First team training for the marathon!

It was a busy week coming off of a very relaxing and wonderful stay-cation last week. The week went super quick!
I was busy getting my fundraising letters (the first 101 anyway) ready to be sent out. That took about 3 hours actually signing the letters, folding, putting them in the envelopes, addressing them. I've since started my second 100, and hope to have them finalized this weekend.
On Wednesday night, I went to the Team In Training kick-off party at one of the local universities.  There were probably over 100 participants there - some of them couldn't make it.  I met my mentor Randall, and his step daughter Kelly who is also a mentor. I also met one member of the Dublin team - Ryan. It's his first marathon as well, but he's done quite a few half marathons, in fact he is doing one today which is why he couldn't make our first training session.  The kick off party was very inspirational. Our honorary team captain was there - a 4 or 5 year old little girl who was diagnosed with a form of leukemia in September. She's been through treatment, and is working through recovery. She was so full of life, running around, giggling, laughing, and making people smile. Her mother spoke about the experience, and how The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has helped her financially, as well as emotionally. It really was an inspirational night.
We posed for team pictures, and had a number of workshops about fundraising, the event, and met a few of our business partners where we can get discounts (my favorite store - Run 'n Fun is one of them!) Needless to say, I've already used that 20% off discount this week and bought a new pair of running shorts.  I used them today for the first time, and they worked great.  They're a bit shorter than what I had been using, and they are lighter and more airy as well.


After 2 tough workouts with my trainer Eric this week (we did a lot of leg work) and I even did "tire flips" with a big tractor tire out in the parking lot!  So, my legs were a bit tight this morning. I didn't get any running in this week with everything that was going on.  
We were scheduled to meet at 7:15 at Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. Now, I wasn't really excited about this early start time, but I did it.  I met up with the team, we went through some housekeeping items, then we were off.  The path was pre-marked for a 1.6 mile run along Lake Calhoun to Lake Harriet.  My mentor Randall ran with me, and we led the pack of the middle group (seemed like people of different speeds end up in packs). He was great, not pushing me, but always asking how I was doing, and if the pace was ok.  We ended up doing a 9:49 pace for the first 1.6 miles.  When we got to Lake Harriet, we all did a boot camp for 30 minutes.  We were doing lunges, squats, sit ups, planks, knee-ups while jogging in a circle, jumping jacks, and some other sort of jump, I think it was called a power jump, I can't remember.
After bootcamp, we started the run back to Lake Calhoun.  I think we were all a bit tired after that bootcamp, but I found my way to a group of girls that were running a good pace for me. 6 people beat us back, we were in the 2nd group of 6 or 7, then the others followed in as they finished.  
They had water and gatorade at both points today, and one of the mentors made banana bread (which I didn't eat because of the eggs and milk).  We talked for a bit and got to know each other better, then slowly started filtering out.
All-in-all, it was a good experience.  We split into 2 groups on Wednesday (east and west, I'm in East Metro). I like my coach Jen, and Randall is a good guy too. Looking forward to what the summer will bring!


I've had energy after that, so I mowed the lawn, had lunch, went and bought flowers and planted them in the plants outside.  I feel like I got so much done already today!  Maybe a bit of a nap is in order though, just for fun! :)


Have a great day!