Away from the training blog

Sorry to leave you with no new posts until Aug 13. I'll be in New Orleans with 25 teens assisting with the continued recovery & rebuilding projects due to hurricane Katrina.

10 days of manual labor in the Gulf Coast heat & humidity. I'll be sure to hydrate - not sure how many miles I'll log in. I'll be busy driving, cooking, herding a bunch of amazing youth who are giving up a chunk of their summer to bring back a little bit of home to those who lost everything in an instant.

This will be my third trip to the destroyed region. It's amazing how much work is still needed.

Keep us in your prayers. I'll be back soon.

Saturday

This past Saturday we had an Honoree Potluck breakfast following my four mile run along the West Shore Trail Check out the topo map to see some of the hills we got to conquor.

Meeting the honorees and hearing their stories of triumph and struggle are reminders of why I'm doing this. I'm not just out there to get in shape. I'm not involved just to meet new people. I do this to help save lives. Just two days before our run 3 year old Harrison lost his battle. As long as we have to suffer through the death of a child, a parent, a friend I will stay connected to this cause.

I hope you will help to find a cure for blood cancers. Please make a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: DONATE TODAY

Last season my team lost honoree Brenda, a 36 year old mother of two young boys. On Saturday her friend shared with us Brenda's last words

Love when you can, it's the best

I agree.

New Honorees - New Updates

UPDATED on 7/20: Harrison passed away yesterday. You can read more of his story & leave a note for his family on his website

a message from his family:

Our brave son, Harrison, passed yesterday morning. He fought really hard. The nurses and doctors at Children's Hospital Oakland & Lucille Salter Packard did all they could to keep Harrison with us. Heartbreak is the only word to describe how we are feeling. Thank you everyone for your love, support, prayers & positive energy. Our beautiful boy touched many lives and we are better people for his brief stay in this world.

If you would like to help find a cure for blood cancers please make a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: DONATE TODAY


Kyle Lane
news from his mom:

Kyle started the last of the intensive phases of treatment last week. It has left him feeling very week. He also is having some trouble swallowing the 10 pills a day he must take. We have been getting by letting them dissolve in apple sauce. His blood counts have stayed relatively high, so he has been able to see the movies Ratatouille and Transformers. He also has been able to visit with his friends Connor and Matthew. Kyle will be turning 9 on July 21st. He's very excited about his upcoming birthday and looks forward to getting together. We hope to get together with people in smaller groups to help keep his exposure to [germs] manageable.

Run to The Lake

This past Sunday our coached training run was to participate in a 5 or 10K race "Run to the Lake" This gives participants the opportunity to experience race day activities, registration, pre-race routines, the thrill of the crowds etc. Being that I've trained a full season I didn't think much of it. I can run 3.2 miles... no problemo.

Well I learned a lesson this weekend. My activities of the day before DO in fact matter. Don't tell my coaches but I played a soccer game on Saturday. It was fun and I played well. Unfortunately I think I wore out my legs the day before a race.

It didn't take long before I felt the familiar burn & sting of the shin splints. I ran (slowly) out to the turn around of the 5K & knew I wouldn't make it all the way to the finish. I walked for about 8 minutes to ease the ache and picked it back up to get to the end. I couldn't get home soon enough to apply my ice-packs. Oh I love ice.

I was 24th place in my age division running an average 13.13 minute mile.

Tonight I attempt to run for 30 minutes at the weekly buddy run. I'll let you know how it goes.

Here's a picture of the course map from Sunday:

Inspired Weekend

I was planning on running only 2 of the 2-4 mile run on Saturday but you know how plans go. My soccer buddy joined TNT and showed up for her first group run and I thought it only right to run along with her... woops. She's in much better shape and runs a bit faster than I do. After about 3/4 mile I told her to run on ahead and I'd see her at the finish line. I was distracted from the mile markers and went to the 1.5 mile turn-around point. So my 2mile plan turned into a good 3 mile run.

After the morning run I played a game of soccer (shhh don't tell coach). I took a vow of soccer poverty for the last season to avoid injury. I really missed my hooligans & the game so I promised them I'd return to light play.

On Sunday AM I met up with a TNT alumni to run Lake Merrit. About 1/2 way around I hear a distant shout "Go TEAM!" I look all around ... who said that? Then I see Coach running on the other side of the street. He is everywhere!

I still had a bug squirming about so I did 8 miles on my stationary bike while I caught up on recorded TV shows. It's great to multi-task.

My legs feel pretty good. I didn't have to stop on the lap of the lake which is a first. My shins typically burn about 3/4 of the way around. I think I'm getting stronger. Wonder if I'm getting any faster.

Try This At Home

If memory serves correctly this was our workout yesterday morning.
Walk 20 yards each as follows:
on your tippy-toes
on your tippy-toes with toes pointed outward.
on your tippy-toes with toes pointed inward.
on your heels with toes pointed up toward knees
on your heels with toes pointed outward
on your heels with toes pointed inward

Now skip 40 yards.

On your toes jump back & forth 10 times (repeat 3x)
On your heels jump back & forth 10 times (repeat 3x)

Run 1/4 mile
15 squats
10 push-ups
10 crunches
15 squats

Run 1/4 mile
10 squats on one leg (do both sides)
10 "supermans" (while on tummy lift head, arms & legs off the ground for count of 3)
10 squats on one leg (do both sides)

Run 1/4 mile
15 squats
10 push-ups
10 crunches
15 squats

Run 1/4 mile
10 squats on one leg (do both sides)
10 "supermans" (while on tummy lift head, arms & legs off the ground for count of 3)
10 squats on one leg (do both sides)

Run 1/2 mile.

I will enjoy my day of rest today.

A nice Saturday run

Saturday morning runs! Wake up earlier than wanted. Drive to wrong park entrance. Panic because I gave my group wrong directions. Find correct location and check to make sure all in my group made it to the right place. Phew! We were scheduled for a 2-4 mile run along the Damon Marsh Trail. The sun was out and everyone was in a great mood.

In an effort to avoid the raging case of shin splints that I experienced last season I'm running the minimum distances. I knew I could do the four miles but I don't want to aggravate my legs. So I ran short & returned to the meeting spot to cheer in those who went out further. All the participants of my small group ran the full four & did great.

The weather is going to be a big difference this season. The sun was up & getting hot when we met at 8AM. I will need to carry my water bottle even on short runs during the summer. Stay hydrated or go home!