The Final Countdown

The Million Mile Run starts in five days. FIVE DAYS. In case you forgot, I’ll be running 100 miles in the month of September, also known as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Alex’s Lemonade Stand has issued a challenge – parents would go a million miles for their kids if it meant curing them from cancer. So why shouldn’t we?  I, personally, will be donating a dollar for every mile I run in September. Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer and the second overall leading cause of death of children in the United States. More than 10,000 children under the age of 15 in the United States are diagnosed with cancer annually. Please consider a similar pledge to help memeet my personal goal of raising $1,000 by September 30.

 

I am not a heavy mileage runner. 3 miles is usually perfect for me mid-week, and 6 miles for a long run is ideal (if I don’t sleep in instead). Gearing up to run 100 miles has required some training. So how have I been doing? 

August has obviously been the most dedicated. I had some tightness in my back that went away after some rest days, but I’ll have to keep an eye on that. So here’s how I plan on getting my miles in next month:

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Weekly Total
1-Sep	10	Rest	2.25	5	3	Rest	Rest	20.25
			9 x 400
8-Sep	9.3	Rest	4.1	5	3	Rest	5	26.4
	"race"		45 min tempo				pace
15-Sep	11	Rest	2.5	5	3	Rest	3	24.5
			10 x 400				pace
22-Sep	12	Rest	2.7	4	3	Rest	Rest	21.7
			30 min tempo
29-Sep	13.1	Rest
	OCNJ 1/2 Marathon							13.1

The highlighted days are days I’ll be in New York City for work. On September 8, I’m supposed to run a 15K race, but seeing as though they’re rare and I’m working, when I’m done work that day I’ll run the 9.3 miles as hard as I can. The mileage total right now is just shy of 106, so I should be “safe” in hitting my goal of 100 miles. This training cycle I’ve been trying to figure out speed work, so every time I’ve done 400 repeats or a tempo run I’m pretty sure I’m doing it wrong. My speed has been improving though, so I must be doing something right.

This is where I plan to get super annoying – I will be posting all my runs on Facebook and Twitter, so that I’m held accountable, and if you wanted to donate a set amount per mile, you’ll know how much to set aside that day. If you don’t care, this is your warning to hide me or unfollow me. ;-)

Are you looking for a free challenge to keep yourself motivated as summer winds down? You can register as an individual or a team and contribute to us collectively walking or running 1 million miles in one month to raise the visibility of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Remember, it's never too late to sign up - you can do so prior to September 1 or anytime throughout the month.  It's free to participate! Who doesn’t like free!? Register here now: http://www.alexslemonade.org/campaign/million-mile-run

Keeping this guy in my thoughts, today and always…

Five Weeks In

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged. Life has been so busy! Somehow it seems to go by faster every day. How is it less than a month until the Million Mile Run starts? Wasn’t I just in Chicago last weekend? What do you mean Chicago was almost two months ago?!

I wish I could say that it’s flying by so quickly because I’ve been running so much and so quickly. HA. I don’t think I’ve had a solid week of training since I “started” July 7. However, I’ve been able to fake it through most of the earlier weeks. All that running the past couple years has paid off for my current slacking!

That was, until Sunday’s run. I so did not want to do Sunday’s run. 7 miles. I wasn’t sure if I could fake 7 miles. 10K (6.2 miles) felt like it had killed me at the end. Somehow that extra 0.8 seemed like it actually would. I put off the run as long as I could that morning. I had to empty the dishwasher! I had to take care of the cats! I had to clean the shower (really – like that couldn’t wait until later). Eventually I ran out of tasks, so out the door I went. It wasn’t that hot (for August), but it was sunny. Mile 3 felt great.  Mile 4 felt impossible. Mile 5 I swore I was quitting… and then I saw vultures and had to gettheheckoutofthereASAP. At that point might as well go for 7 and get it out of my life.

 

Here are my very uneven splits. Talk about an awful hour and a half!

 

Other things I forget before going on the run:

• Sunscreen. I always forget this. It’s usually not a problem (for me) when I start before sunrise, but starting at 9:30 AM? Stupid.
• Body Glide. Two nasty spots on my back can attest to that.
• How annoying a water belt is – no seriously. Annoying.  So much easier for me to run with Dan and have him hold the water.
• That I’ve lost a little weight, and things fit differently now. In particular, the shoes I wore during the marathon are too wide now. Awkward blisters as a result. Time to send them to pasture.

The run, however, was a reminder that I can’t fake it anymore. I need to start taking training seriously if I want to hit my (super secret) goal time for this half marathon. It’s also time to start putting down the junk food, because it never tastes so good when you’re running after that meal.

Next week I'll be on vacation in Ocean City, NJ. Excited for some great runs down the shore!

All Too Familiar

One of the things most inspiring about Justin was his faith. There’s no question about it, that little boy had more faith than anyone I know, and inspired so many around him.

For those that don’t know, Justin’s father, Jeff, was diagnosed with duodenal cancer. He's had surgery, and they were able to remove the whole tumor, but we don’t know what will happen next until the pathology reports come back. It is a tough surgery with a long recovery period. I am hoping he won't need any chemo or radiation, but it never seems to be that simple.

First Kerry with breast cancer, then Justin’s brain tumors, now Jeff. If you were inspired by Justin’s faith, please take a few moments to send your prayers, thoughts, juju, good vibrations – whatever you believe in – to the Alvarez family.

I know they say when it rains it pours, but I mean it’s been 7 years this family has been battling cancer in some form or another. The Alvarez family has really earned some sunshine, don’t you think?

The Choice is Yours

One of the things I love most about Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation is that you get to pick where you want your donation to go. Have a specific cancer you want to fight? Want to support the travel fund, so that families can afford to make all the doctors appointments? How about supporting epidemology grants --  studying how, when and where diseases and cancers occur?

The choice is yours. You decide where your money goes. You choose how to help.

Here is an example of how ALSF is helping the medical community:

Project Title: Developing Immune-modulatory Strategies Against Primary and Metastatic Tumors in the Central Nervous System
Institution: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Grant Type: Innovation Award ($250,000)

"Your generous support for initiatives such as our research program is critical in a time when funding for childhood cancer is quite challenging."  - Alex Huang, MD, PhD

Dr. Huang and his team are embarking on a new research direction that is looking at using a childhood cancer patient's immune system to fight brain tumors, specifically medulloblastoma. Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children and despite aggressive therapy consisting of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, survival in high-risk medulloblastoma patients is only about 60%.

Dr. Huang's novel idea is to study how brain tumors "fool" a child's immune system and how they can harness the power of the immune system to actually fight the brain tumors. Specifically, they're studying the effects of modulating VCAM-1, a novel surface target of metastatic and aggressive tumors on tumor propagation and the outcome of associated immune responses. They are testing whether targeting VCAM-1 activity in vivo can be efficacious in combating tumors that have found sanctuary in the central nervous system.

If successful, findings from the study will have a huge impact across a wide spectrum of scientific arenas, help to develop targeted therapy, and significantly improve upon the outcome and quality-of-life measures in children suffering from the devastating disease.

I ask you to help in whatever way you can, however you see fit, by donating here: http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/113151

3.33 a Day

100 miles in a month sounds like a terrible idea. Injury provoking. Time consuming. Exhausting. Boring.

However, 100 miles in a month is only 3 1/3 miles a day. A little over an hour a day if you walk, or a half hour a day if you run (yes, you can walk or run the 100 miles). According to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, you should be getting at least 2 ½ hours of moderate exercise a week anyway – 5 being the optimal goal. So why not get out there and do 100 miles with me? There is no cost to register! Alex's Lemonade Stand simply asks that you try to collect a pledge for every mile you cover in September.

I can’t think of a better way to end the Million Mile Run than with a half marathon.  So come join me on September 29 in Ocean City, NJ!

There are three events this day that will help you get your miles in. There is a 5K run/walk, a 10 mile walk, and a half marathon. If you’re putting in a 100 miles that month, might as well have a goal at the end, right?

The 5K is $20, the 10 mile walk is $40, and the half marathon is $50.  You can learn more about the event and register here. Can't make the big day? You can always compete virtually, and donate the "race fees" to Alex's Lemonade Stand!

Million Mile Run

You may remember last October I ran the Marine Corps Marathon with Alex’s Lemonade Stand in memory of my nephew Justin. Thanks to your love, support, and wallets, we raised $1,813! This money was used to help out families and children battling cancer, as well as provide grant funding to research facilities trying to end pediatric cancer.

This September, I’ll be taking on a different challenge. I have pledged to cover 100 miles in September, as a part of the Million Mile Run. This inaugural event, created by Alex’s Lemonade stand, is aimed at getting 10,000 runners and walkers to cover 100 miles, and raising $10 a mile. If the run is successful, Alex’s Lemonade Stand will raise $1 million in a month!

So help me with this challenge. Run with me, walk with me, help me cover my 100 miles – help me hit my goal of $1,000 during Childhood CancerAwareness Month.

The Lemon Run

The itch to run is back. Not a marathon, for sure. But to get on my tights, lace up my shoes and run.

The Lemon Run is this Sunday at Memorial Hsll, and I am so tempted. Will you come and run/walk with me? What a great way to finish my Team Lemon experience - a 5K for Alex's Lemonade Stand.

Register here: http://www.alexslemonade.org/campaign/lemon-run