My Longest Run to Date

Michigan's fall weather has, for the most part, been amazing so far. This day was no different. Today was a beautiful, brisk day. The temperature topped out at around 55 degrees during the day, which is perfect running weather. My busy day didn't permit me to get out of the house, though, since I had to take my kids to a pumpkin decorating party. (That was a treat for me too, since I always enjoy watching my kids have fun and it is also a great opportunity to catch up with friends.)

I ended up being able to lace up my shoes right before sundown and head out for what I hoped would be a long run. I wanted to knock out six miles, but I wasn't fully expecting I could do that being that I've only been running once a week in the last month.

The temperature was holding steady at 50 degrees, so I never felt like I was overheating. In fact, it was almost energizing. I decided to take my long route along Lakeshore Drive. It proved to be a good decision as I enjoyed observing all of the Halloween decorations that the mansions displayed.

After I circled back and was approaching my house, I started becoming disappointed that my run was over so quickly. I hadn't been keeping track of time, but it seemed as though it was over before I knew it. So I decided to run back towards the water, and added another mile and a half to my run.

By this time, it was dark. Only the street lights and an occasional passing car illuminated the streets now, so I had to be more careful to lift up my feet so as to not trip on cracks that may be hidden underneath the fallen leaves. With about a mile to go, I saw a blind man on the sidewalk coming from the opposite direction. I watched which side of the sidewalk he seemed to favor, so that I could safely navigate around him.

As I passed, I thought I'd be polite and say hello. I figured that he likely heard me coming since I am not the most graceful runner in the world...You see, I run more like an elephant than a gazelle. As soon as I said it, however, he was so startled that jumped straight up and let out a loud screech. Oh, I felt so bad. So much for good manners.

Anyways, I made it back home with no other incidences and tracked my route on beginnertriathlete.com. The end result? I ran 7 miles on the nose. I have only run that far one other time in my life, and that was almost 20 years ago.

Other than scaring the living daylights out of a blind guy, I am pretty proud of my accomplishment today. It gives me hope that I can perhaps run the full length when I race in the half Ironman in May. That will be a 13.1 mile run, a half marathon.

Now if Florida would just have nice 50 degree weather for the race like I had today...wishful thinking.

--------

Help me in my mission to raise $4,000 in the fight against cancer!
Check out my progress at my new web page!!
http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/andi

My Starting Line as a Mentor

Tonight I attended the Mentor Kickoff meeting. There are five of us that will lead the three Team in Training groups that will be racing in the spring. I'll be mentoring the people that signend up for the Wildflower Olympic Triathlon (the race that I will also be participating in), and also the group that will race in the St. Anthony's Triathlon in Florida just a week before ours. (No, I won't be racing at that one.) There is also a group that will be racing in the Wildflower Half-Ironman, a 70.3 mile race that is twice the distance of the Olympic distance.

I'm really looking forward to being a mentor. Our role is significantly different than the coaches of the teams. While coaches will advise on technique, training and nutrition, I'll be able to coach my team on how to successfully raise money for this good cause. I'll also be with the team every step of the way, attending the practices, meetings and other activities that are scheduled throughout this venture. Perhaps the most important part of my role, though, is really as my team's psychological sofa. I want to be there for them as they celebrate their successes and persevere through their struggles. The Team in Training program is a lot of fun, but it isn't always easy. The key is to keep up the enthusiasm, start early in the fundraising, stay the course, and never, ever, ever give up.

It's my hope that those that sign up for these races will create the same awesome experiences that I have had through the TNT program. It really is something special, and to think...it's ALL for a great cause.

Let the season begin!

--------

Help me in my mission to raise $4,000 in the fight against cancer!
Check out my progress at my new web page!!
http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/andi

Act Now For a Great Deal

Perhaps you are visiting this entry because you came across it accidentally in pursuit of some life-changing information that you were hoping to find on the Web. Perhaps you are blog-curious and wanted to learn more about the world of online journals. Or perhaps you are visiting here at this point in time because of an email I just blasted out to you. (Maybe it's all of the above!)

For those who got my latest email, you may have been hoping that you wouldn't hear from me again for a while. Well, I tried to restrain myself, really. But when it comes to email, I just can't help myself. (Hey, I did get the SPAMMER OF THE YEAR award at my work, mind you.)

If you did get my plea to join me in the next part of the Team in Training journey, I'm encouraged that at least you are checking out my blog. Perhaps this can sway you to stick around for a while.

Please consider adding yourself to my email list so you can travel along with me in this next venture. Email me at aduncan@pmvtech.com and put "WILDFLOWER" in the subject line. By doing that, you will open your world to an array of monthly new communications from me, all with the best of intentions. They'll be exciting, enticing, and only leaving you wanting more! But you can't get in on the fun unless you act now. Email me today!


--------

Help me in my mission to raise $4,000 in the fight against cancer!
Check out my progress at my new web page!!
http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/andi

Sneek Peak of the Wildflower Race

I found this video during my lunch hour on the 2007 Wildflower Race. This is the same race that I will be participating in through Team in Training. Here, you can get a glimpse of what I'll be enduring come May. Though this is still over six months away, I started getting really excited when I saw this video!



Well, until I found THIS video. This is the infamous Lynch Hill, filmed from the front seat of a pick-up truck during a Team in Training weekend...This hill is the "big one" that we have to conquer during the bike portion of the course. It's a 7-mile incline. My legs are sore already...I'd better start training.



-------------

Help me in my mission to raise $4,000 in the fight against cancer!
Check out my progress at my new web page!!
http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/andi

A New Race, A New Start

I set up my new Team in Training page today. (Check it out at http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/andi and let me know what you think!) It's kind of a wierd feeling. Though I now have the experience of completing a race through this program, the same original fears are creeping up on me. Fears about the course (the Wildflower is one of the hardest in the country), fears about fundraising (I am starting from scratch), fears about time and life balance. I've always been one to stare fear in the face and say "you are not my problem", using that fear to fuel my desire to find a solution. I will persevere this time, too.

I won't be able to tap into the same crowd I did last time for donations (though if any of you are reading this and need a last minute tax deductable donation at the end of the year, keep me in mind!!). Sorry for the shameless plug *smile* I'm going to have to get creative this time around. I'm also going to have to set a good example, because I have officially been asked to be a team mentor for all of the new athletes that have never done a race through the TNT program. I'm really excited about that, and am truly honored to have been asked. It's hard to believe that just this May, I was in the same place that they were.

I'm proud on how far I've come on so many levels. (I couldn't have done it without the help of a ton of people. Family, friends, strangers.) At the same time, though, I'm excited to face this next challenge and look forward to that finish line when May comes around. I hope you stick around to follow me in this journey.

-------------

Help me in my mission to raise $4,000 in the fight against cancer!
Check out my progress at my new web page!!
http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/andi

112558. Just another number?

When I was in the height of my training this summer, I got cocky. I felt great, my injuries were behind me, and I knew deep in my heart that I would finish the Nation's Triathlon in September. I had been deeply involved in discussions with my online group of triathlon friends, and everyone was talking about their accomplishments and their goals. I was having fun racing in sprint triathlons and training with my friends. I realized that the momentum must continue even after this race in Washington DC is over.

So, in a moment of insanity, I registered for something that at one point I never would have considered. I registered for a half Ironman race. I hadn't COMPLETELY lost my mind by thinking I could do a full Ironman. That's a 140 mile race...only crazy people do that. A half Ironman is certainly attainable, I thought to myself. It's just double the distance of an Olympic distance traithlon, something that I have already accomplished. Almost immediately after I hit "register", I received an email of congratulations. "You have successfully registered for the Florida Ironman 70.3. You now have an official Ironman number: 112558."

There have been a lot of numbers assigned to me in my lifetime. My driver's licence number. My jersey number in my sports. My college ID (which I strangely remember even though I've long since graduated...1089763.) But this newest number, even if I can't remember it, seems more significant than the others. To me, it says I CAN DO THIS. To others, it may mean SHE'S OFFICIALLY LOST HER NOGGIN. (Hush up, you naysayers. LA LA LA LA I'm not listening!)

So as I think about this gigantic and lofty goal that I have set for myself, I now have to get all my ducks in a row. My training schedule won't increase, which is a very good thing being that I do still value and cherish the time with my family, especially my beautiful girls. I have realized in the last two weeks since finishing the Nation's Triathlon race that I am not very motivated on my own, and excel when training with a group.

I decided to sign up for one more Olympic distance triathlon through Team in Training, so that I could prepare for this half Ironman. Team in Training has been a great opportunity for me to not just get my tush in shape, but make a difference by doing something good at the same time. My hope is that Team in Training will choose me as a team mentor so that I can formally share my enthusiasm and fundraising ideas with the rest of the group.

I'll have to start all over with fundraising, and that will be a challenge. I've tapped out most of my friends (or likely exhausted the rest by sending my "monthly updates" when training for the last race). But hey, I'm 112558. I'm ready for the challenge, and expect to meet all my goals once again.

-------------

Help me in my mission to raise $4,000 in the fight against cancer!
Check out my progress at my new web page!!
http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/andi