I just faxed my recommitment paperwork. I'm all in. No backsies. I feel today, like I felt on the day of my first ultrasound; this is real, there's no way out of this without some amount of pain and struggle. Mingled with the fear is a heavy dose of excitement and, already, a building sense of accomplishment. Today, I am 43% of my way to goal with a little over 5 weeks to go in fundraising.

A few weeks ago, while I was having some anxiety about this entire undertaking and, I heard a sermon in church that was perfectly timed. It wasn't about training for a race, it was aboout lessons the minister learned on the campaign trail, but it gave me encouragement. She said:

There are things we say to demonstrate grace under fire. They can seem
platitudinous or clichéd. But I have come to see the truth in the wisdom
imparted by parents and coaches to young athletes: It’s not whether you
win or lose, it’s how you play the game.

Winning is fun. I know; I have worked on winning campaigns. But I have worked on more losing efforts. Each campaign—like anything you put your heart and soul into—was worthwhile, even when we lost. Why? Because in the end, campaigns are about touching people’s lives, not just about winning. They are about wrestling with substantive issues and finding solutions to complex problems. They can be about relieving suffering and restoring hope. Working on a campaign for a candidate we believed in made us feel like we were part of something larger than ourselves—something important.

And feeling like you are part of something important is ennobling and strengthening. A colleague wrote to encourage me mid-summer, passing on words from his mentor. He wrote: most causes you will devote yourself to that are
truly worthwhile will probably feel like “lost causes.” But when we undertake an
endeavor with good intention and a good heart, that self-giving effort, however
tangential to the direction of history as a whole, is never truly “lost”. It
makes a contribution.

In his letters to the newly forming Christian communities of the first century, Paul often wrote advice about proper conduct:

(1Cor. 9:24) “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such as way as you may win it.”

But he adds in other letters this reminder: do it with joy. Think about undertaking a campaign—that is, any important endeavor in your life--the way you would play a sport: employing discipline and fair play, team work and excellence, commitment, loyalty, and a little style. There are extra points for good humor. And singing.

It matters how you play the game. Running a race is hard. Winning is fun. But it
is important to see that, often, the prize is in the running. So rejoice! Your
race is on!

Blisters: 1 in my instep
Miles Run: 8+
Saturday was a cold morning in Asheville. We stated running at 7 and finished at 9. I did fine. Which is good becuase next weekend is a 10 mile run. Trey agreed to run with me. Why he wants to start running with me once I hit the 10 mile mark is a big fat mystery. He did marry me though so he may be a glutton for punishment.
I mostly ran by myself because I run really really slow. Some people actually walk faster than I run. I had my music going, I have actually time my music to our Galloway speeds so I know when to walk and when to run by which song is playing. It works for me. 29 degrees is cold. Cold Cold Cold Cold Cold. Until I started my first walk (at 1.2 miles). And then my extremities were awash with heat and I felt great.
I have been told by more than one person that the coldest marathon they ever ran was Disney. I think it is because we will be starting at 6:30 in the morning. Trey has already agreed to meet us at the finish line and not at the start since we have to be there by 6.
So I went to REI today to find non cotton socks. Kara's feet are freaking me out. Smart wool, which is my favorite hiking sock, has a running sock. I am going to run in them tomorrow night and let you know how they are. They advertise that they are BLISTER PROOF!
We'll see. I am skeptical.

Blisters: 4
Miles run today: 7

After two weeks of less than all-out training (I was sick, I worked two weekends, and Cliff had a last minute trip to San Diego) I am back on track and feeling great. Better than great. I ran seven miles today and could have kept running. I wasn't winded, I wasn't even all that tired, but I was vaguely aware of the fire in my sneakers. My feet, once again are ripped to shreds. The gash on my right heel actually occured earlier today from a pair of my favorite shoes. My feet are always swollen. My "regular" shoes don't fit. I've been wearing mules at work but the weather's getting colder and I need to start wearing shoes that actually cover my feet. I don't want to go out and buy shoes that won't feet me when my feet aren't swollen (yes, I just made an argument against shoe shopping. I don't believe it either). Cliff says I need to start icing my feet after every workout. I'm more afraid of plunging my feet in a slush bath every day than wearing uncomfortable shoes at work. I'm a big baby.

*This is the only song I could think of that has thw word blister in it. I liked the last foot lyric reference better.

Blood Donation + Running = Exhaustion
Calories in - Calories Out = weight loss (when calories in <>
(Calories in*ice cream sundaes) - Calories out = weight gain
sore knees + ice packs = relief
bad mood = bad workout
bad mood + blood donation = bad work out* exhaustion
sin(bad workout+blood donation) = depression
cos(bad work + blood donation) + motivational emails = improved workouts
Running + Disney = Vacation!

# posted by Arwen @ 2:11 PM 2 comments

OK, I have been a slacker. I should have been blogging but instead I have been working. I hate when work gets in the way of, well, anything. I am supposed to run 8 miles tomorrow. 8 MILES! Last weekend I ran 7.25 and it was great! and I felt great! And I got home and babbled to Trey. And then the endorphins faded and I felt like a heroin junkie.
I wanted more feel good running feeling but all I was feeling was sore.
I am so glad I never dabbled in heavy drugs like coke or heoin because me likey the big endorphin rush. Sunday there was no yoga. This week I have had crappy work outs. Tuesday I was exhausted and Wednesday I gave blood so Thursday I was still a little low energy.
Have I mentioned my mom had gobs of blood transfusions? She did but I gave blood before we ever knew she had leukemia. Most of our blood comes from the military and I think they give enough to our country. To me, it is a important civic duty. Almost noone I know gives blood and to me it is like religion, it is a very personal thing. I love when people give but I totally understand why they don't.
After yesterday's workout I actually called Kara yesterday crying because I was so scared about tomorrow. But the phones were weird and we didn't get a hold of each other and it was for the best because I am better now. But how the hell am I going to run 8 miles tomorrow when I struggled with two 4 miles runs during the week? How? Ugh! Why the hell did I sign up for this again?
Good news...both Kara and I have met our first recommitment goal (25% of the total fund raising goal). Thank you so such for all donations, please tell friends and family, the more the merrier.