Back to Work
Goals for today:
1. Try to walk like I didn’t run a marathon 2 days ago.
2. Avoid all stairs at all costs.
3. Locate all the handicapped toilets. Handrails and higher seats are my friend.
I have finally started the daunting task of writing out thank you cards to each person who donated to my LLS fundraiser for the Chicago Marathon.
I have terrible handwriting so I have to try extra hard to make each card legible:)
Do you want a lovely card addressed just to you from me? It’s not to late. You can still make a donation.
I’m contemplating running a contest with prizes, but more to details to come on that later.
On a side note: I had 4 people unfollow me after I posted my vegetarian taco salad recipe earlier. Who knew taco salad could be so offensive ;)
Chicago Marathon training: Wk 1, Day 1: Strength Training/Cross training
I did 10 miles on the bike trainer for my cross training. I really need to get my bike off the trainer and back out on the road. Life has been getting in the way lately, so I haven’t made it to the bike shop yet for a new tube.
I then did 30 minutes of strength training at home. I couldn’t muster up the energy to go to the gym, so here is what I did using 8 lb. dumbbells.
Chest Press: 8 reps X 3 sets
Row: 8 reps X 3 sets
Triceps extension: 8 reps X 3 sets
Bicep curl: 8 reps X 3 sets
Crunches: 20 reps X 4 sets
Push ups: 10 reps X 4 sets
Plank: 30 seconds X 4 sets
Squats: 10 reps X 3
On deck for tomorrow: 3.5 mile tempo run.
Running for a Reason
In September of 2009, my dad and I decided to lose weight together. We were both obese and unhappy. We completely changed our diet and began to exercise more. He rode has bike and I ran. He came to almost every race I ran over the next 2 years. We even completed a duathlon together. He was waiting at mile 23 during my marathon. I wanted to quit, but seeing him kept me going.
On May 9th, 2012, he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. My world came to a screeching halt. He went into the hospital with a stress fracture, and came out with cancer. You never know how something like this will affect you, until it happens.
At first I was in shock. Then I got angry. Then the wheels started to turn. I had been planning on running the Chicago Marathon in a charity slot. I just hadn’t decided on the charity. It became immediately apparent which charity I would chose.
On October 7th, 2012 I will run the Chicago Marathon for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I will take the focus off my selfish goals of PR’s and medals. I will run this one for my dad. I will run this one for those who cannot run any longer. I will run this marathon for all who are no longer with us. Why? My goal since I changed my health has always been to help others live their best life. Now it is time to inspire and be inspired in a different way.
Help me kick cancers ass by making a donation. No amount is too small (or big). Together we can win this fight.
You can find my donation page here. I have also placed a widget on my blog.
Sorry for the incredibly blurry picture, but I’m jumping on an enormous trampoline. I just took a SkyRobics class with some friends.
Basically, it’s multiple trampolines connected together in a basketball court sized space. You run laps, you jump, you do core work. In general it was an hour long ass kicking. My heart rate was elevated and I was sweating buckets. The best part was it was fun. I couldn’t stop laughing. I felt a little uncoordinated at times, but by the end of class I was getting the hang of it. I will definitely do this again. If you have one in your area I would recommend it. You supposedly burn 1,200 calories an hour.
On an unrelated note, I may have decided to register for the Chicago Marathon. Apparently the entire Internet will be there. Plus one of my friends IRL will be taking on her first marathon in Chicago and it would be great to support her. Not sure if I’m completely mentally prepared to do another one, but it is 9 months away! Go big or go home, right?
Now to run 5+ miles, complete Fab Ab Feb day 4, check out the P90X DVD’s I just borrowed, and if I’m still alive, eat all the food.
