I started again... Im training for my second marathon. Whether it will be New York City or Chicago.. its on!!!
Come support me !?
And... P.S... I ran a 6:26 minute mile on tuesday....( yes I know, Im fast) ... lol
Dear Friends and Family,
Is there life after a marathon? I guess so, because here I am, almost a week and a half out, and still kicking and walking and doing all those other good things that legs should normally do.
I guess your first question would be, "How was it?"
Well, I think that the greatest accomplishment was not the 26.2 miles, but the 14 million dollars that we collectively, as runners in the Nike 26.2 race, raised for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am so proud that I was able to contribute to this organization's mission.
The stories of cancer survivors are so much more inspiring to me than stories of runners beating their bodies into submission so they can get a personal record, or win the race! (As my running t-singlet put it, "Think running is hard? Try chemotherapy")
What an honor you all bestowed upon me, in donating toward this cause to support me as I trained for a race that was meant to symbolize the determination that cancer survivors depend upon daily.
So what about the gritty details?
San Francisco was beautiful and we really enjoyed the entire trip. God granted us gorgeous weather, and my lungs were clear and felt good the entire run.
We made our way across the start in the pre-dawn chill and dark. As we ran up the first hill, we were able to look out on the sun rising over the bay. We then ran along the coast, with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Fisherman's Wharf. Mile 6 had the infamous, dreaded hill and then the run turned up into the city for many more hills and much less scenery. I ran most of it alone (accompanied by my ipod), but saw my personal cheer squad a couple of times: at mile 11 and mile 16.
Jim jumped in for the last 10 miles and our chats really gave me the energy and motivation to finish. The final miles lead us around Lake Merced and along the coastal highway.
As I neared mile 25, and saw my coach Christine, I could not believe it was almost over. My body felt great and I increased my pace. When I was a mile out, our head coach Ramon appeared, ringing a cow-bell, and ran me all the way to the finish. The little chip in my shoe was scanned and the machine enthusiastically chirped to announce my passage over the finish mat.
I got my very own space blanket and I truly felt like a marathon finisher with that annoying, flapping sheet around my weary shoulders. The Texas firefighters handed me a Tiffany's necklace and seconds later I bursted in tears of joy, excitement and relief.
I am unable to find the words to describe these extreme emotions. I finished my first marathon in 4 hours, 9 minutes, and 24 seconds.
And so it goes, and so it goes. I finished, and who knows what the future holds. How many more finish lines will I cross? This experience taught me a lot about sacrificing my time and energy for a cause that is greater than my own personal records. On one hand, I felt almost ridiculous punishing my body for the simple reason of finishing the race. I wasn't really racing, I was fighting myself and my desire to quit.
Although I realize that there is a benefit to physical endurance training, there are things in life that matter more than whether or not you are able to run 26.2 miles, walk 13.1miles, or crutch across the room. Fighting the desire to quit and holding onto hope are essential qualities for survivors. I pray that each and every cancer survivor I ran for knows and holds onto the hope that life holds out to us, no matter what the situation.
Thank you, again, so much for your part in my race and fund-raising! What a great experience. I'm still recovering physically, but hopefully I will be able to get out there a bit this winter and get my legs under me again. This running thing is a bit addicting, you know? Who's in for a marathon this spring??
PS - please check out the videos and photos below.
mile 16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDjxI4kpcL0
marathon finish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk3tU0lN2y0
marathon end
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xd2H4dFcsY
Copy and paste the following directly into your browser: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=v876erh.9bidv5np&x=0&y=sqx7u7
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Distance: 13.1 Miles, 21.1 Kilometers
Overall Place : 3787 Gender Place: 1100 Age Place: 477 Net Time: 1:53:57 5 K Split: 30:29 10 K Split: 1:01:14 15 K Split: 1:28:35 Pace/Mil: 8:41 min Miles
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I ran my first Half Marathon yesterday!!! It was the New York City Half Marathon,
presented by Nike. The course started in Central Park, ran through Times Square and
finished in Battery Park.
It was absolutely amazing! Running in the rain through a deserted Times Square was
something out of a movie. Unreal!
Thank you for all the cheering and support! Team in Training was defenitely the most rowdy group out there :). GO TEAM!
"...there may come a time when you wonder: Is what I am doing making a difference? When you're on your last miles of a marathon, or of a hundred mile cycling course, or trying to make it the last yards to shore in a tri...and you wonder: Am I making a difference? Is it worth it? Come celebrate with me, 'cause the answer is a resounding YES!!!
I have no choice, but you do, all of you. And you've chosen action over complacency, charity over selfishness, effort over easiness, a life of love over a life of indifference." Peter Macaluso, past TNT participant who lost his battle with leukemia on September 16, 2004
Just a quick announcement:
I managed to run 16 miles on saturday. Together with Amy, we took over Central Park - four 4-mile loops.
It felt amazing and very overpowering. Cant wait till next week!
Here are my race results from this morning. I am very happy with my overal time - I am running 8:30 min/miles! wowow!!!
| Hope & Possibility 5M Distance: 5.0 Miles, 8.0 Kilometers
 Click any blue heading to sort the list. AG = Age Graded. |
| Last Name |
First Name |
Sex/ Age |
|
|
|
Overall Place |
Gender Place |
Age Place |
Finish Time |
Net Time |
Pace/ Mile |
AG Time |
AG Gender Place |
AG % | |
| VAN DONGEN | VANESSA | F25 | 280 | 78 | 31 | 42:33 | 41:55 | 8:23 | 41:55 | 99 | 57.7 % |
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The hill month has passed; July was the month in which we concentrated on hill work. Who knew that I would stop "hating" the Harlem hill in Central Park!? I used to avoid hills at all cost during my runs, knowing it would knock the wind out of me. But now, I ( mentally and physically) attack and conquer . It is noticeable that I am becoming a stronger runner; my speed is increasing, my breathing is more in control and my overal form and stride is comfortable. It is kickin' in.... I AM GOING TO RUN A MARATHON!
RECAP:
* July 22 was the Run for Central Park. It was a great event, around 8000 people of all levels participated. My little sister joined me for the 4 Mile run. Pictures were taken but have not been dowloaded. I will post them asap.
* July 29 was a 14.5 mile run. This was my longest run EVER! The first 10 miles were very relaxed but the last 4 taught me to "become comfortable with being uncomfortable". My legs and butt muscles were burning and my knees started to ache. I defenitely need to weight train on a regular basis. Note: Running is very very tough on your body! :) :)
Eating was great; I had 3 packages of powergel, one every 45 minutes. The consistency remains a little "odd" but the results are amazing. The powergel, also knows as "GU", is a not liquid but not solid substance and comes in a variety of flavors. You just squeeze it out and flush it down with water. Oh, and the water is being carried in a "fuelbelt". It's this sexy belt with 4 bottles. Believe me, I am looking HOT out there... fuel belt, hat.... oh yes!
Overall.... I am feeling and running GREAT! I am so addicted that I cant wait for my next long run this saturday! I am also running the Hope and Possibility 5 Miler on sunday. Athletic weekend coming up- I'm looking forward to it!
In need of a running journal? Check out www.runnike.com. Its a great way to keep track of your progress and has all kinds of fancy features.
Please take a moment and read the letter below. It was written by Kate Davis, one of the honored teammates for the Nike San Francisco Marathon.
Please help Kate, her friend and the Leukemia and Lymphoma society!! Please click here to donate.
I am sorry I haven't been able to meet or talk to most of you because I have been very sick and having chemotherapy.? I spent most of the last month in the hospital which was pretty boring except for Friday nights when Frank brought the snack cart around and I got to pick lots of treats (you might have seen me on the Today Show last week, I was the one with the pink sequined headband on, I am kind of famous). :-)牋 My summer got much better last Thursday when my燿octors told me that I could go on the first phase of "maintenance".? It made Mommy爏o happy she cried, and me mostly happy because I don't have to go to the hospital so much.? I have to take a lot of pills though which I hate!? But I am going to be very brave and work hard so I can get better.
I hope everybody is爃aving a terrific summer.? I just turned 4 on July 1 which was fun because I got to eat lots of cake.? My eyelashes and my eyebrows are starting to grow back which is making me very excited!? I am getting much stronger too, I can pull myself up on Mommy & Daddy's bed and I am feeling so good that I even bit my twin sister Olivia on Monday燽ecause she was annoying me!? I thought I was going to get in much more trouble than I did... all I had to do was say sorry... I think Mommy was secretly kind of happy because Olivia is a handful!
I am doing really well, but my roommate and best friend at the hospital, Stella, just found out that she is sick again.? The adults call it爎elapse and she needs燼 bone marrow transplant.? It means it is going to be a lot harder for her to get better and I am very sad about this.? She needs someone to share their healthy marrow with her, but none of her family matches Stella and we need help.? If you would like to try and help my friend and get tested to see if you match her, you can go to my hospital, Sloan Kettering, the donor room number is (212) 639-7648.牋I hope that we can find someone to help her, they will爏ave her life.? That is the best gift I can think of in the whole world.
I hope I keep getting better and better so that someday soon I am healthy and strong enough to meet all of you.? Until then, keep running hard and stay brave like me!? Mommy is attaching a picture of me and 2 pictures I drew for you.? One is of my Auntie Debbie running with her coach Ramon, the other one is all of you, my entire team, running through rainbows, seeing flowers!? I hope you enjoy them and whenever you need help being brave, please look at them and know how much I appreciate all you are doing to help me and all of my friends.
Love,
Kate Davis
Enjoy!!
* This is Meredith- one of the Honored Teammates for the Chicago Marathon. She is absolutely amazing- I love this chick!
She moved to NYC just a year ago and had the most horrifying welcome. Three days after her arrival, she found a lump in her neck, which turned out to be Hodgin's Disease. She went through treatment and is now training with us! ROCK ON MEREDITH!!!!!!!!!!
* CHEEZZZEE BALLL ANYONE???????????
* TNT Buddies :) !!!!!
