Loose Ends

So this is the point in the planning that I am trying to tie up all those loose ends...and boy, are there a lot of loose ends. I am off from school now for two months and this gives me the opportunity to push full speed ahead. First day off was yesterday and I was able to approve the proof of the medals, email logos to several people, help finalize the poster, check on ribbons for kids' races, check on an additional sponsor, and set up aid station instructions for my beloved Course Director, my husband! Today, I will make a few more phone calls, mail off some important papers, and put the rest on my list for next week. I will be leaving for California on Saturday and in the meantime, I have to attend my daughter's 5th grade graduation. I will also catch a quick run on Friday with my other daughter; hopefully, she slows down a little - her mile PR this last month was 6:47. Smokin'. I often try to include some of my personal life in this blog so that all of you can see that there is a balancing act in this whole picture.

I have not yet announced, in my blog anyways, our latest sponsor and beneficiary: Pennies For Nicolls Foundation. If you run the relay, all of the proceeds will benefit them. The Pennies For Nicolls Foundation is sponsoring the Relay to raise awareness of MPS. The ADT Marathon team will be providing multiple coin drop off locations to donate your pennies (any coins!) to the Foundation (locations are tbd). All donations are tax deductible. You can also donate to them during registration. I am excited to have them as part of our team this year!

All of you should be well on your way in your training. I hope it is going well, and remember to enjoy it!

"Run hard, be strong, think big!" - Percy Cerutty

"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." - Juma Ikangaa, Tanzania

"Good things come slow - especially in distance running." - Bill Dellinger, Oregon coach

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"

- Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian and sub-2:12 marathoner

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."

- Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

Warmth!

Finally, the warm weather is here and hopefully, it is to stay. I am excited because I have worked hard to teach a fantastic 5th grade class all year, and now my reward: summer! I know, I know, you aren't feeling sorry for me, as it seems no one ever feels sorry for teachers, except when it has to do with salary; however, a good teacher gives of himself/herself all year long and is very deserving of those two months off. It will allow me to rest and get energized for next year's learners.

Over the summer, I am planning on spending several hours finishing up several details of the race. Many things have been started, but many things still need to finished up. Some things I plan to do are run with Quinn's Running Club a few times to promote the Relay, finalize the details of Pasta in the Park, ensure all of the trophies/awards will be ready, and answer any questions that come my way. Although fall was hectic and crazy with the race, the planning has paid off and hopefully it will be a fairly relaxed summer with planning. I have a feeling August will bring a few stresses, but I will take them as they come, or maybe they won't come!

Most of all, I plan on getting out and enjoying each and every day to it's fullest. I am going to hit the trails more, ride my bike lots, go the pool with my family, and enjoy the company of friends! I hope all of you have some relaxing plans this summer and of course, some training, especially if you are running a race in fall. Whatever it is you have planned, don't wait until tomorrow, do it today!

I read a book to my 5th graders today, during their graduation, and I thought I would share a quote from it:
"You're off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!" ~Dr. Seuss

Experiencing a Marathon and Spectators

Today I was honored to accompany Scheri (see pictures of training runs) for her last 8 miles of the Colorado Marathon in Ft. Collins. We have trained together for our individual races (mine is in 4 weeks in San Diego) and I wanted to be a part of this day. Lucky me, she is coming to San Diego as well.

What an experience, a marathon! Although Scheri disagrees slightly, and I know I was fresh, those 8 miles flew by amazingly fast. I contribute this to the great crowds and spectators along the course. All of the aid stations' volunteers were energetic as well. Everyone, cheering and motivating the runners to do their best and keep going. A race truly needs all three: runners, volunteers, and cheerleaders.

I often compare the training for and completion of a marathon to having a baby...hold on men, hear me out! You work really hard to physically and mentally prepare for this challenge. It takes months of your time. You pack your bag in preparation for the big day. Then, in just a short time (a few hours) you have accomplished this great feat.

If you are planning to run any of the ADT races this year, plan on bringing a fan club to cheer you on! Sharing this accomplishment with friends and family will be the cherry on the sundae, I promise!

Meeting New People

So I wanted to blog about all of the new people that I am meeting while on this endeavor. I am so impressed with the excitement that is swirling about the ADT. Whether the ADT be someones first marathon or 50th, a runner is a runner, and we all enjoy talking about it!

I love the emails I get that lead into wonderful discussions. People have sent me pictures of themselves at the finish of other races, or running other races, and many conversations turn into chit chats about what they are doing to train, the distance of his/her last run, or the fun places people are running. Either way, I am a runner, and I love talking running with others.

I have also gotten to meet some amazing people. We have so many types of people running the marathon, or half, and it is so fun to learn about them. I have mentioned that I am currently training for a marathon (4 weeks away) and so I often get asked advice. I can only offer what I have learned from personal experience. And since we are all different, I believe one person's optimal training plan may look different from another's; however, it is enjoyable to share ideas - and hear other's ideas as well!

One thing I realized this last week was that whatever your goal is, YOU need to be happy with it. I took time last year to run ultra distances. I slowed down tremendously to enjoy trails, nature, and my dog. I really enjoyed that time because I had the goal to go a certain distance (speed didn't matter) and I achieved that goal. I wouldn't have won any races, but that wasn't the goal. My point is, running is very individual and I love hearing about all the individuals taking part in the ADT.

Whether your goal be to finish your first marathon, or half-marathon, or to do a personal record, be proud of your goal and complete it the fullest!

"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." Confucius

Few More Months...

We had another committee meeting this week and all is well on its way! Everything is coming together. We have ordered the medals and awards. We are getting hats embroidered for our volunteers, and those were ordered. We have designed the shirts, simple and something that can be worn running or around town. We have new banners being made for the starts and the finish. Northface has joined our efforts and will be printing our bibs. Aid station leads have been contacted and details are going out to them. Boulder Running Co. and Colorado Running Co. have set up vendors to have great items at our expo. There is more...but it escapes me as I write.

I mentioned Northface earlier. They have joined us in our effort to put on a fantastic race. They are providing "gear packages" for our top male and female winners in both the marathon and the half marathon.

So, the weather is finally warming up out here and we had a week in the 70's. It was beautiful. Now that it is warming up, it is the perfect time to officially begin that training program for the marathon. If you are doing the half, there is no need to wait. Travis, the ADT race director the previous two years and good friend, will be running the marathon this year. It is his first marathon. It is exciting to hear how his training is going. I know there are many of you already in this process, and it would be fun for some of you to post a comment or two! As of now, we have 42 marathoners, and 9 half marathoners registered. I know the numbers will grow rapidly through the summer.

Anyways, for myself, I have one more peak week of training and then I begin my taper. I will be in Ft. Collins next week to cheer on a training partner in the Colorado Marathon. I have three more weeks of teaching. Summer here we come!

Volunteer Race Committee

I have been asked, "Is this your full-time job or part-time job?" It does seem like a full-time job at times, like during spring break and Christmas break...but my full-time job is actual being a teacher! See bio. So I wanted to share about the race committee and the people behind the scenes of this marathon.

Most of us work full-time and are raising families as well. There is a mix of men and women on the committee. We are all volunteers that do this for the "fun of it!" Pikes Peak Road Runners is the local running club that puts on this race and they are completely ran by volunteers. They put on several events all throughout the year. A great group of people.

There are several positions on this committee that many runners may not realize need to be covered...I, for one, didn't realize all of the logistics involved in a race until I served on the committee three years ago. We have a start line coordinator for Palmer Lake. He handles bag check, registration, starting the race, to list a few. We have a person that handles getting all of the permits from all of the cities and ordinances that we pass through. She also handles paying the bills and keeping our budget for us. We have the pace team coordinator who carefully chooses who will be running with you during the race. She also designed the website, voluntarily. We have someone who is in charge of the set-up and logistics of America the Beautiful Park. A Coordinator in charge of organizing all of our volunteers. Someone that puts together the aid station workers and course logistics. I have now mentioned less than half of our volunteers, so you can imagine that the work is extensive; however, spreading it out over different people, hopefully, helps the tasks to be less daunting.

Volunteering can be very rewarding. If you would like to volunteer for our race, please check out our website - volunteer section. We would love to have you as a runner and volunteer for another event as well. Everyone on the committee is here because we love putting on this race and seeing the enjoyment of each and every runner!