24 hours out

Can't sleep . Adrenaline is pumping through my body. I have been awake since 3:15 and out of bed since 4:45. I am thankful to have something to occupy my time this morning--Royal Wedding. My mind races (no pun intended) with the little things I need to finish getting together before I head out with the 3 little boys early this morning--DVDs for the trip over, snacks, double jogger, backpack, signs, sports beans, water bottle, "breakfast" for the morning, etc. The rest is already in the car.  I have dinner tonight with the team we have gotten together to run and support our friend Juanita and the TN Kidney Foundation. In the morning I will hopefully meet some of you (and the TKF team) for a picture before the race...then we are off. All of these things occupy my mind. I think the running will be the easy part.

Happy running everyone!!!

Photos

This blog needs pictures! If you are going to be at a race with other NW TN runners, please take a minute to snap a picture then send it to me so we can see the faces, races and shirts of our runners. Email it to: nwtnrunner@gmail.com

Music City racers: Where shall we meet and what time works? 6:00 on McDonalds side of park by the wall? Anyone have a better, more specific and easy to find place?

Last week of training

WASHOUT

10 days out

In 10 days I will be running the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in Nashville. This will be my second time to run this particular race but my third 1/2. I don't feel as prepared for this one as I did St Jude but I do feel more prepared than the last time I ran this race. I am not 100% sure what to blame it all on--maybe the weather or the sick kids that have kept me from some of my scheduled runs. Maybe it's the local 5K races that have interrupted my long runs (wanted to be with my friends as they ran). Maybe it is the memories of the last time I ran Country Music--lady in my corral who psyched me out before we ever began, HEAT, grabbung cytomax instead of water (nasty stuff!), having to deal with hills after running where there aren't any, and missing the sites because I was too focused on the heat and trying to stay hydrated (curse you lady in corral 8!). Maybe it is that I feel more is riding on this one than others--I got a "team" together to run in honor of a dear friend who needs a kidney transplant so I feel like I need to have a good showing. It isn't that I am going to win HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA and I won't come in last either but I want to do right by the people I am representing.

I also want to do the race different this go round. I want to look around and see the sites I missed last time. Because "corral 8 lady" got in my head, I missed running right by Union Station!! I mean, who missed Union Station?!?!? I want to see the things that I didn't pay attention to when I lived in Nashville for 18 years. I want to soak in all that I run by as if I have never driven past it and at the same time I want to remember how I drove past one part with my best friend in her old yellow bug named Gus on the way to our downtown church from her house in Franklin. I want to enjoy this run--all of it this time.

Hope to see you in Nashville on the 30th and remember to take time to look around and enjoy your run.  Happy running. 

11 miles of thoughts

Had a 5K race to finish a long run this morning. During my 8 mile "warm-up" for the race I was thinking about:

• Those that were going to be at the race and how excited I was for those who had done the Couch to 5K programs. I have seen so many people in the last year start and finish the program, run a 5K and then continuing running because they now actually enjoy it. Few things make me more excited than watching a new runner/racer or a runner who has come back from a baby (or any other life event for that matter) come into the home stretch and cross that line. Time doesn't matter, pace doesn't matter, place doesn't matter--finishing that race is the most important thing. Having run a couple races where people have been cheering for me, the support makes so much difference. I want to be there to cheer them all on. Way to go friends!!

• All the moms that are running and because running is "all about the t-shirt" I thought of a fun shirt idea for us moms in the area. Something like this: Martin Moms Run (or MMR for short) on the front and on the back the things that moms run for/after/etc. So far have come up with: 
• after kids 
• on streets, sidewalks, greenways and treadmills
• errands
• with kids 
• 5Ks, 10Ks, 15Ks, half marathons, marathons 
• hills (thanks to RM for that one)
• intervals
• for some alone time 

• How to improve this set up of positing races. I had to remind myself that I am doing well to balance what I have and didn't need to create more for myself. I thought I have ideas just not time or ability to implement them. I then got to talking to LF about how to get more people involved and knowing about this. She had some great ideas and it looks like she and I will be talking--format, sponsors, classes, running groups, etc in May. if you have any comments, suggestions, etc, please let me know!

Where does your brain take you? Happy running!

Why am I running?

I have to say, before I really get started, that this is a selfish post so get ready. :)

There are lots of reasons to run but today I am thinking of one in particular. In fact, there is one reason why I am running from now until the 30th of this month. I am running for my friend Juanita. She and I have been friends since 5th grade (that was a long time ago in case you were wondering). She is 36 years old, is on dialysis, is having circulation issues in her feet (will have a procedure Thurs to hopefully clear it but if not amputation is a word that has been used) and is in dire need of a 3rd kidney transplant. She is what keeps me running this month. I am running for her...check that, in honor of her.

Two years ago I ran the Country Music 1/2 and after swearing I would never do another, I found I needed/wanted a reason to run these races. I love running, don't get me wrong but I need a reason bigger than myself to run these longer races. After a brief hiatus (to have a baby) I ran St Jude in December in honor of 2 little boys who have successfully beaten cancer and in memory of one who wasn't as fortunate but every bit as brave. These little boys are/were children of friends of mine--it was personal. I had a hard time breathing around mile 5 as we ran through St Jude campus because the tears and sobs were almost too much to contain.

I decided then to run Country Music again--this time it is personal. This is what I wrote on facebook about her:

The two things I think about most when I think about her are: 1. Her love for Jesus and 2. Her willingness to help anyone accomplish ANYthing they desire. She was the one that set me up with the boys that I liked in high school (yes, that was the important thing to me then). She was the one that drove when I wasn't old enough. She is the one that has forgiven when I have betrayed our friendship. She is the one that keeps others laughing and remembering good times...even when she, herself, is hurting. She is the one that has kept hope for everyone else when they, themselves lost it.

She is more than this by far but I want to tell you something else about her. She is in desperate need of a new kidney! She is 35, on dialysis and still the most positive person you will ever meet. She has inspired and loved on so many people. She is an amazing woman and if you know her then you know what I am talking about. In her honor this year several of us are running the Music City 1/2 Marathon. We are raising money for the TN Kidney Foundation and all the clients they serve because, even in this endeavor, she wanted to help other people and not just herself. Would you please consider helping us raise money in honor of her? If you have ever had a friend like her, would you be willing to donate as a way to tell *your* friend thank you? Would you be willing to be an organ donor? A blood donor? A cheerleader for those running on April 30? I will post the link on my wall for our fundraising page. Oh yeah, and we will have t-shirts coming soon to help raise awareness too. Please help us keep her around a little longer. She is precious to me and if you know her, she is probably to you too! 

shirts can be found here
http://store.coolpeoplecare.org/products/kidney-foundation-t-shirt
donations can be made here
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/juanita-malone/team-juanita-country-music-marathon

Wanna run with us? Want to come cheer those running? Want to be part of something bigger than yourself? Want to donate? Buy a t-shirt? Be an organ donor? Pray? What is your reason to run tomorrow? I know what mine is and it is personal!

Happy running!

Here we go

The race season seems to be kicking off in NWTN. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with all of them. If you have one that isn't on here, PLEASE let me know so I can post it. I know I am always looking for a fun new place and race to run.

Happy running!