Quick Update

I caught a bad chest cold shortly after starting this & it slowed me down a bit, but walked on most days I couldn't run.  Gotta keep the training going!! 

Saturday February 13th was the Love 'Em or Leave 'Em Valentine's Dash at Green Lake.  I was just a few days into my cold, but had signed up with Jenn & Toni so I was NOT going to miss it!  It was a bit tough, had to stop 4 times & I had planned only once, but I FINISHED!! Wanted to do it in under 35 mins, official time was 39:29.  The Tacoma St Patty's Run is next on March 13th, plan to beat that time!!  Toni did awesome, finishing in 31 mins & Jenn just under 35 I think.  The rain held off until we were done, started right as I approached the finish line, good timing! Fun day overall, look forward to more runs being healthy!!

 Jenn, Toni & Me at the Valentine's Dash

TNT training is going well.  Sticking to my weekday schedule, dragging my non-early bird rear out of bed & getting out there.  Feels good when I accomplish it!  Last week our Saturday practice went a slightly different route that sounds like it will be the standard for the Vassault Park runs.  We went down Vassault hill to the back entrance of Pt Defiance & started into 5 mile drive.  Last Sat's run was 50 mins & I went 4 .2 miles, felt pretty good about that.  The thing with going DOWN Vassault hill at the start though is coming UP it at the end! All 1.1 mile of it!! WHEW!! Had to walk a few times, but not terrible...I will run up the whole thing by the time we are done!! :)

Will miss this weekend's practice run.  I am going up to Bellingham for orientation for my Physical Therapist Assistant program.  I am very excited, but also nervous to be going back to school! But it will be worth it to have a job I ENJOY!! And be a fit, healthy runner! :)

My Team in Training Page!!

My First Post!!

I've set up this blog to help me track my progress from being a beginning "renewed runner" to successfully completing a half marathon...and beyond!!  Just a couple months ago I thought the idea of doing a full marathon was crazy, but it's creeping it is slowly creeping onto the list of things "must do" in my list, my bucket list I guess, LOL!  If you'd like to follow my adventures & help motivate me, that would be great! :)

So here's my "backstory" on what lead me back down this path, a good path!! I've kept fairly active over the years, hiking, biking, walking, etc., but not really "in shape".  After watching a friend's running progress on Facebook over the last year, I got motivated to hit the roads again!  Megan went from not really running, then a few 5Ks early in the year, to half & then full marathons in the fall!! WOW!! She became a "Marathon Manic", an actual club :), with her third marathon in 90 days.  Well, I'm not aiming for that, but I do want to become a "Half Fanatic" & get my official Fanatic jersey :)

Getting back to running ties in with another big life decision I made this past year...I decided to go back to school!!  After a back injury I was sent to physical therapy to help with the pain & healing.  I loved it! And became very interested in the field.  I have my bachelor degree in nutrition so it seemed a good fit. Did some research & found that a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is a job that pays well & is in demand with good future prospects...perfect! I found a program at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham (same town as my Alma Mater Western :) that is an online hybrid program; the book work part is done online & I'd travel to B'ham one weekend a month for the lab work...PERFECT!! Worked hard for over a year to get the last couple admission requirements done & I got my program acceptance letter on January 13, 2010!! YAY!! It will take 9 quarters, just over 2 years, but will be worth it to be in a field I actually enjoy!! And I should be in better shape to do the job :)

So,  back to the running...a few of us banded together to motivate each other, started the "Couch to 5K" training program (http://c25k.com/) & we set our goals to run one 5K event each month in 2010.  Except January, the only event was a polar bear run on New Year's Day & we weren't ready for that...but I AM doing it next year!! Another friend did & it looked fun, though cold!

My friend Brianna still thinks I am a little crazy I think, but I decided I wanted to run a half marathon by the end of summer.  She humored me & said OK, LOL!! We decided on the Rock 'n' Roll (RNR) Seattle Marathon & Half on June 26th.  They have bands every mile & a big party at the end...sounded perfect for us!! 

We were ready to sign up when we found our that the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team in Training (TNT) was forming a team for the RNR Seattle!  TNT provides running coaching & mentoring, while also raising funds to help find a cure for blood cancers.  Well, this was perfect!! Brianna is an almost 2 year SURVIVOR of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma & LLS is our preferred charity! We have done other LLS events, like the Big Climb of the Columbia Tower & the Winter Pineapple Classic, a fun 5K obstacle race.  

         (Brianna, Jenn, Cat & Me)

So we did it!! We signed up with TNT & have committed ourselves to improving our health & lives & personal challenges through running, but also helping others through the funds we will raise as members of Team in Training! My personal goal is to raise $2500 for LLS.  This might sound like a lot, but every bit helps.  I would appreciate any donations, large or small...it can help more people like my friend Brianna!! She has gotten a second chance & has dedicated herself to helping others have one too...I intend to be right there with her :)  Here is my fundraising page if you would like to help too!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/rnrseatl10/sklontz     
               

Thanks for reading my long intro post, others will be shorter, maybe... ;-) Who knows what adventures in running I will encounter?!?!?!?  Have a GREAT DAY!!