Adventures of a First Time Marathoner

Blog is Moving!

2008-05-22T21:39:00.002-04:00

So "Adventures of a first time marathoner" has found a new home! I made the realization that wordpress is a far superior blogging application then Blogger (sorry google) so I made the switch.

From now on i'll be blogging at www.tara26point2.wordpress.com. Follow the link right now and subscribe! As the marathon nears i've got a lot of great info that I plan on publishing and once it's over I will continue to blog but it will be about all things running and wellness.

I appreciate my readers, if you know of anyone who is into running, or is thinking about running send them my blog link!

Thanks!

I reached my fundraising goal!!!

2008-05-22T09:51:00.000-04:00

I am soo happy, I hit my goal of $4,000!! Thank you so much to my friends and family who contributed, I could not have done it without your help.

To learn more about what the Leukemia & Lymphoma society is doing to help people living with blood cancer and how your donation's are making a difference, check out www.lls.org.

THANK YOU!!!

What does running 20 miles feel like you ask....

2008-05-22T09:29:00.000-04:00

It feels great! No, really, it did, but not in the way you are thinking. Sure, it hurt, it was hot as all get out, and it took hours, but it was the best I have ever felt in, well, I'm not sure my whole life, but its up there in the top 5!

After I had hit the 5 mile mark on Saturday it was as if I just hit my groove, and it all started to become effortless. My feet were moving and my arms were swaying in perfect sync and I was mentally clear. I tried to simulate race day and pace as much as possible so I could be prepared for what that would be like. I kept my pace card with me during the run and aimed to follow the 4:35:00 marathon finish time pace.

Here's a picture of me at mile 10 after I had just turned around and was heading back out for another 10...I was going too fast for Ernie's lens so I had to turn around to pose :) This is really genuine happiness...

I encountered the most challenges from miles 15-20 naturally, but they were good learning experiences. When I was approaching mile 15 I started to feel a bit lightheaded and not 100%, so when I reached the water stop I took a 1 minute break to collect myself and get my head back to normal. I think I started to experience some over-hydration, as I was consuming a lot of fluid on the course, more than I needed perhaps.

Miles 15-18 I got a bit faster and was really pushing myself to stay on pace with my goal finish time, which was 20 miles in 3:35:00. I had gotten behind slightly from extended pauses at the water stops, but I was doing a pretty good job of making up the time during the run itself, so I was feeling confident. After I hit mile 18 I got really excited 1) because I knew I only had 2 miles to go, and 2) because I was beating a new mileage goal as 18 is the longest I had ever run.

Here is a shot of me around mile 17-18...as you can see the singlet was no where in sight, it was so freaking hot outside I was forced to strip it off :)

I would be lying if I said the last 2 miles were easy, because they weren't, but they were the most meaningful. I have to send a huge THANK YOU to Coach Sandy for following me the last two miles on her bike and keeping me motivated, without her I'm not sure how strong I would have finished. The weirdest thing did start to happen to me around this time, I got cold! I was sweating bullets but having goosebumps at the same time! My body temperature started to drop, which I have heard is normal, but still strange. I can understand now why it's so important to thrown on a sweatshirt or towel of some kind when you finish the marathon to bring your temp back up so you don't get sick.

As I caught a glimpse of the finish line I pulled together all of the energy I had left in my and sprinted to the end, and was able to finish in 3:42:00. Not exactly on target with my goal pace, but, I know the next time I run this distance, on race day, it will be easier, and all of the adrenaline from the crowd and the race atmosphere will keep my on track.

The most important thing I discovered after running 20 miles though...

I am soo ready for this marathon and I can't wait!!!

Almost there!

2008-05-17T19:12:00.001-04:00

I can hardly believe that I am waking up at 5 am tomorrow to run for 20 miles....20 miles!!! What am I crazy?!?! Sometimes I think so, but a little crazy is good for you :)

Tomorrow is the last major run before the marathon and I am really excited about it. I picked up a new outfit for the race that I'm going to try out tomorrow and I have my pace card ready and am going to do my best to follow along the 4:35:00 pace time. That would mean that I need to complete tomorrows run in at least 3:30:00. This will be a great test to see if I am at the level that I need to be for race day.

So it's another Friday night that I am at home while my friends are out having fun and I have to admit that I am looking forward to gaining some of my social life back after the marathon is over. As amazing as this whole experience has been, it has been a huge time committment and my life in general has changed quite a bit to make this a priority. But the expereince has taught me a lot about myself.

I can't think of anything in my life that I have set out to do and made a priority quite like this. When I said I was going to run a marathon, I think a part of me didn't believe it, it sounded like a great idea, but could I actually go through with it? I have been so diligent with my training, not letting a vacation, a late night at work, or laziness get in the way of reaching my goals. That in itself has made me a much more focused and organized person, 2 things that I was really needing in my life.

When I reflect on how my life has changed, its the small things, but they add up. I have become more organized with my things, my bills, clothes, my finances. The little things don't tend to bother me as much as they used to. I've realized what being healthy really feels like, and it's great! I always ate pretty healthy, but now I eat smart, and it's become so easy to do.

Losing weight has been a really nice perk of this whole expereince, not my main goal, but I can't really complain about it! I've lost a total of 10 pounds since the beginning of this year and am in the best shape of my life. I might need to buy some new clothes, but that would be the only unfortunate side effect :)

I'm still not sure what I'm going to think of the marathon, how can I really, but i'm keeping an open mind. Will I want to do another one, or will I curse them? Who knows, i'm not going to make that kind of decision until after the race...but the one thing I do know is, regardless i'm going to enjoy the downtime!

It's getting late and i should be sleeping, 5 am will come awfully early! After my ice bath and nap tomorrow I will share my (hopeful) success!

Pic's from Big Bertha

2008-05-16T22:50:00.000-04:00

rThis is delayed, crazy week...but last weekend I finally had the chance to conquer Big Bertha...or, a really steep hill in Clermont, lol. The hilly route was definitely a challenging journey, but the sight of the hill ahead was kind of scary. Running up the hill, or, whatever it was that I was doing, was crazy hard! It felt like i wasn't even moving, but what a reward to get to the top! There was such a beautiful view at the top of the hill that it made it all worth it. It is so amazing how the land changes only 20 minutes away from Orlando. I went up and down the hill 4 more times before heading back. It was definitely a challenging morning, but, I'm glad that I accomplished it!

Here are some pics:

The beginning of our journey..

Who says runners never smile?!?!

Heading up...

And back down..

The look of accomplishment :)

I Ran 18 Miles!!!

2008-05-04T12:25:00.000-04:00

5 am came awfully early on Saturday and it was rise and shine for what would be by far the most challenging run yet. I met my training group at the West Orange Trail-Winter Garden Station at 6 am and we headed out in the darkness for our 18 mile run. We started earlier than normal since the run would take a few hours and it has started to get pretty hot by 9 am.

It was so early that we heard roosters as we started on the trail...then saw them running around people's front yards, it is a bit country out that way. The sun rose quickly by 7 am, around 4 miles into the run. I had paced with some new girls that I had not run with before, Amanda and Stephanie, who were super nice. We would end up running the entire course together and be a good support team.

My leg was a little stiff the first few miles into the run as usual, but started to feel better by mile 4. To say that the run was hard would be an understatement, it was incredibly challenging. Once we passed the 12 mile mark, which passed our starting point, it was very enticing to stop right there at the sight of my car. But we had to go 3 miles out, and 3 miles back. Thinking of the run in small segments is a great mental technique for making the run a little easier, when you think of shorter destinations the task does not seem as daunting.

As we progressed to the 3 mile destination, we found the section of the course that was wide open with no tree cover, and it was around 8:45 am, and it was getting hot. The sun was beating and there was no sign of relief in sight. Once I hit the 14 mile mark my legs, hips, and everything else started to feel pretty tired and sore. I had to take a few walk breaks and used the water stations to do quick stretches before heading back out. We all as a group started to feel the pain at this point, and seeing the turn around point was a huge relief. All I could think about was the finish line, a cool drink of water, and sitting down.

I searched for some inner strength along the 3 mile journey back, and kept chanting to myself "you got this" to encourage my legs to keep moving. It was good to know that even at mile 17, I was able to push it harder and pick up the pace, which will definitely come in handy on race day.

Seeing the "finish line" was a God-send and it felt so wonderful to sit down and stretch. My training group and I were all in the amazement that we just accomplished what we did. 18 miles is an incredibly long distance on foot, and I was able to do it in 3 and a half hours, which was not bad all things considered. If I can improve on that a little bit in the next two weeks and save up more energy, I think I will be able to run my goal time of 4:30.

Taking the suggestions of my team members, I stopped on the way home to pick up 2 bags of ice that I would use to create an ice bath. And let me tell you, I think that may have been worse than the run itself. It was FREEZING!!! I think I was supposed to stay in it for 15 minutes. HAH, I was in there for maybe 2 minutes but it felt like forever. As terrible as it was, I do feel pretty good today and think that may have helped.

Next week is hills, then the big one, 20 miles! More to come...

A Mission Moment

2008-05-01T16:37:00.000-04:00

This is a story I received in a LLS newsletter article about one of the services the LLS provides to patients and is funded through programs like TNT. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated!

Christine and Tom Wonika had what many would call the perfect life - they had a new daughter, they would soon move into a new home, and Tom had just started a new job. But in March 2002 Christine found out that she had acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). It was a major challenge and they tackled it together.

Christine, like most AML patients, was encouraged to begin chemotherapy. While Christine was getting this treatment, her husband Tom contacted The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for advice and guidance. He soon learned about the First Connection program, which matches patients with trained peer volunteers who have been through blood cancer.

Christine was able to talk to someone else who had also had AML. It was a great relief.
"We shared our experiences. Just hearing the similarities that we had was very comforting. It was good to know that I wasn't alone or crazy and that other people felt the same way," says Christine.

Christine was in remission after her first phase of chemotherapy, but her cancer returned nine months later. She had more chemotherapy, and then had a successful bone marrow transplant in November 2003. Throughout the entire ordeal, the family counted their blessings. Christine and Tom's parents were able to step in when needed, and Tom was able to continue working.

Despite the challenges that came with cancer Christine admits that she feels the experience of living with AML was one of the best things that could have happened to her. She's stronger, and has more compassion and passion for life.

"The fight against cancer is really bad. But the light at the end of the tunnel is more amazing than you can ever imagine. Now I have the chance to really appreciate the things that I fought so hard to keep in my life - like the sun shining and my daughter's smiles."

Visit www.active.com/donate/tntcfl/tokeeffe to make your donation!
To learn more about LLS, please visit us at http://www.lls.org/.

Essential Foods for Runners

2008-05-01T13:32:00.000-04:00

This month's super-food: Asparagus!!!

I myself was never a big fan of the green, odd looking vegetable known as asparagus, but in the past 6 months or so I have been digging it more. I read a feature in Cooking Light magazine that showed various ways to prepare it, and it intrigued me. The only way I have ever cooked it is coat it in olive oil and sprinkle some salt...but low and behold there are other ways!

Click here for asparagus 5 ways: http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking/fd/inseason/article/0,13803,1175355,00.html

And funny enough, one of the features in this week's Runners World newsletter was all about the nutritional benefits of asparagus. Here are some fun facts:

One cup of asparagus spears supplies 115 percent of your Daily Value for vitamin K, which is vital for bone health, and 65 percent of your Daily Value for folate, a B vitamin that promotes healthy blood cells and helps prevent birth defects.

Many runners--especially those who avoid meat--don't get enough iron; that's because nonmeat sources of the mineral, such as vegetables and grains, are not as readily absorbed. But eating foods high in vitamin C, like asparagus, increases iron absorption from nonmeat foods.

Asparagus is loaded not only with folate but also vitamin B6. When combined with vitamin B12, this trio works together to lower circulating levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that wreaks havoc on artery walls, leading to heart disease.

So how do you prepare it? According to the experts it is great in a salad or prepared as a side dish with your dinner. I tried one of the cooking light recipes the other night for dinner and it was awesome and so easy! Try it for yourself! Asparagus is in season so be sure to look for it at your local grocery store.

Sautéed Asparagus and Shrimp with Gremolata

Sauté the two main ingredients separately to avoid overcrowding the pan. A fresh lemon-herb topping rounds out the flavors in this entrée. You could also try this recipe with chicken and broccoli. I accompanied this dish with some roasted potatoes and it was delicious.

Ingredients
Gremolata:
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced

Shrimp:
4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
3 cups (1 1/2-inch) slices asparagus (about 1/2 pound)
1 1/2 pounds peeled and deveined medium shrimp
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation
1. To prepare gremolata, combine first 5 ingredients; set aside.
2. To prepare shrimp, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons oil to pan, swirling to coat; heat 20 seconds. Add asparagus to pan; sauté 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove asparagus from pan; keep warm.

3. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil to pan, swirling to coat; heat 20 seconds. Add shrimp to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until done, stirring occasionally. Add asparagus, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper to pan; sauté 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle evenly with gremolata.

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 240(29% from fat); FAT 7.6g (sat 1.2g,mono 3.7g,poly 1.7g); PROTEIN 36.1g; CHOLESTEROL 259mg; CALCIUM 115mg; SODIUM 403mg; FIBER 1.6g; IRON 5.6mg; CARBOHYDRATE 5.2g

Lorrie Hulston , Cooking Light, APRIL 2008

One month to go...

2008-05-01T13:17:00.000-04:00

So last week I mentioned that I would be running 15 miles while I was up in St. Augustine for the weekend with my girlfriends, and I kept me promise! Up at 6:45 and out the door by 7:15, I hit A1A for my long run. The weather was absolutely beautiful, no clouds in the sky and about 75 degrees with an ocean breeze. My goal was to run to downtown St. Augustine and turn around, about a 7 and a half mile distance one way. Unfortunately there was not much of a beach view for most of the run, but getting to downtown St. Augustine was an awesome reward! You climb over the Bridge of Lions that crosses over the St. Augustine Inlet right into downtown. What a beautiful sight! The inlet is filled with boats and offers a really refreshing breeze. That was awesome motivation to make my journey home...although there were some minor hiccups. My leg pain has been acting up again and I did have to make a few stops to stretch out, but I made it back successfully.

(View from the Bridge of Lions into the inlet)

This week I have been trying not to push it too hard in anticipation of the 18 mile run I have scheduled for Saturday, I am even contemplating taking today off altogether since my shin has been really sore. I am pretty nervous about Saturday, again this will be a new mileage "milestone" (no pun intended) and a true test of my readiness for the marathon. I am starting to get pretty anxious about the whole thing, there is so much preparation and anticipation that it feels like it will never come...but I know that one month from today I will be running a marathon!

New PR!!! IOA Corporate 5k

2008-04-25T12:00:00.000-04:00

What an interesting race! I must say, last night's IOA Corporate 5K was a "one-of-a-kind" race experience...some of the highlights:

I decided to take the Lynx bus shuttle from the Amway Arena to the Citrus bowl instead of trying to park their since I knew it would be full. Good idea in theory...took forever though. I must say, it was my first time on a Lynx bus and I found it to be really clean and nice.
Over 10,000 run/walk participants congregated inside the Citrus Bowl at their respective company tents, the Protiviti Team tent rocked, thank you Katie and Jon for setting it up! (Team picture to follow soon)
Those 10,000 run/walk participants were supposed to start at the same time, with the runners in the front, walkers in the back. What do you think the chances are that actually happened?
I did not cross the start line until 8:15 into the race start
The first mile was an adventure...to say the least. I had really hoped to get a good time this race, so I didn't want to be left behind, so I weaved in, and out, and around all of the walkers that were moseying along the course. This had me running in people's yards, the sidewalk, gutter, and medians. I am amazed I did not sprain my ankle.
While most of the race consisted of me dodging walkers, once we got to mile 2 it opened up, a little.
The "spectators" on the course had to be some of the most interesting I had ever seen. Street corners lined with liquor stores, convenience stores, and barber shops had Parramore's finest rooting us on. A few points along the course I even encountered a few homeless people running along with us. Priceless.
Considering the obstacles I ran through to make it to the finish line, I still managed to get a new PR, 27:06, which was good, but knowing that had it been a less crowded course I could have scored a 26:00 was somewhat frustrating.
My boyfriend Jon participated in his first 5K and I was very proud, he did awesome :)
The Protiviti Team rocked, our captain, Jeff Tecau, ran an awesome 18:33. And I was pumped they used my time as one of the 3 team scores entered into the company competition.

So overall, it was a lot of fun, not a runners race by any means, but I didn't expect that going into it. I think my favorite part of the evening was my journey to the race. On the bus I sat next to a very nice older woman who was very chatty and kept me entertained on the 30 minute ride over. She was so excited to be doing her first 5k, she was a walker and was very proud that she lost 6 pounds in her training for the race. She commented to me about how some of the "runners" she saw amazed her with all of their fancy sneakers and outfits. She was wearing her gardening shoes and visor and was completely content with that. I did not have the heart to break it to her that I was one of those "runners" (although not ridiculous enough to be one who wore a fuel belt to a 5k). I humored her amazement and shared some helpful tips for navigating her first race.

It was really refreshing to talk to her. It allowed me a moment to reflect on how far I had come since I started running last year. I remember how excited I was running my first 5K, the Wendy Chioji Run Around the Universe in February of 2007, with a finish time of 30:50. At the time that seemed like a huge challenge, and I was so proud to accomplish it. Now a little over a year later I'm training for a marathon...crazy. I've come to a few realizations since I started running...but I'll save those for a future post :)

Ready for the IOA Corporate 5K!!!

2008-04-23T21:37:00.000-04:00

I'm very pumped, tomorrow is my last race before the marathon and its going to be a fun one. The IOA Corporate 5K is tomorrow night on downtown Orlando and I am running as a member of the Protiviti team, my boyfriend Jon's company. I'm not too crazy about the course (see below) considering it runs throughout Parramore, Orlando's most dangerous neighborhood, i'm not soo sure what the thought process is behind this, but it's a nice, easy, straight away course so great for some speed :) I'm hoping to place in the top 3 on the team, I know #1 will go to the team captain, Jon's boss Jeff, who just got back from running the Boston Marathon and finishing in 3 hours...he's amazing. My leg was not feeling amazing during my run tonight, so i'm hoping i'll be race ready tomorrow.

I'm hoping for a PR tomorrow, anything under 28:30 (my last 5K time), which I have no doubt I can beat...i'll keep you posted!!!

Fundraising Challenege...4 Weeks, $1000

2008-04-21T12:30:00.000-04:00

Let's not forget the whole reason I'm doing this crazy marathon...to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. So far my fundraising is going well, but it reached a bit of a halt and I need your help to get me to my next goal. In the next 4 weeks I need to raise $1,000. I received an awesome pledge to match dollar for dollar what I raise from a very generous person, and if I can raise $1000 over the next 4 weeks I will hit my $4000 goal!!!

If you haven't had the opportunity to donate yet, it's not too late. visit my fundraising page at www.active.com/donate/tntcfl/tokeeffe and pledge your support. I need all the help I can get and it would mean the world to me for you to help! This whole experience may be the most difficult thing I have ever done, but I know its nothing compared to what the people out there struggling with various blood cancers have to endure.

Thank you to those who have already shown their support!

Goofy Pic

2008-04-21T12:24:00.001-04:00

From Saturday's run at the West Orange Trail...

Not sure if you can see the smile on my face, but it was pretty big :)

And We're Back!

2008-04-21T11:54:00.000-04:00

OK...so a lot happened over the past week and I have been a bad blogger so here's a recap:

- I continued to run early last week with some luck, leg was feeling a bit stronger but not great, total mileage was pretty low. With urging from my boyfriend Jon, I decided that I had to go see somebody about it so I could stop worrying and get better one way or another.

- I called Michael over at Florida Hospital Sports Medicine on Friday morning and thankfully he said come on by at lunch time. Back story... I e-mailed the "ask the expert" e-mail address at the Florida Hospital Sports Medicine website last week, http://www.fhsportsmed.org/askexpert.asp, and received a response from Mike right away. He gave me some advice and said give him a call if it didn't get better. I was pretty nervous about this...mainly because I was afraid he would tell me that I'd have to stop for a while and maybe sit the race out...

- Mike couldn't have been more helpful. He gave me a thorough exam, stretching out my legs to determine my range of motion and flexibility, and also to sense where the tightness was coming from. Sure enough, he confirmed that it was Illitobial Band Syndrome...but I didn't necessarily get it the way that I thought. Turns out, my inner quad and butt muscles (like my technical terms? :) ) are not as strong as they should be, therefore its causing an imbalance that is forcing my knee's to move more to one side when I run, instead of being balanced in the center. Since the IT Band is directly linked to the knee, it all works together. So my prognosis was not race-threatening, in fact, it was not as bad as I thought at all. Here was his advice:

Continue taking two doses of ibuprofen everyday for the next two weeks.
Every other day do a series of strengthening exercises that target the quads and the butt
Stretch after every activity, and target the IT Band (he gave me a few great ones, if you are having a similar problem let me know and I can detail them for you)
Massage the IT Band using a foam log
Once stretching is done, apply ice for 10 minutes
Active Rest! This is the best part, I don't have to sit around, but in fact get out there and do the best I can.

So I took his advice, and on Saturday morning I was up at 5:45 am excited as ever to get out to the West Orange trail and join my team for a long run. After a stop at the 7-11 for a cup of coffee and a power bar, I was on my way. I was definitely nervous about the run, my team was running 16 miles, i didn't know how far I could make it. The start was a bit rough around the edges, but i was in a grove around mile 2 and the rest was history. I made it through the winding trails and hills and back again, totalling 13 miles. I know I could have kept going, but airing on the side of caution I cut it short and plan to make it up next week.

I did my stretches and strength training yesterday, lots of ice, and today I feel pretty good. So I am very thankful I saw the doc because now I know how to manage the injury, and hopefully, it will work itself out soon. My mood has been so much better and I am determined to be ready for this race...only 6 weeks away!!!

A Few Missed-Steps

2008-04-14T22:16:00.000-04:00

So all of my excitement surrounding running 14 miles last weekend has unfortunately diminished rather quickly as the pain started to set in on Monday and didn't seem to dissipate. I went out on Monday for my 3 mile run and after about 15 steps realized I couldn't do it, my ankle felt so weak and I couldn't put pressure on it. Hmm I thought, OK, maybe today is not the day, just a little rest and I'll get back out there tomorrow. And I did...6 mile run in Blue Jacket Park. The first two miles hurt like hell...but I thought, "Just run through it Tara, it will work itself out". So I did, and from miles 2-6 felt OK, and I was able finish, a few minutes slower than normal because I took a few short walk breaks, but I finished. But man, as soon as I cooled down the pain was severe! As if that wasn't good enough, I went back out again on Thursday and ran 3.75 miles around Lake Eola, same type of symptoms along the run, except now, it started to hurt more in my hip and my hamstring now. Now I started to worry....

Maybe running through it was not the answer, maybe this was more serious. Have you ever tried to self-diagnose yourself from research on the internet?? Wow is that confusing! I think I have given myself 4 different diagnosis's over the past 4 days, and to be honest, I'm still not really sure, but I reached out to the people I thought could help me best. My first concern was the hill workout I had scheduled for Saturday morning, inside I knew that was not going to help me at all, but I didn't want to miss it. After advice from Coach Sandy, a therapist at Florida Hospital via their e-mail advice services, and posting a question for Hal Higdon on his forum, I got the same answer from everyone, don't' do the hill!

So i took the weekend off, to much dismay and anxiety. I followed the RICE method, (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) for the past few days, and frequently stretched. I spent some more time researching online, and I think after everything, I have a case of IBS (Illitobial Band Syndrome) but not that causes pain in the knee, but in the hip, which can also happen. I found some helpful stretches that I did throughout the day at my desk at work which really seemed to help and remove some of the inflammation and pain. The Aleve I have been popping the past few days has also made an impact. Tonight i spent some time of the stationary bike for about 40 minutes and that helped loosen me up, I am definitely seeing a positive change.

So how did this all happen you ask?? I think it's because I increased my weekly mileage by about 20% from the previous week when i ran the 14 miles...not smart. Hal Higdon thinks there is a deeper cause than that... I was not quite ready to pound the pavement again after being sick...so maybe pushing my limits and getting a PR at the Winter Park Road Race was not the best idea :( Whatever it was, I now know more than ever how important a steady increase, stretching, and proper rest is to my success. It has been really hard for me not to run the past 4 days, even harder thinking the worst, like what if I this injury kept me from running the marathon all together. I realize now that I am going to do all that I can physically and mentally to stop that from happening, but I have to exercise serious discipline over the next month and a half if I want to be ready. And I want to be ready!!!

I'll keep you posted how my effort to slowly get back into it goes...

I ran 14 miles!!!

2008-04-06T21:21:00.000-04:00

Wow, I can officially say that I have accomplished the most difficult thing I have ever done physically in my life! As part of our training this weekend we ran 14 miles on the Seminole Weikiva Trail and boy was it tough. Everything felt great up until mile 10, then it started to hurt in my hips and ankles, and as we kept going, the pain grew. We did make a few stops along the trail at water stations which helped a great deal, I thought I might be able to make it all the way through using my fuel belt and no stops, but I needed the quick breaks. With that being said, I was still able to finish in under two and a half hours which was good considering I had a terrible night sleep and didn't have much of a dinner the night before. I think had I been better rested and fueled up, that could have been a much better run. Learning lesson for me how important those two components are for a long run...next time I will take that much more seriously.

I think this may have been the first time I really questioned..."why am I doing this it hurts!??" but I just kept reminding myself that I have made a commitment to a cause and to my friends and family, and most importantly, myself, to complete this challenge. Although every time a biker drove by us smiling I kept thinking, "I was I was riding a bike right now!"

Regardless, I was proud to accomplish this awesome feat, as it is the longest distance I have run to date. Thank you so much to my pace ladies Susan and Sherri for keeping me going and not giving up, you rock!

Until next time...run long run strong!

Run When Your Sick?

2008-04-01T13:29:00.000-04:00

So I saw this article in the runner's world e-newsletter and couldn't help but wish I would have read it 2 weeks ago. But regardless, for those of you who want some better scientific evidence as to why you should/shouldn't run when your sick than my own personal recommendations, here you go:

SHOULD YOU RUN WHEN YOU'RE SICK?
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-286--9082-0,00.html?cm_mmc=training-_-2008_04_01-_-training-_-HEALTH%3a%20Should%20you%20run%20when%20you're%20sick%3f

New PR!! Winter Park Road Race

2008-03-30T22:24:00.000-04:00

What a great race! I ran the Winter Park Road Race which was a 10k course throughout the beautiful streets of Winter Park and I had my best time ever...53:33 official time. Considering my goal for the race was 58 minutes, I was very impressed with my finishing time. I'm not quite sure where that came from, I normally average between a 9:30 and 9:15 pace on most of my longer runs, so an 8:37 pace is pretty unheard of from me. But I think it was the first time I really pushed my limits since I've started training for the marathon so perhaps this is my hard work paying off!

It was great to see my TNT teammates this week, it has been too long since i've been able to run with the group. Many thanks to my pace partner Michael, you really kept me going, i'm very proud of you too!!

Now that I have this success behind me and my sickness from the past week, I am ready to get back into full swing, with an exciting 14 mile run coming up this Saturday. That will be longest run yet, so I am both aprehensive and excited about it...hopefully I will feel victorious after that run too!

Run long, run strong... Tara

Back in the saddle again

2008-03-25T20:01:00.001-04:00

So, after a week long hiatus from running due to an unfortunate cold/flu/who knows what...I hit the pavement again and it felt great! All this time I have been worrying about an injury keeping me out, but was caught off guard by getting sick. I attempted a 6 mile run on Saturday to see how I felt...poor decision.

Note to self (and other runners): if you don't get a good night sleep because you are up sneezing and sniffling, chances are you are not ready to get out there again. I foolishly tried to do more than my body was telling me I could do, and about mile 4 I started having trouble breathing and had to run/walk the rest of the 6 miles. I will admit this was the most discouraged I've felt in a long time, 6 miles has become no big deal to me anymore and it felt like I had asthma :(

Long story short, I listened to myself and took it easy till today, and did a solid 3.5 mile run. I am going to do the Winter Park 10k this weekend and am really looking forward to a race, it's been a while since I've done one and love the competitiveness :) Plus i'm really hoping for a PR to beat my last 10k time of 1:00:07. I'll let you know how I do!

Until next time...run long, run strong!

Star Helps Leukemia Patient Find A Bone Marrow Donor

2008-03-13T12:49:00.000-04:00

(Courtesy People.com)

Rihanna is thrilled – and grateful – that the leukemia-stricken New York City mother of two she came forward to help has found a bone marrow donor. "There are no words to express how happy I am for Lisa [Gershowitz-Flynn] and her family," Rihanna tells PEOPLE exclusively. "I am so thankful she found a donor and I feel honored to be a part of such an amazing miracle."

Last month the Grammy-winning singer put out a plea for help, and Flynn, 41, who learned she has an aggressive form of cancer called Acute Myelogenous Leukemia the day after Thanksgiving, quickly found a donor. "This blessing has continued to keep me aware of how precious life really is," says Rihanna. "I will be praying for Lisa and her family as they move into a hopeful future."

As PEOPLE reported exclusively, as soon as Rihanna heard about Flynn's plight, she lent her name to the campaign. As a result, more than 5,000 PEOPLE readers contacted DKMS, the world's leading bone marrow donor center, to become potential donors. Even better, DKMS recruited and registered roughly 2,000 new donors, Katharina Harf, executive vice president of DKMS, told PEOPLE. Flynn is now awaiting a bone marrow transplant. "My life will be saved because of you, my family and friends (old and new)," Flynn wrote in an e-mail to supporters. "My children (Michael, 5, and Alexandra, 3) will have their mother, my husband will have his wife, and my parents will have their daughter. Please continue to spread the word about how important it is to fill the bone marrow registry with donors to save others."

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20183928,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20182715,00.html

Sore Muscles?? Get The Stick!!

2008-03-12T13:11:00.001-04:00

If you have not heard of "The Stick" your muscles are missing out! This simple tool is a runners best friend-it massages the muscles in your legs, arms, (and anywhere else you can maneuver it) by increasing circulation and stretching. I saw this at a Track Shack event and tried it and bought it instantly. It does wonders on your calves and shins, I try and use it every night before I go to sleep. The US Olympic athletes use it, so you know it has to work! Visit http://www.thestick.net/ to order!

For my TNT teammates, I will try and remember to bring this to our next training so you can try it out!

Want to maintain speed during long runs? Try Tempo Runs!

2008-03-12T12:50:00.000-04:00

For those of you who are looking for a boost in your workouts to help improve your bodies ability to maintain race pace for long distances, think about adding tempo-runs to your weekly routine.

Tempo runs are when you run at a "comfortably hard" pace for an extended period during a run anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour based on your fitness level. From what I have read, tempo runs are a better method of training than speed work for long distance runs because they train your body to maintain speed over long distances and improve your body's ability to use oxygen for metabolism more efficiently by increasing your lactate threshold. If you are not sure what lactic acid and running have to do with one another, read this first:

(This article has a lot of information on the science of enzymes in fat and carbohydrates, and how they effect your body, it is a bit long, but all of this information is incredibly helpful in learning what your body does with the food that you put into it and how that will effect your run)

http://www.marathonguide.com/training/articles/MandBFuelOnFat.cfm

I am going to try and incorporate at least one tempo run in my weekly routine and see what kind of improvements I encounter on long runs going forward. To read more about tempo runs and how to do them correctly, check out this article from Runners World: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267--11909-0,00.html

If you have any tips on tempo runs, or other successful (or not successful) training tips, please share!

Thank you to all of my donors!!!

2008-03-12T12:45:00.000-04:00

Fundraising is going well so far, I am up to $700! I am very close to my first goal, $1000 by the end of March, i just sent out another surge of e-mails to friends and family so hopefully i will make it!

If you have donated so far, thank you so very much, I really appreciate your support, please know that your donation really makes a difference and will help patients and their families who are living with various blood cancers.

If you are still thinking about donating it is not too late, you can visit www.active.com/donate/tntcfl/tokeeffe where you can donate safely and securely online! My ultimate goal is $4,000 so every donation counts!

Nutrition Hot Topic: Salt

2008-03-03T12:17:00.000-05:00

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-300--10439-1-1X2-3,00.html

Found this article on runnersworld.com that talks about the balance of salt and hydration for runners..how much is too much, how much is not enough. They point out some easy tricks to determine if you need more or less, and also mention that for most runners who often run in high temps (thats us floridians) we definetly need more than most. I personally love salty foods, they are my weakness so i guess i was glad to read that its OK for me to consume a little extra :)

For anyone training for a marathon, i reccomend reading the article as it lists when you might need to cary salt tablets during a race if you sweat out excess salt.

Here are some good salty snacks that Runners World reccomends:

Reach for these good-for-you foods to satisfy salt cravings and get an added nutritional punch. While you're at it, switch to sea salt, says nutritionist Bob Seebohar. It has more micronutrients, including zinc and iron, than regular table salt.

Black olives (6 olives, 200 mg) are a good source of monounsaturated fat, iron, and vitamin E.

Whole-grain pretzels (2 oz., 116 mg) count as one of three whole-grain servings recommended per day.

V-8 juice (1 8-oz. can, 590 mg) is a bargain at two servings of vegetables for a mere 50 calories.

Cheese (1 oz., 175 mg) typically supplies 20 percent of the RDA for calcium.

Deli turkey (28 g, 270 mg) packs in about five grams of protein.

Chicken-noodle soup (1 cup, 460 mg), homemade, provides a well-balanced meal of protein and carbohydrates.

Salted almonds (1 oz., 96 mg) are high in monounsaturated fat and vitamin E.

Training Week's 3 & 4 Pic's

2008-03-03T09:19:00.000-05:00

(Thank you to our Mentor Ernie for taking pictures during trainings, I really appreciate it!)

This is quite the site at 7:30 am....getting in a good stretch before our 6 mile run at Blue Jacket Park.

Week 4 brought us to the West Orange Trail for the first of what I consider to be "long runs", running 8 miles, and it felt great! So far training is going amazing! The past two weeks I logged 15 miles each...this weeks goal: 20! I'll let you know how I do at the end of the week :)

Great Core Routine

2008-02-23T11:46:00.001-05:00

Before our run today we had a stretch clinic to go over some basic streches and core exercises that are essential to preventing injuries while running and to make us more effective runners. I found a great core training program in Runner's World magazine last month that Team USA does to get ready for the marathon, it is simple, easy to learn, and takes about 10 minutes, 3 times a week. I have been doing it for the past 3 weeks and already notice a difference.

There are two phases, base and dynamic. You do the base routine for 4 weeks, and the dynamic after that. Here are video instructions of the 4 base routines to show you how to do them. If you are looking for an easy and attainable way to build your core, give these a try! Visit http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-263-266-12415-0,00.html to read more and check out the dynamic routine.

Plank/Side Plank

Lie in a push-up position with your forearms on the ground, keeping your body in a straight line, your elbows directly below your shoulders, and your abdominals pulled in (top, right). Hold. Shift to your side, keeping the elbow directly under your shoulder and both feet on the floor, top foot in front. Lift your hips until your body is in a straight line. For all variations, start with 30 seconds, build to 2.5 minutes.

PHASE TWO
Hold plank as you have been, but lower and lift into a side plank for four sets of six reps, holding each rep for a count of four. The plank was originally used to test lower-back strength, says Kline, and if you can hold it for two-plus minutes, your likelihood of having lower-back problems is low.

PAYOFF
Develops abdominal and lower-back muscles that support and stabilize the middle of your body.

Bird Dog (My favorite)

Start on your hands and knees, back flat. Raise an opposite leg and arm to hip and torso height. Hold for 10 seconds, build to 30.

PHASE TWO
Perform four sets of six reps, with each side, holding each rep for a count of two.

PAYOFF
Strengthens the muscles along the spine, the upper back, and the glutes.

Back Extension (this can be done at home while rolling a mat on the floor and holding)

Start face down on a Roman chair with your legs hooked and lift your torso up until it's parallel to the ground; your back should be straight, not arched. Hold. Start with 45 seconds, build to three minutes. (The focus is on muscular endurance, not pure strength, so don't add additional weight.)

PHASE TWO
Do four sets of six reps.

PAYOFF
Improves strength and muscular endurance of the erector spinae and other back extensors.

Swiss Hip Extension (can be challenging at first, but don't be discouraged!)

Swiss Hip Extension

Start sitting upright on a stability ball, then walk your legs forward so the ball travels up your spine until it reaches your shoulder blades. With your arms extended out to the sides, lift your hips up until your torso is parallel to the floor. Then lift one knee about 45 degrees, lower it, then lower hips toward the floor, and repeat on the other side for one set. "Don't be frustrated if you can't do this well at first," says Kline. Do three sets of five to seven reps, with two minutes rest between sets.

PHASE TWO
Same as above.

PAYOFF
Mimics the running motion, but on an instable surface (the ball), engaging the hip flexors (psoas, iliacus) and extensors (the glutes) to work together with the abs and back to stabilize the body

Mapmyrun.com

2008-02-23T11:38:00.000-05:00

For those of you not familiar with mapmyrun.com, you have to check it out! It is a great site that lets you map out runs anywhere you want and tells you the mileage of the run. You can also search the public run forum for great trails and routes that people in your neighborhood have created. Here is a map of my run today at Blue Jacket Park, it's right next to Baldwin Park.

Blue Jacket Park Loop
Find more Runs in Orlando, Florida

This was a great trail, we did 4 loops today, making 6 miles. I think this will be my new spot for evening runs, as it is well lit with lamp posts all along the way. I have been running at a few spots over the past few weeks in the evening that are not well lit and I have not felt safe. This route is really nice.

You can also log your training on mapmyrun.com, which is how i keep track of how many miles i run, which routes i run, and any other activites (cross training, abs) that I do during the week. It's free, so check it out, you will love it!

Training Week 3

2008-02-23T11:29:00.000-05:00

So this week was definitely a success! I had set my mileage goal at 15 for the week, and did 15.64, so I am happy and feeling great. Today was group training for TNT at Blue Jacket Park (which is awesome, see map below) and we did 6 miles, probably the longest I have run since my half marathon back in December, and I had a PR of 58:57 :) TNT is an awesome way to train, i am starting to get to know the people in my group better so it's fun to see them each week, and I know that as we get further into our training we will become good friends. For those of you in my TNT group, thank you for reading my blog! I am going to try to post as much good info about training, performance foods, gadgets, and helpful running sites, so please keep checking back!

Thank you to those of you who have donated so far, i am up to $600! I still have a ways to go, so please visit my site, www.active.com/donate/tntcfl/tokeeffe and show your support!

If you have a story you can share about someone you know who has battled Leukemia or any other form of cancer, please share, the reason I'm doing this is to raise money for an awesome cause and help those people that deserve a second chance at life...so please give me some more motivation to get up at 6:30 am on Saturday!

T

Good News For Those Beer Drinkers!

2008-02-21T09:08:00.000-05:00

I was reading Amby Burfoot's blog on Runnersworld.com today and saw this great tidbit about drinking and exercising...see, you can do both and be healthy!

"Exercise AND Modest Alcohol Consumption BOTH Contribute To Longer LifeIn the latest and perhaps the best study of the benefits of exercise and modest alcohol consumption, a Danish study team found that both contribute to decreased heart disease and decreased all-cause deaths. The researchers followed followed nearly 12,000 Danish adults for 20 years, and reached a number of interesting conclusions. For example, among exercisers, those who consumed no alcohol, or fairly high levels of alcohol, had higher death rates than those who consumed modest amounts, about one glass of wine or spirits a day for women, and two for men. Also, within groups formed by degree of alcohol consumption, those who did the least exercise had the highest death rates, while increasing levels of exercise were associated with lower death rates. Conclusion: "Leisure-time physical activity and a moderate weekly alcohol intake are both important to lower the risk of fatal IHD [heart disease] and all-cause mortality." Source: European Heart Journal. More"

http://peakperformance.runnersworld.com/2008/02/feb-3-the-lates.html?cm_mmc=nutrition%20-_-2008_02_21-_-nutrition-_-BLOG%3a%20Drink%20Up,%20Live%20Longer

Pic's from training days

2008-02-19T16:50:00.001-05:00

Hey Guys, here are some pic's from week's 1 & 2 of training, thanks to Ernie for being the photographer! I hope to get as many as possible to cronicle my journey..

The Summer 2008 TNT Team! Can you spot me??

Week #1, Cranes Roost Park

Week #2, Weikiva Springs Trail

There's a first time for everything...

2008-02-05T14:10:00.000-05:00

So this year is all about first's, first blog, first marathon, who knows what other firsts will come along. I never thought of myself as one to write a blog, but I thought that with the endeavor i'm about to take on, what better way for me to keep track of my journey than to share it will all of you. If you are reading this, thanks, it means a lot, and i hope you keep reading. The more support I have from family and friends, the more successful I will be in crossing the finish line.

You may be wondering, why on earth would you want to run 26.2 miles straight? I started running in January of 2007 on a regular basis, mainly to get in shape and lose a little weight. What happened is I found something that I really enjoyed doing, and the more 5k's I did, the more i realized the competetive nature I have. I set a goal in 2007 to complete a half marathon (13.1) by the end of the year, and I did just that, i completed the OUC Half Marathon in downtown Orlando in 2:09:30, far better than I had expected. I had been thinking all along, "what would it be like to run a full" I knew that if I could do the half successfully, then the urge to take it to the next level would be there. And that it was! The feeling I got crossing the finish line of the half was incredible, so many emotions all at once, but mainly the feeling of accomplishment. Now I would say I have accomplished things in my life, but never did I have the feeling that I did on December 1, 2007. I wanted to bottle it up and keep it with me everyday, and it was on that day that I made the mental declaration to myself..."I WILL run a marathon in 2008".

So here I am, taking the declaration out of my head and onto the page for all the world to see (or at least the 5 people that read my blog :) ). I knew that the first time I ran a marathon I wanted to do it the right way, with a good group of suppportive running mates to keep me on track. So it was a pretty obvious choice for me to sign up for Team in Training, the endurance training program run by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. For those of you who know me, fundraising has been something that I have always been passionate about, so it was a natural fit. TNT (as i will refer to it from here on out) allows you an incredible opportunity: raise money for them, and they will send you to an incredible race somewhere in the world, all expenses paid. So running + fundraising + mini-vacation= my perfect match! San Diego was one of two options for the Summer group, and i knew that was definetly the race for me. A) it's beautiful and B) the race consists of a different musical act at every mile marker, which is why it's called the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon (check out the link to the right). So not only have i commited myself to running a marathon, I am also going to raise $4,000! More on that challenge later...

So, that's my story, maybe a little long winded, but when am i not? Here is my plea to get you to subscribe to this fantastic blog.... I need moral support for the days when i just won't want to run, I need encouragement to push it one mile more, I will need a place to share my thoughts and diatribes from a long run and it should be some entertaining reading material, I want to share more about the cause and how I'm doing on my fundraising goal, and, maybe encourage some of you who are thinking..."hey, maybe I could do it too". So comment, share your running experiences, or anything really, I want to hear from you!

-T