Pushing Through

Training is moving right along! We have now reached our peak mileage and are only about a month and a half away from the race. I can't believe that I have been training for one entire semester (my semester ends in two and a half weeks)!! Last weekend was a bit of relief. In order to not overextend the body, we took our mileage down from 8 to 6. And how amazing it felt to say, "It's just 6 miles, no big deal!" Knowing that running 6 miles without stopping is something that I never thought I would experience. And who knows what will be next... I can only hope that I will say "13.1 miles... I've run a half marathon before, that sounds easy!" : ) But I'll just wait until I get through my longest run yet - 10 miles - this weekend!

At this point, I am experiencing a number of ups and downs in my Team in Training experience. I am so excited that my shin splint is finally beginning to diminish! After purchasing new shoes (I firmly believe that my old shoes were the cause of my pain), I began to feel the shin splint becoming less and less noticeable. Now, I do not have to take Ibuprofin before each run in order to get through it, and I am only feeling the pressure of the shin splint from time to time. Hooray! : )

And now, I will confess some of the downs that I'm experiencing... However, it it tough to do so on such a public forum. No one cares to hear a Negative Nancy profess her deepest woes constantly - and that's just not my style. I will be brief, but will share these feelings for the sake of honesty and openness in my journal of my Team in Training experience.

While my body has become so much stronger and capable, I am experiencing what I feel is a plateau of sorts. For over three months now, I have been training well. As I began, the experience was new, intense, and exciting. It never felt difficult to wake at 5 AM to get a work out in for the day, my body was improving its condition and ability everyday, and I couldn't wait until the next moment of the adventure. While I am still and will continue to be wholeheartedly committed to Team in Training, it becomes tougher to work through at this point in the game. I am so proud of what my body is capable of, but the rapid results that I was seeing at first are slowing. I am as capable now of pushing through and completing an entire run, but I find it more difficult as my mentality pulls me down at times. I know that I am capable, there isn't a question, but it often seems easier to say, "I'll just walk for a few minutes, it won't hurt!" Beating that voice is hard, but I must work to achieve greater heights, rather than allow it to bring down my success. My body was fully capable of 5, 6, 7 miles, but reaching 8, and now 10, are true challenges. Never having faces such a challenge before, I have found myself genuinely afraid as my 8-mile and 10-mile runs have approached. I do feel, however, that I am beginning to move uphill in this plateau battle. After facing each workout and each day at a time, I feel that I am putting my chin up and becoming stronger mentally than I was before.

One final note about a down that I am facing through this experience is in regard to fundraising. I knew, registering to be a part of Team in Training, that I would be incredibly challenged to raise $2,900 to participate in the San Diego half marathon and to provide care and research for Leukemia & Lymphoma patients everywhere. However, I had faith. And I still do! But it is very difficult at times... I have barely begin to bring in the funds that I need to to move forward with this journey, and I am becoming more and more fearful everyday that I will not raise enough funds to allow me to reach my goal. Asking people to give of their own money, especially in difficult financial times, is extremely frightening and tough. I am thinking more everyday of new resources that I may tap and new creative ideas that I may use to raise money, but time is running thin. If you have creative ideas or resources, please send them my way!

Okay, enough with the negatives! The bottom line is that I am working toward achieving something that I never have before. And I know that I must prevail because this is for more than myself. This is for people everywhere whose fathers, mothers, siblings, family members, significant others, friends, and loved ones have been faced with cancer. While they endure chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, doubt, and pain, I endure early mornings, sweat, soreness, and physical challenge. Hardly a comparison... And so I must move forward.

Thank you to everyone who has been reading these messages. I am incredibly grateful for your interest and support!! Please let me know what you think via comments on this blog, Facebook posts, emails, calls, etc. I LOVE to hear your thoughts and encouragement - you help to pull me through!