Finally...A Half Marathon Finisher

Yesterday I completed my first half marathon, something I wasn't sure I would be able to do when I started this journey last November.

The weekend was amazing. I arrived in Downtown Detroit mid-morning Saturday to visit the Expo and get my race bib. Then I took a really cool bus tour of the route seeing parts of the city I'd never seen and learning more about its history.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society hosted an Inspiration dinner Saturday evening announcing that Team In Training raised $170K for blood cancer research for the Free Press event! The millions of dollars they've raised over the past 24 years continues to fund life saving research to cure blood cancers.

After a 4:30 am wake up, we arrived at the 7 am start ready to rock it. I dedicated my run to Survivors Terri Norman, Katie Paulson and Kitty Grund and wrote their name on my singlet so they were with me in spirit the whole time. An emotional moment was when I paused by a fellow TNT runner with "Survivor" written on the back of her shirt. I asked how she was doing and she said "Who would have thought that 6 years ago when I had blood cancer that I'd be running a marathon today!" 

The course included running over the Ambassador Bridge into Canada, running through Windsor, then back through the tunnel into the US. A cool moment was as I exited the tunnel, the announcer said "Deb Drummond of Ferndale"... and something about looking strong and doing great. Caught me by surprise but put some fuel in my tank.

After only having run up to 12 miles in training, 13.1 was another barrier buster so seeing the finish line in the distance was a welcome relief. I was feeling strong so I gave a good kick at the end and was SO thrilled to finally cross the finish line. Even though I didn't start my training intending for the Detroit Free Press to be my first half marathon, I was SO glad it was...everything about the day and the event was absolutely perfect!

24 Hours

Tomorrow morning I'll be running the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon. During this taper down of miles, it feels like I'm not ready but I have to remember all the hard work and discipline I've put in this past year.

This is crazy, but you can follow my footsteps by downloading the Free Press Marathon app at:

http://www.freepmarathon.com/download

Press the little runner guy in the middle of the top line, then enter my bib number:  18373

I'm off to pick up my bib, visit the expo, take a bus tour around the course, then enjoy an Inspiration Dinner with my fellow Team in Training teammates before the big day. I'll keep you posted with a few pix along the way...GO TEAM!

The Countdown

Next week at this time I will be able to say that I've run a Half Marathon. If you had told me that a year ago, I would have said you were crazy.

I started my running journey last November when I could hardly scrape myself up off the sofa during a tough year that included many personal struggles.

Today as I ran my last long run along the course I've logged so many miles on as part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, I reflected on how far I've come. I feel really good about starting this journey for something bigger than myself and having raised more than $1,500 for blood cancer research.

The journey to the finish line hasn't been exactly as I had envisioned it, but it will be sweet all the same. It's never too late and my take away is that now I run for me.

57 Days Until the Free Press Half

Training is going well so far, even through the heat of the Summer. I'm still building up in miles for the next month, but looking forward to running in my first half marathon on October 21st.

The one thing I haven't done is turn back on my fund raising efforts for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, largely because I didn't really know if my knee was up to it. While I still feel I'm not at 100%, twice a day stretching and other exercises keeps the knee from complaining.

I am blessed to have had so many generous contributors to my first effort and thankfully the bulk of those funds have been transferred to this event. That said, I still need to raise $384 in the next 57 days.

Next Saturday, I'll be working a parking lot at Arts, Beats & Eats for 8 hours which will help, but I'll still be $300 shy. Time to kick things up a notch because until there's a cure, there is NO finish line!

Detroit Free Press Half...Here I Come

Since being injured last February, I've been pretty tentative about making a commitment to run a half marathon. After all, I still haven't gotten over the mental hurdle of running 10 miles without injury.

Two weeks ago, I signed my Team in Training recommitment papers to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with the intent of running in the Free Press Half Marathon. The cool thing about that event is that it is one of the few that crosses the Canadian border...they run over the bridge into Canada and return through the tunnel to the finish line. Met the deadline, but still didn't feel committed.

Last Saturday I ran 9 miles, my longest to date. I still don't run continuously and probably walked at least 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile, but I did it and training continues, even though it's hot and humid. So it's time to put up or shut up.

Today I made it official...it's on!

The Crush of Dreams Unfulfilled

I came across my blog today and realized I haven't updated it since my awesome trip to Parris Island, South Carolina. There's a really good reason...I suffered a knee injury during training making a stupid newbie mistake. A word to the wise, avoid elevation intervals on a treadmill.

To say I was devastated is an understatement. Yeah, in the scheme of life and death events during a lifetime, it seems insignificant. On the other hand, I had survived a challenging year and had worked long and hard since November 2011. When I started training with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, I went from not being able to run to the end of the driveway, to racking up over 200 miles with my longest run of 10 miles outside in the dead of Winter.

All for naught. I was crushed.

I wish I could say I attacked my rehab with as much enthusiasm as my training program but truth is, I was in so much pain, I didn't know if I'd ever run again. Additionally I felt the burden of having raised money for LLS with a commitment to run in an event and if I couldn't complete it, I was letting my donors down. Did I say I was crushed?

My first glimmer of hope came from a marathoning Podiatrist who, after filling him in on the events and possible diagnoses (I was awaiting the MRI results), slowly turned to me and said, "Weeeeell, you're a runner. Runners get injured. Welcome to the club."

So the good news is that I didn't tear or break anything...the bad news is that bone bruises are very painful and take a long time to heal.

Even better news is that since I started run/walking very slowly again last May, I've slowly built my mileage up to the point where I completed 6 miles last Sunday, my longest run to date.

I'm not 100%, but I'm getting stronger every day and I know healing fully takes time. I'm just so very grateful and thankful to be hitting the road again!

Savoring the PI Spirit

Early morning 4 mile run on Parris Island, brunch with 6 Marines at Traditions swapping Drill Instructor/recruit stories, an awesome tour of the base by one Marine sister, and another Marine sister hooking me up at the PX...the cost of coming in early for the celebration, priceless!

The Molly Marine 5K

The last time I ran regularly was when I was in the Marine Corps 30+ years ago. Yup that was me, doing the running portion of the physical fitness test (PFT) during boot camp back in the day.

I hated running back then, mainly because I had to. When I got out, I hung up my running shoes...I was done. Through the years, I tried to get moving again but never succeeded.

This year after training for three months, I was excited to back to the place where it all began, Parris Island, South Carolina.

I planned to attend the Women Marines anniversary celebration on Monday, 13 February 2012 but went a few days early to run in the Molly Marine 5K Run/Walk hosted by the SC-1 Phyllis Alexander chapter of the Women Marines Association. At 5K, we would be running twice as far as we ran the PFT in the late 1970s (now all Marines run 3 miles).

When I drove through the Parris Island front gate that morning, I was pretty emotional. I couldn't quite believe I was back and wasn't sure what to expect. 

PI is flat but with a 17 mile an hour headwind, the run definitely wasn't easy. But I finished with a personal best and the top woman in my age group...well okay, I was the only woman in my age group!

Gonna Take A Sentimental Journey

Getting ready to take a trip down memory lane.

This is my original military ID pic from when I was in boot camp...totally looks like a mugshot, doesn't it?!

Half Way To The Half

I'm half way through my training program to run the Flying Pig Half Marathon on May 6th. Over the past 13 weeks, I've run nearly 150 miles with the longest distance being 9 miles. At this point, I know I can complete it...even if I have to walk the last 4 miles.

As I reflect on what I've accomplished so far, I'm amazed. I hadn't run a mile in nearly 30 years and I could barely run to the end of the block. I could not have come this far without the support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training and my awesome coach Steve Teichow. That said, besides being connected on Facebook and an occasional email, I only see my coach and team mates on the long Saturday runs. My training runs the other four days of the week are up to me and so far I've been on autopilot.

I've had surgery on both my big toes and I suffered from shin splits when I ran in the Marine Corps back in the day. With an implant in one toe and a screw in the other, I thought my feet or shins were going to be my biggest challenge. Turns out neither one is my nemesis.

The biggest challenge, I've discovered, is my mind...keeping it occupied and thinking positively. Music helps A LOT, but sometimes old, tired thinking creeps in questioning my ability, whether I can really do this, etc. This is especially true every time we increase our mileage and I'm breaking a new barrier, a distance I've never run before.

This Saturday morning, I'll be running in the Molly Marine 5K at Parris Island, South Carolina where I first began running. I'll savor the experience and be reflecting on just how far I've come since I first stepped on those yellow footprints nearly 36 years ago.

Novi Super 5K

After an 9 mile run on Saturday, I learned about the Super 5K being run in Novi on Super Bowl Sunday. I enjoy the hoopla and want to get race experience under my belt so I'm prepared come race day so I decided to give it a shot.

Sunday morning was beautiful so the race promised to be packed with people. Sure enough, they ran out of shirts for those of us who signed up on race day.

Nevertheless. I had a great time and did pretty well coming in the middle of the pack considering I'd run 9 the day before. And I did get a 'Finishers' glass...my new favorite possession!

100 Days & Counting

100 Days until the Flying Pig Half Marathon in Cincinnati, OH on May 6th!

I've run 100+ miles, my longest run to date is 7, I'm doing 8 on Saturday, and I'm just over half way to my fundraising goal. I'm on track and looking forward to the finish line.

What's hard to believe is that I couldn't run to the end of the block ten short weeks ago. What a difference several weeks worth of dedicated training make. Now let's hope the mild weather sticks around for the rest of the Winter.

Saturday Snow Run

12 degrees, windchill 2, 7 miles with 1-2 inches of snow, 1:44, done. Not great time but damn, never run 7 miles before...LOVE breaking through barriers!!

Making It Personal

Some running days are better than others. Today wasn't one of them...I was sucking air!

Saturday was my longest training run yet. To date, I've only run up to 5 miles and I was scheduled for 6 that day. Because of other activities planned later, I began my run pre-dawn and without the company of my Team in Training running mates. It was just me, my iPhone, and my feet crunching on the new fallen snow, which in itself was a new experience.

I not only finished the run, but about 4 1/2 miles in, I finally felt "yeah, I'm a runner"!

Today I struggled to hit 4 miles, but there were two things that kept me going. First, I'm motivated by doing something for a cause bigger than myself. For this half marathon, I'm training to raise money to find a cure for blood cancer.

Sydney B. was the young girl introduced at our Team In Training Kickoff meeting and her mother's story of Sydney's journey touched me deeply as she walked half way across the room displaying her beads of courage. When I got her card last week, it was a perfect reminder and I posted it on my refrigerator.

The other thing that kept me going was my mantra "I'm a Marine. I Can Do This." along with Marine cadences like "C-130 Rolling Down the Strip" and "I Want To Be A Drill Instructor" interspersed between my running music. Somehow they remind me of time when running was so easy that I took it for granted. Weird, but it worked for me today, thankfully!

Red Wings Host Marines

The MI-2 Motor City chapter of the Women Marines Association has rhe privilege of watching the Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Black Hawks 3-2 from the Budd Lynch suite at Joe Lewis arena.

The two female WWII Marines on the sofa are 91-years-old and they and Col Buckles (far right) were saluted on the Jumbotron during a break in the game.

Everyone had a really great time!

I Am A Runner