actually, it ended up being 10 1/2 miles.) It was the longest training run we'll do before the Big Race. Surprisingly, it felt good.

Maybe it was the warmer weather. (Boy, it sure is nicer running when it's in the 30s, a welcome change from the single digits I endured last week!) Maybe it was knowing that this run was the last shot at a long run before the race.

Whatever it was, I was pleasantly surprised that Sunday's run wasn't a struggle.

I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I was a bit nervous about the Big 1-0 on the training schedule. My mid-week training schedule hasn't been what it should be lately -- a battle for daylight, sub-freezing temps and the busy holiday season are a bad mix for training.

I made sure to hydrate a little more than I normally would on Saturday night and Sunday morning. I ate a good breakfast and did lots of stretching.

We started out slow, making our way through downtown Portsmouth. At points, we carefully navigated snowbanks and icy spots.

Our team is small now. Just me and the Disney marathoners, Kara and Erika. It was nice to have a small team on Sunday as we talked about all the Disney details -- where we would be to cheer each other on along the route, how we'd get to the airport, what we'd pack.

Race Day is finally in our sights -- not just a pie-in-the-sky training goal. We're talking details and thinking about what it will be like.

Dave, our mentor, ran the Disney Marathon last year and shared some inside tips with us. Kara and I agreed that we'd like to have Dave with us in Florida. He's a great mentor, running with us every week, offering us encouragement and practical advice -- not to mention a much-needed donation to our fundraising campaigns last week.

After the Downtown Loop, I ran the Newcastle Loop. It's been a while since I've run this route. It felt good to see the familiar sights and know the landmarks. It felt good to see Coach Jack pull up in his car along the route to check in on my progress. It felt good to hear Coach Jack and Dave clapping as I made it to the Old Mobil Water Stop -- only one mile to go at that point.

Dave joined me for the last mile. He pulled ahead of me as we turned into the school to end Sunday's run, so he couldn't see me smiling as I finished my 10+ miles on Sunday. But I know I was smiling.

We'll use the next couple of weeks to taper down our runs, giving our legs a chance to rest up for Race Day. (Judging by my tired legs Monday morning, I'll enjoy the shorter runs -- and be better prepared for some tired legs after Race Day.)

Despite the months of training and preparation, I can't believe that the Disney Half is just 16 days away. And I'm ready.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW

The Sales Pitch

The TnT program is about more than running. It's about achieving goals, helping others, doing things you never thought possible... and making lifelong friends.

That's a summary of what program organizers and past participants told us at the Info Night back in August.

I went to Info Night just to learn more. Maybe I'd take home a packet of information, think it over for a few days, then decide whether to join the program.

Yeah, that was my plan.

But after a sales pitch like that (it included a tear-jerking video of cancer patients thanking the runners, smiling participants crossing the finish line and other feel-good images), I took out my pen and starting filling out the paperwork left on our chairs. I think I might have even started filling out the paperwork before the video was done.

Jamie and her daughter, Summer, were in the seats in front of me.

She and I smiled at each other and might have made a friendly comment in passing. I don't think either one of us knew what we were getting into. I'm sure we were both questioning whether we could actually complete this challenge.

Little did I know that Jamie would become more just the girl in front on me at Info Night.

Since that day, Jamie and I have become friends. It started with us meeting up during the week for runs or competing in local races. But then our friendship grew to activities other than running. We've shared stories about our lives, offered advice, grabbed coffee together, did Christmas shopping, talked and shared plenty of laughs.

Just normal friend things.

On Saturday, Jamie and I went to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at Erin's house. (Yes, I'm including a photo. How could I not include a photo of a party with an Ugly Christmas Sweater theme?)

Erin is another fellow runner. She is a past participant of the TnT program, but still often joins the group for Sunday runs. After her TnT race, she kept running. As Jamie and I flipped through the photo album of her races, we decided we want to keep running.

Erin probably doesn't know it, but Jamie and I look at her as the success story of the program. Perhaps our unofficial mentor. She did it, so can we.

I guess those people at Info Night were right. Now all I have to do is finish my 13.1 miles.


REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW

Jingle Bell Time is a Swell (?) Time

As we turned the corner toward the starting line, a wintry blast of wind whipped our faces.

"Whose idea was this?" Katie said.

Yep, it was mine.

"You are never allowed to pick out races again," Jamie said to me.

And so started the Jingle Bell Run on Saturday. According to a weather report later in the day, it barely reached 4 degrees with the windchill factor in Concord.

Just a few days into my TnT program in August, I put two Jingle Bell Runs on my calendar, both of which were fundraisers for the Arthritis Foundation. Unfortunately, my IT Band problems prevented me from doing the 10K in Portsmouth a few weeks ago, so I was determined to make the 5K in Concord on Saturday.

And so I did -- despite the chilly temps and a hectic planned workday creating a float for Manchester's Christmas Parade (later cancelled due to the cold and wind).

Katie, a co-worker-turned-friend, agreed to join Jamie and I with her sister-in-law for the 10 a.m. race start.

It's a good thing we planned to go as a group. I have to admit that if I was planning on running solo I might have taken one step outside and decided against it. But knowing there were people waiting for me, made me know I couldn't back out. So I bundled up in several layers and headed out.

The four of us (five if you include Katie's dog, Buffy) found each other amid the Santa Claus hats, running elves and other Christmas costumes.

The race went rather quickly. It was a nice course. No hills. Jingle Bells pinned to the runners' sneakers made a festive sound as we made our way through the 3-mile loop.

Somewhere along a dirt road on the route, a woman chatted with me as we ran. "Why do we do this?" she asked as the snowy wind hit our faces. I laughed slightly and said, "Because we like it???" ( I emphasized the question marks strongly.)

We talked a little the type of weather we like to run in, other races around the state and a few other topics. As we parted ways (I can't remember if I pulled ahead of her or she went ahead of me), I thought more about here question: Why do we do this?

I thought about the training schedule for my half marathon. I thought about the social aspect of meeting a few friends for a Saturday morning run. And I thought about my mom, whose rheumatoid arthritis has taken away many of her physical abilities and required numerous joint replacement surgeries.

That's why I ran on Saturday. The four of us running together donated around $100 to the Arthritis Foundation with our registration fees.

I know that no matter how miserable the weather was -- the bone-chilling temps and snowflakes in the air -- or how busy the rest of her day was supposed to be, my mom would give anything to be able to run like that.

And I'm sure, when her doctor introduces a new treatment, she'll be reminded that perhaps it was funded with money from the Arthritis Foundation. My $23 registration fee and a bit of cold on a Saturday morning could make a difference.

Suddenly it didn't seem so cold after all. Okay, that's a lie. It still seemed ridiculously cold, but it still made the end of the run a little easier.

Read more answers to the question "Why Do I This?" at these posts (both of these are linked under the September archive):

The Cancer Center:
www.disney13miles.blogspot.com/2007/09/cancer-center.html

I Run Because I Can:
www.disney13miles.blogspot.com/2007/09/i-run-because-i-can.html


REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW

Another Turkey with an IT Band Problem?

Running in a Winter Wonderland

It's just Thanksgiving, but this week Mother Nature gave us a quick jolt of winter with a bit of snow and ice.

The change in weather made me focus a bit more on bundling up, so my running attire now includes tights, a long-sleeved shirt, headband/earwarmer, gloves and a jacket. It's a long way from the days when I first started the program in a tank top and shorts -- and was still too hot.

And, I've learned it's actually possible to be warm and cold at the same time. Although my body is warmed up from running, the outside is still chilly. I feel the cold on my face, ears, hands, legs and feet, despite the fact that I'm working up a sweat.

I've always loved the way my neighborhood looks after a snowfall. The snow sticks to all of the branches that create a sort of canopy on the road.

Despite the chilly temps, I enjoyed the change of scenery. I've now seen the running route through the lush green of summer, the autumn colors and now the start of winter.

It made me glad once again that my slight injury didn't sideline me for long.

I did 7 miles on Sunday, 4 miles on Wednesday and 5 miles on Thursday. I'm on track to get back up to 8 miles this upcoming Sunday -- and looking forward to it.

This Thanksgiving, perhaps I should be thankful that I let myself get so ahead in the training schedule at the beginning of the program. I didn't fall behind with my injury and now am right where I should be.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW

On The Mend

I've followed the doctor's orders precisely (yes, really) and took a full week off from running. I didn't realize how much I would miss it.

Every time I passed a runner on the street or saw my running shoes sitting next to my bed, I'd get the urge to go out for a jaunt. But I resisted, even though my leg was feeling much better. I continued the regimen of anti-inflammatories, rest, plenty of stretching and ice.

Last night, a week and two days after visiting the doctor, I decided to give it a try.

I changed into my winter running clothes, laced up my shoes ... and stretched. And stretched and stretched and stretched.

Rebel couldn't contain his excitement to get back to running. He ran from one end of the house to the other, spinning circles and jumping up and down. He finally sat still long enough for me to look his collar and leash to him, along with two flashing lights.

As I put on my reflective vest, I couldn't help but think that getting ready for this run was going to take a long longer than the actual run itself... kind of like when you're a little kid and spend an hour bundling up to play in the snow, then get bored and decide to come inside after only a few minutes.

The run started slow. It was dark, which made it difficult to navigate any obstacles (mailboxes, sticks, rocks, etc.). I admit that perhaps I'm a bit paranoid after my fall.

My leg ached a bit, but it was nothing like the shooting pains that I felt during my last run. I took advantage of Rebel's somewhat frequent bathroom stops and got in a few more stretches along the way.

About a mile out, I still felt fine. I was tempted to keep going, but decided not to push it. I did a little more than 2 miles, then came home to stretch some more and ice.

Sure is nice to be back.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW

Dealing with IT

I've been sidelined. And it's killing me.

The nagging pain on the outside of my right leg turns out to be Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome, a common running injury.

The IT band is a tough group of fibers that run along the outside of the thigh and across the knee. As the fibers rub on the outer knee bone (that's about as medically technical as I can get), it causes friction. And friction causes pain.

Plenty of pain.

I showed up for Sunday's team run fully intending to do the 7 miles I had on my training schedule. But not far into the run, I knew that wouldn't happen. The pain in my knee was getting worse and shooting up my hip with every step.

I gave up trying to stick with the pack early into the run. At points I even walked. When I looped around at Mile 4, bringing me back to the school, I decided I wouldn't push it any more that day. I couldn't.

I described the pain to Coach Jack and he immediate diagnosed it as a problem with my IT band. Cut down my running, he said, and stretch, stretch, stretch.

Yesterday I visited the doctor (now anyone who knows me knows that I was really hurting if I ended up in the doctor's office) to get confirmation of Coach Jack's diagnosis. (Not that I didn't believe him, of course...)

My doctor, as it turns out, is a marathon runner. She, like Jack, immediately diagnosed the IT Band problem. She had one herself when she started running, she told me.

She twisted and turned by leg in every direction, pushed on my knee and checked for any other potential injuries. No major problems.

So she prescribed an anti-inflammatory, icing several times a day and lots of rest. She sent me home with a packet of info about the IT Band, injuries, stretching and recovering.

The good news is that the prognosis looks good. A few days off my feet, maybe more.

Probably the most disappointing part is that it's unlikely that I'll be running alongside my teammates participating in the Seacoast Half Marathon on Sunday.

But at least it won't sideline my plans for the Disney Half Marathon.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW.

Don't Hit Me!

Okay, I admit it. I've always been a little afraid of the dark. Maybe a lot afraid.

I usually sleep with a light on somewhere in my house. I jump at every little noise and imaginary movement. I don't check the mail at the end of my driveway after dark. And I've even been known to run from my car at to my front door at night.

Perhaps that's why I've spent so much time lately making sure I'm properly equipped to deal with the months of shorter daylight.

My recent purchases include two clip-on flashing lights (one for me and one for Rebel) and a reflective vest. Things I've thought about buying, but could not justify spending the money quite yet, include a near-glowing jacket, reflective arm bands, flashlights, and an arm band with a super-bright light.

And, I must not keep the fact that I'm scared of the dark a secret because a co-worker dropped off light-up dog collar this morning, saying he doesn't use it for his pitbull anymore. I'm a little concerned that it might be a bit tight on Rebel's neck, but I'm willing to try it.

I figure if I combine all of these things, I might be brave enough to run after dark.

I'm not sure if I'm really that worried about getting hit by a car ... or whether I'm just scared of all of the noises in the woods I'll hear along the way. On the bright side, I bet I'll run faster.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW.

Could Have Been Worse

Move It Indoors

It's dark in the morning. Really dark.

Even with the recent purchase of a reflective vest and flashing lights, it's still too dark in the morning for me to get a decent run in before I have to get to work.

Plus, my street has no lights, a small shoulder and fast drivers -- despite the 30 mile an hour posted limit. Too dangerous for a morning run.

So this morning, I woke up before daybreak and headed to the gym. I didn't do a run as I had planned, but got a good 45 minutes of cross training in. Another good way to start my day -- and a reminder that I haven't been focusing on cross training as much as I should have been.

We change the clocks back this weekend, which means I'll get some daylight in the morning during the next couple of weeks. Hopefully that will translate into some morning runs.

But I'll lose virtually all evening daylight. Looks like this morning is the first of many indoor workouts.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW.

You're sure? Last Chance RE-Commitment Deadline... Again.

As if making a commitment isn't meaningful enough, the TnT program has something called RE-commitment.

And today is RE-Commitment Day.

They might as well call it Are-You-Absolutely-Sure-You-Want-To-Do-This Day. It's the last chance to say you might not complete the program -- at least in terms of fundraising.

While I believe that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society does care about whether I can complete the 13.1 miles in Disney, I think they're more concerned that I can make my fundraising commitment.

After all, let's not forget that the Team In Training program is largest fundraising program for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The 75 people on my Disney Team alone will raise more than $260,000. That's one small team for one event. Multiply that out by the number of runners that raise money for events nationwide over the course of a year, and it's not hard to see that the TnT program is pretty valuable.

So what happens on RE-Commitment Day?

Basically, I sign pages of papers saying that, no matter what, I'll raise the $3,500 I pledged to raise as part of the program.

I'm lucky enough to have passed the RE- commitment minimum ($875), so I didn't have to dig into my own pockets. If I hadn't gotten to that point yet, they'd charge the balance to my credit card. (I'd get it back after meeting my fundraising goal.)

The next drop-dead date for fundraising is Dec. 5. That's the date by which I have to have $3,500 in my fundraising account. Otherwise, again, the balance gets charged to my credit card. (I'm committed to not letting that happen!)

I'm a little over half way to my goal, thanks to the many donations offered up by friends, family and colleagues. I can't thank them enough.

It seems like the running part has become the easier part of my commitment so far, but I'm hoping the second half of my fundraising will fall into place. It has to. I'm committed -- even if it means stepping up the gentle e-mail reminders and nudging a bit more for donations in person.

A friend of mine believes that you can add "re" to any word. (I learned this after hearing him use the word re-perfume. I'm still not convinced that this is a word.)

I don't think commitment is one of those words that ever needs a "re." A commitment is a commitment, plain and simple. No need to RE-commit.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW.

Nature's Rules, Danielson

"First learn walk, then run. Nature's rule, Danielson, not mine."

Mr. Miyagi was probably telling Danielson to master the basics first, but I've decided to take Mr. Miyagi's advice, passed on to me last week by a somewhat anonymous poster to by blog, as telling me to take it slow.

Actually, he was probably telling me that I should master walking, without falling, before I decide to run. But I'd like to think the Mr. Miyagi isn't quite that sarcastic.

Plus, who can't use a little advice from Mr. Miyagi every once in a while?

I showed up for yesterday's team run feeling a bit more uneasy than normal. I had only run once during the week and it didn't feel good. My knee was bothering me and I walked the last half mile.

My training schedule had me set to do seven miles, which before my fall wouldn't have been a problem. I left the mileage box on the sign-in sheet blank as I checked in Sunday morning, deciding I'd wait to see how I felt. I could always turn around at any point.

The runners training for the Seacoast Half Marathon coming up in a couple of weeks would do six miles. Maybe I would make it that far, maybe I wouldn't.

I started running with the usual group, but soon found that their pace was a bit too fast for me on this particular day. I hung back a bit and took it slow. Scott, who had run four miles before the group run, decided to slow his pace a bit, too, and joined me for a 10-minute-per-mile run.

I noticed a few more aches in my legs than usual. Who knows, they could have been there on past runs but I might not have noticed. I seemed to be more winded. I attributed this to a week with only one short run.

Around the two-mile mark, I told Scott I wasn't sure I'd make the whole distance. If I turned around now, I'd finish four miles. Would another two miles, which would complete the six-mile loop, make that much of a difference? Probably not.

So I continued on, with a few short walk breaks along the way.

Somewhere between Miles 4 and 5, I wanted to stop. Just make it to the Old Mobil Water Stop, not far away, I told myself. And I did. I had run at least five miles.

I took a longer-than-usual break for Gatorade and a stretch, then made a right turn to head back to the school. It was roughly a mile away.

I ran just a short way when I noticed a stronger pain in my right leg -- the opposite side than my affected knee. The pain went almost from my hip to my ankle. I ran a few more steps. Then walked a few. Tried running again. Then walked.

So I decided to walk the rest of the way. I walked at a pretty brisk pace, rationalizing that a quick walk was better than a painful slow jog.

As I approached the cemetery on South Street, I crossed the road and made my way through the gate.

I walked along the paths, looking at the gravestones as I passed. Many of the people buried there had died in the 1800's, some at a young age. Most were marked with "mother," "father" or other family labels. Some didn't even have names, at least any that I could see as I walked past.

I wondered how long it had been since someone visited their graves -- someone other than a person out walking their dog or a would-be runner taking a shortcut through the cemetery.

The cemetery was a lot bigger than I thought, and as I approached a part where paths converged from all sides, I wondered if I really knew the quickest way out. Was this really a shortcut?

I realized it didn't really matter at that point. I was enjoying the change of scenery and taking in the history of the cemetery.

I've always been intrigued by cemeteries. Who are the people there? What did they do during their lives? Why had people forgotten about them as life went on?

I made my way to the South Street exit, just a few steps from the school entrance.

I walked up to the group of runners who had completed their six miles. I was feeling relatively pain-free. I told Jack about the pain in my right leg. He explained, as I had expected, that I was compensating because of the injury to my left knee. Happens all the time.

He told me to take it easy this week, get in a couple of short runs and do what feels good. That advice is almost as good as Mr. Miyagi's.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW.

Back On My Feet ... Sort Of

After a two-day hiatus from running, I decided this morning to lace up my sneakers and try to get a quick 3 miles done before work.

I felt pretty good at first. My knee didn't bother me. And, Rebel was surely happy to get out for a run.

I made careful note of all the potential obstacles along the road -- broken pavement, loose gravel, branches, fallen pine needles and a host of things I wasn't worried about falling over before Sunday's mishap.

This morning's run was much slower than previous runs. I could tell because Rebel was far ahead of me. He usually runs right beside me and lags behind by the end of the run. I kept the pace slow and steady.

Most of the fallout (no pun intended) from my injuries on Sunday seemed to be surface injuries -- lots of scratches and road rash on my knee and shoulder. I've kept them bandaged up and gobbed Neosporin on the cuts to help heal. My knee was a bit swollen and is starting to bruise.

Somewhere after Mile 2 this morning, I noticed a bit more throbbing in my knee -- more than a surface scratch. Around Mile 2.5, I could feel myself favoring my right leg and starting to limp.

I decided to call it quits and walk the rest of the way home. I reminded myself of something Coach Jack told us when we started the training program: Walk is not a four-letter word.

On my way up the driveway, I checked my mailbox and was pleasantly surprised to see a $50 donation to my fundraising campaign. It reminded me that I still have $2,000+ to raise, so I dropped another 60 letters in the mail today.

For the rest of the day, I've made note of the increasing ache in my knee. Maybe I overdid it. I have been known to do that before. Sometimes a bit to ambitious and too much of an over-achiever.

I've popped several Advil today to help deal with the pain and am looking forward to the ice pack that awaits me tonight.

My plan is to take it easy for the next couple of days, maybe take a few walks and ease back into a run.

No need to risk further injury. Plenty of time 'til Disney.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW.

Blood, Sweat and on the Verge of Tears

Today I added two new words to my vocabulary: stacked and proprioception.

If you're a runner or a cyclist, you've probably already figured out that I learned these new words the hard way.

To stack is cyclists' lingo for falling or wiping out. Proprioception is a person's ability to envison how their body will move next.

Here are the words used in a sentence, Spelling Bee style: A lack of proprioception will cause a person to stack.

I learned these two new words while spending the second half of this morning's team run in the first aid van. Yep, that's right. I stacked. Big time.

Nothing about this morning's run was typical. We started from a new location because we were going to run 10 miles of the Seacoast Half Marathon route. We didn't have the warm up loop or the regular stretching. We were shuttled to Brackett Road, where we ran our way toward the ocean.

It was a great day for running along the ocean, even if the warmer-than-usual temperatures made us all sweat a bit more than we normally would. For the first four or five miles, we made our usual chit-chat, talking about the upcoming races, children and pets, and any other topics to pass the time.

Then it happened.

Around Mile Five, as a group of us made our way along a narrow road, my shoe caught the edge of some broken pavement. I could feel myself going down. I saw the ground rapidly approaching my face. There was nothing I could do to stop it.

Based on my injuries, my left knee took the brunt of the fall. But I somehow also managed to hit with my right shoulder and chin. The palms of my hands were scraped. Dirt covered the front of my tank top.

I sure wish I had a video of the fall. I'm certain it wasn't graceful. Arms and legs everywhere, with a finale of my face hitting the pavement.

It may have been a YouTube hit.

The group run came to a screeching halt while a picked myself off and brushed off. Was I okay?

My first instinct was to laugh -- and I'm sure I did. Did I really just fall on the side of the road? How many people had seen it? I think my ego was more bruised than any part of my body at that point.

I took a few steps. No shooting pains or anything extremely uncomfortable. The scrapes burned, though, and blood was running down my leg. We walked briefly to make sure I was okay. Our team mentor, Dave, who was running next to me when I stacked, asked if I wanted to continue or wait to be picked up.

I felt fine -- except for the burning scrapes and blood -- so we picked up running at a slow pace.

I really did feel fine even as we started running. I knew the water stop at the Old Mobil was not far away, so I could get cleaned up there and continue on.

As we turned into the Old Mobil, our run coach, Jack, and other TnT volunteers jumped out of their cars and shuffled me over to the First Aid Van (also known as the van that carries Gatorade, plays motivating music at certain points of the route and holds the extra layers of clothing that we peel off as we get hot).

Bob, who is trained in first aid, and Jack cleaned up my wounds and prepared an ice pack to combat the impending contusion on my knee. Every team runner who stopped for water, checked in on me and asked whether I was okay.

We also documented the injuries and treatment via camera phones. Here's your blog topic for today, someone said.

I weighed the thought of continuing on, but as my knee started to throb a bit more, I decided not to push it anymore.

So, I bandaged up the ice pack and rode around in the front seat of the van with Bob and his dog, Marley. We drove the route checking on runners and offering water.

Today's run was the Big One for the Seacoast runners. They finished 10 miles today.

I'm sorry I couldn't join them. I drove away this morning feeling a little disappointed that I only did about five miles. But, hey, it was still five miles -- a heck of a lot farther than I was running just a few weeks ago. And there's plenty of time for me to do a 10-mile run.

Plus, I'm coming away with a few battle scars to remember this experience.

I literally put my blood and sweat into this morning's run. At least I didn't have the tears.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE. Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

TO POST A COMMENT, CLICK ON THE "# comments" LINK BELOW.

Running Among Us

We added a new member to our team this morning: Kristen's husband, Paul.

I've run with Kristen a few times and learned that Paul went through treatment for lymphoma a few years ago. In May, doctors found that his lymphoma had returned.

The news prompted Kristen -- and now her husband -- to join the TnT program. Both are training for the Seacoast Half Marathon that will take place in a couple of weeks.

They're running now, she once told me, because he's healthy enough to do so. His lymphoma is in the beginning stages, so much so that doctors aren't even treating it yet.

But Kristen and her husband, along with their two children, have been through the treatments already and they know what might lie ahead.

When you hear about someone with lymphoma, you might picture someone who looks sick. I know I did when Kristen told me about her husband.

But Paul looked anything but sick. He was muscular and looked strong. And he came ready to run this morning, right down to his brand new running shoes. He joined the team for our usual stretching and warm-up lap. We went around the circle and confirmed our distances for the day.

Most of the group, including myself, would do 9 miles.

Our run coach, Jack, quietly asked Paul if he was up to speed. Paul said he was. And we were off.

As with most Sunday runs, the team soon split off into various groups. For a while, I ran with Amy, who just completed her first marathon last weekend, and another woman, who ran 20 miles last weekend and will complete a marathon in Ireland in a couple of weeks.

Both had good words of advice for us first-timers.

Soon, I found myself running with Kristen, Paul and Scott. We ran along the New Castle shoreline and on the route that's become a familiar Sunday run.

We made a stop at the old Mobil for some Gatorade, and Scott convinced me to try my first taste of GU (a gooey energy gel designed to give your body the boost it needs during long runs).

It was just like the name sounds. Gooey and sticky. The taste wasn't bad, but the consistency will take some getting used to.

Kristen described the taste and texture of the vanilla flavored GU as "what it would taste like if someone chewed up chocolate and caramel and gave it to you." She wasn't far off, but I'm thinking that this shouldn't be their marketing strategy.

Full of GU and Gatorade, we made the turn in Rye, where Kristen and Paul pulled ahead of Scott and me around Mile 7 or so.

It was inspiring to see Paul, someone who we're out there running for, running among us this morning -- or, in my case, running ahead of me and kicking my butt on the 9-Miler.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

RE: Thank You!

Earlier this week, I left a few fundraising letters in the mailboxes of some of my co-workers. I was (pleasantly) surprised to learn of two online donations within just hours of dropping off the letters. Each one was for $100.

I was expecting perhaps a few donations for $25 or $50 after delivering the letters, so I was impressed by and very appreciative of their generosity. (I still need those $25 and $50 donations, though!)

Below are email messages I received along with the donations (the names have been removed to protect the innocent).

Each message talks to a different aspect of the TnT program -- to find a cure for blood cancers in the long-term and, in the short-term, to help someone (me) reach a running goal.

I'm the kind of person that re-reads words of encouragement over and over when I need a little boost, so I saved these in my inbox and thought I'd share them here.

#1

Teresa, I truly understand where you are coming from when your note spoke of your mother. My Dad suffers from Leukemia. He's an old buck and is really toughing this out. His type of leukemia is incurable. They can make him comfortable with it. To date, he's doing OK but any other complications, like a cold, really take him down fast.

So..run, lady, run! Let's find a cure for this so that no one needs to suffer from this moving forward. All the best!


#2

You're welcome.

I'm excited for you. I think it's great for what you're doing -- for others and for yourself.

Half marathons are great. They're long enough that you get a great sense of accomplishment from completing them, but they're not so long that you have to turn a good part of your life over to training for them -- the way you have to for marathons.

Best of luck in your training and in the race itself. And have fun. If you're able to do an 8-mile run at this point, you'll have no trouble completing 13.1 miles in three months.


REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

(Not) On My Own

We got an email on Friday from our run coach, Jack, with the subject line "On Your Own."

Another local Team In Training group had their big event today, the Maine Marathon, which meant our coach, mentor and other TnT folks would be in Portland cheering them on.

Do the Long Run on my own? Well, not exactly.

Even though we didn't have an official team run scheduled for this week, Jamie and I agreed to meet up at the school. Another team member, Scott, sent out an email saying that he planned to run if anyone would be there. I responded that we'd be there if he wanted to join us.

I went to bed last night listening to the rain coming down harder than I had remembered in a long time. I fell asleep hoping I would wake up to better weather for the Long Run.

It was better, but still rainy. In the mist of the drizzly morning, the three of us met at the school.

Scott, who has participated in other TnT programs and ran the Disney Marathon last year, took us on a new route this morning. The change of scenery was nice. We looped around the streets of downtown Portsmouth, around Stawberry Banke and even over the drawbridge to Maine at one point.

We might be the only TnT team that does inter-state runs, Scott noted.

The rain, which didn't seem to bother me as much as I thought it would, tapered off. The weather was cool, but comfortable.

The only thing offering any discomfort this morning was my new feul belt, which carries small water bottles to keep me hydrated on the long runs. The belt is made of thick elastic that is fastened around my waist with Velcro.

It's definitely designed to be functional, not fashionable.

I'm sure I'll get used to it after a couple of runs, but I spent the first couple of miles this morning fidgeting with the placement of the bottles and trying to find the right spot for the belt on my waist.

My left arm rubbed part of the belt as we ran, chaffing the inside of my arm. I made some more adjustments, which seemed to help, but I'll have to fiddle with it some more before the next run.

I was surprised at how much weight four tiny bottles added as I ran, and I was aware of the sloshing sound of the water and Gatorade in the bottles strapped around my waist.

Sloshing and splashing. This morning's run was filled with sounds of water -- my feul belt, cars zipping though puddles, the water passing under the bridge as we passed.

Jamie made the turn to run a 4.5 mile loop. Scott and I continued on to do the full 8 miles, with just a quick stop back at the cars around Mile 5 for Scott to deal with an emerging blister.

Around Mile 7, he asked me how I was holding up. He heard my voice wavering as I replied, "I'm doing alright." ("Alright" is my way of saying I could be doing better.) He admitted that he, too, was feeling tired.

It was one of those moments when I told myself that I knew I could finish and that I would feel a lot better after completing the full mileage. But at that moment my legs were tired, I was wet and I knew my muscles would feel the effects of the Long Run later in the day.

If it hadn't been for running with a partner this morning, I probably wouldn't have pushed myself to do the 8 miles on my own.

After completing the run, I received a voicemail from Jamie thanking me for meeting up this morning. I listened to her message, which was full of words of encouragement, several times. This evening, Scott sent an email telling me that the ran wore him out. He, too, offered praise for a good run.

Even when we're on our own with the TnT program, we're never really on our own.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

Little Moments

Today I ran my first official road race -- finishing a 5K (3.1 miles) in Salem in just over 28 minutes.

The time, which was 4 minutes faster than last week's 5K cross country race, was good enough to earn me a third-place finish in my age group (but just shy of earning me one of the medals they gave out for first and second places).

I might be crazy, but I'm already thinking about other upcoming races I can enter. I can't ignore the voice inside me telling me I can do better. Seasoned runners warned me I'd get addicted. They were right.

But it's not just about running.

During this morning's race, I wondered how much money runners raise for various charities in a given running season? I bet it's a lot.

Even if they're not part of an organized fundraising effort like Team In Training, runners pay registration fees to be passed on to various charitiable organizations.

Today I did my part to help the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. Knowing that my money is going to a good cause (not to meniton it's productive part of my training), makes it easier to hand over the registration fee.

Although I'd like to say that I ran today's race because I was connected to the cause, I picked it more because of its mileage, location and date. But I was particularly glad to discover, after downloading the registration form, that my $18 would go to support autism research.

During the past two years, I've learned a lot more about autism than I ever thought I would. I've listened to how it affects not only the children affected by the disorder, but also the families that deal with the situation. I've learned first-hand through my volunteering at UpReach Therapeutic Riding Center how the disorder affects children in different ways.

As I ran today's race (wondering somewhere around Mile 2 why exactly I enjoy putting my body through this), I thought about the autistic children I've come to know through conversation -- and those I've worked with personally.

My thoughts turned to Sofya, the first student-rider assigned to me at UpReach. Looking at Sofya, you'd see a perfect little 8-year-old girl. She has long brown hair pulled up in a pony tail and brilliant blue eyes. Her outfits, even around the barn, were always perfectly color-coordinated. Her tiny fingernails usually were painted pink.

But just a few minutes into the lesson, it was evident that she wasn't like most 8-year-olds. Sofya would often look at you in the eye, but it was almost as if she was looking through you. It was as if she wanted to say something or wanted to communicate, but couldn't.

For an hour each week, we worked with Sofya to help her become more verbal. We took pride in her small victories -- saying the horse's name when prompted, trying to say the word "trot" or acknowledging a direction with a nod.

After remembering those little moments, somehow running that last mile didn't seem like such a challenge after all.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

No Need For Speed

At one of our first training runs, a Team In Training alum told us not to worry about trying to run fast. If you run too fast, he said, you'll miss all of the interesting things you pass.

Here are a few of the sights, sounds and smells I noticed on tonight's 4-mile run:

• A little blonde-haired girl waving to me from her swingset
• Barking dogs in every size
• The familiar smell of a horse barn at dusk
• A baby crying
• A flattened chipmunk that didn't make it across the road
• Leaves just starting to turn on the trees
• A few new For Sale signs on front lawns
• More discarded cups, bottles and other trash items than I care to count
• Rebel's toenails clicking on the pavement
• The sounds of an argument coming from inside a home
• The clanging of tools as a man worked beneath his truck
• The smell of someone's laundry
• Fallen apples from a roadside tree
• The jingle of Rebel's collar
• The alert stares of horses in a pasture
• The sputtering of a sprinkler on a perfectly green lawn
• The steady sound of my sneakers on the pavement

It's amazing what you see, hear and smell when you take a few minutes to notice the world around you ... and I wasn't even running that slowly tonight.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

100 and counting

Exactly 100 days to go!

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

Do The Goo

You learn a lot about your body when you ask it do to things it's not used to doing.

This morning, for example, my body made it through an 8-mile run -- definitely something it's never been asked to do before.

Surprisingly, my body didn't seem to mind the distance. My feet didn't hurt, my knees didn't ache and I had more endurance than I expected.

I know it's because I'm doing it right -- following the training schedule, keeping hydrated and eating something like a PowerBar before the run. Plus, I'm diligent about stretching before and after the runs.

But as Dave and Scott, a couple of marathon alums, reminded us during this morning's run, I'll soon have to start learning how to keep my body going during the run.

Somewhere along the running route this morning, Dave and Scott reached into the pockets of their fuel belts (another distance running essential) and each pulled out a small foil packet.

"Have you guys tried goo yet?" one asked me and another teammate who was running in the group.

Neither of us had tried it. Just the name -- goo -- didn't make it sound like something we'd be eager to try.

Dave and Scott advised us to try it soon and get used to it before our races. Find flavors we like, find what works for us. We'll be happy that we did, they said. Our bodies will thank us.

"Goo" is actually spelled GU and is the brand name of an energy gel designed to keep your muscles going and mind alert during extended periods of exercise. (This morning's run lasted one hour and 25 minutes.)

Dave and Scott brushed over the basics of the science behind the substance -- something about your body only being able to provide a certain amount of energy and needing a quick fix along the way. They each took a shot of GU about 40 minutes into the run.

Curious, I later jumped online to learn more about the mysterious substance, learning quite a lot about how the body burns energy during exercise and probably adding a few new words to my vocabulary.

I also found a whole host of customer reviews on various websites. Depending on who you ask, GU is either the greatest product ever invented or something not fit to be consumed by humans.

Dave and Scott seemed to recommend it. And I know that my body will need something to help it going as our runs get longer.

Undoubtedly, GU will become just another part of my long runs. I just wish they had a better name for it.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

Do You Like Cross Country?

"Do you like cross country?" the woman behind the registration table asked Jamie and me as we handed in our paperwork for this morning's race.

"I'll tell you when I'm finished," I replied.

Cross country? Yikes.

Jamie and I had decided a few weeks back to search for area 5K road races. I found one online and sent the link to Jamie. The day worked out for both of us and the race, in Dover, was convenient for us. So we decided that this would be the one.

What we didn't know at first was that we'd be running a cross country race, not a road race.

It wasn't easy. Although 3 miles should have been relatively easy for both of us, the course traversed hilly fields, a small footbridge and a wooded path. It was nothing like the running we were used to. We had to watch our footing carefully, stepping around stumps, rocks and other obstacles.

About half a mile into the course, Jamie and I exchanged a look that seemed to say "what have we gotten ourselves in to?"

I know, I said to her, this is my fault. I picked this race.

You're right, she said, this is your fault.

But we did it. I finished 35th out of about 75 runners. My time was 32:04. Jamie wasn't far behind me. We were both pleased with our performances.

It was the first race I'd ever run. Jamie and I decided that we should try another -- a road race next time.

Soon after crossing the finish line (and probably before), we decided cross country might not be our thing. Sure we did it, but it wasn't as enjoyable as we wanted it to be. It was certainly more enjoyable when it was over.

But I wouldn't trade this morning's experience.

We had some good laughs -- calling each other on the way to the race confiding that we were nervous, missing the exit to get to the race and unknowingly picking out one of the fastest runners before the race as the person we would use to pace ourselves. We both laughed when we saw him nearly a mile ahead of us at one point.

Plus, I tried something new, something outside my comfort zone. That's always a good thing.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

The First Mile

As I reached out from beneath my blankets this morning to turn off my alarm clock, I reminded myself of something our Team In Training mentor, Dave, had emailed the team last week. I've included a copy at the bottom of this post.

Dave is a TnT alum. He completed his first marathon a couple of years ago when he turned 50. He runs with us every Sunday, encouraging us to push ourselves farther, offer fundraising tips or talk about other aspects of TnT program.

When my alarm went off just before 6 a.m. today, it was dark and cold. The temperature was only 63 degrees inside my house. It was barely 40 degrees outside.

It was hard to get out of bed, but I knew I had to do it. With other commitments scheduled after work, I needed to get in a morning run if I was going to stick to the schedule.

I bundled up a little more than usual for my 3-mile jaunt. I clipped on flashing red lights -- one for me and one for Rebel -- so that passing drivers would see us on the side of the road.

For the first mile or so, I ran with my hands tucked inside the sleeves of my shirt to keep them warm. My face was cold. I could see my breath.

Rebel, on the other hand, seemed to love the cool air. He pranced around a little as we ran. If it's possible that dogs smile, he was definitely smiling when he looked up at me. Maybe he was laughing at me.

It's only September, I reminded myself.

The New England mornings are going to get darker and colder as my training progresses through the fall and winter months.

Soon, my body had warmed up. The chill in the air actually felt good.

Sometimes -- most times -- getting started is the hardest part.

THE FIRST AND LAST MILE

I just finished running.

It's 6:12am.

During the run many revelations came that paralleled this morning's run to life.

There are two very difficult miles to run no matter how long the run.

The First and the Last Mile.

I usually run five miles or more.

The first mile is the hardest and the one most missed.

You see, you have to get started to run the first mile.

It's hard to get started.

I have to get out of bed.

Those first few steps that wake a sleeping body are part of the first mile.

They are tougher than the steepest hill.

You have a race to run, a course to complete, or a project that awaits you.

You too have a first mile. And your first mile is tough, just like mine.

When I take my first step outside most of my run is completed.

I've accomplished the hardest part.

I've gotten started and stepped out.

The next few steps bring out the stiffness of your body as the muscles stretch and your lungs fill with the crisp, cool morning air. It's still dark outside and menacing shadows reach out from strange corners.

Darkness creates a different, somewhat eerie world.

There could be dangers in the shadows but danger usually doesn't get up this early.

If there are any aches and pains, the first mile will bring them out.

The greatest probability that you will give up and turn back is in the first mile.

The vast majority make new year's resolutions each year. Most have broken them at the end of the first two weeks.

The first two weeks is the first mile.

Miles 2, 3 and 4 are usually uneventful, but the last mile is a doozy. There is something about the last mile that's a real stretch and it doesn't matter whether I am running 2 miles or 10 miles. The last mile is a real stretch. The effects of the previous miles pile up but at the same time you can ‘see’ the finish.

And so it is with life.

To get started is a strain.

To finish is a stretch.

The First and The Last Mile

What's your first mile?

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

Putting the "Team" in TnT

My friend and teammate Jamie was missing from this morning's run -- or at least that's what I thought until I received a text message from her after running The Loop.

Here is our conversation, via text (abbreviations and text shortcuts included), that I think shows the "team" part of the Team In Training program:

9:05 a.m. - (Jamie) - Did the whole six w/o a walk break!! T/y so much for pushing me on wednesdays!
9:45 a.m. - (Me) - Awesome! Just finished the 6miles . . . did u go early 2day?
9:46 a.m. - (Jamie) - Yes i left a note on my car so you guys would know i needed to mk sure done by 930
9:49 a.m. - (Me) - Oh! I didnt even see it. Im sure jack did. Im so proud of you for doing the whole 6mi! The loop is nice isnt it?
10:09 a.. - (Jamie) - It is nice. Loved it!
10:10a.m. - (Me) - Me too! Cant wait til next wk! Sorry I cant do wednesday.

Jamie and I seemed to hit it off right from the start. She and her 3-year-old daughter sat in front of me at the informational meeting the night we signed up for the program. Since then, she has always been there for a quick word of encouragement. Recently, we've been meeting on Wednesday evenings to run a 3-mile loop in Dover.

We talk about our running progress, fundraising efforts, our jobs, our personal lives, whatever is on our minds. During the week, we check in with each other by email. In short, we've become friends.

Last week, she sent me an email saying she's glad that we both joined the Team In Training program at the same time. I'm glad, too.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

The Loop

Today I reached another milestone in training, completing a 6-mile loop through New Castle and Portsmouth.

It was the first time the Sunday run didn't include an "out and back," where the team runs to the half-way mark for that week's mileage, then turns around to head back to the starting point.

My training schedule had me slated to do 4 miles today. But I had already done 5 miles in last Sunday's run, so I thought I could add another mile.

On the sign-in sheet this morning, I checked off that I planned to run 5 miles. I didn't want to be overly ambitious and wanted to see how I felt once I started running.

Soon after I started, I knew I would go for the whole 6-mile loop. The weather was perfect, a cool bright morning. And running along the coastline was beautiful. I reminded myself more than once how much I enjoy living so close to the ocean.

Most of my team runs up until today had me running with a teammate -- mostly because we had the same pace and enjoyed chatting to pass the miles away.

Today was a little different. We all started together, but seemed to run at different paces. Soon we were spaced out along Route 1B.

As much as I enjoy running with a partner, it was nice this morning to have some time running alone. Even my runs at home are spent talking to Rebel and making sure he stays with me.

I enjoyed this morning's quiet. My shoes made a soft but steady sound as they hit the pavement. I spent my time taking in the scenery -- a heron in the harbor, beautifully manicured lawns and dozens of walkers, runners and cyclists who were also enjoying a morning of exercise on a crisp morning.

I could see my teammate in front of me for most of the way, and periodically glanced back to see the runner behind me. Our run coach, Jack, and other volunteers offered encouragement -- and a cup of Gatorade at the 5-mile mark -- at checkpoints and along the route.

Surprisingly, The Loop went by rather quickly.

I wasn't as winded or sweaty as I thought I would be, despite a tougher-than-expected hill on the last part of the route. The training must be working. Less than a month ago, I would have laughed if someone had told me I would be running 6 miles.

At the end of the run, a Team In Training alum shared her story of singing the "Rocky" theme song to help her make it up the last hill along The Loop. I'm pretty sure the song was going through my head, along with words of encouragement I repeated to myself as I ran the last hill. It helped. And I made it.

I had a good stretch at the end and left with that feeling that all of my teammates can relate to -- the feeling you get when you run farther than you've ever run before.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

3 1/2 hours

I spent some time online today learning more about the Disney Half Marathon and Marathon programs. (You can learn more about the events by clicking on the link on the right-hand side of this page.)

It's not only about how far you can run; it's also about how fast you can run.

Runners are required to maintain a 16-minute-mile pace during the race and complete the half marathon in 3 1/2 hours. There are checkpoints along the way, and if runners aren't keeping up pace, they'll be picked up and driven to the finish line.

There is no way that I'm letting this happen.

Before reading this, I really had no idea how long it would take to run a half marathon.

At training, our pace is somewhere between 10 and 11 minutes per mile. Not fast, for sure, but steady. As we feel the positive effects of our training, our pace is picking up. But we all know that as our distance increases, our per-mile pace will also increase.

I have no idea what a 16-minute mile feels like. I know that a brisk walk is about a 15-minute mile. So in reality I have to maintain a brisk walk pace to stay in the race.

But, 3 1/2 hours of running?

There are few things, if anything, that I do for 3 1/2 hours without taking a break -- even non-physical activities like watching television or working at my desk. Sleeping, I think, is the only thing that comes to mind.

In exactly four months today, I'll be running for 3 1/2 hours straight -- hopefully less. Unbelievable.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

Run the Course

Today was the 25th annual Union Leader Classic, an 8K (5mi) road race that starts and ends at the Union Leader building in Manchester.

As a non-runner and non-racer, I remember attending my first road race when I started working at the Union Leader a few years ago. I was overwhelmed by the amount of pre-race work that goes on behind the scenes -- ordering, sorting and folding T-shirts, arranging for drinks and food for runners, recruiting volunteers and sponsors and a whole laundry list of other details.

My first race day was even more overwhelming. Runners warmed up along open stretches of road and parking lot. The timing station was set up, trophies lined the front table and volunteers dealt with lines at race-day registration. People seemed to be everywhere.

Racers took off with a gunshot start and we waited. It didn't seem like long before the first runners were rounding the corner to complete the somewhat hilly five-mile course.

Inevitably around this time of year, person after person will ask in the days leading up to the Union Leader Classic whether I plan to run it. As the person in charge of the event, I should be on site to deal with any problems that arise, so I have a nice excuse not to run.

Plus, before signing up for the Disney challenge, I had never even thought about running a race. All that's changed now. I plan to run my first race, a 5K in Dover, at the end of the month and have looked into a couple of other 5Ks in the area during the upcoming months.

With a few years of experience, organizing race day has become a little easier and, for the most part, I know what to expect on race day.

The one part of race I wasn't familiar with was the actual course. So last night, after a day dealing with last-minute details for the race, I put on my sneakers and decided to try it. I knew it would be a challenge. And it was.

It was unusually hot, it was getting dark and the course seemed to go on forever, especially the stretch of road that runs along the lake where there are no houses. And the roads were much hillier than I've ever realized while driving in the car.

I certainly wasn't breaking any record speeds, but I was setting my own personal record -- my first five-mile run. Hopefully it was the first of many.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!

I Run Because I Can

While sitting at my office computer today, I received an email notifying me that another person had made a contribution to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

It was from my "Aunt" Kathy, my mom's college roommate.

In our younger years growing up in Toronto, my sister and I would spend nights at Aunt Kathy's. We would play games, climb onto her what-seemed-to-be-at-the-time giant bed and make ourselves at home.

I remember taking the subway for a day of shopping around the city as a little girl with my sister, mom and Aunt Kathy. I remember taking trips to her parent's lakeside cottage. I remember going on paddleboats at a small amusement park, Aunt Kathy always worried (like I was) that we would somehow get lost or stranded in the small pond.

Over the years and because of the many moves my family made along the way, we didn't stay as close to Aunt Kathy as we probably should have. She never had children of her own, and I think that we, along with her neices and the hundreds of kindergarten students she taught in her career, were her children.

This particular donation gave me pause for a moment today because about two years ago Kathy was left paralized from the neck down after what was supposed to be a routine surgery. After initially being in a coma, she had been transferred to a hospital where she endured attempts at rehabilitation. No one quite knew what the prognosis was. And still nothing is certain.

My mom found out almost by accident while arranging to see her during a quick trip I took with my parents up to Canada earlier this year. The news most certainly upset my mom, and I know that we were all a bit nervous about what condition we would find her in when we met her at the hospital.

We all felt a sense of instant relief when we opened the door to the tiny hospital room to find Aunt Kathy smiling widely. Without the use of her legs or hands, she was confined to a wheelchair and needed help to do the smallest tasks. Her husband, Richard, retired from his postal service job and spent every day at the hospital with her.

I remember marveling at how small she had gotten. Her leg muscles, after years of not being used, were basically non-existant. She weighed less than one hundred pounds. Her fingers seemed to be glued together and pointed straight out. She couldn't pick up anything, brush her hair, feed herself or even scratch an itch on her face.

And walking, well, that was a long way off. When we visited in April, she told us how proud you become of the little moments when in a situation like hers. She shared with us a story about finally being able to move her foot enough to tap a beach ball and the feeling of accomplishment that came with this once-simple task.

Sometimes it takes something significant to remind us to appreciate what we can do every day.

Since then, Aunt Kathy has moved back home. Her downtown home has been equipped with a chairlift, wheelchair ramp and other necessities to accommodate her new lifestyle.

It's not unlike my parent's house, which has been outfitted with medical devices to help my mom, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 30, move around and complete daily tasks.

Nothing comes easy for my mom. And I know nothing comes easy for Kathy, either.

I bet both of them would give anything to be able to get up and run with me in the morning just for one day -- even if it means waking up before the sunrise. I know when that alarm goes off, I'll want to stay under my blankets and get that extra 45 minutes of sleep.

But I have to remind myself that there may come a day when I won't have the option of getting up for a run. Or a walk. Or even getting out of bed without a struggle at all. Odds are I could get rheumatoid arthritis. Or, against the odds, I could have a sudden medical condition like Kathy.

I want to run because I can. And I want to run for those who cannot.

REMEMBER, I'M DOING THIS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
Have you donated to my fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society? If not, please consider doing so. You can donate online at http://www.active.com/donate/tntma/Teresa. Please pass this link to everyone you know. Every dollar helps me get a little closer to the Disney 13.1!