Catching up with the pack

Well, I've been a bit remiss in my blogging concerning my training, mostly because I wanted it to be all sunshine and roses...now I'm realizing it's more like sunshine and rain (like the WA weather) or peaks & valleys may be a more apt description.

As far as running goes March has been amazing...my distance is picking up, the runs are starting to feel effortless and comfortable (only took 2 years). I attribute that to the weight loss but also to finally embracing what the running can do for me mentally. If I don't run for several days, I start to get anxious and tense, snappy and such. Two weeks ago I didn't blog because while the run was actually really great, my attitude pretty much bit it. The trail was nice, the team was great, the weather was decent, but wow, I had a bad attitude. I decided to blog about it after all simply because I imagine this must be what going through chemo is about. You may feel like the treatment went well and you had a good visit, but by the end of the day you're puking up your guts and feeling like a nuclear bomb went off inside of you. So I decided to shield the bad training days and just be completely honest about it all. That being said, this was a lazy week. I managed to get a great run in on Sunday last week that made up for the poopy Saturday run. I ran at lunch on Tuesday which was AWESOME! I'm hoping to do more of that this week. I intended to go on my long run this week...so prepared, everything laid out the night before...but I woke up at 4:30am which was an hour early, already in a mood and surprisingly (gasp) it was raining. So I turned off the alarm and decided a week to sleep in was in order...However, today the sun is shining and I'm looking forward to a good long run.

As for the fundraising, it's going great! We're at an official $700 and there is another $122 waiting to be deposited this week. That's more than 80% of our goal, but we're not there yet. We still need your help! Even if it's just $5, every little bit helps!

Peaceful Bliss

I encountered something much unexpected on this week's run...I had an epiphany. For two years I've been running and training with the TEAM, but I've always used my iPod, especially on the long runs. As the team is against iPods this season, I've been adhering to the request of no music or audiobooks and trying to enjoy the team. And today I did.

I just let my mind roam free and easy and my run was amazing! And for me to say that of today's run must mean it truly was because outside it was: 1) 40F degrees, 2) raining non-stop, and 3) on a gravelly trail. My socks were soaked through before the run even started and it took a good 20 minutes before I could feel my toes again. But once I got warmed up and hit my stride, I really didn't even realize I was trekking. The scenery was nice, typical Pacific Northwest but I was able to just reflect and occasionally visit with others when I got passed or came upon some walkers.

Our mission moment was short and sweet this morning, basically, "yes its wet & cold & rainy but you could be doing chemo instead." Nothing like a reality check right? But I did have a chance to think about why I was out at 645am on a rainy Saturday morning and the conclusion was because I could. And because I could and did, someone was getting their medication paid for, enduring a chemo treatment they might not have been able to afford or that might not have even been developed yet; a child was winning their battle and a family had a network of people that understood what they were going through. All because I was running in the rain and raising money in my sparetime.

So this week's blog is short and sweet, but very to the point. Without this Society and all it does to find new cures, aid patients in getting the ones that are available and provide support and a network to families, many more would succumb to blood cancers and their related illnesses. Many children would be without their parents, many parents would be without their children and many of us would not get to experience the joy that these people would bring to the world.

In this context think about what something as little as $5 would mean, can you spare it? Before you buy your next Monster or Red Bull or Mickey D's cheeseburger, think about what you could be doing to save someone's life. To give to the cause, please visit my website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/rnrseatl09/awestwood.

You could be the difference in the next great cure!

Runner's High

So today is the 6th official week of training and we have raised...wait for it...$221,000! Even in this time of economic uncertainty the charitable nature of the human race is not uncertain...we continue to break records.

The past two seasons I have participated I have really focused on the running, more so on the healing as last season ended up just being a "get through it" run. So I'm trying a new tactic this season, just lay back and enjoy the ride. The fellowship has been great, hanging out with old friends and making new ones.

I expected today's run to kinda suck as it was snowing on my drive in but once we decided to hit the trail, the rain and snow stopped so that we could get our 110 minutes in and there was the tease of sunshine in the distance. Unfortunately the sun was distant and as we were visiting and enjoying a fantastic "Breakfast by Skip" the snow picked up again.

I didn't plug in for today's run and just enjoyed the atmosphere and the sights...the company of the other TNT'ers and the beauty of Washington. I can't wait for next week's run.

This weeks mission moment was two part:

• Sara English - one of our captains, shared her personal story of Lymphoma with us. It is really enlightening when the person running alongside you turns to you and thanks you for being there because their life was saved due to the many funds raised by this organization.
• Another member shared her story of how a little boy was laying his mom to rest today because she was unable to fight off her blood cancer. There was a fair amount of tears going around the group as she read the letter that her 8 year old niece wrote to the little boy telling him how sorry she was that his mommy was gone.

I'm thankful for every week that I walk away from practice that I have the ability to be there and foment change. I had a runner's high today that I'm still riding hours later that didn't come from the physical run itself, but from the fellowship that I encountered today. It was 40F, snow/raining and on the water but we had 50 people show up to run together to show their committment and solidarity to raising money to support blood cancer research and patient services. So to those of you that have donated or have contributed in some other way, I say thank you and know that you personally are touching lives.

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