Isn't it still mid-June?!?!

With today's humidity, it definitely felt more like July or August! I met the Marathon Charity Partners group for a 7-mile training run at 7 a.m. We started at Columbia Island Marina, just behind the Pentagon North parking lot, and headed across Memorial Bridge and around the Mall. For someone who is used to running the suburban streets of Manassas, this was a beautifully scenic run!! There are plenty of cars on the roads and the Park Service hadn't yet emptied most of the overflowing trash cans, but running between the Lincoln Memorial and the reflecting pool, past the Washington Monument, in view of the U.S. Capitol, across the Tidal Basin from the Jefferson Memorial, alongside the World War II Memorial.... it was beautiful! Which was good, because the run was tough for me. I started off faster than I should have, having a nice conversation with a fellow charity runner. When I looked at my watch just before the 3-mile mark, though, I realized that I was running a full minute per mile faster than I had intended to so I dropped back. Yep, I told the 65 year old man I was running with that I couldn't keep up with him anymore. ugh.

So it goes with running. What matters to me isn't who I can keep up with, it's that I'm running the right pace and the right distance and the right run for me that day. The down side was that I never did find that "right run" for me today; it was a bit of a struggle the whole way. But I finished and am the better for it. I still have 133 days (and 10 hours, 08 minutes, and 54 seconds, according to the Marine Corps Marathon website!) until the marathon and have no doubts that I will be more ready that day than I have been for my 2 previous marathons. Having the feeling of responsibility to the memory of my mom and my father-in-law, along with everyone who has so generously donated to Capital Hospice, is going to be a hugely motivating factor for me!!

Photo shoot and interview

The Director of Communications for Capital Hospice came over on Monday to interview me for a story in their supporter magazine, Highlights! They are going to be featuring a story on the marathon runners, and wanted to talk to me about what got me invovled, as well as the fact that both my mom and my father-in-law were in their care. I got choked up just talking about how choked up I think I will feel during the marathon -- I'm gonna be a mess!

Another runner, a nurse case manager, came out for the photo shoot -- thank goodness!! That kind of thing will make just about anyone self conscious anyway, but it is vastly multiplied when you are the ONLY one getting your picture taken!! It was definitely easier having Megan, with her sarcastic wit that matches mine, there as well.

The only downside to the exposure in the magazine is that it won't go out to supporters (65,000 of them!!!) until after my August 3 fundraising deadline. My "account" will still be credited with any donations that come in after that, but I need to be sure I have my $1,000 minimum raised before then. I've got a good start -- only $345 to go -- so I'm trying not to get too nervous about raising my minimum amount. I'm sending out some "snail mail" donation requests this week, so that should help (I hope!!).

Group run: 5 miles with the kids!

I did it! The rolling hills almost got me as we got cloes to the turnaround -- there are some serious slopes right there -- but I managed to do five miles pushing the kiddos. Leah was a bit bored by the end, but they both hung in there well, then we walked on some rocks by the river for a little while. On the way home we stopped at Gravelly Point to watch planes for a few minutes. What a gorgeous day!!!

Training run: Five miles alone (woohoo!)

This week's training plan for the Marathon Charity Partners calls for a 5-mile run on Saturday at Belle Haven Marina in Alexandria. So far I have only made it to one group run, since I usually have the kids on Saturdays. I'll have them with me this weekend but the path is wide and paved so it's stroller accessible. I haven't pushed them in a while, though, and the route has several rolling hills, so I don't know if I'll make the full 5 miles. I made sure I got in a strong 5 mile run on my own today, so I'm feeling good about keeping with the plan.

I am Running for a Reason

I'm excited to say that, as I start this blog, I am already well on my way to my fundraising goal of raising at least $1,500 for Capital Hospice. And, after just having my butt thoroughly kicked at Boot Camp class at the gym this morning, my physical training is going well, too. My intent with this blog is to keep those who are interested (assuming anyone but me is interested!) updated on my progress in both my fundraising efforts and my marathon training. I've tried to blog once or twice before and not gotten very far with it. Hopefully this time will be different. I am trying to stay more focused in my marathon training than I have in previous years, and am intent on hitting my time goal. Thanks for joining me onthis journey, and for your emotional and financial support. Both are invaluable to me!