One Week!!!

In one week from now, I will be in the middle of completing my marathon! I can't believe it's almost here. We did our last walk yesterday for training, it was only 10 miles; so nothing major. However, I can't really take a break before we leave because I do have to walk Elfie everyday, twice a day. I think this has really gone really well, and I really cannot WAIT to get to the start line and accomplish this goal.

I am just a little short of my minimum fundraising goal, but I can still fund raise after, and I think I will try to do that. The semester will have calmed down a little, and I can try to do a little here and there. Either way, I'm still proud of myself for training all this time, coming through injury, and fundraising nearly all the money.

We fly out Friday morning at 9:30 out of Charlotte, and before then I have to get a doctors note in order to get the early start. Another woman, Cathy, has the same pace as I do so I really want to do the early start since she is - however, bc I didnt mark it on the registration, I have to bring a doctor's note to registration to get the early start then because they are really strict about giving it to people I guess. We will return Monday afternoon :)

Yesterday, we did our 20 mile walk!!! I made it! I did the whole thing with a few breaks that my team was taking - gatorade/water or stretching break - definitely needed. Cathy and I finished in 5.5 hours! I really am excited now for the marathon! The coach, also Cathy, but a different one - told me several helpful tips about what to expect and watch for and do on race day - it was super helpful. The rain held off for the whole morning, and let me tell you how glad I was for that. Walking in the rain would have sucked really bad, so yea, glad it held off until I drove home.

I just really can't believe that the marathon is almost here. Sometime this week we should be getting our race-day outfits in the mail - hopefully it fits like it should, cause I don't know what I will do if it doesn't.

Trying to do one last ditch fundraising this week at Wal-Mart, still have to get ahold of the manager dude in charge of the department that can give the ok. Don't mind having to pay a small amount for a flight and hotel to San Fran, but would have liked to actually reached my goal - I could have really used that boost. d I finished in 5.5 hours! I really am excited now for the marathon! The coach, also Cathy, but a different one - told me several helpful tips about what to expect and watch for and do on race day - it was super helpful. The rain held off for the whole morning, and let me tell you how glad I was for that. Walking in the rain would have sucked really bad, so yea, glad it held off until I drove home.

I just really can't believe that the marathon is almost here. Sometime this week we should be getting our race-day outfits in the mail - hopefully it fits like it should, cause I don't know what I will do if it doesn't.

Trying to do one last ditch fundraising this week at Wal-Mart, still have to get ahold of the manager dude in charge of the department that can give the ok. Don't mind having to pay a small amount for a flight and hotel to San Fran, but would have liked to actually reached my goal - I could have really used that boost.

Change in the Schedule.

So, this weekend will be another 15 mile walk, and then next weekend will be the 20 miler. I'm glad this changed happened. I have a wedding to go to tomorrow, and with 5 miles less, thats just over an hour of walk time shaved off in the morning. Now, I should have time for a nap before I have to go the wedding :)

I have gotten my heel lift replaced and will expect to have less hip/back pain now when I walk. Maybe even increase my pace a little - not needing to, but would be nice just to see how fast I really could finish. I am SO excited for the marathon now, just the thought of being there with so many people who support the same cause as I do and that we're all the there for the same reason. I am expecting to be overcome with emotion on that day. One of the women in my group has done a marathon before, she walked the Alaska one I believe last year. She said in the last few mile stretch, when she was so tired, there were several people on the side of the route - many cheering very loudly, others with signs that say simply said Thank You. I guess I haven't thought of how powerful it may be when I actually experience it - and I can't wait.

Fundraising - HOLY CRAP! I'm SO CLOSE PEOPLE!!!! I need $800 to reach the minimum...COME'ON! SUPPORT THE CAUSE! and my MANY THANKS GOES OUT TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS SO FAR FOR THE SUPPORT. Especially GUIN & JOE SKOVRONSKI (my cousin) AND T.J AND JOANIE COURNEYA (also cousin) FOR DONATING $250!!

Don't Forget about the drawing for the $100 Amazon.com gift card and the sterling silver pendant. For every $10 donated to my goal of $4100, which again is all for LLS, will get you an entry in the drawing. Don't miss out! Also, check out my post from a few weeks back...purchase the "Outside the Box" Pendant and 70% of the proceeds will go to Carin and I.

We got our flight information!! This made me realize a little more that this is just a month away!! We fly out of Charlotte Airport on Friday morning, which gives us a good day and a half of rest/sight seeing (dont worry - I dont plan on walking the entire city..haha) and then we race on Sunday morning, and will fly back to Charlotte on Monday afternoon. I am SO EXCITED!

P.S. I TOTALLY forgot to mention this in the post about our Yard Sale (or at least I think I did) One of the women who came to our Yard Sale was talking to us, and when we explained it was for LLS and thats where all the proceeds were going - she informed us that her niece? cousin?, not sure exactly, but a close relative had passed away the evening before from Leukemia at the local hospital. It things like that that make this whole experience so real; and just like the women who came to our silent auction to see her friend play - had no idea it was for LLS, and her mother has been fighting cancer for several years. THAT is why I am doing this - not just for my father, but there are SO MANY other stories out there.

whoops

I missed my long walk this weekend, and I am kind of disappointed in myself for skipping. Not that I didn't have other things I REALLY needed to get done (cleaning and two tests to study for), but also chose to do other things I may not have needed to do...like go adopt a dog and stay out super late friday night having fun with friends. ha. I think I am at the point, when I really want to get this done, so I can focus on other things in my life right now. Carin and I have been focusing on this so much since May, we're becoming a little worn down, and the fact that I'm still pretty far, well far enough, from my goal makes it frustrating. Also, I have so much with school to get done, I have pushed my fundraising to the side - it's getting really hard to focus on both. We really need to set up a time to go stand outside Walmart for a few days in hopes that will raise some extra money.

I'm just really hoping I can make it to my goal w/o getting my credit card charged on Oct. 5, and then complete my 26.2 miles on October 18.

here's hopin'

Just over a month to go!

So, we had our yard sale this weekend. It went really well! we sold most of the big stuff, and then donated the clothes/toys/dishes we had still had left to salvation army. It was a long weekend though since we were up late friday night, till midnight, pricing and organizing everything b/c we were picking stuff up last minute friday evening. Then, we got up at 5:15 am on saturday to set it all up and get ready for people by 7. Apparently, here in South Carolina Yard Sales opening at 7am is not uncommon - I don't get it. Anyway, we had a washer/dryer set (only 3 years old) to sell, a big screen TV and some bikes, toys, nice clothes, dishes, random things.... the good stuff went and we decided not to count anything until the end of the day.

At about 1, we left what was there and headed to campus with Jessie - again THANKS JESSIE!! YOU ARE A GREAT HELP! we set up shop on the library bridge with two coolers - one powerade, one water. asking for donations in exchange for hydration. yeeeea, didnt go as well as we thought. we ended up figring out that we only made about $80 there. we are better off going to Lowe's or Walmart to collect donations since that went so well.

Anyway, all in all we made somewhere just over $600 for the day and I have half that to deposit. So, I'm still happy.

Fundraising! WHOOOOO!

Hey Everyone! Carin's friend Lori Morrow (www.silverevolution.com) has generously donated a pendant and earring set to a drawing. For every $10 you donate you can be entered to win either the pendant/earring set (see photo) or a $100 Amazon Gift Card. Remember, this is all going to a great cause and we're all racing to the same finish - a cure for cancer!

Secondly - She has designed a special pendant for this event. Carin gave her the theme of the Nike Women's Marathon shirts - for Women who live outside the box. The pendant pictured below is for sale for $150, with the chain. It is sterling silver, CZ's and Emeralds. Lori will be donating 70% of the proceeds from the sale of this pendant directly to Carin and I for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This memorable pendant can make a great present for yourself, or a loved one. Contact Lori through her website (www.silverevolution.com) or let me know!!

THANKS FOR EVERYONE'S SUPPORT!

Lowe's was a success!

We raised a good chunk of cash from customers @ Lowe's this afternoon. The weather was nice, a few of the employees donated and people were generous. All in all, a darn good day. And THANKS TO JESSIE PYE for coming out to help!! This cause also means a lot to her, as her grandmother passed away over the summer from a rare form of Leukemia. Her grandmothers church is doing their annual cancer benefit concert in honor of her this year.

We will be doing the same thing on the library bridge next saturday at the first football game. with as many people that are on campus for a game, we should do even better than we did today.

I was supposed to do 18 miles today, but my hamstring and calf did not want to finish. I got a pretty nasty charlie horse around mile 5.5, and i stopped to stretch and whatnot, but it didnt feel real good the rest of the way. When I got to 16, I was close to my house and was supposed to go around the block again. However, I knew what time it was and Carin and I also had to get ready to go to Lowe's and my hamstring/knee was not feeling so good, so I cut the walk a bit short. But, still happy with what I did.

Photos!

Thumbs up for the Nike Women's Marathon!

All Smiles for raising money!

High Five for being totally freakin' awesome!

We. Are. Strong.

26.2 miles of STRONG.

So, those are a few of the pictures from the fundraiser we did - Sarah B photography is super cool for doing those for FREE! THANKS SARAH!

Just a few miles this saturday.... :P

I'll be doing 18 miles this saturday morning! I know I need to update my iPod play list, because I ran out of music at about mile 12 or 13 last week, and this is 3 more miles than that. I really would like to walk with the group out at Furman University, but like I've said, it's just too far of a drive. However, I will try to make plans with someone in Greenville to crash at their place the night before so I can do the 20-miler in 2 weeks (?I believe?) with the group.

IPTAY (our college football booster) said that we could NOT go around tailgating areas and collect donations. dumb. seriously? way to support your students and their efforts to help saves some lives. To go along with that, a few people mentioned maybe going off campus during tailgate, there are a few restaurants people pack in before and during football games, so maybe we can get permission from them to collect donations during tailgate times.

Lowe's is this saturday - we will set up a tent and have a table with information about Team In Training and collect donations from customers. Pray its good weather and people are in a renovating mood and come to Lowe's for their stuff.

We have started collecting things for our Yard Sale that will be next saturday, the 5th. We plan on posting it on craiglist and also word of mouth and maybe some flyers around our building. We got a big item to sell - a practically brand new washer and dryer. yay! Thank you Fran! And a lot of people from the department have donated a few things as well. I hope we will have enough by the middle of the week....

Thanks to those who have donated - I have reached $2,000!! (or will when it posts since I mailed in donations..)

I did it!

I walked 15 miles yesterday! the muscles in the front of my lower leg are super sore and the front of my ankles as well. I need to get my heel lift soon too, my hips started to hurt towards the end, which I'm pretty sure is from the leg length discrepancy. I'm sure I'll recover just fine with my short walks over the week and be able to another long walk on saturday. I've still got to figure out my schedule with classes back in full swing and my workouts, but I'm sure I'll get it together soon.

So, it has been decided

I will be walking the full marathon....26.2 miles. I guess it should take somewhere 5.5 ish hours I think - if I walk at the pace I did yesterday - 4 miles in just under an hour. However, I was also walking on grassy terrain and had to slow down a bit b/c I wasn't sure where I was stepping. I have decided that I dislike perimeter road. I had to cross over to the side and walk on the grass because the road is slanted so much that it is just not fun to walk/run on. I had to reschedule my follow up appointment for my knee, which sucks bc the new time may not be any better (the doc is only there in the morning), and unless I get an 8am on Tues/Thurs, it will most likely interfere with my classes. After visiting Jacquie and having her and her friend Ryan work on me, and they mentioned my length discrepancy, I realized I have somehow misplaced my heel lift for my short right leg. and I need to go to the doc to get a new one, so hence my frustration with having to reschedule. I think I can order one online? but that will probably be more expensive.

So, tomorrow morning is a wonderful, fantastic 15 mile walk. I would love to be going out to Furman to walk with the team, since I now have a new set of teammates to meet, but its about an hour drive. We start at 6:30 am, I need to leavce my house by 5:15am, get up just before 5am...not so fun.

So, here is the route I will follow tomorrow. I am pretty freaked out from looking at it and seeing what 15 miles really looks like.

Is anyone reading this?

Well, I have been slacking, on both this and my running, that last week or so. I did try to run the 8th after I got home in Michigan, and was supposed to do 6 miles. However, I only made it 3.5, maybe 4 miles before I couldn't run anymore. So, the right knee, which got the injection, was hurting and sore, but definitely not as bad as it had been. I was hoping it would be ok though; however then my left knee was bothering me, which I think comes from problems with my IT band.

I am starting class tomorrow, and hoping that I can work in runs/walking to my schedule. I have come to the realization that I will most likely end up walking the 26.2 miles, instead of running the 13.1 miles - but either one is one heck of an accomplishment, I think.

Any comments on what might help are welcome!

Hopefully I can get back on track...

I am going to Blue Ridge Orthopedic on Monday morning to get a cortisone injection for my infra-patellar bursitis....aka - my bursitis hasn't gone away and I need this to get through my training. Hopefully I'm not too far behind since I haven't been able to fully run for nearly a month. I know this injection is going to hurt, and will probably take a few days to kick in, or so the research says.

Alright, I've got to get to Lowe's to drop off a letter so we can do some fundraising there....

When the going gets tough...

...the tough get goin. I got through a 5 miler with Carin last saturday night and the knee pain was there, but didn't stop me. However, I'm still trying to get over my knee pain, but I'm thinking I will have to go back to the doctor. I got through a 4 miler with the run/walk method and a 3 miler too during the week but todays 6 miles just wasn't happening with my knee. I felt GREAT, but my knee disagreed. So, I think there will be a visit to the doc on friday.

I'm hoping I can get through my short runs this week, at least with the walk breaks.

Fundraising is slow, but steady. I am still ecstatic over what I have gotten so far, but still must press on. I'm hoping the fundraisers Carin and I are planning will pay off, literally.

YOU Can Help Save A Life

Hello Family and friends (and friends of friends)! I am glad you are here to read this. I have committed to raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This organization is close to my heart because my father passed away from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma when I was very young. I have decided to run this half marathon in memory of him. If you could take a minute (or 5) to consider this, I would really appreciate it.

1. Gimme 5 minutes of your time- go to my website and learn more about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and my fundraising progress; read more about my training below in past postings.

2. Gimme 5 bucks- you can make a secure credit card donation online. You can rest assured that your money will go toward a great cause! If you would like to donate more, fantastic!

3. Gimme 5 friends- send this to five of your friends and help me spread the word about what I am doing!

4. Every 5 minutes, someone new is diagnosed with a blood cancer- money for research is desperately needed so donate now

5. $5,000 - My Goal. Please, I cannot do this without your help.

Whoo-Hoooo!!!

So, I am super excited right now. I have reached the first $1,000 in my fundraising! Still a ways to go, but THANK YOU!

Carin and I went for a 4 miler on Sunday night. I ran about 2 of those miles before I thought my knee was literally going to give out. But, we finished out the other 2 miles walking - so I still did it after a week of nothing and it felt good.

Did a 3.5 mile power walk this week too....knee pain still hasn't gone down enough. I can take off another week to let it rest and then if I can't start running by then pain-free, I will have to go back to the doc and see what they can do. Carin re-assured me that taking this extra time off would not really hurt in the long run, and I would still have time to get enough training in. So, I'm listening to her. :)

Alrighty, that's it for now!!

one week of rest...

So, after not running all week - I'm feel like I'm going stir crazy.  I didn't think I would become addicted to running, but I think I have.  It makes it easier with a goal at the end of the road, though and I think that is where this addiction has come from.  Once I have a goal set in front of me, I'm not about to give up on it.  

Sundays are usually rest days but I think I will go for a walk tomorrow for the 5 miles that I was supposed to run today.  Give me the extra day of rest for my knee, but get me back into the swing of things a little bit. :)

Fundraising has started off well.  I will be sending in some more checks (THANKS FOR THOSE DONATIONS I HAVE RECEIVED ALREADY!!!) soon.  I definitely would not be able to do this without support from all of you!  

Carin got info on doing an equal exchange fundraiser selling coffee, tea and cocoa.  It's turning out well, and I think it's something different that people are interested in.  Not to mention the farmers get more out of it and its all such great product! If you would like something - drop me an email at madalynw23@gmail.com!

Some not so good news

Went to the doc yesterday because my knee pain was not going away and I was not so happy with what he told me.  I apparently have bursitis in my right knee and have to take at least a week off running and he gave me steroids to help take the inflammation down.  This is only going to a small set back, and I will hopefully be able to do some more cross training, swimming and strength training during the week, and be able to come back just as strong.  As long as it doesn't keep coming back, I will be ok.

Hope everyone has a great 4th of July!!

Hoping to feel better

Training has slowed as I have had some serious knee pain in the last few weeks.  I have gotten a foam roller to work on my IT band, and it is beginning to feel better.  I will hopefully to able to walk/run the 5 miles tomorrow.

I got the funds from a few weeks ago deposited so my fundraising page is updated too!  yay!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sc/nikesf09/mweber1msy

Here are some pictures from our fundraiser a couple weeks ago!

More Successful than I thought!

So, Carin and I hosted our coffee house concert and silent auction last night.  I was a little nervous how the whole thing would actually pan out, but trusting that it would be ok.  We probably could have had our PR a bit more set, but things happen.  So, the evening finally got started after only making two trips back to the house for forgotten things :)  The music was GREAT, and I cannot thank the artists enough for coming out and donating their time to our cause, and one even driving from Nashville!  We asked for a $5 donation at the door, has coffee from starbucks donated and some donated desserts and Carin and her sister and mom made some others.  I did not realize how many items we really had until it took 3 of the long party tables and few other random small tables to set it all up.  Thanks to Sarah for speaking and helping out so much with the event as well!  When it was all over we raised somewhere around $1,377 for LLS - split in half thats about $660 each!  Also, we met another girl who came because her friend was one of the guys playing - she had no idea it was a fundraiser.  When she arrived, she saw the posters and everything, and came up to us after our speeches to thank us.  She told us her mom had been fighting Leukemia for about 6 years now,but was doing better.  I am so glad she was there, and hoping she will be able to run with us.

I survived the first full week of training!  However, my knee has been bothering me quite a bit, and I'm trying to figure out why.  Overall, I think I have done well, and am looking forward to the rest of the journey ahead.

One Step at a Time

Saturday I went to run with my TNT group, and was under the impression that we were doing 3 miles.  I had done 3 miles earlier that week, and was not really worried - it was hard, but I made it through.  However, when I got there - I learned I was mistaken.  Apparently, we were doing 4 miles.  whoops.  I thought to myself - how can I make it to 4 miles when 3 miles was difficult??  When I got to the end of the 5k loop, I had a one mile loop to go, and I didn't think I could do it.  I thought of the stories I have learned so far of people fighting cancer and running the race of their lives, thought of my Dad, and pushed on.  I finished the 4 miles and couldn't believe it.  I just need to remember to take one step at a time to reach my goal, and before you know it - that part is over.

This friday is the coffee house silent auction Carin and I are hosting - and we are both very excited for the event.  We got a lot of support from friends and businesses who donated several different items and services.  We're hoping this auction will bring in a good amount of donations - all towards this great cause.

I'm slacking on this...

I'm pretty sure no one is reading this yet, but hopefully once people find it - you will enjoy the old posts.  

We had our first run on saturday morning, almost a week ago.  Not everyone was there because our training schedule hasn't technically started, but there was still a good group to show.  One team member, Jerry, amazes me.  We started talking and he was worried about having never really run at all, and worried about finishing the 2 miles.  We told him everyone had to start somewhere and even if he had to walk some, to at least finish it.  When we finished the 2 miles, he came in a bit after my friend Whitney and I, and was excited to have finished - even though he didn't run it all.  I then learned that not only had he just did his first consecutive 2 miles, but he did it after his 7th chemo session.  Jerry was diagnosed a few months ago with Lymphoma in his arm, and will be completing 3 more sessions and then completing a marathon in October.  

It's stories like that that make me keep running.

The official training schedule starts June 1, and I am actually excited!!

Excited to get started!

Alright, I haven't been able to do much this week training wise, or really do much of anything.  I had my wisdom teeth pulled and it hasn't been a pretty week.  However, my roommate and I have come up with a good list of fundraising ideas and are excited to raise a lot of money for a good cause!  As soon as I am 100%, I cannot wait to start training for my first endurance race!

..and the Journey Begins...

Welcome to my new blog!  

I am training to run a half marathon, on October 18 in San Francisco, with Team in Training.  As part of this, I will be raising money to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and my personal goal is $5,000.  I have taken this event on as my first endurance event because it is a great cause, that is also close to my heart.  I have chosen to run in memory of my father, Randy Weber, who fought Hodgkin's Disease in his 20's; but was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma at age 43 in October of '89, and lost his battle on May 6, 1990.  This photo is from family portrait in 1988.

Feel free to add comments if you have a story - anyone you know who has fought or dealt with blood cancers - or any words of inspiration you have!

I will try to keep this updated weekly with new stories about heroes I hear about, and the progress of my training for the event.  

If you have stumbled upon this website, and you would like to help my cause you can go to my webpage to make a donation at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sc/nikesf09/mweber1msy

Thank You for your support!!