Marathon Running for Good Causes

     I have chosen to fund raise for charities on both ends of the disease spectrum- the cause and effect. Disease prevention vs treatment. We're exposed to so much in our daily lives. The ingredients allowed in things that we put into and on our bodies are not well regulated to ensure that what is supposed to sustain our lifestyles does not make us sick over time. Farmers markets allow people to get more natural and more environmentally friendly products that will expose their bodies to less disease causing agents. They allow us to make more connected and conscious choices while supporting the local economy. On the other end of this story, once someone has gotten a disease, organizations like St Jude Children's Hospital are making great strides to cure people's sickness. I believe these charities are good causes that have a very positive impact on the world. I would be very proud, honored, and grateful if you would help me run this marathon to raise some funds to support these organizations


St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: www.stjude.org

Over the years I have had my own cancer scare (turned out to be a benign osteo condroma tumor) also, many friends and family members have been affected by cancer and other diseases. I think organizations like st Jude do amazing work. I want to pay it forward so that St. Jude Children's Research Hospital can continue caring for families at no monetary cost.


Mount Holly Farmers Market: www.mounthollyfarmersmarket.com  The Mount holly Farmer's Market is working hard to build a healthier and stronger community. The market got started in 2005 and they have now also created a beautiful community garden and started teaching monthly cooking and gardening classes. In order to expand and continue to support local growers they need a few new tents and other equipment to support our rural community.


Here's where this post may show my inner hippy-environmentalist outlook on life but, bare with me and take my opinion with a grain of salt .If you would like some background research on the philosophy behind why I've chosen these charities, see the links below.

• THE HUMAN EXPERIMENT: This trailer for the documentary doesn't do the film justice. If you do no further research into my background motivations for donating to theses causes, PLEASE watch this film. It's on Netflix
• Big box grocery stores and the commercial food industry create a lot of wasted food. See this documentary called "Just eat it" 
• Caution to all ladies who use make up there's toxic stuff in it! ex. Lead in lipstick
• Our agricultural system is unsustainable and unhealthy. See the documentaries Food Inc and Forks over Knives
• The National Cancer Act was signed in the 1970's. See  THESE VIDEOS about it's progress.
• environmental impact The food and products we choose have an eco footprint and
• affect climate change
• why not use permaculture?

     I will be wearing a screen printed running singlet during the race with the names of all my personal sponsors (like you!) and the charities we'll donate to so that, in a way, I can take you all with me- you'll "have my back"! Something like THIS.

Marathon Training: Week Seven

I came into this week with my body feeling very tired. My training is a bit taxing but, I think that the combination of a heavier work schedule, less sleep, and trying to work on and move into the new house we bought is taking a toll. Hopefully once we move in, September will slow down a bit and I'll feel more rested and recovered.

Mon 3mi run+20min cross- I thought about trying to elliptical more today and get my legs used to more running motion but I pushed too hard and tiered early. I did a 5min bike, lunges and stretches. Then I elipticaled for 30min but my feet got too numb, and my ankles and legs too sore so I finished the rest of the cross training with a 15min bike instead of ellipticaling the whole time. My toes never got un-numb after elipticaling but I realize now that I may have just had shoes laced too tight.

Tue 35min bike+strength- I started with lunges and stretches, then biked 35min. My legs feel pretty tired. I did one set of heavy weights. It was not enough. I wanted to do two sets but had to get back home to help Wayne with new house and make dinner.

Wed 2mi run+10min cross- Today started with lunges and stretches. Then I elipticled 10 min, and ran 2miles. My GPS watch connected faster this time either because it remembers location or I stood away from interfering building and trees. My breathing and leg motion felt odd but it was another happy run. I'm encouraged that all the cross training does seem to be helping. I was worried it wouldn't be enough to prepare me. I still have to remind myself not to push to hard and allow time to rest and recover. My body is nice and lightly sore from the weight training yesterday.

Fri 60min cross+3mi run- I had intended to do all of today's training inside the gym as cross training per what I've been doing for the last 6 weeks but, I got to the gym late and had to finish outside with some real running. I did a lung and stretch warm-up, 15min bike, 30 min elliptical, 15min bike, 12min elliptical, and then a 16:30min run outside. The run felt calm and easy. It gets dark almost right at 8:30pm now. The evening air was cool and humid.

Sat 35min cross+ 3mi run- I made it to the gym on a Saturday! So, no run walk today. This may be an increase in the intensity of my workout for the day from past weeks. I did a lung and stretch warm up. The 35min elliptical felt fairly easy and relaxed though my pace and heart rate where higher then previous days. My run was a little stiff today. My leg mechanics feel strange. I wonder if they would feel better if I ran first before ellipticaling?

Sun roll & ice- I definitely need to roll and Ice I do feel quite tired and sore but, I had to be at work at 8am and didn't get off until 8:30pm. I'm trying to get better at making time to do a recovery routine on Sundays but. In the midst of moving, and long work days, it doesn't seem to be working out.

I'm leaving this week feeling encouraged that I am doing well but the question always lurks in the back of my mind, Is it enough? We'll see, but for now I'm starting to see positive slow and steady improvement. Run rest repeat, don't get ahead of myself and push too hard. I increased the intensity of Mon Fri and Sat's workouts. I'll try to rest well and recover in the next few days.

Marathon Training: Week Six

The weeks keep getting better slowly but surely. The joy of running and feeling capable and uninjured is returning. Huzzah!

Mon 2.75mi run + 2.5min cross- Today I biked for 2.5min, did  lunges and stretches, then ellipticaled for 27.5min. My legs feel as they should with more elliptical running motion.

Tue 30 min bike + strength- Warmed up with lunges and stretches and then biked. I also added just a few light weights.

Wed 2mi run + 10min cross- Today felt really good! It did take the first 5-10 min for my body to get comfy but, this is the first happy/joyful run I've had in a very long time. I switched my breathing pattern from 3/3 to 2/2 throughout the run, and ran the second mile with my right shoe untied. Running on grass was comfy with no ankle pain on the uneven surface. 8:50am wasn't as hot as I though it might feel. I had dew soaked shoes from the grass by the end of the run. I'd intended to elliptical instead of bike but I had no time for a warm up lunge/stretch so, I opted to go slow and ease into training on the bike so that I could better manage my time since I had to be at work at 9:30am- no shower + stinky re-worn shirt, Yay!  I was the first one through the door of the gym at 8:30am. My GPS watch took longer to connect to satellite than I'd hoped it would.

Fri 55min cross- I biked for 5min easy warm up and then did lunges and stretches. Then I ellipticaled for 50 min. My right hip had a tight tendon kink that developed during ellipticaling. It finally relaxed and popped back into place when getting back into the car to go home. My left toes are not going as numb as in the past, perhaps because my foot strikes are evening out a bit. I took a mis-step and paused for a moment to reset my feet but the elliptical machine erased my total time so I had to guess I was supposed to do 7 more min.

Sat 2.75mi run+ 32.5mincross- I walked 16.25min, ran 2.75mi, walked 16.25min. Felt great running on grass. Nice comfy pace during which I switched from 3/3-2/2 breathing

Sun ice and roll- I still didn't manage to get this done on my rest day. I did foam roll on another day. I really do need to do a real ice bath. The house we're buying has a fridge with a working ice machine so that will help a lot.

Marathon Training: Week Five

Training is getting better. My sprained ankles are almost back to normal. Now I'll just have a few weeks of correcting imbalances that have cropped up from favoring my injuries. I'm excited to start running for real again on the earthen ground and in the outdoors.

Mon 2.5mi run + 20min cross- 20min bike and then 25min elliptical plus, I did a few back and leg extensions too.

Tue 30min bike+ strength- Wayne and I spent our day off together walking through IKEA and other furniture stores dreaming about decorating this home we're about to purchase. We got caught up and I got to the gym too late to bike for a full 30min but, they where nice enough to allow me to stay for an extra 5min and do 25min total. I pushed the pace a bit in hope of  making up for some of the lost time.

Wed 2mi tempo + 10min cross- I got called off work today and was allowed a second day in a row off from work with Wayne. I did a 10min bike and then 20min elliptical in the gym. I tried not to take a break in between exercises in order to increase the duration of cardiovascular exercise.

Fri 50min run + 20min cross- Today I went to the gym before work to do my "long run" on the elliptical. I'm feeling guilty that Wayne had to clean the house and pick out anniversary desserts for my parents while I was at work and the gym. I did a 20min easy bike than did lunges, and stretched before hopping on the elliptical for the rest of the time. I managed to get off work a little early and had time to run home and shower before my parents came to visit and we went out to dinner at a small family Italian place with awesome pizza in Belmont called Simonettie's.

Sat 2.5mi run + 35min cross- Happy 17th Anniversary to my parents and Happy 57th Birthday to Dave! My achillies complained and popped a bit throughout the run. Even though I'm gradually increasing the running impact my legs are no longer happy with my running once a week. The tendons aren't keeping up with the difference in strain between real running and cross training. Starting next week I will increase my number of running days per week by one so that in 5 weeks I will be running a bit on all 5 of my weekly training days.

Sun Roll and Ice- Again I didn't get to an ice bath today but I did a few session of rolling and local icing throughout the week.

Marathon Training: Week Four

Mon 2.75mi run + 7.5min cross- Today I did 7.5min of biking and then tried to elliptical for the rest of the time but, I could only manage 10min due to some uncomfort in my ankle. So, I finished back on the bike for 22.5min. I could tell after working out that the elliptical is good for my legs and mimicking a more running like motion.

Tue 30min bike + strength- I took a real outdoor bike ride with Wayne around Mount Holly for maybe 35-40 min. I tried to go a little long because I feel like I cheat when coasting down hill on outdoor bike rides. We came back and did just a small set of the RW Iron Strength workout. I was able to do more than I thought I would be able to but my ankle doesn't like to jump around yet.

Wed 1.5mi run + 15min cross steady- First "workout" training day according to my training plan but I biked in the gym for 15min and then hopped on the elliptical for 10min and finished with a final 5min bike. It wasn't quite the workout I'd originally planned because it just felt like too much strain on my ankle still to do real running or even as much ellipticaling as I'd planned.

Fri 15min cross + 45min run- I did an easy warmup bike of 15min and then stopped to stretch and do a few lunges. I then ellipticaled for 45min with prettymuch no discomfort in my ankle! I did have to slow down on occasion and try step in a way to put pressure on different areas of the bottom of my foot in order to allow blood flow and get my toes to stop being numb. This is a thing that happens on the elliptical and I'm not exactly sure why. My heart rate and breathing where slow and easy the whole time. Today was a swell mental confidence booster. I can feel imbalences evening out. My right ankle is still catching up a bit but it's much closer to normal than two weeks ago. Yay!

Sat 37.5min cross + 2.25mi run- I walked for 18min45sec then had to stand in place for a minute so my GPS watch would lock onto nearby satellites. I had a nice run around downtown mount holly and then I finished with another18min45sec walk back home. I still feel a bit silly walking and would like to try to make it to the gym's morning Saturday hours in the next week or two.

Sun roll + ice- I did some local ankle icing but I didn't have much more time after a shower and a late night dinner when I got home from work. Focusing on my breathing is carrying over to everyday life. Running is less labor intensiveand enjoyable when relaxed and breathing easy. This is an interesting concept for someone with pectus excavatum.