ok... NOT going to let that slacking off happen again. Today was anything but easy to get back into it... and on the LOOOONG run of all days- 1 hour and 15 minutes. And I admit, when I woke up this morning, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it- it'd been a long week and I just haven't been feeling so fantastic. But then I was on facebook and I put up my training website and within minutes, I had people writing me to say how great it was that I was doing this and how proud they are... and then I received an INCREDIBLY generous donation from my cousin (thanks Eirini and Mike) and then I had no choice... I put on my running shoes and headed out into the afternoon sun.
10 minutes in I had to pee... and there is really nowhere to hide on the bike trail by my house so I stuck it out and ran and ran and ran... not the fastest run I've had thus far, or the most comfortable, but you know what... I'm back in action... and let that be a lesson to myself- DO NOT skimp out on training... or prepare to face the consequences on the rebound.
Tomorrow I am heading out into my neighborhood to sneak attack and leave my fundraising letter in unsuspecting mailboxes. Then I am checking into one of the local sport shops to see if they will let me sell my crochet hats (as a fundraiser)
Cure Cancer W/ Crochet (catchy??- well... cheesy, but it might work)
I BEG YOU to keep the support coming because that is REALLY what keeps me going during those rough patches... of which I know there will be many more to come!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Off Week... :(
Well, you may have noticed my run tracker has not been counting any new runs since last Saturday. Yikes. Not okay, really... but I had a friend from out of town visiting. Not that that is an excuse, but I was doing some other physical activity- went snowboarding a few days and did a little mellow biking and hiking. After a few days off, it's always hard to get back into it, so I'm giving myself today (Friday) as a final day of rest and then tomorrow I jump right back in with my weekly long run- which will feel good to get back into the swing of things.... so get on my case if you don't see a new run logged in by tomorrow afternoon!
It's been exciting checking my mail box because almost every day, I've had a donation check come in! I'll be mailing them into the main office soon and those donations will show up on my fundraising page... The great thing too, is that many people have included a card telling me how great this whole thing is, or giving me a little boost of motivation- it really means a lot to me. I even started crying yesterday because I got a card in the mail from a woman who I have never even met who wrote to me about her husband's battle with leukemia. ahh.... this is turning out to be quite a journey!! More later.....
It's been exciting checking my mail box because almost every day, I've had a donation check come in! I'll be mailing them into the main office soon and those donations will show up on my fundraising page... The great thing too, is that many people have included a card telling me how great this whole thing is, or giving me a little boost of motivation- it really means a lot to me. I even started crying yesterday because I got a card in the mail from a woman who I have never even met who wrote to me about her husband's battle with leukemia. ahh.... this is turning out to be quite a journey!! More later.....
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Meet Alex
So, today we had our first team training session! I woke up at 6:30 to a few inches of fresh snow- took my dog for a short walk and then bundled up and headed to the CSU track. It was a cold morning, that's for sure and only 6 of us actually showed up... and I was one of the hard core ones :)
It was an easy session. We did a bit of a warm up and then timed our miles, for pacing groups. I got an 8:54, with a steady pace... which is a good thing (according to Coach Jen, whose middle name happens to be Johanna!)
Then our little mascot showed up. I shouldn't say mascot, he's our local team hero. His name is Alex. He is 6 1/2 years old, he has down syndrome and in 2007 he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Because of the down syndrome, cancer treatments are harder on his body. He goes through many more side effects from chemo (as if the regular side effects aren't bad enough) It's been a rough few years for the little guy, but you'd never know it from the big smile plastered across his face. Alex lives here in Fort Collins and he will be cheering us on from the sidelines as we train. Today he braved the cold in his full snow attire and sat through photos and everything else. Talk about a little motivator- seriously, having him there made me run just a little bit faster... maybe.
It was an easy session. We did a bit of a warm up and then timed our miles, for pacing groups. I got an 8:54, with a steady pace... which is a good thing (according to Coach Jen, whose middle name happens to be Johanna!)
Then our little mascot showed up. I shouldn't say mascot, he's our local team hero. His name is Alex. He is 6 1/2 years old, he has down syndrome and in 2007 he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Because of the down syndrome, cancer treatments are harder on his body. He goes through many more side effects from chemo (as if the regular side effects aren't bad enough) It's been a rough few years for the little guy, but you'd never know it from the big smile plastered across his face. Alex lives here in Fort Collins and he will be cheering us on from the sidelines as we train. Today he braved the cold in his full snow attire and sat through photos and everything else. Talk about a little motivator- seriously, having him there made me run just a little bit faster... maybe.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
KICK OFF!
Yesterday I had my first meeting with the ENTIRE rocky mountain chapter of Team In Training! The room was filled with hundreds of people! It got pretty emotional. There were "team heros" there, which are cancer survivors that have had their lives in some way bettered by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. They were talking about these wonder drugs that were discovered by researches right here in Colorado. These researchers are funded by our very own Rocky Mountain Team! So it was great to hear some physical proof that what I have set out to do IS actually going to make a difference. There was a 9 year old boy who stood up there and courageously shared his story of being diagnosed with cancer when he was just a toddler. Then his father stood and told us some of the hardships the family went through during this time. Now, Mason stood before us with long blond hair and a smiling face and told us that he has been cancer free for almost 6 years! That was cool.
Today is the official start of my training. Starts out easy- only 30 minutes today... I think I can handle that ;)
Today is the official start of my training. Starts out easy- only 30 minutes today... I think I can handle that ;)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Reason...
Help Me!
I am about to embark on what is probably going to be one of the most significant challenges in my life thus far… I am going to run a marathon. Not only that, but I am going to do this in conjunction with a goal of raising over $4,000.00 towards research to find a cure for cancer! I know… a marathon – 26.2 miles (42.2km) through the streets of downtown Seattle at the end of June. Really? Why?
Well, actually I am doing this for a couple of reasons. First of all, my life “to-do list”… you know, those things you have always told yourself that you are going to accomplish in this lifetime. Secondly, and much more importantly I am running this marathon in memory of my Aunt Anne Marie.
In October of 2005, I was on a solo trek in the Andes Mountains in Peru with only my guide, Francisco. The first few days were `normal`... we walked about 5 hours every day and we camped every night. The real test came on day 5. It started out like every other day... I ate a breakfast of hot porridge and spaghetti and we were off at a little before 7 in the morning. After about 20 minutes it started to rain… light at first, but progressively stronger. At this point, we were nearing a mountain pass at 16,000 ft. which meant that the rain was turning to snow. It’s freezing and within minutes everything I am wearing is soaked through and I am starting to lose feeling in my fingers and toes. My guide covers me with a plastic tarp and offers to carry my pack, but I stubbornly refuse. Two hours later, the snow is still coming and we are still climbing. My body has started to lose all feeling and my muscles are going into spasms. Steps were small and extremely weak. At this point Francisco demands to take my bag and seeing as how I didn’t have the energy to fight, I gave in and removed my pack. Then the fog rolls in. We can barely make out the pass. At this point the snow has built up on the ground, meaning that we were unable to actually see our path… and it’s icy. Francisco takes my frozen hand and together we feel our way up the mountain, our feet occasionally slipping out from under us and causing a temporary sense of panic. I honestly felt like I was going to die. I was hallucinating and literally had no feeling left in my extremities. The wind was strong and my plastic cape was flapping around in the breeze. So my mind started to wander.
I started thinking about my Aunt Anne Marie. She was diagnosed with leukemia in May of 2004. The doctors all told her she had less than 6 months to live. She didn’t listen. Just thinking about her and her strength and her courage began to make me feel stronger. The feeling started coming back into my fingers and my legs started to move with more determination. We hiked for over 10 hours that day. Finally, we reached the top and like a cruel joke, the sun burst through the clouds illuminating the amazing landscape around us. It was at this moment that I made a promise to myself that I would do something big for my aunt. Her strength is what gave ME strength. I had previously heard of Team in Training and decided then and there… that was what I was going to do... Challenge myself in a way I have never done before… and do it in honor of her. Well, I got back from my trek and went to the internet café and opened up my email only to find some very shocking and saddening news. My Aunt Anne Marie had passed away. Her last moments were on that very day that thoughts of her were giving me courage and determination.
It’s taken me a few years to get into a place where I feel like I am ready to train and make good on my promise. But the place is here and the time is now.
Okay, so now you are maybe wondering how does running a marathon coincide with cancer research? Easily… through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is an organization started in 1949 (60 years ago!) by a family struck hard by the death of their 16 year old son after his battle with leukemia, which was then considered a hopeless and 100% fatal diagnosis. But I won’t drone on about the details here. (You can check out their website www.lls.org to find out more) The Team in Training (TNT) is a program started much more recently in 1988. In the last 20 years, the TNT has helped prepare over 380,000 volunteer participants who have helped raise over $900 MILLION towards research to find a cure for various types of blood cancer.
By training (and completing) this marathon, I am becoming one of the thousands of participants nationwide to raise money for this unbelievably worthy cause… and YOU can help!! There are two ways to donate:
1. Check out my webpage (http://pages.teamintraining.org/rm/rnrseatl09/jschanbacher) Here, you can view some of my progress as well as make a donation! You will receive a confirmation of your donation via email and I will be notified of your contribution as well.
2. Write a check payable to “The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society” and send it to me at:
Johanna Schanbacher
3118 Eagle Dr.
Fort Collins, CO 80526
(be sure to include your name and address)
I will gladly take donations after March 31st; however the sooner I meet my fundraising goal, the more energy I can put into preparing for the marathon!
Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure!
On behalf of myself and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I would like to thank you in advance for your donation and moral support!
~Johanna Schanbacher~
(Keep in mind, many businesses offer a “matching program” and will match a charity donation- see if yours is one- it’s an easy way to double your contribution… And PLEASE pass along my website to your friends and family. The more people involved the better!!)
Tax ID Number: 135644916
I am about to embark on what is probably going to be one of the most significant challenges in my life thus far… I am going to run a marathon. Not only that, but I am going to do this in conjunction with a goal of raising over $4,000.00 towards research to find a cure for cancer! I know… a marathon – 26.2 miles (42.2km) through the streets of downtown Seattle at the end of June. Really? Why?
Well, actually I am doing this for a couple of reasons. First of all, my life “to-do list”… you know, those things you have always told yourself that you are going to accomplish in this lifetime. Secondly, and much more importantly I am running this marathon in memory of my Aunt Anne Marie.
In October of 2005, I was on a solo trek in the Andes Mountains in Peru with only my guide, Francisco. The first few days were `normal`... we walked about 5 hours every day and we camped every night. The real test came on day 5. It started out like every other day... I ate a breakfast of hot porridge and spaghetti and we were off at a little before 7 in the morning. After about 20 minutes it started to rain… light at first, but progressively stronger. At this point, we were nearing a mountain pass at 16,000 ft. which meant that the rain was turning to snow. It’s freezing and within minutes everything I am wearing is soaked through and I am starting to lose feeling in my fingers and toes. My guide covers me with a plastic tarp and offers to carry my pack, but I stubbornly refuse. Two hours later, the snow is still coming and we are still climbing. My body has started to lose all feeling and my muscles are going into spasms. Steps were small and extremely weak. At this point Francisco demands to take my bag and seeing as how I didn’t have the energy to fight, I gave in and removed my pack. Then the fog rolls in. We can barely make out the pass. At this point the snow has built up on the ground, meaning that we were unable to actually see our path… and it’s icy. Francisco takes my frozen hand and together we feel our way up the mountain, our feet occasionally slipping out from under us and causing a temporary sense of panic. I honestly felt like I was going to die. I was hallucinating and literally had no feeling left in my extremities. The wind was strong and my plastic cape was flapping around in the breeze. So my mind started to wander.
I started thinking about my Aunt Anne Marie. She was diagnosed with leukemia in May of 2004. The doctors all told her she had less than 6 months to live. She didn’t listen. Just thinking about her and her strength and her courage began to make me feel stronger. The feeling started coming back into my fingers and my legs started to move with more determination. We hiked for over 10 hours that day. Finally, we reached the top and like a cruel joke, the sun burst through the clouds illuminating the amazing landscape around us. It was at this moment that I made a promise to myself that I would do something big for my aunt. Her strength is what gave ME strength. I had previously heard of Team in Training and decided then and there… that was what I was going to do... Challenge myself in a way I have never done before… and do it in honor of her. Well, I got back from my trek and went to the internet café and opened up my email only to find some very shocking and saddening news. My Aunt Anne Marie had passed away. Her last moments were on that very day that thoughts of her were giving me courage and determination.
It’s taken me a few years to get into a place where I feel like I am ready to train and make good on my promise. But the place is here and the time is now.
Okay, so now you are maybe wondering how does running a marathon coincide with cancer research? Easily… through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is an organization started in 1949 (60 years ago!) by a family struck hard by the death of their 16 year old son after his battle with leukemia, which was then considered a hopeless and 100% fatal diagnosis. But I won’t drone on about the details here. (You can check out their website www.lls.org to find out more) The Team in Training (TNT) is a program started much more recently in 1988. In the last 20 years, the TNT has helped prepare over 380,000 volunteer participants who have helped raise over $900 MILLION towards research to find a cure for various types of blood cancer.
By training (and completing) this marathon, I am becoming one of the thousands of participants nationwide to raise money for this unbelievably worthy cause… and YOU can help!! There are two ways to donate:
1. Check out my webpage (http://pages.teamintraining.org/rm/rnrseatl09/jschanbacher) Here, you can view some of my progress as well as make a donation! You will receive a confirmation of your donation via email and I will be notified of your contribution as well.
2. Write a check payable to “The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society” and send it to me at:
Johanna Schanbacher
3118 Eagle Dr.
Fort Collins, CO 80526
(be sure to include your name and address)
I will gladly take donations after March 31st; however the sooner I meet my fundraising goal, the more energy I can put into preparing for the marathon!
Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure!
On behalf of myself and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, I would like to thank you in advance for your donation and moral support!
~Johanna Schanbacher~
(Keep in mind, many businesses offer a “matching program” and will match a charity donation- see if yours is one- it’s an easy way to double your contribution… And PLEASE pass along my website to your friends and family. The more people involved the better!!)
Tax ID Number: 135644916
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