Honored Heroes!

When the trainings get hard it's the people that we are honoring or walking in memory of that help push us through the rough spots.

Our training group is walking/running in honor of a little girl named Catie. Catie was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia at only 17 months old in 2002. After 2 years of chemotherapy I am happy to report that she is still in remission. She has been filling her time with friends and school instead of needles and medicine.

When I signed up for this I personally didn't think I knew anyone with this disease. Now, after talking with so many people I am coming to realize that a lot of people are personally touched with this disease in one way or another.

Since starting this challenge, I now know that my grandma's husband has also been touchedby this disease. George was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia after receiving some transfusions a few years prior. He said that he was afraid he couldn't offer a dramatic story since it was no threat to him but I am glad for that. There are too many of the dramatic stories! So because of this I am also walkin for George Wyckoff.

It is because of them and millions of others that we are taking on this challenge. I thank you all for donating to such an awesome cause and I pray that we have more and more "boring stories" to tell!

Love,

Emily

20 miler!!!

Hi All! Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. This summer has sure gotten away from me. I don't understand why?!

Time to get you all updated! Do you remember the weekend that it rained and rained and rained? Well, that Saturday I did 18 miles all in the rain! It was unbelievable. It never stopped. I must say that I'm prepared if that were to happen on race day, hopefully not, but I'm ready none the less!

This past weekend was our 20 miler. It was set up as a closed course to be a mock race. Jessica and I traveled to Plymouth and ran in Hines Park. We had the crazy countdown clock, water stations, and hundreds of other runners and walkers. It was an awesome experience.

They say there are good finishes and ugly finishes. I had both! It was good because.......yes! I finished 20 miles in just under 5 hours! It was ugly because I was beaten, exhausted, cramped, and had to walk in the last 3 miles.

I learned a lot...I'll share with you. I am not coordinated enough to drink the water or gatorade while walking. I now know you need to squeeze the cup and make it a spout (now I know). Also, I've found out how much emotions play into this training along with the physical. It's tiring and when my body is at the breaking point, your mind needs to take over. It was harder than I ever thought it would be.

Now all that's left is tapering down my trainings so I don't injure before I go and the countdown begins.... I have less than a month!

Em

Thank You!!!

Hi everyone!
When I started this crazy endeavor I had 2 goals. One was to raise money to help fight leukemia and lymphoma from taking more lives. The second was to successfully complete my first marathon.

Thank you to all for helping me reach my first goal! If it were not for the support and encouragement from family and friends I wouldn't be where I am today. Although I've raised the $4000....there is still no cure for this disease, so please feel free to keep donating to such a good cause!

Now all that is left is to finish a marathon....gosh, that sounds funny. Tomorrow my training calls for 14 miles! That's over a half marathon. Never in a million years did I think that I would ever get out there and run/walk for 14 miles! I still have 2 months to go, so stay tuned...

Emily

Shin Splints!

Hi! I guess you never know until you get out there how you're going to feel. Yesterday was a 10 miler and within the first mile I had some terrible shin splints. These are pretty typical for me and normally go away after a little while. A couple miles in and I was just going to turn around and go back. My team mentor Michelle was jogging with me and we just kept going. They eventually went away and I ended up having a very good jog. My overall average was 14.10! Not too bad for considering not even finishing at all! A perfect day for a run, not to hot, not to cold.

Catch up with ya soon!
Em

Good Run!

Hi everyone-

Saturday I completed 12 miles! Can you believe it?!?! I never thought that I would do more than one lap around Stony and I did 2, and more to come. My average was a 14 minute mile...not too shabby. I think I get better as I keep practicing. For awhile I think I hit a wall and wasn't progressing, but I seem to be overcoming that hurdle.

I am also officially registered to run/walk the Women's Nike Marathon! October 19th will be here before you know it. Thank you all for your support and I will keep you updated as I progress through the next couple of months.

Thanks,
Emily

Bugs!!!

Hi All!
Sorry it's been a few since I've written last. Summer is underway and I have been slowing down on my training. I can definitely feel it on our long runs. We had a good 4th of July, still got my run in! Then the following weekend Hannah was in a pageant. It was an action packed weekend but I think she really enjoyed it. Last weekend Jessica and I grilled at Sam's Club, proceeds profiting LLS. We had a good turnout and thanks to all who bought lunch or dinner from us. And thanks to the fams for helping out. We couldn't have done it without you!
Trying to make up for that run, Jessica and I went to Stony Creek on that Friday night. We didn't make it very far. We were attacked by these horrible flies. Our friends Gina and Brian were bike riding there that night. Brian came up behind us and well...it's a good thing there was a bathroom across the road! Anyway, we ended up flagging them down to take us back to the cars because the bugs were so bad.
Do you remember that list I was making for my runs? ie. flashlight! Well now we can add that I need to bathe in Deep woods off before I go out next time!!!
I have 12 miles to do tomorrow, so wish me luck!
Em

Fastest time yet!

Hi!
We didn't have a scheduled run this past weekend due to the holiday, but of course still had to get our miles in! We were scheduled for 10 miles! Since I didn't have my running buddy with me (Jessica was up north) I decided to split my run in two parts. I did the first as my 6 mile loop around Stony Creek. With music in ear, I took off and decided to run a little differently that day. I did 1/2 mile jogging and then 1/4 walk rest for 4 of those 6 miles. In the middle I was a little tired and did every 1/4 mile instead. This was the most jogging I've done so far and I did it in less than a 14 minute mile! Not to shabby!!! Unfortunately I didn't get the rest of my miles in walking or jogging, but I did get them in on an awesome family bike ride! That's the important thing is the fun family physical activity. That's my ultimate goal!
I'll post soon!
Em

Scenic Route

Hi Everyone!
We had 9 miles to do last Saturday and needed a new route at Stony Creek. We did 1 full loop around (6 miles) and in the middle broke off to go to the nature center for 3 more miles. The weather was a little threatening...thunderstorms possible, so if there was lightning we needed to seek shelter. There is either a bathroom or pavilion at every stop along the way through the park except for the 1 1/2 distance to the nature center. It was a very nice and quiet run, just thankful it didn't storm. It finally rained for the last mile....but that felt good!
Next will be double digits!!!
Stay tuned...
Em

8 miles! Long for me, longer for the kids!

Hi All!
Well I was heading out of town this weekend to catch up with some family I haven't seen in awhile (yes! that was some of you reading this). Since I knew in advance that I wasn't going to be here for the Saturday group run I decided to go out on Friday night instead. Jessica and another friend I've made in this endeavor, Sarah, went with me to Stony. Being that it was a Friday evening I took the kids along.....
Even though the weight capacity is okay for the 2 of them to be in the tow behind stroller, there is definitely not room enough for the both of them. Man did they fight like brother and sister! I think their limit is about 4 miles. We did see a deer and some turkey along the way! Hannah was very excited.
8 miles is a long way for them to go, so in the future they can come out with me on the short midweek runs but I'll do my best to get someone to watch them for the long runs.
Gearing up for 9 miles this weekend, it'll probably be a little rough since I haven't had time to do some of my midweek jogs! Gotta get back on that horse right?!?!
I'll let you know how it goes...
EM

7 miles down!

Hi Everyone!
Saturday we had yet another group run at Stony Creek. Full marathoners (which I am) did 7 miles! Seven miles! Can you believe it?! For those of you that are not familiar with Stony Creek, one loop around is 6 miles. It just seems a little on the crazy side to do an entire loop and then keep going. I guess I'll be doing more and more of that as the months go by.
It was a pretty good run/walk. We had a different leader for that session. And man was he a drill Sergeant! I know that's what we need and what this training group is all about but I wasn't to happy with him on Saturday. Just kidding! We've been training in intervals with time. We'll walk for 2 or 3 minutes and then jog for 2 or 3. He wanted us to go by distance. Distance! That would mean I'd actually have to be able to jog a distance in the first place! We're getting there. I know that this is the way most people start out and as long as I keep practicing I'll get better each time.
Thanks to the coaches that kick our butts every Saturday, we need it!

Keep checking on me...
Em

P.S

I forgot in my last post to also thank my dad for all his technological support. Without his assistance this page wouldn't be up and running.... So thanks Dad!
P.S. Happy Father's Day!

Em

Thank You!

Thank you all for your support and encouragement thus far! I'd like to take a minute to thank not only those that have donated but also my family for all their support and enthusiasm! I wouldn't be able to do it without you. Jason and mom have been lifesavers with the kids when I need to go out for a run or on those Sat mornings at Stony Creek. It means a lot that you give your time for something that I feel so strongly about.

Thank you! Thank you!

Till next time.....
Em

Forecast: Muggy and Overcast

Hi All!

It's nice to see you checking on my blog periodically. Sorry it's been a few, I was having technical difficulties!

Well, it was run #2 at Stony Creek this morning. Today was 6 miles so we went completely around the loop. It was a little warm. Who am I kidding, I was sweating like crazy! Gotta keep hydrated on these kind of days. It was warm and I think if it would have just given up and rained it would have felt better. You also gotta watch those overcast rays - they'll get ya! Next time...sunscreen!

For those of you who don't know, my friend Jessica and I are doing this marathon together. We want to be partners to help encourage and motivate each other. We were together this morning and one of us was a little more motivating and encouraging than the other. She's probably saying some not nice things about me in her blog as I type now! I would say that it's time to jog again and she would say "That's it! You're going in my blog!" I was a little bit of a slave driver. Next time will be her turn.

We had a good time and it definetely makes the time go by faster... which is what we needed since we both needed a pit stop pretty badly. We went a little slower this time, but we finished and it just gives us something to improve on for next week.

Thanks for all your support!
Emily

Chasing Cable Cars in San Francisco

Happy Memorial Day!

Contrary to popular belief, we are not running up and down all the hills in San Francisco, chasing Cable Cars. And no, the famous curvy Lombard Street is not on the route either.

For a map of our course, go here. (This is a PDF file and you should have Adobe's free reader on your PC. But if you need a copy, go here.)

Emily

May 24th - Flashlight!

Hi!

So I'm keeping a journal of how my training is progressing. Things like what I ate before I jogged, how long between eating and jogging, how long it took me to do that particular run. Stuff like that...

The new thing to add to the list is a small flashlight for evening jogs. My friend Gina and I went out in my sub last night and it was pretty dark. The dark didn't bother me, but the fact that I had mapped out our 4 miles deep into the sub, I needed the street signs! I couldn't tell where we were in the dark not knowing all those streets so well.

Learn as we go....I need to borrow one of the kids small flashlights to take with me!

4 down 22 to master!

Emily

Last few jogs

Hey Everyone!

I did the first weekend as I was supposed to. I'm on track as far as the miles go, just working on being able to jog most of them. I guess that comes with training and time!

Jessica and I went to a shoe clinic to learn about proper footwear and apparel. I know what you're thinking...but we really learned a lot. I have a new pair of shoes, so I guess I'm ready to go?!?!?

We walked together after the clinic and of course, it rained. Maybe I should go every time it rains so I get used to it.

I also went on the treadmill at the gym this week. That was different. You seem to be much more aware of the pace you are keeping since you obviously can't slow down.

I have 2 jogs this weekend and then I'm taking Memorial Day as my rest day!

See ya soon!
Emily

First Run/Walk Outside

May 17, 2008

Hi everyone!

I went to my kick-off party to meet the team that I will be training with over the next couple of months. I'm getting really excited!

I've been working in intervals on the treadmill at the gym trying to get up to running. Today was the first day that I trained outside and of course.....IT RAINED!
I guess that is something I'm going to have to get used to, right? It's a little different working outside because of the elements.

So far I've got 3 miles (in walk/run intervals) under my belt. I'll keep you updated as I progress through my training.

Em

What's this all about?

Welcome! Guess what I'm up to now...

I'm training to participate in a 26.2 mile marathon in San Francisco, CA on October 19, 2008.

But I'm not alone. I'm a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

I've created a website (pages.teamintraining.org/mi/nikesf08/ehughes) to securely accept donations to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission. (For more information about LLS and the great work they do, go to www.lls.org.)

This blog is designed to help you keep track of my progress preparing for the marathon. I hope you will visit often to see my progress.

Thanks for your support!

Emily