Wishing me all the luck in the world

Awwwwww! You guys are all just so sweet and so good to me! My day has been full of well wishes, high fives, good lucks, hugs, some tears (all mine), phone calls, email, cheers - on and on it has gone. I know that I have to have the BIGGEST cheering section - nationwide - that anybody has seen. Thank you all so very much!

I believe I'm almost all packed and ready to go. I'll take one last looky in a bit. We're all going to try to get to bed early (Yes, kids are *still* in school. Tomorrow is the last day. So it is still a legitimate night to enforce a bedtime.) I guess I'm getting up at 3am....ugh.....

I get by with a little help from my friends

My sweet friends at work had a surprise "Go #19847 Go!" party for me today! They had my all-time favorite - Blue Bell homemade vanilla. George assured me it was legitimate carbo-loading. They've all been so supportive and encouraging and they are just as excited as I am about this big marathon thing. Thanks friends!!! Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. I love you all!!

My ice cream was served on the special RHM silver tray...

I would choose ice cream over pasta any day for my 'carbo-loading'!

Thank you to my sponsors

Memphis is buzzing this weekend with the Memphis in May Barbecue Contest. Used to be my cup of tea, but now large crowds make me twitch. The weather for the weekend, however, looks great. In fact, this is the best forecast I've seen in a long time. Can you believe no rain in sight for days? Will be nice. We'll definitely be spending lots of time outside.


Tomorrow is 12 miles. Quite doable. And it feels a bit different heading into it. No pressure. No angst. No worries. It's still a LONG run. But nothing compared to last week .... We are definitely in the home stretch. Two weeks from right now, I'll be on a plane to San Diego (by way of Minneapolis). And my mind is whirling already with thoughts of the race -- what I need to pack, things I need to do, etc.

Remember my three goals that I set when I began this journey? (1) To FINISH the marathon, (2) to REMEMBER my daddy, and (3) to raise MONEY and AWARENESS for the leukemia society. I think I'm well on my way to accomplishing #1. I know that through this process I have thought about my dad so much and I hope I have helped you remember him too (goal #2). And, you all have helped me achieve goal #3. My fundraising total is $4,176! I'm so, so, SO excited about that. THANK YOU!!! I'm just so grateful and appreciative of your generosity. And I've said this many times, but I just really want you to know that you are making a difference and your gifts are helping find a cure for leukemia and other blood cancers. So, THANK YOU to all my generous sponsors. Muuuah!

Angie A.
Cindy A.
Todd & Cindy A.
Dr. Frederick A.
Kent & Jennifer B.
Carol B.
Darrell & Emily B.
Jeff B.
Carolyn C.
Julia C.
Barry & Cheryl C.
Ron C.
Matt C.
Janet C.
Sally C.
Anne & Allen C.
Anna Mae & Howard D.
Nanette F.
Dean & Sherri F.
Gayle & Al F.
Sue H.
Debby & Paul H.
Kenny H.
Cindy H.
Chris & Angela H.
Nancy H.
Neil & Lois H.
Judy H.
Curtis & Tamora J.
Dr. Robert J.
Carol K.
Tim L.
Marlene L.
Justin L.
Dr. David L.
Kelly L.
Eddie & Judy L.
Barbara M.
Molly M.
Connie & Ty M.
Bob & Pat O.
Tom & Arlene O.
Kelly & Sean P.
Allisa R.
Wendy R.
Dr. Jeffrey S.
Shannon S.
Jason & Valerie S.
Patrick T.
John & Ann T.
Maribeth & Harry T.
Patti T.
Rebecca T.
John V.
Gwen W.
Sherrill W.

The most exciting news of all

Big fat zero miles for me today. My ankles/feet/shins/calves were hurting last night and again this morning. Just felt tight and almost burning a little. Where did that come from? I got up anyway and did 45 minutes of pilates and stretches. So the morning wasn't a complete waste. It just felt like my body was saying NO THANK YOU to any running or even walking today. So I said ok. Oh well. What's a girl to do?

Now for the most exciting news of all! I MET -- AND EXCEEDED -- MY FUNDRAISING GOAL!!!!! Thanks to all of you! I'm so excited about that. My current total is $4,126. YEA!!!!! I am so appreciative of each of you and the support you have given me. I know there are so many different causes that you can choose to support and there are mortgages and tuition and light bills to pay and $4 a gallon gas to buy. So thank you so much for making your donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. For me - for my dad. I hope you know that YOU have made a DIFFERENCE. This money goes to research that just takes us one more step closer toward finding a cure for blood cancers.




I just hate leukemia. I hate the fact that any time my little innocent 5 year old son hears that somebody died, he says "Did they have leukemia?" Someone was writing a check for me yesterday and said "Help me out - I don't know how to spell leukemia." I hate the fact that I do know how to spell it. I hate the fact that it took my dad. I just hate it. I. Hate. Leukemia. And I will forever be an advocate for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to raise both funds and awareness for blood cancers. Here are some facts (again) about leukemia & blood cancers:

• Over 135,000 people were diagnosed wtih leukemia or another blood cancer in 2007.
• Over 52,000 people will die this year from leukemia or lymphoma.
• Every 10 minutes someone dies from a blood cancer. That's 143 people per day. That's 6 people every hour.
• There are 4 different types of leukemia. AML, the type my dad had, currently has a 20.7% five year survival rate.
  
  

I was thinking last night about the money you've donated for this Team in Training. And the money that a lot of you have also given over the last two years when we had a team for Light the Night. When you add all that up together, the total is over $10,000. TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!! In less than 2 years. I think that is AMAZING. I am certain that Daddy would just be blown away by that. He would be so humbled to know that you have all done that for him. So, I just want you all to feel good about what you have done. One day there will be a cure. And you will have had a part in that. Doesn't that feel good?!?!

OK, that's all about that for now. Thanks for reading. Thanks for supporting me. Thanks for remembering my dad.

Don't forget.... Saturday.....TWENTY MILES!!!

Fired Up or Burned Out

Details first. Then whining.

Apparently my Nike iPod isn't quite callibrated yet. Nike Voice Man said 3 miles. I think it came in closer to 2.5 or 2.75. But that's better than it was on Saturday when he excitedly told me "half way point!" at about mile 5 (when I had set it for 18).... Oh well, I'll try to recallibrate that tonight or tomorrow.

Temps were *very* warm this morning. 67 when I got back inside. I had originally grabbed a long sleeved running shirt, but changed my mind and opted for the tshirt because I thought I would rather be cold than hot. Who was I kidding. I was hot WITH the tshirt. And it was very windy too. The first mile and a half were brutal. Just dreadful. The last mile was moderately decent.

Now, bear with me while I vent for a while.

First, the burned out...

I just don't want to run anymore. Well, it's not that I want to QUIT. I'm just tired of it and experiencing some burnout. I'm ready to be DONE. I'm sick of running. Sick. Of. Running. I'm ready for June 1 to be here. I want to just do the marathon. Although I know I'm probably not ready to do the marathon. I'm just sick of training for it. I didn't want to run this morning. I don't want to run Saturday morning. I'm tired of my entire Saturday morning being taken up by running. I've been running for 14 weeks. And it's been hard. And some times it's just not fun. I'm sick of hurting and aching and icing and stretching and rolling. I'm sick of sports bras and gels and wheat bagels and advil and icy hot.

And I know the burn-out will go away. I'm so close to the end of this journey. Only four more long runs. That's all! I can do it and I will totally do it. But today I just don't want to.

Now the fired up...

I have seen the importance of the support and encouragement of others while I attempt to take on this challenge. I am surrounded by friends and family who are continually cheering me on. People who are just as excited as I am that I accomplished - and survived - a long run. Or ran an official Half Marathon. Or can walk down the hall without limping. I have a friend who has been saying "Run Angie Run!" since January. I have a huge cheering section of friends at church who are keeping up with my progress. Last night I had just told Jodi "I'm sick of running." and a minute later, two family friends said "Look how far you've come! You're doing great!" I have friends here at work who send me home on Fridays with good luck wishes for Saturday's long run. And, of course, my family and extended family. Huge cheerleaders! My biggest fan club. Especially Jodi -- who has probably had it worse than me on Saturdays since he's the one who is home alone with the kids every Saturday morning. Big thanks to him for doing that so I can do this. (I heart you Captain!) My examples of things you all say to me could go on and on.

So, all of your support and encouragement gets me through this -- even when my own excitement isn't all there.

There's a song on my iPod that I love. It's by the All American Rejects. Sums it up nicely.
"When all you got to keep is strong, move along, move along like I know ya do. And even when your hope is gone, move along, move along just to make it through. Move along. Go on, go on, go on go on."

OK, I think I'm done now. I'm feeling better already.....

A message from Julie the Mentor

Julie won't be able to be with us this weekend at the G'town Half. She is headed to Guatemala on a mission trip. She sent us a good luck email. Here's a highlight:

For those who are running this Sunday in the G'town Half...I am very excited for you! Please enjoy this, please learn lots from it if you have never done anything like this before, and go be a Rock Star!

Run strong...remember, after this weekend, you are halfway there!

Double digit day!

Yep! I did it! Ten miles. TEN MILES!!!!! I was real anxious this morning about it - about attempting it. I was talking to Jodi before I left "Should I stick with the walkers? Should I not even try? Should I run? Should I just walk and not even try to run? I don't know what to do!!!!!" He said - in his calm way - "You can't have a plan. Just go do it and it will work out. Goodbye Turtle." So I did it. I just did it and it all worked out.

It was, hands down, the prettiest day we've had in all of our training. Sunny and 'warm' (mid-40's)

Miles 1-3.5
We took off and I immediately fell to the back of the pack. I'm used to that, so it's ok. George hung back with me because he had to take it easy today since he's running the Little Rock Marathon tomorrow. (Yeah, an easy 10 miles today before 26 tomorrow....)

Leg felt moderately ok. There was some ouchiness. But nothing that made me scream and turn around. I walked. And I ran. And I walked. And I ran.

Not only did my feet run, but my mouth did too. At about mile 3, I realized that I had been talking non-stop. Poor George. He'll wear his iPod next week...

Soon, we were on the path along Germantown Road and the Shell station (aka Pit Stop) was in view. Julie the Mentor had left a cooler of water, Gatorade and goo at the little path heading off the road. So I dig in to find some water. When I looked up, Jodi and the kids were pulling in to the lot! I was so surprised and excited to see them!! What timing that was too! We chatted just a bit. They watched me suck down the Gu (strawberry banana - decent and tolerable) then said bye while we trotted across the street to use the potty at the Shell station. Seeing them was a boost that beats any Gu any day! How sweet was that?!?!

Miles 3.5-6.5
Back out and down the road. This time we headed DOWN Germantown Road (major traffic) and I said that now I was one of the idiots that I see running down the Germantown Road. Good grief. There's a cut through in front of a little strip shopping center that takes us down the path to the trail. This little trail was really pretty. There were bridges and a little wishing well and benches. Just a real nice area.

Somewhere along this path, we meet Julie, Nicole & Wes (the other Rock 'n Rollers). They are headed back. About this time, my toes start hurting really bad too. I stopped once to rub them and it helped a little bit, but didn't totally fix the problem. (I'm wondering if this area may flare up as we increase the distance. I had some foot surgery about 20 years ago on that same spot. Oh well. Can't borrow trouble.)

We hit the magic 5 mile mark and turned around. I'm feeling ok. Seemed like my legs would hurt a little and then quit. It was definitely manageable. Especially since I was just stopping to walk whenever they flared up. So, back up the path and back to Germantown Road. It was at this point that Jodi and the kids drive by again (they had been to Sonic) and he says to me across 6 lanes of traffic with his police radio as they drive by"Pick 'em up and put 'em down Mama!".

George veered over to pit at the Shell again and I went back down the awaiting cooler. I saw Jodi and the kids waiting too. There were three 'serious runners' hanging there also. I saw the guy talk to Jodi and then everybody started cheering "C'mon Angie!!!" Yea for me! Jodi said that the guy asked if they should do the wave and he said "No, Angie HATES the wave." One quick bottle of water and good bye to my #1 fan club and we're off again.

Miles 6.5-10.0
This is where I kind of quit talking. This is where my shins weren't hurting so bad. Or maybe I didn't notice it because my feet were hurting. And my knee. And my hips. Oowwie! But I trudged on. Running and walking and walking and running. The last two miles were tough. Man, everything was just hurting.

Once we got to the lake, there was a lot of activity. There was a three-legged dog coming toward me with his owner who was pushing a stroller. I decided that if the three-legged dog passed me, I would end my marathon quest then and there. But the dog ended up stopping and I pressed on.

George had gone on ahead a bit and Julie, Nicole and her husband Jim were waiting at the finish point. They all cheered for me. That was super sweet because I think they finished at least thirty minutes ahead of me - maybe more. And they waited just for me. (Thanks guys!). I was EXCITED!!! I DID IT!!! Ten miles. Total time was 2:30. So, even coming off the DL I still managed a consistent and 'normal' pace. I am really proud of how I did today and pleasantly surprised!

I told you that Jodi is following the training schedule too. So when I got home, he headed out for his ten miles. The afternoon was slow moving for both of us. He is fighting some bad blisters on his feet and I was so sore I could hardly move. But we recovered while we watched the Tigers chalk up another win. GO TIGERS!!

The encouragement I got today was so great. From my wonderful family. From my Coach. From my Team in Training. And from some total strangers. It felt so good. It's what got me through the ten miles.

"Slow and Steady continued on and on. She never, ever quit until she came to the finish line. The animals who were watching cheered loudly for Tortoise."

Progress made:
I ran TEN MILES today!!!
My fundraising total is now $2366!

Lesson learned:
I can't have a plan. I should "just go do it and it will work out."

Miscellaneous Monday musings about motive

I'm glad to say that I think things are moving in a good direction for me. I'm not having the continuous pain, so that is definitely a good sign. I hope that a few more days off will just do the trick and I will be back to it in a day or so.

I'm also VERY glad to say that my fundraising total is $2,076! THANK YOU!!! That's so awesome and I'm so excited about that. I'm at 51% toward my goal of $4,000. Thanks to you all for contributing to my effort. I thought I'd share a bit more info about my cause.

Did you know...

• Over 135,000 people were diagnosed with leukemia or another blood cancer in 2007.
• Over 52,000 people will die this year from leukemia or lymphoma.
• Every 10 minutes someone dies from a blood cancer. That's 143 people per day. That's 6 people every hour.
• Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20.
• There are 4 different types of leukemia. AML, the type my dad had, currently has a 20.7% five year survival rate.

By the time you finish reading this post, someone will have lost their fight with a blood cancer. Sometime today, there will be people who will be told "You have leukemia." There is research on new drugs and new treatments that is being done every day. In fact, there are a few drugs that have come out since my dad's diagnosis and death that very possibly could have extended - or possibly saved - his life.

I hope if you reading this and you have not yet made a contribution toward my goal, that you will consider it today. Your gift can be large or small. (I got a very clever gift of $26.20 last week. Get it? One dollar a mile = $26.20). I am appreciative of very penny that you send my way. I just want you to know that what you are doing and what you are giving *really* makes a difference. You are helping find a cure for leukemia.

So what's my point? The rest of my life will be dedicated to raising money and awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. One day there will be a cure. Will it be in my lifetime? Will my kids see it? Who knows. I miss my dad. I lost him to this disease. And nothing that I go through in this marathon training will even hold a candle to what he went through while he fought it. I read a quote by a Team in Training runner over the weekend that summed up the whole training thing: "Think this is hard? Try chemotherapy."

As always, thanks for checking in today. And thanks for all the support you give me - words, notes, donations. I couldn't do any of this without you.

It takes a village to train for a marathon

Not voting for ol' Hillary, but I do kind of like that phrase....here's why....

This morning, as I have done the last two Friday mornings, I emailed Ron Childers for a custom forecast for Saturday morning from 8a-10a. I know what the HIGH is tomorrow and I know what the LOW is tonight, but I really need to know what the temps will be at the exact time during my run. I like to lay all my clothes out the night before and am just not good enough yet to figure out at the last minute how many layers, etc. Anyway, he sends me my own personalized custom forecast. (FYI - We are friends - it's not like I'm just emailing the weatherman....). Forecast for tomorrow's group run: Clear / Mid Forties to start near 50 by 10 / South wind @ 8-10 mph. That sounds nice.

So that lead me to thinking about the fact that I have my own personal marathon training team. I have my own meterologist, my own physical therapist, a running coach, access to a wide array of orthopaedic surgeons (love 'em, but hope I don't have to see 'em in a clinic), etc. And a HUGE cheering section. All my family, friends at work and friends at church are really cheering me on and supporting me. Jodi is even running the training schedule even though he's not running the marathon. He runs on his own, but said he wants to train 'with' me so we can do it 'together'. And so many people have made a contribution to my fundraising goal. And it's all just nice. And so so so encouraging. Because I really can't do this by myself. It's not real easy. And I'm really not even to the hard part yet.... So, thanks to everybody in 'my village'.

Today is Friday and that only means one thing: OFF DAY! I did my calf stretches this morning so I wouldn't be a total slug. But I was a partial slug, because I was still in my jammies.

Tomorrow - SIX MILES. Oh dear me. We're starting from the Fleet Feet shop parking lot over on Poplar Avenue. They are doing a shoe and gear clinic after the run, so we're putting in our miles there. I'm a little nervous about that because I don't know where this 6-mile route will be taking us. And I'm a little weird about 'running out of my comfort zone'. And I'm scared that we may have to run down Poplar Avenue. And that would be b-a-d. But I think there are some neighborhood streets behind that shopping center. I hope so. I'm running with Julie the Mentor tomorrow because George the Coach is running in the Sedona Marathon this weekend.

My cheering section

I do not think it's an accident that I start this official training almost a year to the day that my dad died, which was January 31, 2007. All of that is, obviously, on my mind this week. But I am blessed with family and friends who have been very supportive. They have gotten me through my dad's illness, his death, and my grief. They are so super supportive of my attempts at this marathon. I have a huge cheering section - and we're not even at the race yet! Y'all are SUPER!

I received a donation from a friend yesterday along with a note that I really think sums all those feelings up.

I've thought for a while about a way for me to remember your Dad this week. I never met him, but I know him -- you know? His life and death really affected me. I still can't really understand all of the dynamics around that, but it did. I just know that I needed to find a way to honor his life.
Anyway, I decided the best way for me to remember him this week is to support something I know he would be your #1 cheerleader for. In my heart, it's my way of honoring him -- and supporting you in your desire to run in memory of him and for a cure.
I just wish that I wasn't such a baby about running and was running with you. I'll be cheering you on and will be one of your faithful blog fans! But no one will be cheering louder than your Dad.
Thanks for letting me be a part of the "1st annual Angie Whitfield runs a marathon" by giving to help find a cure -- and for letting me remember your Dad with you this week.