Gushing with pride! (And a request.)
As many of you know, I've been bitten by the running bug. I've been running pretty regularly for the past (nearly) eight months.
About four months ago, I got the crazy idea (thanks, Nathanael) to run the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in April this year. I signed up for the lottery and was able to secure a spot.
As a way to support me, Sarah decided to train with me and do the race, too. This was an amazing commitment, as she has never been a runner. She had done a few 5Ks as a walker, but never as a runner. She never saw herself as a runner. At all. Beginning seven weeks ago, she has held on to the commitment - through 32*F temperatures, wind, rain, abnormally warm winter weather, cramping calves, and falling asleep feet - to get out and put on the miles with me. In seven weeks, she has racked up almost 50 miles on the streets of Baltimore. 50 miles.
Today was our first long run in our half marathon training. We're working on increasing mileage to be ready for the 10 miles (in 2 hours, 20 minutes) on April 1. We'd been running about 2 miles on our regular runs, with an uptick to 3 miles, once, this past week. Today? 5 miles.
If you aren't friends with her on Facebook, she posted this after we got home:
Running shoes: $120
Fun running beanie: $20
Fun reflective running gloves: $35
Reflective running belt: $20
Compression sleeves: $25
Being able to run 5.1 miles in the 7th week of training = Priceless
While it was a rough start, she ended strongly with a 30 solid minute run around the neighborhood (which was just about half of our run - 2.1 miles). She didn't believe me when I told her that. But it's true.
She has worked her tail off to get where she is right now. Even when it gets hard, she keeps coming out with me. I cannot tell you how proud I am of her. I could not ask for a better running (or life) partner. Who decides to go from never running to doing a 10 mile run (with an enforced 14 minute per mile time) in four months? Sarah. All as a way of supporting me and making sure that I am completing my training. Because she knows how much it means to me.
Which is not to say she has not also caught the running bug. After our run today (of the 5.1 miles), she was beaming, thrilled with herself and feeling accomplished (which she should!). We completed it only 10 minutes over the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler enforced pace. (Meaning, in 80 minutes instead of 70.)
We are now one month, three weeks and six days before the race. And we're not 100% sure that she'll be able to run the race. This is where I am requesting your help (if you're able).
See, since she was not able to secure a lottery entry, she began raising funds for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The 10 Miler is credit union supported and will have 15,000 runners traipsing over the DC Tidal Basin during the Cherry Blossom Festival. In order to secure a spot through fundraising, Sarah must raise $500 in donations. We're willing to put a huge portion toward that. To date, she has raised $140 (thanks Mom and Dad and Sarah's parents!).
My family is coming into town for the event. Sarah and I are training our butts off (and have the appetites to prove it!). I want to make this a reality - that we will cross that finish line on April 1 and we will cross it together.
We are reaching out to our community. We are asking that if you are able to donate (even $1), please visit Sarah's fund raising page so that we can run together on April 1, 2012 at 7:30 AM in DC. If you would prefer not to donate via online methods (as Sarah's parents did not want to, which is why their donation is not showing up there), please contact me at dancingwaves at dreamwidth dot org.
If you cannot donate, we completely understand. Please send good vibes and encouragement on April 1. It will be a challenge. One I know that we can both rise to.
Donations must be submitted by February 29 for it to qualify. I'm not sure if the page will remain up after that for further donations. But, know that we will make up the difference for her to qualify to race. Any bit helps.
This entry was originally posted at http://dancingwaves.dreamwidth.org/862874.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
About four months ago, I got the crazy idea (thanks, Nathanael) to run the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler in April this year. I signed up for the lottery and was able to secure a spot.
As a way to support me, Sarah decided to train with me and do the race, too. This was an amazing commitment, as she has never been a runner. She had done a few 5Ks as a walker, but never as a runner. She never saw herself as a runner. At all. Beginning seven weeks ago, she has held on to the commitment - through 32*F temperatures, wind, rain, abnormally warm winter weather, cramping calves, and falling asleep feet - to get out and put on the miles with me. In seven weeks, she has racked up almost 50 miles on the streets of Baltimore. 50 miles.
Today was our first long run in our half marathon training. We're working on increasing mileage to be ready for the 10 miles (in 2 hours, 20 minutes) on April 1. We'd been running about 2 miles on our regular runs, with an uptick to 3 miles, once, this past week. Today? 5 miles.
If you aren't friends with her on Facebook, she posted this after we got home:
Running shoes: $120
Fun running beanie: $20
Fun reflective running gloves: $35
Reflective running belt: $20
Compression sleeves: $25
Being able to run 5.1 miles in the 7th week of training = Priceless
While it was a rough start, she ended strongly with a 30 solid minute run around the neighborhood (which was just about half of our run - 2.1 miles). She didn't believe me when I told her that. But it's true.
She has worked her tail off to get where she is right now. Even when it gets hard, she keeps coming out with me. I cannot tell you how proud I am of her. I could not ask for a better running (or life) partner. Who decides to go from never running to doing a 10 mile run (with an enforced 14 minute per mile time) in four months? Sarah. All as a way of supporting me and making sure that I am completing my training. Because she knows how much it means to me.
Which is not to say she has not also caught the running bug. After our run today (of the 5.1 miles), she was beaming, thrilled with herself and feeling accomplished (which she should!). We completed it only 10 minutes over the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler enforced pace. (Meaning, in 80 minutes instead of 70.)
We are now one month, three weeks and six days before the race. And we're not 100% sure that she'll be able to run the race. This is where I am requesting your help (if you're able).
See, since she was not able to secure a lottery entry, she began raising funds for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The 10 Miler is credit union supported and will have 15,000 runners traipsing over the DC Tidal Basin during the Cherry Blossom Festival. In order to secure a spot through fundraising, Sarah must raise $500 in donations. We're willing to put a huge portion toward that. To date, she has raised $140 (thanks Mom and Dad and Sarah's parents!).
My family is coming into town for the event. Sarah and I are training our butts off (and have the appetites to prove it!). I want to make this a reality - that we will cross that finish line on April 1 and we will cross it together.
We are reaching out to our community. We are asking that if you are able to donate (even $1), please visit Sarah's fund raising page so that we can run together on April 1, 2012 at 7:30 AM in DC. If you would prefer not to donate via online methods (as Sarah's parents did not want to, which is why their donation is not showing up there), please contact me at dancingwaves at dreamwidth dot org.
If you cannot donate, we completely understand. Please send good vibes and encouragement on April 1. It will be a challenge. One I know that we can both rise to.
Donations must be submitted by February 29 for it to qualify. I'm not sure if the page will remain up after that for further donations. But, know that we will make up the difference for her to qualify to race. Any bit helps.
This entry was originally posted at http://dancingwaves.dreamwidth.org/862874.html. Please comment there using OpenID.