Team Hero

Each team, each season, has a team hero.  Our team hero is Ed.  We met him at Kick-off back in May.  I suspect he's been around a few other times, but I've been around for team practices only off and on.   Ed came to send us off on our long run this morning.  Ed is in remission from Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  Ed shared with us today that the research that LLS does saved his life.  They conducted research on the drug that saved Ed from the aggressive cancer that he was diagnosed with in 2004.

I don't know Ed well, but there's a genuineness about him.  The connections in my life are much closer than I imagined they would be when I first started thinking about running with TNT.  My own cousin Pat who continues to show incredible strength week after week.  KayKay's dad who also shows incredible strength week after week.  But it's powerful to have Ed join us periodically.  I don't see Pat or KayKay's dad - I keep up with them through blogs and family members, but it's still one step removed.  Ed makes it very real.   

So today's run was tough.  Not sure that I've had a run recently that actually felt good.  But it's nothing compared to Chemo, of that I am certain.  I made it through 8.5 miles.  Turns out my average pace was a tad bit faster than the last long run.  That means the training is paying off.  Now I just need to pay better attention to the diet and I should see miraculous results.  It does feel good to be running with a purpose again.

So thank you again!  I am lucky to call so many generous spirits my friends and family.  

Vacation

I've been absent from this page and from running for a bit.  I went to Mexico for a week with 6 of the women with whom I run.  I ran twice while I was in Vallarta and did the Vallarta version of the incline too (200 steps up from the beach, repeat 3 or 4 times).  I think Jane captured the feeling best, "I feeling like I'm breathing in water."  It was HOT and sticky and wet.  But I couldn't go on vacation with my running friends and not run.  :-)

And today I ran my first 5k in a LONG time.  26:33 or something like that.  Good to know I can run a few sustained miles in a row under 9 minutes.  Tomorrow I'll do my long run since I raced with Micky today on the all women's winning team "Won't be dead last" at the Veteran's Home Run instead of with TNT!  Tuesday I go back to TNT full swing and hit the track again!

I thought I'd put in a shout out to all the people who have donated.  My total doesn't reflect it yet, as I've just mailed a few more checks, but I've now met my goal of raising $2100.  No reason to stop though.

Many of you have donated in honor of friends and loved ones including: Donald Seeburger, Tom Blumn & John Blumn, Pat Hunt, Joel Conner, Lisa Sundeen, grandfather's, friends and others.  $900 dollars that you have all contributed goes straight, 100% to LLS research and programs.  I've said it before, but it's worth saying again!

I am deeply grateful and eager to continue on this journey not only on behalf of my cousin Pat in whose honor I do this but on behalf of KayKay's dad and all those people important in your loves!

Keep Running!