Texas Marathon Mile 8 Sponsor

Tamara Adamson


What is your hometown? Hard to say. I grew up all over the U.S. Some of my family is in Louisville, KY, so maybe that's it?!

Where do you live now? Dallas (Garland, TX)

What is the farthest distance you've ever run or walked? 14 miles (Tomorrow will make it 15!) -- (Note--- I think this should now be updated to 18 miles....)

What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday morning? Running with the gang, have breakfast with them or my kids and then relax!

What is your favorite workout song, or song that gets you up and moving? I like the Boss, MJ, Cat Stevens,- too many!

What is the first thing you think of when you think of Texas? BIG

What is the bravest thing you've ever done? Hmm.....Skydiving or having kids, it's a toss up.

What is your favorite candy? More

What is the biggest goal you're currently working toward? Retirement

What is your next vacation destination? Greece (hopefully)

What movie inspires you the most? The Color Purple and/or Finding Nemo and/or Shenandoah

What race would you like to see Anna run for her next marathon (after Texas)? Kentucky Derby Marathon -- we could do it together!!

Why did you choose to sponsor Mile 8? It's a multiple of my favorite number 4, which was already taken.

Why did you choose to become a marathon mile sponsor to support the Susan Mortensen Turley Foundation? It's a great and worthy cause.

Note from Anna: How could I possibly describe Tamara's influence on my DRC experience? Tamara is a never ending source of enthusaism and optimism at all times. Tamara was promoted to Vice-President of Marketing for the runner-based Team Sprinkles group quickly after she made connections with the company to sponsor our group, and initiated group shirts which are quickly becomming one of the most popular running-related clothing items in Dallas. Tamara is amazing! With everything she already has on her plate, Tamara is never one to back down from an opportunity to get involved in a good cause and stepping up to help. I will be honored to run for Tamara at Mile 8, and am so excited for her to complete her first marathon in a few weeks. She will be fantastic!

The Slow Comeback

I have at last prevailed over the infamous H1N1. For some reason my fever held on quite a bit longer than average, so I was at home at quarentined for almost longer than I could tolerate. After two weeks I think Lilo (my dog) was so tired of me being at home all day she was ready to put me out on the street.

Fortunately I returned to school and work this week, although not surprisingly my return to running seems to be taking a bit longer. Several days ago I tried to run-walk 6 miles thinking this would be a smart, easy transition back. Wrong! I don't think the distance was so much the problem, but the run-walk plan. I thought run-walking would be making it easier on myself, and this may have been true from a cardio standpoint, but not necessarily a physiological one. After jogging the first mile I tried alternating jogging and walking in quarter mile sections for the remaining five. However once I got home and looked at my time averages, I realized that what I probably did was more of a sprint-walk than a run-walk, and my knees have been paying the price.

There seems to be no shortage of marathon training plans to cover almost every scenerio.... couch potato to marathon finisher, beginning runner to marathon finisher, marathon finisher to Boston qualifer, etc. -- but there seem to be no clear plans for coming back from an illness or injury half-way through marathon training season. (Maybe that's just because the title would be too long).

So I'm still working on my own Comeback Plan. I've considered a variety of options to get myself back to form so I can complete White Rock in December. I've missed several big number runs, and I've accepted that it is very likely that I'm going to be walking more of the marathon come December than not. I've also considered the possibility of foregoing White Rock and taking a few extra months to recover by switching to another Texas Marathon early in 2010. While I'm keeping that open as an option if needed, for now my sites are set on completing White Rock as scheduled-- running, walking, or crawling. :)

My training season had been going really well-- so it is a bit disappointing knowing that I won't be at my physical best. However my primary goal in this 50 Marathon endeavor is to have the experience of completing a marathon in every state, and to raise as much money as I can for Susan's Foundation. The liklihood that I will make it through the next 48 marathon training seasons will no health, injury (or other) interruptions is unlikely. So rather than mourning the running abilities my body had two weeks ago, I've decided to be grateful and go with what it can do today, and use its' capabilities to their fullest. None of us have any guarantees of how many tomorrows we have ahead of us.... so as long as by December I think I'll be able to complete the 26.2 miles of the White Rock Marathon safely -- I'll be happy doing it any way I can, even if it might not be running at the pace I'd hoped for.

Thank you, thank you, thank you again too all of the sponsors for the Texas Marathon!! You keep me going through the good times and bad! I am continually inspired by each one of you!
Just 2 miles to go....

Texas Marathon Mile 14 Sponsor

Serena & Rob Lambiase

What is your hometown? Rob- New Orleans Serena- Dayton

Where do you live now? Richardson, TX

What is the furthest distance you've ever run or walked? Rob/Serena- 20 miles walking Serena- 14 miles running

What is your favorite place to spend a Saturday morning? Rob- sleeping Serena- running or biking or racing

What is your favorite workout song or song that gets you up and moving? Rob- none Serena- I Don't Want to Work by Todd Rundgren

What is the first thing you think of when you think of Texas? Rob- UT-Austin Serena- Big

What is the bravest thing you've ever done? Rob- played bass in front of 75,000 people

Serena- signing up for and completing an Olympic triathalon

What is your favorite candy? Rob- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Serena- Dove Dark Chocolate Bar/Nuggets

What is the biggest goal you're currently working toward? Rob- getting an artist signed to a major record label Serena- improving my half marathon time (while staying healthy)

Where is your next vacation destination? Germany

What movie inspires you the most? Serena- Breaking Away

In which state would you like to see Anna run her next marathon (after Texas)? Hawaii

Why did you choose to sponsor Mile 14? We want to help Anna get over the half-way mark.

Why did you choose to become a marathon mile sponsor for the Susan Mortensen Turley Foundation? Several reasons: Susan's story was very touching. This just should not have to happen. We are all affected by cancer, so we need to do something. We want to help find a cure. To raise awareness. To support cancer patients who need financial assistance. To support Anna in her efforts.

Note from Anna: Serena is one of my super-talented triathlete friends. I have no idea how triathletes manage getting in so many workouts to cover each aspect of the sport every week, but it's very impressive-- and Serena is one of the most dedicated people I know. Thanks for your support Rob and Serena!!!

Race Number and Scavenger Hunt

I just found out I was issued my White Rock Marathon race number today.... I'll be running under the number H1N1. (hahaha) Okay, maybe not-- but at the rate this flu is flying around Dallas I wonder how many of the participants will qualify to run under the same number come December 13th.

So the update is I still have the flu and still have yet to run a mile this week. It's definitely getting frustrating-- and I hate to think about how long it's going to take me to trade in this awful sounding cough for my running lungs again. But mentally I still have not given up and I'm looking forward to hitting the running trails again when I'm ready.

When I've finally kicked this flu and am up for long runs again-- I'd like to ask for your help. Now that we're hitting the higher number (close to 20) mile runs on weekends--these runs can get awfully long and at times boring. Sometimes even greater than the physical challenge of these runs is the mental challenge of keeping yourself going.

So for the next long distance run I'm up for-- I'm planning on all my sponsors (current and previous) helping me with planning a scavenger hunt. I'll take my camera with me on the run, and attempt to get pictures of as many requests as I can. Post your scavenger hunt picture challenge as a blog comment to this post and I'll add it to my list. Be as creative as you like- although try not to make it something too impossible. :) I'll post all the picture results on the blog after the run. This should be interesting. lol.

Have a great weekend everyone! Stay healthy! And if you haven't already...get your flu shots! :-)

Texas Marathon Mile 6 Sponsors

Jeremy & Melissa Goodman

What is your hometown? Jeremy-Flagstaff, AZ Melissa- Phoenix, AZ

Where do you live now? Phoenix, AZ (well, Laveen, AZ but who the heck knows where that is!?)

What is the farthest distance you've ever run or walked? Jeremy- 40 mile hike (2-day), 3 mile run Melissa- 2 mile run

What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday morning? Jeremy- golf Melissa- family time

What is your favorite workout song, or song that gets you up and moving? Jeremy- not admitting! Melissa- I Run for Life

What is the first thing you think of when you think of Texas? Jeremy- Family Melissa- Longhorns

What is the bravest thing you've ever done? Jeremy- I'm a chicken. Melissa- cut off hair to give away.

What is your favorite candy? Jeremy- Butterfinger Melissa- Peanut Butter Cups

What is the biggest goal you're currently working toward? Jeremy- lose weight! Melissa- help Jeremy lose weight!

Where is your next vacation destination? Hawaii

In which state would you like to see Anna run her next marathon? Jeremy- Mexico Melissa- Hawaii

Why did you want to become a marathon mile sponsor to support the Susan Mortensen Turley Foundation? Always support friends who do good things!

Speed Bumps

This training update will be short for the reason there's not much training going on. As much as I've tried to avoid it, I've managed to come down with the flu. I started Tamiflu and several other medications on Tuesday, so I'm hoping with a little patience (never my best quality) and a lot of rest I'll be back to my normal life within a week or so. In the meantime I definitely have no running workouts to report, although I can give a quick run-down of pre-flu training.... or what I recall of it in my codeine cough syrup induced haze...

Last weekend I did a 15 mile run on my own that actually felt pretty good. My regular long-run buddy was off running the Chicago Marathon that weekend (which she ROCKED by the way, I'm so excited for her!!), so I did this run alone. Normally I'm not an ipod user when I run, but for this one I treated myself to an audiobook. There is something nice about doing that when I have the chance-- the miles sure do fly by quickly. I didn't start getting sore until mile 13, but in spite of that those last 2 miles felt good as well.

I'm trying something experimental with my cross-trianing workouts. More specifically, I'm not doing them so much. I was into a good routine of strength training for awhile, however more often I seem to end up with injuries or back problems from these workouts. Last week I tried something different. Rather than strength training I tried skipping the rest day after my 15 miler, and ran 6 miles each day after that on sore legs. Especially starting out this wasn't easy, but I could definitely tell it was working my muscles and really had that end-marathon fatigue feeling to it-- which I think is good for me to get used to working through. I was planning to keep up these 6 milers every day until the flu hit-- so I think I'll pick them up again once I'm back on the trails.

Thanks to everyone who voted and gave their input about my 1 mile fast run 'dilema'. It is great to know there are so many others out there who also support fun running! I especially liked Nancy's comment that I wasn't 'quitting' my training plan for the month, I was making a 'modification'. I think I will continue to modify future workout plans so they do not include regular speed work-- I just hate it!

This weekend has a 17 miler on the schedule. It's not likely I'll be running it- but I'm not going to freak out about it. Training seasons last months and it's really difficult for anyone to through an entire training season without hitting some sort of speed bump in the process. As annoying as it is, in some ways I wouldn't change that. The speed bumps I come across in training for each marathon have really defined each marathon for me, and in the end made the finish line experience so much more valuable given the particular challenge I had to overcome that time. Whether it be health problems, injuries, school/work stress, family/dating drama-- life definitely doesn't stop for the marathon training season, and I for one am glad it doesn't. This is just one more reason I really do believe that the experience of training for and completing a marathon is not just about the running-- it's about life!

Just 4 miles left to sponsor for Texas! This is incredible!! Thanks so much to all of the generous sponsors who have stepped up to help support cancer patients through Susan's Foundation. You are making a difference that will not soon be forgotten!

Texas Marathon Mile 20 Sponsor

Debbie Van Winkle

What is your hometown? Little River, TX

Where do you live now? Garland, TX

What is the furthest distance you've ever run or walked? 14 miles

What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday morning? Running with the group, then coming home and resting and snuggling with the dogs.

What is your favorite workout song, or song that gets you up and moving? I don't listen to music when I run, and I really don't do other workouts.

What is the first thing you think of when you think of Texas? Heat

What is the bravest thing you've ever done? Working with my husband to maintain our marriage for almost 30 years.

What is your favorite candy? Fudge, with salt water taffy a very close second

What is the biggest goal you're currently working toward? Seeing both of our kids graduate college.

Where is your next vacation destination? Not sure yet, but we're thinking the Poconos

What movie inspires you the most? Independence Day. Everyone, no matter their economic class, color, etc. puts all differences aside for the greater good and they completely focus on the same goal. Once they do that, no enemy is too great.

In which state would you like to see Anna run her next marathon (after Texas)? Somewhere that is not as hot as Texas. Anna needs a cool (in more ways than one) marathon.

Why did you choose to sponsor Mile 20? While I realize a marathon is 26 miles, for me- a half-marathoner, 20 just sounds like "all that" when it comes to mileage. Get to 20, and the rest will come.

Why did you want to become a marathon mile sponsor to support the Susan Mortensen Turley Foundation? I believe in the cause 100%. No one should be denied medical care because they can not afford it. While I think that some type of health care reform is needed, I also think that we, as individuals, must step up to the plate and help each other. This foundation is a perfect opportunity for us to do just that.

Note from Anna: Debbie is one of the most unselfish and supportive people I know. Deb was a fellow Swedish Fish (kickball) player with me this summer and was off to a great start before suffering a fluke injury in our very first game. :( After taking just a little well-deserved time to mourn her loss of kickball and running abilities, Deb reshifted her focus and became the #1 Swedish Fish and DRC cheerleader instead. Deb came to nearly every game for the rest of the summer to cheer on our (persistently win-less) team. She is awesome! Now that her injury has finally been repaired recently, I'm hoping to see her back on the running trails soon! We all miss running with her!

Thank you Deb!

Chocolate Donuts and Knowing When to Quit

This was an interesting week. For starters, I was interested to see how my new 'fast mile' plan for October would turn out. And on day one I already got my answer. Yuck! Early one morning, I hit Katy Trail for a 1 mile warm up jog, and then a mile at my fastest pace-- which on that particular morning turned out to be 9:10. Hmmm.... I wasn't happy with this for 2 reasons: 1) I actually expected I'd at least be a little faster than this, and 2) I felt HORRIBLE doing it!... and I suppose I'll add a third reason-- it was no fun at all!

This now brings up an interesting question-- one that's interesting to analyze for many aspects of life.....how do you know when to quit? When do you need to just stick with something and keep at it, and when do you throw in the towel? I'm sure the answer will be different for different situations and different people. In general, I've tended to be a "never say die" sort of person. Never give in, never give up, second place is the first loser sort of mentality. In some respects I still have some of that in me-- but from the time I first took up running 2 years ago I planned on it being different. In the past I've had a history of getting involved in an activity very intensely, and then getting burned out on it within a few years. When I started running I knew I wanted it to be different, something I could enjoy for life.

I think I convinced myself that I hated running for so long because I always thought that it had to involve some aspect of misery, that you should feel horrible (tired/hard to breathe) when you run. How wrong I was!! And once I realized that I realized I love running. My philosophy when I finally started running consistently was 'if I'm not having fun, than I'm not doing it right'. So every race, every workout- I just do the best I can and make sure I'm enjoying it. If that means taking a walk break sometimes, that's what I do. If it means pushing myself to finish under a time goal- that's what I do. (Because setting a PR can also be fun).

I've got 48 more marathons I've committed to run for Susan's Foundation, and I'm going to finish every one of them. But I think one of the lessons I've learned most from Susan in this past year has been to keep life in perspective--don't get caught up in life details that don't matter, and make sure you're enjoying yourself along the way. Getting too wrapped up in intense training and time goals is not what running, or this fundraiser is about for me. Marathons are a journey-- not just the 26.2 miles you run on race day, but the entire training season. It's the people you meet and friends you make in the process. It's the life lessons and events that come up during a training season. It's about much more than just the running.

So-- all that deep thought being considered, here's my question. I planned to spend the month of October working on 'fastest mile' runs. However now I'm not so thrilled with that idea. Do I stick out my current plan in spite of that and see what I can learn in the process, or do I toss the whole idea early in an effort to keep training enjoyable? I don't know--- so I'm hoping you can help. Please make your vote at the top right corner of my blog. Whatever the verdict is by the end of the week I promise to go with. :) After all, it's all of you who own these Texas miles I'm running in 10 weeks-- you should have some input on the training that goes into them. :-)

One last comment on the topic of fun runs-- last weekend I did my long run with my friend Ashley. We had a great time chatting and running through Katy Trail and Uptown. During a brief stop at "On the Run" (appropriate, I know), we spotted the Hostess section and thought how fun it would be to have a Hostess stop during a marathon-- heck, during any run. So we went with the idea, bought a package of chocolate donuts and carried them along with us to snack on our last few miles. Hostess + long runs = brillance!! We'll definitely be doing that again!! :-)

15 mile run on the schedule this weekend! 10 more mile sponsors to find and 10 weeks until race day! We're on a roll everyone!! Keep up the good work!