More Thank You's!!

This has been an incredible team effort and there aren't enough thank yous to go around! To those of you who sent me cash donations and didn't get recognized on my fundraising page: David Pilkenton, Kim Smith, my parents, and my dear sister, Michelle - aka: my faraway mentor! Wow! Thank you!
To everyone who has worked a Saturday shift for me so I can attend team practices: Ann Kellogg, Meesa Taylor, Lisa Wochester, Adam, Sue Pederson, Vicki - Wow, thank you!
To everyone who has sent words of encouragement - I think of every one of them when I am running - no kidding! Wow! Thanks!
To everyone who sees me, doesn't run the opposite direction and excitedly asks how my training is going (I know you would rather poke your eyes out than hear me talk about running yet again!) Thank you!
And of course my dear husband (who I have been teasing a lot lately) - for always being there so I can train, setting me up with fancy gear (ipods and nikeplus technology etc...), fixing the treadmill, being supportive and teaching Jack to say Go Team Mommy!
All this and I haven't even run the marathon yet! Wow! I just couldn't wait to say thank you! I am sure there are many more to come!!

A Runner's High?

I had an awesome run tonight! I happened to be on the treadmill because it got late before I could fit it in and I was feeling good. It wasn't a particularly long run but I was enjoying it (did I really just say that?!). I could see the moon outside and I was smiling and thanking God for making it this far - yes, I was actually smiling while running! The next thing I know I was visualizing myself making it to the finish line thinking maybe fat girls can run a marathon and then another thought came into my head, "I think I can play the saxophone!" Where did that come from? Is this a runner's high?! So of course I go and tell my husband. "I think I had a runners high, I think I can play the saxophone!" His reply, (think flat affect here) "What? Have you lost your mind? You ARE high. Not that I want to make your blog again." So of course I'm outing him - I said, You are soooo going on the blog!!!! Yes, we are still speaking....for now! And maybe I will take up the saxophone!

An Update on Lew

Most of you are receiving Lew's email update but for those of you who are not, I know you are quite interested in how he is doing. Lew is heading into one of his toughest battles yet. In September he will be doing high dose chemo followed a few weeks later by the first of two stem cell transplants. He says he feels like, so far, he is weathering this chemo well with just some complaints of insomnia, an increased appetite and some peripheral neuropathy.
Since Lew and Rose live in Bellingham and are receiving their treatment at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance they are certainly facing an added challenge not only with driving down for twice a week chemo's but also because during stem cell transplants they will need to be within 30 minutes of the hospital - not an easy task in Seattle.
The good news: one major marker in Lew's myeloma cells have shown a marked decrease AND Lew is still maintaining his positive attitude and sense of humor. Rose of course remains a rock and as usual is there for everyone!
Prayers for them both!

180 minutes!

Today, our team run was 180 minutes! Oh ouch! I am not sure how I didn't realize how far that was. I suppose it's because I have been focusing on minutes and 180 didn't sound that bad - I know, don't ask me why not! So far, I have covered my ears whenever anyone talks miles but today I learned 180 minutes means 12 miles!! AAGGHHH! I did it! It was hard, the last mile was a killer (my groin hurt and you could have mistaken me for the great Salt Lake) my coach took me by the hand and sang the Rocky theme song just to make it the last 100 yards but I actually made it 12 miles! Not in my whole life would I have dreamed I could have made it 12 miles (unless like Maria says, "someone is chasing me with a knife"). Wow! It also turns out I am a role model to my husband. Yup, today he told me he was interested in running. Apparently, he said, he didn't realize that you don't have to be in shape or even look good to be a runner so he is willing to try. I'll let you imagine how that conversation went! Yes, we are still speaking to each other...for now ;)

An invitation to join me in San Francisco!

Whether you would be coming to see beautiful San Francisco, enjoy all the amenities of the marathon (39 live music stations, food, fun and comedians to keep everyone cheerful) or to see the take down of the SAG wagon, I'd love for you to come! Here are some details: The Nike Women's Marathon is Sunday October 19th which starts at San Francisco's Union Square. I hear the course is beautiful winding through fisherman's wharf, Golden Gate Park, Lake Merced etc... John, Jack and I will be staying at the San Fransisco Hilton in the financial district (I hear there are many great hotels). Anyone who would care to join me I would be thrilled!
For those of you who can't make SF , many of you have asked to join me on a run. OK, I am willing to humiliate myself even one step further and let you join me. John, Jack and I have been going to a nearby high school track and running on Sunday afternoons. Actually, John chases Jack around and I run the track. Sometimes they sit in the stands and cheer, "Go Team Mommy!" So if you would like to come that sounds great! I'll buy you a Margarita afterward! Here's the scoop: It takes me a long time to warm up, I can hardly speak when I run, I am so slow many of you will walk faster than I run and it turns out I'm not really young and athletic - sound like fun? That's what the margarita is for afterward - hopefully you will forget how dorky I looked!

Halfway there and what I learned ...

Yesterday was our halfway running party. We are halfway to actually running our marathon and halfway to the finish line of our fund raising. I am very blessed by my amazing support system of friends and family! It is because of all of you that I have been recognized to currently be the top fund raiser of my team! Thanks for the opportunity to brag on each one of you who are supporting both me and Lew! (I still need $1000 to meet my fund raising goal and of course anything above that means more dollars for research! Please click on my link to help out!
I wish I could also say I was the top runner but in that department I don't even come close. It feels like I am working harder than ever but my pace just doesn't seem to get any faster. I truly am the tortoise in the story of the tortoise and the hare. What I lack in speed and athleticism I certainly make up for in strength and stamina. There is only one problem with the story of the tortoise and the hare. They never tell you the part where the tortoise gets in a fight with the SAG wagon. Yes, that's right, I said fight with the SAG wagon! You see yesterday I learned that when the clock hits 6.5 hours the course closes and the SAG wagon picks you up! Ummm, not happening!!! Do they really think that I am going to work this hard running like a human potato wearing $500 orthotics with salt coming out of my pores (I have turned into a human salt lick) to have some fancified wagon carry me to the finish line?! I don't think so!!! So my goals this week have obviously changed. I need to not only increase my pace but I also need to start boxing lessons! There better be more than one guy on that wagon or I'm sure I can take him (right Bonita ;) !

I know an old lady...

No, no, it's not the old lady who swallowed the fly. I know an old lady who went to a podiatrist - oh wait! That was me! I thought only old ladies with thick ankles and bunions went to the podiatrist but then I found myself sitting in the office waiting room with all the other old ladies talking about their foot issues. I felt like I should have had a pillbox hat on my head and a cat in my lap! I have bonded with the man shoes but after 2 hours of running I'm begging to be running on cotton balls. Pretty easy fix says the doctor, stretch your calves and spend $500 on orthotics. Oh my! Well here goes $500 because I am not giving up now - I am going to that finish line wearing $500 orthotics in pimped out man shoes wearing feather boa's and bling anywhere I can glue it!