It's Here!!

I take off for SD tomorrow, and the run is only 3 days away! I am as ready as I am going to be, as are my fellow TNT runners.

Up bright and early tomorrow ... have no idea if I am fully packed or not. On one hand it seems like I have to much stuff, and on the other it seems like I am definitely missing something--I have shoes, socks, shorts and running shirt so I have the vitals (and of course those wonderful little round band-aids for the nipples--I knew you were worried!).

Best of all--Lenore posted today that Hunter's last test came back with no sign of leukemia, so he is set for his bone marrow transplant next Friday!! That little man is fighting with all he has, and is kickin' the frak out of the cancer beast! Go Hunter Go!!

Peace,
MJ

Last Long Run ...

We did our big 20 mile training run this last Saturday, and despite the knee pain I experienced it was a great success! I think the knees are on the right track and should be more than fine for the 31st. I know I keep saying that, but the doc I am seeing now and over the next two weeks really seems to be making the difference.

I would have been walking for the last few miles if not for my great teammates--they pulled me along to finish strong (last 1.5 miles at a little over an 8 mile/minute pace). The increased pace actually made my knees feel better (perhaps the increased range of motion??), so that was encouraging.

Starting to really get excited about San Diego, a little hard to believe it is less than two weeks away.

Thanks again to everyone who contributed to LLS. If you have been following this, and along with it Hunters blog you know what these diseases are capable of. My deepest, sincerest thank you for helping to make a difference, and bring about a possible end to these blood cancers.

MJ

Non-Running

I meant to post this earlier this week ...

I saw Hunter, Zen and Lenore on Monday ... I had to take Hunter's x-ray, and I was breaking down in the middle of the exam (I left the room to find a semblance of composure). I think the fact that Zen was obviously struggling, and that Hunter was so uncomfortable really got to me ... When Zen asked if I could do the exam with Hunter laying down it honestly felt like I may as well have sucker-punched Zen when I told him we needed to do the x-ray with Hunter sitting up--even though it was much more uncomfortable for Hunter ...

Never have I wanted to do what is normally a very simple exam less than I wanted to do that particular one. Never before have I been so affected by a patient, and it is carrying over to other patients as well ... During a portable x-ray on 10S, a little boy was asking the nurse, his mother, and me why we were doing this to him (referring to making him uncomfortable again for a chest x-ray), and I wanted to break down again ... my heart breaks for Hunter, and all these kids going through this battle that I cannot begin to comprehend.

If you are reading this--please follow the link on this page to Hunters blog and leave him and his family some love.

Peace & love,
MJ

12 Mile Group Run

Did 12 miles with the group today. Courtney, my running partner today kept a pretty good pace going (ave 9.3 min miles--would have been lower but I slowed her down on purpose for the last 4 miles!). Next Saturday we take it to 20 miles!!

Muscles all felt great, but my right knee continues to give me troubles. I think I am going to have to go see a sports massage specialist for the IT band, I obviously am not going to be able to correct the problem on my own. On the bright side, the left knee felt much better than previously.

Just got out of my first ice bath ... it feels really great now that I can feel my feet again, but damn that was just uncomfortable. Just because I know the question comes up, and hey we're all friends here ... a heated towel placed over those sensitive areas does an amazing job of providing protection!

Non-training related: Hunter has had a set-back. The last round of chemo that was supposed to take his leukemia count from 3% to 0% so he can get his needed bone marrow transplant failed. Lenore & Zen just found out the leukemia is back up to over 95% ... He started another 7 days of chemo starting this morning. If you are reading this blog, please go visit Hunter's blog and send him your well wishes. He is a fighter and is going to win this frakin' war, but needs all the support he can get.

New Personal Best ... 16 miles!

Yesterday we did 16 miles for the group run, the longest distance I have run to date! I felt good afterwords, but by the afternoon my knees were really aching. Went to the movies with my son and could barely make it down the stairs ... he found that very amusing! Iced the knees and used Tiger Balm later that evening, and everything felt soooo much better.

I feel good today; still a little achy in the right knee, but overall feeling really well. No muscle aches, or other pains. I think as long as I keep working those IT bands the knees will keep getting better, and I know this marathon is easily within my reach now.

Never thought in my life I would run this much, nor did I ever think if someone said we were doing a 10 mile run I would feel relieved at having to run a "short" distance! The coaches from TNT have been fantastic--I really cannot say enough about them, or the folks I am running with.

Next week is a slow down, then the following week is up to a 20 mile run. I don't think I will have a problem making the 20, or the 26.2 in SD! No route to upload for this week, as my gps went dead at 4.8 miles into yesterdays run, doh!