8 DAYS... And Counting!

In six days, I will be on a plane traveling to San Diego. And in eight days, I will be completing my first half marathon! How could it be that after almost 5 months of training and nearly $3,100 raised for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I have made it to the end of my journey?! It feels unreal. But incredibly rewarding! :-)

It seems that every week of this experience gets better and better!! Last Saturday afternoon, I received enough donations to push me over the edge of my fundraising goal! HOW SURREAL! With almost $3,100 to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I feel completely thankful that I chose to participate in Team in Training.

In January, I felt sure that I wanted to become healthier and more fit. When I decided to set my sights high and train for a half marathon, I knew that if I were to do so, I wanted to do it in a benevolent way. After all, running 13.1 miles is a truly bold feat for me. I barely thought that it would be possible. But here I am... Totally ready for race day, healthier heart and soul, more aware of the realities of the world around me, and with a gift of cancer treatment and research to show for it. How beautiful...

Today, I ran my final "long run" at 8 miles, and I can barely believe that I performed so well! I'm so proud of how far my body has come... Finishing at 1 hour, 11 minutes, and 20 seconds, I felt so elated! While my measurements might not be 100% exact, I am confident that my pace was much faster than it has been! I have received so much advice and guidance along the way, and especially from from Ernie and my other TNT teammates here in Northwestern Ohio, regarding race day that I am confident that I'm able to complete the race within my goal. Here is a chart of potential completion times and their coinciding paces (the first number is the average amount of time it takes to complete each one mile, and the second number is the final completion time for the 13.1 mile race with the first number as the average per mile):

8:00 - 1:44:57

8:20 - 1:49:20

8:40 - 1:53:42

9:00 - 1:58:04

9:30 - 2:04:38

10:00 - 2:11:12

10:30 - 2:17:45

11:00 - 2:24:19

My baseline goal for race day is to finish in no more than 10:30 per mile (2 hours, 17 minutes, and 45 seconds for the entire 13.1 mile race). However, I would love to finish closer to 10 minutes per mile.

I am completely prepared to run my first half marathon with high hopes and an open heart, grateful for this journey of heart, mind, and spirit!

Taper? Psych! I'll just run a few extra miles...

What a fantastic week! First, I am in awe at the amount of grace and kindness that so many friends and family have shown in my final week of fundraising. I can hardly believe that I am only $188.04 from reaching my goal of $2,900 to benefit Leukemia & Lymphoma treatment and research!! With only two days until my fundraising deadline (Monday, May 24), I'm sending up my prayers that I am able to reach my goal. I truly believe that this can happen. While this journey has given me a look into more sadness than I knew existed as a result of cancer and has made me a more sympathetic person as a result, it has also shown me the beauty of the human heart! How wonderful everyone has been to support me both emotionally, spiritually, and financially as I have made my way from barely being able to run three or four miles at a time to being capable to reach new physical heights and provide thousands of dollars to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. THANK YOU!! Each of you have blessed my life more than I can say. I am truly grateful for this experience!

On top of my excitement at nearing my fundraising goal, I am so thrilled to be working with the Team in Training group from Northwest Ohio. What a fabulous group! They are such wonderful people, so dedicated and energetic. I have been inspired by them to set new goals and work toward reaching them. I'm excited to be working with our coach, Ernie, who is very hands on and very knowledgeable in the sport of running. Ernie has participated in two Team in Training races, but has completed a number of others, including a Century run (a 100-mile run that took him about 30 hours to complete - CRAZY!?). While I do have a general plan given by TNT that I have followed throughout my training, Ernie creates personalized plans for his runners to train for their races. As I am so far into my training, there isn't a need for a new plan, but I mentioned last week that I began my "taper." This means that four weeks before my race I ran my longest pre-race mileage (10-miles), and then I began working my way down to lower miles. However, Ernie's San Diego runners begin their taper THIS WEEK as they ran their longest mileage. SO what did I do, you ask? Taper, schmaper! I ran over 10 miles rather than the 6 that I intended!! :-)

I simply love running. When I complete a run, I feel so alive!! I'm full of energy and so thrilled that my body has carried me so far. I am officially addicted!! ;-) I am looking for my next races, and I hope to complete a full marathon sometime in the future. Perhaps one additional half and then a full? I'm still debating... Regardless, I am committed to working hard to improve my running abilities! Upcoming goals: work on my arm strength and core strength to improve running ability and time (and the toning will of course be a great bonus) AND work on my speed through interval and other training. I am so excited to see how far I'm able to push myself and to one day improve my speed and race finish time.

I just can't say enough about this experience... Team in Training has provided me with emotional wealth through learning sympathy, grace, altruism... And I have gained physical wealth through this extraordinary opportunity to see just how capable the human body is and become healthier and happier in the process.

And in two weeks, all of these newly acquired notions will be tested... It's almost time for San Diego!! :-D

Three weeks to race day!

I can hardly believe that the race is only three weeks away! This week, I had a treat to change the pace of my training. I have recently returned to Ohio to visit Alex, and of course I would continue to train alone, but how much sweeter it is to have other to do it with... So I contacted Team in Training in Toledo to run with their group! The group was small, but that was wonderful for me! I was so excited to experience the closeness of their group!

On Saturday at 7 AM I met their group of 6 at Farnsworth Park in Waterville, OH, which runs along the Maumee River. This was a beautiful run! Cool, scenic, and accommodating (restrooms and water fountains along the way!). And after I ran, I waited with the others who had finished early for the rest of the group. Then, we went out to breakfast together! I loved the camaraderie that the team had developed! What an excellent addition to my TNT experience! I will continue to train with them in the coming three weeks before my race in San Diego.

Now on to what is on my mind most at the moment... FUNDRAISING! With only ONE WEEK remaining until my fundraising deadline, I have reached only 72% of my goal. As a result, if I do not raise the full amount within that week, I have committed to donating the remaining funds from my own finances. While this will be quite a load to bear, I have committed to it. I am becoming quite nervous as the deadline approaches, but I have faith that I will reach my goal. When dedicating ourselves to being a member of Team in Training, we are given a fundraising minimum. In my case, $2,900 is the minimum in order to attend the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon. However, if we do not reach that minimum, we must prove the remaining funds in order to race.

If you have not given to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through my Team in Training race, please consider doing so. If you have given or feel compelled, please forward my information to friends and family who might be able to help. Any amounts are greatly appreciated!

You may donate securely online by using this link (and receive receipt):

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nce/rnr10/akollay

I am sincerely thankful for all of the support that my family and friends have shown, both financially and emotionally. Your encouragement is unmatched and so appreciated!

It's all downhill from here!

Today was the final time that I will complete my longest run before race day. This morning, all before 9 AM, I ran 10 miles... and at my best time yet!! What a feeling... I can't describe how grateful I am for my body's capabilities and how excited I am for how far I've come! Thus far, I have been completing my longer runs (6 and more miles) at 10:30 to 10:45 per mile. However, today I beat myself and completed 10 miles in 1 hour and 44 minutes. That's about 10:24 per mile! As a result of this exciting development, I am stating my race day goal: TO COMPLETE THE RACE IN UNDER 10:30 PER MINUTE (2 HOURS, 17 MINUTES, AND 30 SECONDS)! I know that I can do this!! :-)

Aside from the excitement and success of training, I have been working hard to complete my find raising. What a task this is! I am proud and thrilled to be generating funds that will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and it truly is a lot of work. I have committed to raising $2,900, the minimum amount necessary to compete at the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon with Team in Training. With only two weeks until my fund raising deadline, I have raised 71% of my goal (this number might not be currently reflected on my donation site as a number of the funds are in the form on checks and have not yet been processed). This is excellent news!! But it still leaves my about $850 short of my goal. I have committed to paying any remaining amount of of my own pocket, but I sincerely hope that I am able to feel the pride and excitement of raising the full amount by race day. If you are able to give, please do so. These funds are truly supporting a worthy cause!

That being said, I am learning more and more everyday of families being affected by cancer. While on one hand, it is positive that so many of those generous people who have supported me financially or emotionally throughout this journey of mine feel so connected to the cause, it is truly devastating to know how many lives this monster that we call cancer has taken or changed forever. Every time that I learn of additional people who have had cancer or have supported a loved one who has, my heart breaks. Please know, each and every one of you, that on race day, I will be running for you. You will be on my mind and in my heart. You are my strength and reason in this journey. Thank you for your inspiration...

Please pray for and remember all of the people affected by cancer for whom I run....

In honor of my uncle Wick Flower (Hodgkin Lymphoma) & in support of our family

In memory of (Papa) Dean Mead (Leukemia) & in support of his loved ones

In memory of Louie Hayes (Leukemia) & in support of the Hayes family & their loved ones

In honor of two members of Millbrook Lodge & in support of their members & loved ones

In memory of Tom Nine (Leukemia) & in support of his loved ones