15 posts tagged “leukemia & lymphoma society”
Over 950 km (600 miles) of training logged and it all amounted to this day, Sunday October 21st, 2007...
I woke up nervous, ten minutes before my alarm went off...I had set out everything the previous night so I didn't have to think much when getting ready. I had brought a pack of oatmeal with me for breakfast since that's what I normally use. However, I forgot a spoon. So I tried to improvise and it wasn't working so I ate a gel instead. Threw on my sexy garbage bag and headed out to meet up with my team. We took a quick picture and headed to the start.
Waiting around for the beginning was lots of fun. We weren't awake so we found ourselves giggling at many things that were probably no where near funny, lol. I kept getting this feeling that I was forgetting something "sunscreen, body glide, underwear, pants, socks, shoes, bra, singlet, bib, hydration belt, gels, camera, hat, hair done up, chapstick, washroom break, etc..." I hadn't forgotten anything.
As we approached the start line I kept saying to myself "start slow, watch the pace, don't rush" and we were off! It was pretty crowded at the beginning so we walked a bit until people spread out...THEN we were really off ;) It was already hot out at 7AM and I was glad I decided to wear a garbage bag to keep me warm instead of a long sleeved shirt like a lot of people we passed.
Through the entire race I ran with two others: Shawna and her sister Shena. We scavenged lai's from the sidelines and put them on our running hats ("If you're going to San Francisco/be sure to wear/some flowers in your hair") I don't think people got that unless we explained it, haha, oh well. It was a lot of fun!
Running along Fisherman's Wharf, past a little harbour, and along the ocean was just amazing! At mile six we hit the largest hill which continued until mile seven with the elevation going from 0 to 300 during that distance. I ran up the entire thing though and before we knew it we "ate that hill for breakfast!" At the top there was an oxygen bar with quite the lineup but we figured we should stop for the full experience - it was funny and I don't know if it helped any but definitely smelled good. Reportedly Robin Williams house was there as well...I have no idea if this is true or not and sadly he did not stick his head out of said window to say something funny ;)
We continued on. Along the way were signs with reasons to run, messages from cancer patients, lots of people cheering including some witty signs that were much appreciated (ie: people dressed in Alcatraz criminal suits holding one that said "Run like you stole something!!!")
It was around the 1hr 45min mark that I realized I hadn't taken in anything nutrition-wise and hardly any gatorade or water. Oops. I got completely caught up in the whole marathon buzz atmosphere. I tried to pay much closer attention to this from then on. We "ran" into another teammate and she took a picture of us before the road (I think around mile 12) split for the 1/2 mary people and it started to sink in that there was still quite a ways to go. One foot in front of the other. I wasn't feeling any pain at this point thank goodness! We ran around Golden Gate Park which was gorgeous, and by the bridge (actually I think that was a bit before the park) and there was a pedicure station...Is anyone else thinking "wtf?!" Yeah, last thing I wanted to do was take off my runners in the middle of the marathon to have someone PAINT MY TOENAILS that will probably fall off later anyway. Seriously now. Who planned that?! After the run, ok, awesome...still a little sketch with the sweaty achy feet...but IN THE MIDDLE?! Yeah...ok that's enough of that rant, haha.
After we went down a rather steep hill along the oceanside and hit mile 18.75 where we crossed before noon (if you didn't you were not allowed to complete the race) so that was awesome knowing that we would not be turned around. To be quite honest from about mile 12 to that point is a blur. I was "in the zone" feeling great but also in my own thoughts. It was great "me" time and for the most part I tried to take in the stunning scenery San Francisco has to offer and thinking about nothing yet everything.
Some things that I don't remember exactly where they were in the race:
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Mile. Ohhh sweet heaven that was the best tasting chocolate in the world at that moment. I bet it had to do with running so bloody far, haha. I know you aren't supposed to try anything new on race day but I couldn't resist this little square of deliciousness (I highly doubt many women could.) Fortunately, no GI revolts after that.
- Which segways into the fact that we took three washroom breaks through the race and I was pleasantly surprised that they were stocked well with tp and seat covers.
- Running and singing is quite a skill; along the course we ran past a girl that had "It's My Birthday!" on the back of her shirt so we sang "Happy Birthday" to her which was a lot of fun! "O Canada!" was also done twice, lol.
So from 18.75 - mile 24 was pretty frickin' tough. The distance of the marathon definitely does humble you. I was developing blisters (which I anticipated since my feet seem to like to do that despite blister prevention socks and body glide slathered all over them.) then I started to get a stitch. It hurt. So I ran with my arms up trying to breathe deeply and fill my lungs completely. I thought this was a sign of dehydration (it was SOOOO hot out, around 32 a teammate told me later that evening) Good thing I slathered on 50 SPF even though it probably was all melting off! Anyway, so I drank a lot of water....but fast. Oops.
So this stupid stitch was stabbing me and we were running around a few lakes. Theoretically this was nice but you didn't see too much of the lakes except near the beginning and end of the loop around them. So it was basically pavement, sun, cars, hardly any spectators, and NO AID STATIONS!! It was definitely a struggle at a few points in those miles. I am soo thankful Shawna and Shena were with me; they kept me going :) At one point there was a Canadian guy from AB that spotted us and ran with us for a a while and his encouragement really helped, too. I was completely out of liquids and down to one more gel.
Once we hit the next aid station I quickly asked the doctor if I was doing the right thing but he said I should have gatorade even though I was eating gels. So I did and splashed one cup of water on the back of my neck to boot. The cramp subsided in the next few minutes which was a relief!! We were also in the homestretch as we hit the mile 25 marker! Coach Ray and Alicia were there cheering us on which was awesome to see. The last mile was definitely the longest seeming one of the entire race! Good thing there was a premium ocean running view. We crossed the finish line together and we then gladly ate some actual food and basked in the knowledge that we were now marathoners!!
I still have a hard time believing it! It was a FABULOUS experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I surprisingly was not nearly as sore as I anticipated in the following days (no walking down the stairs backwards like I had to after my first half and then again at 32k & no NSAID's even!!) Maybe it was the ice cold bath with a toque and Earl Grey that warded off the pain...or perhaps my lactate threshold has improved a lot, whatever it was I was thankful! Now, don't get me wrong because there was pain; it just wasn't as bad as I expected (in fact my hips are still a little sore :P lol.)
So I did it. I am a marathoner! I have my finisher's shirt, my finisher's necklace, my space blanket, my 26.2 pin, and a whole lot of confidence now.
To be honest, I thought about why and who I was running for in the beginning before we even started. Then, in the middle of it all I almost started crying because I was thinking about the affects of cancer too much so I diverted my emotions for a while. It was definitely in the forefront of my mind through most of the run though. The entire race was to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It seemed like everyone had a name on their back. Which is touching and sickening all at once. It's great to know we all are passionate about finding a cure but with 22,100 women and 900 men racing you really wish that number was significantly smaller.
I'll update about San Fran in general in a later post. Sorry this has taken a while to get up!
Once again, thank you SO much to all of you that have supported me throughout this experience because I certainly would not have been able to accomplish this goal otherwise. Run for life, my friends.
The marathon is approaching ever so quickly and this has me a bit nervous! (Ok, maybe more like 'someone might need to tranquilize me on race day' nervous, haha.) For those of you that don't know, I have been training for my first marathon the past six months and will be participating in the San Francisco Nike Women's Marathon on October 21st which is specifically raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Make a donation to cancer research if you'd like to help people with these deadly cancers out.
For the race I'll be sticking to clif shots, gatorade, and sharkies for my race nutrition as these seem to be the easiest ones for me to use. I leave on Thursday for San Francisco, run on Sunday, and leave Monday afternoon. I'm hoping I'll be able to see a bit of San Fran the few days beforehand since I've never been there before. I don't think I'll be able to update while I'm there because I don't plan on bringing my computer (too much of a hassle.) I will for SURE post pictures and recap once I've returned.
To be honest I haven't stuck to my training plan very much the past couple of weeks due to life getting in the way so really my goal will be to just do it. This is afterall for a cause much more important than a shiny finish time.
Once again, if you have someone you know that has been affected by cancer and would like me to run in honour of them (you don't need to donate to do this) please email me!
On October 21st @ 9:00 AM the Vancouver Nike Runner’s Lounge will be holding a 21KM run in support of the 15,000 women that will be simultaneously running in the San Francisco Nike Women’s Marathon, an event that will be raising funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
And if the half marathon is not your thing, we will also be holding 5K and 10K runs to add to the celebration.
The Experience will Include:
• 5k, 10k, 21k runs with Nike Run Leaders
• Run shirts for all participants
• Water station on route
• Bowerman Brunch
• Post-run massage
• Pedi-care stations to reward you feet
If interested in participating in this event please RSVP here, on Facebook, by phone at (778) 786-7463, or in person at the Vancouver Nike Runner’s Lounge located at 510 Nicola Street.
It would be great if you are interested to encourage as many friends to be part of the day as possible.
Thanks
Paul
Assistant Manager Nike Runner's Lounge
There is only a little over TWO WEEKS until I run my marathon to benefit Leukemia & Lymphoma cancer research!!! I still have a substantial amount of money to raise. Despite this I am committed and I am running. Every FIVE minutes someone around the world is diagnosed with a blood cancer and every TEN minutes someone dies; we can help make a difference. So if you have not donated already and have some cash you could give to a wonderful cause please make your donation now! All donations over $10.00 are tax-deductible. Sending this page to people you know who might be willing to donate would be appreciated also!
If there is someone that you would like me to run in honour or memory of please do not hesitate to fire me an email. (Even if you cannot donate I would still love to run for someone you know.)
Thanks so much!!!
Please note: if you cannot make a donation that's alright; I know many people still have student loans and other such financial obligations but regardless please be sure to send good vibes on race day - 21st October!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you could copy and paste what is below to five people you know that I don't it would help a lot!
My friend Kirsten is running a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, it's her first one, and she could use some help! So I am asking you to please Gimme 5!
1. Gimme 5 minutes of your time - go to Kirsten’s website at http://www.active.com/donate/tntvan/kirsten and read about what she is doing.
2. Gimme $5 bucks - just donate online: five dollars for a great cause - and hey if you want to donate more that's fantastic!
3. Gimme 5 friends - send this to five friends and help spread the word!
4. 5 is the number of months that Kirsten has been training 4 times a week, running well over 30 km each week!
5. Every 5 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer - money for research is desperately needed - so please donate now.
Thank you!
Not going to lie, I'm nervous about the fundraiser!! I'm hoping I'll be able to make a respectable amount of money from it. I haven't been able to get a hold of the Molson Canadian swag so I doubt that will be there in time - that's not a worry though because I'll just save it for a pub night or other event. Besides, with four bands playing that's a lot of entertainment ;) 50/50 tickets will be sold and of course, donations are accepted.
If anyone is reading this and wants to purchase tickets I think that the game plan will probably be that I'll stand outside of the library (far side - corner of Hamilton and Robson) due to a rule that I cannot sell tickets within four blocks of the club. If you know me, just call me to ask and if you don't know me check back here to make sure I haven't changed the spot I'll be in. you'll have to pay the venue and then just buy a 50/50 ticket to give money to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I don't want to get in trouble for soliciting.
REMINDER: Make sure you bring TWO pieces of valid I.D. & have fun - be sure to say hi to me!!!
WHAT: A Rock concert to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
WHERE: The Plaza Nightclub 881 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC
WHO: Veer, On Holiday, Burning Borders, & Cold Driven will be rockin' out! Presented by 99.3 The Fox, Molson Canadian & Nerve Magazine
WHEN: Thursday August 30th
TIME: Doors open at 21:00 (9PM) - 22:00 (10PM)
*Must be 19+ with 2 pieces of valid ID*
Tickets are $10 but only pre-sold ones go to the LLS. They include a FREE shooter! 100% of the ticket sales go towards Leukemia & Lymphoma cancer research around the globe.
This event is also posted on facebook.
E-mail me for more info! Or purchase tickets by donating $10 at my fundraising site, thanks!
...YET IT WAS FABULOUS!!!!!!
Sunday was another GTS with my wonderful team and on the agenda for the full marathoners was 32km. We did an "out and back" run starting at Granville Island all the way out to and running around the UBC campus and back to Granville Island.
This week was a bit different because I started off a lot slower than I normally do. My runners have been dead for about two weeks and I could definitely feel it affecting my feet on this run...just feels like there is no cushioning or support what-so-ever. Other than that my left knee was slightly bothersome but the pain was dull and didn't get any worse so it didn't concern me too much - it was more an annoyance.
I found this week a lot easier to get through than last week. I'm not exactly sure why that is though I won't question it ;) The weather started out like it usually does for us: overcast and a bit rainy but by the end clearing up completely with the sun shining. One of the honouree's, Nathan, was there helping with the water stations and gave us a motivational speech before we headed out which was good to refocus and remember the cause we are running for.
I did better with nutrition on the run though the hydration was a little iffy because I hadn't washed out my bottles thoroughly so the first time I took a swig I could taste soap. Let me tell you that was quite the unpleasant shock, haha. I tried to rinse them out the best I could at one stop. Went to the washroom at the Museum of Anthropology which I found amusing walking into it all sweaty and in spandex. Getting up the massive hill took some effort (it's probably 4km long) I kept looking at it in small chunks which seemed to help. After halfway I couldn't believe I was feeling fine - a little stiff but less than normal so that made me happy. I accidentally turned the wrong way on one of the streets and went a few blocks out of the way, oops.
Once I got back I took an ice cold bath. Ooo bloody hell you curse it while you're in there but I see a noticeable difference following it. Today only the bottoms of my feet hurt!! That seems amazing considering two weeks ago after 24km I thought I might fall apart, haha. I'm hoping I can keep a better pace next week...we shall see! I checked my email after I washed up and my inbox had the confirmation email for the race. Cemented it in reality that just running towards a cancer cure is all that matters.
I have a few great things to tell you! A couple people on my running team have good events coming up:
-----------------------------
If you love coffee, tea & chocolate you can buy locally made organic fair trade ones for extremely great prices! (Coffee is $13/lb.) All proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society so if you need that caffeine buzz every morning why not do it by purchasing a coffee that's environmentally sustainable and helps those with blood cancers? Email babeysekera@shaw.ca for an order form and visit http://pistolandburnes.com for more info on the products available!
------------------------------
SINGLE & LOOKING TO MEET NEW PEOPLE?
This Thursday August 16th MICHELLE & SERENA'S BACHELOR & BACHELORETTE AUCTION is happening!
Time: 7 to 10 pm - Auction starts @ 8pm
Location: UnWine'd 1188 Howe Street (Howe and Davie)
So if you and your single friends want a fun night out head down to UnWine'd. Tickets are $15 and you may even come out with a date! All proceeds go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. (Don't worry - bidding starts low)
------------------------------
NEED CHEAP STUFF?
Saturday, August 18, 2007 from 10:00am - 2:00pm Heather is having a yard sale with books, music, furniture, kitchen items, and other random things @ 1310 West 10th Avenue Vancouver! You guessed it - all proceeds go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!
------------------------------
WANT SOME COOL SWAG?
Then enter Stephanie's raffle for some awesome prizes! Tickets are $20.00 each and yes, all proceeds go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The draw is on August 30th.
------------------------------
If you can't participate in any of these events but would still like to make a tax-deductible donation to a good cause you can always donate through me: http://www.active.com/donate/tntvan/kirsten
This is a virtue I do not possess very much of in certain circumstances. I find it extremely irritating to have to wait for something I want right now! Running (and sports in general) is not something I like to hold myself back on. I am craving a run like nobody's business but I know I cannot go yet. :( The biking and elliptical just don't cut it for me; my mind doesn't equate that to running a marathon even though I know it's helping.
After my little "test" run my calves are tight (not nearly as bad as they were.) So I'll still need some time off. This is super disappointing. I talked to one of my team members that usually gives me a lift to the Sunday's GTS (group training session) and told her I'd be missing another run. Stupid shins! The GOOD news is that she and her cousin raised around an incredible $5,000.00 from the pub night they held yesterday evening, yay!!
I love running. I remember when I thought running for a few minutes without walking seemed taxing. When I first got into it having to give myself pep-talks in order to actually get out there and run. Now, it's hard to refrain myself!
Haven't done cardio (besides walking) since Thursday's run. I've been doing a lot of core workouts the past few days - washboard abs here I come (ok maybe not to that extreme!!) Now if only my butt would become buns of steel....I digress, time to end this post. :)
Donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!
I randomly just decided in the shower tonight that if I can raise $10,000.00 or more I will hack off my hair for donation to one of the Canadian Cancer Society's approved wig makers that goes to those with cancer. So you might all be thinking it's not a big deal but to me it is. My hair is currently butt length, extremely thick, not chemically treated, and I love it. So while hair does grow back it would be something personally very meaningful for me to let go of. So please direct people to my blog and maybe you'll see me with a ridiculously short hair cut before I run my marathon.
Oh and I just wanted to throw this out there because I know I post a lot about trying to get fundraising but I certainly do not want ANY of you to feel guilty if you cannot contribute financially. Right now I can't contribute to myself even! Just knowing I have people who care about my training and the ultimate cause is great.
It was recently brought to my attention that people without vox blogs can't leave input on here (boo to that!) You can always fire me an e-mail if you have any comments about my posts!
My Groups
-
Let's Run! Updated: Yesterday
-
Running Updated: 2 days ago
-
Voxercise! Updated: 2 days ago
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
