Let's Do This!!!

LET'S RUN SEATTLE!!!

I realize I'm a bit earlier than planned with this announcement- but truth be told I am feeling fantastic and ready to take a leap of faith and try again. 2011 will be the year for Seattle!!! Marathon miles are again open for sponsors. We're picking up right where we left off in 2010 so several miles already have wonderful homes. But there are still many more awaiting your support.

And even more exciting... I'm also again recruiting fellow racers for Team Lemonade Makers. Join me by running the half or full marathon in Seattle on June 25, 2001 and raise money to support the Susan Mortensen Turley Foundation - benefiting young adults fighting cancer. We need all the support we can gather for this great cause! You set your own fundraising goal and plan, and I will help spread the word about your participation.

Not quite in shape for a full or half marathon? There's nothing like a scheduled race date to motivate you to strap on those running shoes and get moving. And don't forget that racers compete at many different pace ranges- including walking. Randy and Sarah were phenomenal examples last year of what new runners can accomplish with the right attitude and dedication to support this great cause. This race sells out early- so I wanted to give people plenty of opportunity to sign up. Click here and sign up now-- don't think, just do it!! :-) It will be an experience you will never forget for a very worth cause- please don't miss out.

So much for organic....

I knew there was something I forgot... (no, this is not the big announcement I referred to)...

A few weeks ago I decided to join in the organic food movement (can you call it a movement?). I have to say that for those few weeks I LOVED it!! I really did feel great. And while I'll continue to stalk my new favorite organic food shops whenever I can-- I unfortunately had to abandon my 100% organic dream this week. It came down to budget. I could either keep my organic food fix, or I could keep playing tennis- both weren't in the budget. That- and I realized that in order to maintain this diet within my budget, I was having to buy less food. I forgot how much I need to eat to maintain being this active-- and by the end of the week I'd run out of food and then be starving for a few days. That strategy wasn't going to last long-- so I'm back to buying pesticide filled products again-- lol. I suppose they got me through the first 3 marathons, so it's not all bad.

But just as soon as I'm rich and famous (aka- I have a regular 'above poverty level' paycheck), I'm back to organic eating...AND tennis!

Getting Stronger!

After 3 miles of actual, continuous running on the treadmill tonight- I am happy to report that if I haven't yet completely found my inner runner again, that I'm awfully close.

The last few weeks have been BUSY!! For starters, one week after my slower than slow 10k DRC race, I ran the Hot Chocolate 10k in Addison with my friends Roxanne and Greg. The night before the race the organizers sent out an email that they had reached sellout status (2,000 runners) sooner than expected- and consequently may not have enough finisher's mugs for everyone at the finish line. To be honest, although Roxanne was dying for her finisher's mug from the day she registered, I hadn't really thought about it until I read that email. WHAT?!? A shortage of mugs?? Well now I just had to have one. So that Saturday morning I busted out the fastest pace I could come up with for 6 miles. I ran as fast as I could until I couldn't breathe-- then walked just long enough to catch my breath again. Repeat sequence for 6 miles... and lo and behold I managed to finish 17 minutes faster than the 10k the previous weekend...totally exhausted, but constantly cheered on by my great friends and just barely managed to finish in time for my coveted finishers mug (and yes, Roxanne and Greg got their's too!).

After the race we enjoyed the post-race party with hot chocolate (of course), pizza and pancakes. This was a fantastic race and I will definitely be running this one again!!

My tennis obsession has continued. I'm regularly playing 4 times a week now and having a blast!!

More to come later. I have some big news to share- but am going to hold off just a bit longer. Stay tuned! :)

Organic Dark Chocolate

Organic Dark Chocolate is how I celebrated the end of training cycle #3. Good stuff!! This now makes 30 days I've been back up and running...or attempting it anyway. I can definitely tell I'm making progress, which is encouraging but I still have a long way to go.

Early last week was the kickoff meeting for the Spring DRC Training Season. Having been out of the running loop for most of last year, it was fantastic to be there and see everyone. Several previous mile sponsors asked how the fundraiser was going and said they were anxious to adopt miles again as soon as I had them open. It was a huge reminder of what wonderfully generous and caring people I've met throughout this process! Thank you all for the huge motivation to keep my training in perspective and keep things going.

Speaking of perspective...
Last Saturday was the DRC Frigid 10k race and like last year lived up to its' name with temps in the 30s. Brrr! These running tights are one of the best purchases I've ever made. What on earth held me back from these for so long?? Below is a pre-race pic with my friend, Roxanne. (Thanks to Serena for playing photographer).

The actual race was tough, tough, tough- but I'm glad to report that I did set a personal record for myself. Yep! Not only was it the slowest 10k I've ever run, but that was the closest I'd ever finished to last place in a race (4th from the last). lol. My goal was to walk the first 2 miles and run the last 4 as best I could without stopping. I managed it, but it certainly wasn't pretty. My running pace was actually 2 full minutes slower than my initial walking pace. But it was really the principle of wanting to meet my goal so I stuck with it.

However, one of the benefits to being a back of the pack runner is the wonderful people I'm with back there. Thanks to Sherry, Dave, Jean (and probably a few others I left out) for keeping me smiling and moving. This Spring will definitely not be my fastest season on record, but I'm truely excited for the friendships that will come with it.
After all, it's not about the running.

Helloooooo out there.....

Hard to believe it's been 6 months since I last posted here. I am still alive, although running activity was minimal in 2010. I'd like to thank Randy & Sarah again for carrying Team Lemonade Makers through and finishing their first half-marathon in Seattle in support of Susan's Foundation. What an amazing feat they accomplished!! What's next for Anna's Marathon 50?? Well, for starters the focus has been on getting healthy. Now that I seem to have that under control, the goal is to get active again and see if I can attempt a Seattle Marathon finish in 2011 since 2010 didn't happen for me.

So far the comeback has been much more difficult than anticipated. This is definitely not the same body that ran three marathons in 2009, so I'm trying to adapt my training plan accordingly. Overall I'm trying to run less and rest more by training in 10 day rather than weekly cycles. I'm just at the start of my third cycle now and am still slowly adjusting to my new run-walker status.

One of the greatest ways I've been doing this is getting back into the fun of running again and participating in some local races. Below is a pic of my friend, Roxanne, and I just before the Jog'r Egg Nog'r 5k. (Please take note of our festive socks). Just covering the 3 mile distance run-walking was not easy for me at all. Though thanks to Roxanne's encouragement, and the promise of the finish line egg nog party, I got through it.

On New Year's Day Roxanne, Greg, and I ran a 5 mile race (this one with a post-race mimosa party!!). I walked the first four miles pretty comfortably and slowly ran in the last mile, which was my goal. Special thanks again to Greg and Roxanne for ignoring the 30 degree temperatures and coming back to run me in to the finish. What great friends!!

Two more races planned for the next two weekends. Neither feature post-race alcohol but one does boast post-race Hot Chocolate and a finishers mug. My running goals will be to continue increasing my walk times (at 1 1/2 hours currently) and working back up to 3 miles of continuous running. I'm excited to pick up tennis as a cross training activity this season and start lessons next week.

The next big race I'm training for is the Dallas Rock n Roll Half Marathon in March. Once I get through that and see how it feels, I will then make the decision whether to again try for the Seattle full marathon in June and open up those remaining miles for sponsors.

Thanks to all for your support for Susan's Foundation through this fundraiser for the past 2 years. I can't wait to see what 2011 will bring! Please spread the word that the 2nd Annual Susan's Run will be held in Tempe, AZ in Feburary and now includes 1 mile, 5k and 10k distances. I hope to see you there. You can register at http://www.susanmturley.org/

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!