16 miles - done!!

So I thought about updating the blog last week but I thought..I don't really have anything to talk about. I'm still running and running is still taking over my life ;) So I decided to wait until well...now to update since we ran 16 MILES on Saturday (10/25) and I thought for sure I would have something to talk about. First off, it was chilly in the morning. Here's a pic:This is me (not fully awake and cold at 7:45am) and our wonderful Laura. This was Laura's last run with us before her big move to Colorado :( We're all going to miss her - she's super nice and helpful (and if your reading this Laura, I got my list up to 70 people, just short of 75 but thanks so much for the challenge and goal)

So for everyone wondering how it went, it went about what you would expect 16 miles to feel like. Tiring, exhausting, painful, and long. And also...rewarding. Those first things just come to mind so much faster than rewarding - haha. So we started at 8:00am, the course was a 10 mile loop so we did one whole loop then started again but only went out three and then back three. The first 10 miles were ok. My knee started bothering me around mile 6 and I thought it was going to stop me from running but after I got going again after the 6 mile water stop I felt ok. I ran the rest of the way with Clara (who's in the picture with me) so I had someone to keep me company. The real killer was only like the last three miles or so. My knees were in quite a bit of pain and I couldn't seem to keep my mind off of it. I had to stop a couple of times within the last mile and I was thinking 'this sucks' but then I had to tell myself that I was almost done and I would feel good when I got back, etc. Which I did. This pic. is from Saturdays run also and yes, I do love the fact that I look so good ;) I don't even look like I'm running at this point but this is at mile 10 - so...give me a break-haha. As far as fundraising I am officially at $867 but I also have some money that hasn't been updated on the website yet so actually I have a little over $1000!! I think its great that I've actually got my little thermometer to move on my fundraising page but I'm still quite a ways away from my goal. If you haven't donated already, I would really appreciate the help and so would millions of other people that are in more need than anyone I know of.

Again it's http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/honolulu08/sverbeke

Also, if you know anyone else who might think this is a good cause - please forward them something - either a letter/e-mail I've sent you, this link, my fundraising website link OR send me an e-mail at sara.verb@gmail.com and I'll send them the info. personally!! Thanks so much for stopping by! Til' next time - peace!

Excited yet Exhausted!!

Well hello out there! I'm always thinking I never know how many people are actually reading this until someones like 'oh I heard your knee's feeling better'...when I never told them ;) That's good though - I'm glad to hear it, because that's why I'm doing it!! So, to explain the title of this blog: Excited yet Exhausted, I am excited because this weekend probably more than half my team and countless numbers of other participants are going to be running in the Nike womens marathon in San Francisco!! I will not be running but I will definitely be there to cheer them on - whoo hoo - you guys are going to do GREAT!! I promised to wear my purple for TNT but now that I'm thinking about it, I dont really have anything purple - not really my color -haha. I'll have to find some before Sunday I guess. As for the exhausted part, I am soooo tired this week, I feel like I can't catch up on my sleep for anything. I was ridiculously busy at work yesterday and although slightly slower, busy for the rest of the week. Then I get home, eat, run, shower, sleep. Repeatedly. I know that sounds like all fun and games to everyone out there who doesn't run (wink wink) but it's really tiring I've found. On my "off time" I'm trying to raise another $3000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (on top of my almost $900 I've already raised). Trying to send out letters to family in MI so they have something physical to remind them since the e-mails obviously aren't getting through very well, trying to figure out when we can go to the farmers market next. I had to cancel my hair appointment on Saturday because we're headin to the farmers market again -yeee-haw!

Anywhoo we ran 12 miles this past Saturday, it was a pretty decent run though. My knee did start to bother me a little toward the end but it wasn't as bad as it had previously been. My fellow teamate brandon who was riding his bike on that particular day, ended up catching up to me when I had about 2 miles left and rode along side me the rest of the way. It was extremely helpful as this was where I was starting to get really tired. We talked about fundraising ideas and the last two miles were over before I knew it! This Saturday we are doing a timed run instead of mileage for this one week. Our goal is to run 110-125 minutes I think. Which if I run about a 10 min mile that is about 12-12.5 again. Like I said these few weeks are kind of slow down weeks for us because the people running the Nike are coming to an end and what not - then after this week we pick back up with the pretty steady 2 miles increase per week. Yay. (Sarcasm-haha) Here's a pretty dorky pic. of me that brandon snapped while we crossed the bridge back into Heather Farms last Sat.

Yeah - pretty hot I know. Looks like I'm not even moving - haha. Anyways that's all for now I suppose. Any questions/comments let me know and remember to visit my fundraising page and help relieve some of my exhaustion!!! ;)

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/honolulu08/sverbeke

Hello again bloggers!!

GO TEAM OZ!! Oh - if I didn't mention. Our team name is "Team Oz" since we have so much courage, heart and of course brains!

I'm sorry it's been a full week since I've "blogged". I figured it was time to get back on here when I started receiving threatening e-mails (Michelle again ;)-haha) So yeah, let's see what's new with me and the running.... The knee's/knee is getting better I believe. Still a little sore but I was able to run the full mileage on Saturday. I kind of took it easy to make sure that I didn't have any major issues like the week before but it was nice. We ran from Walnut Creek which is where I live, all the way to P-Hill by Don's old house on Norse Dr. For those of you who don't know where that is - sorry, I can't explain. Regardless, it was a good run, I was pretty tired at the end but who's not after running 12 miles!?! Towards the end of the run it did start to rain a little which was forecasted but we didn't even care because we NEED the rain!! It was looking like it was going to be a good day to put on PJ's at noon, go buy Sex in the City and have an excuse not to do anything all day but...it stopped raining and actually turned out pretty nice so Clara and I walked around downtown WC passing out flyers for her fundraising party and planning our fundraising ideas and what not. We drove around collecting all of the supplies we would need to set up our own TNT table at the farmers market the next day. We bought 96 bottles of water for $20 and each made a batch of cookies. The three of us (Don, Clara, and I) stood outside the walnut creek farmers market selling water and cookies by donation. We couldn't stay the whole time since we kind of threw everything together last minute but surprisingly made around $200!!! We plan to do this for the next...countless Sundays because although $200 is great, split it 4 ways (we cut Kyle in on the deal since he was sick) and that's not that much. Still very optimistic but I'm going to need some more help. That's right...from YOU!! I can't stress enough how anything will help. We don't realize how many things we waste $5, $10, $15 that are SO much less important such as....Those trips to starbucks, renting movies, cigarettes (i guess there are still some smokers out there), going out to lunch vs. packing a lunch - for ONE day, etc. I'm guilty of these simple pleasures too - don't get me wrong - I love me some carmel macchiato as much as the next, but I also know that this is much more worth it.

Please,

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/honolulu08/sverbeke

I'm now up to $455, which is better than last week - and mainly thanks to someone who anonymously donated $175!!!! So THANK YOU to whoever you are - truly an amazing thing you have helped and I really appreciate it. Also a HUGE THANKS to everyone else who has donated no matter what the amount! You guys are helping me make it happen - yay!!

Haha - other than that..I don't have any pictures from this past week but I have some from two weeks ago. These are from our run in San Francisco. It was absolutely amazing. Take a look:

Ahhh...the Golden Gate at 7:30 in the AM!

Then that's a good one of me shoving something in my mouth. I was like 'Carol, I have my mouth full' she's all 'It's ok!!' haha - but it's not, as we can clearly see from the image on the right ;)

Everyone have a good week and I WILL blog sooner - if not I might start getting threatening phone calls!! haha

peace!!