Carolyne Wilding's Team In Training Page
Racing to Save Lives
Friends, Family & Complete (but welcome) Strangers,
Hello! Okay folks, here you have it - yet one more reason to think I have gone completely off the deep end...forget the bungee jumping, rock climbing and class V whitewater weekends...I, Carolyne Wilding, being of neither completely sound mind (which wil become more apparent) nor body, have decided to tackle a marathon. Yes, a marathon - as in 26.2 miles! I read somewhere that the miracle isn't if you finish, but that you found the courage to start...this is the start...but of course I plan to finish too!
Before I get too far off track, let me explain (yes, I realize most of you believe there can be no logical explanation for this) but I'll give it a try. The run is sponsored by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and will be in San Diego, California on June 6th. As a member of Team-In-Training, I have a very supportive group of fellow runners and friends, mentors, and coaches to help me through the next three and a half months of miracle working in preparation for the big day. (Yep, they're all a bit crazy too so I am in good company)! We also have two honored teammates, with whom we've been fortunate enough to become better acquainted. Sherry, was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma in July of 2004. After quite a battle and with the support of her husband and three children, she is now currently in remission! Douglas, was just diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia this past April. Douglas is a service member so this hits very close to home for me. I guarantee I will be thinking of them both when I feel I can't take another step or question why I'm doing this.
So, for Sherry and Douglas, and countless others (over 100,000 each year) stricken with Leukemia - I have committed to attaining 26.2 miles of road and a $4,000 monetary goal. Let's think about this...great cause, chance to make a difference, and significant accomplishment (plus maybe a little peer pressure from some rather persuasive friends)..how could I not give the whole thing a try? I'd also love for you to be a part of this (relax already...there is no running expected of you!)...would you please join me in spirit by contributing? You'll help me put myself 26.2 miles further down the road and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society that much closer to finding a cure. I'll take care of the time and effort (...and the blisters, leg cramps, twisted ankles, groaning, wheezing and general complaining...)! Whatever amount you can give will help and is much appreciated (not to mention completely tax deductible)! 75% of funds go directly to research and the other 25% sends me to sunny California to do my thing.
Just click on "donate" to the right and the website will guide you through the process. I'll be happy to accept money later than May 22nd, but if I haven't reached $4,000 shortly thereafter...yep, for everything else there is MasterCard - unfortunately mine! I am also accepting good vibes, words of encouragement, advice, caution and disbelief...as well as Band-Aid, rations of Icy Hot, cold and hot compresses and Motrin (lots of Motrin)...so feel free to include those as well! I'll keep you posted on my progress here - be it amusing or pathetic or (dare I hope?...) promising. It's going to be tough but nothing like what Sherry and Douglas have endured. Thank you so much for your support. It is greatly appreciated!
WEEK 4 UPDATE:
This week we ran 19 miles; our long run was 7 miles. Again, I can't say this week there was any real struggle but I know this won't last for too much longer! An old ITB injury thought it was going to get the better of me last week but it was wrong (thank goodness)! My friend Josh ran his very first marathon this last week at Myrtle Beach in 4 hours and 5 minutes (which is awesome)! He passed on three lessons for my marathon: 1) get in line to go to the bathroom immediately and don't pass the chipstart point until you do 2) when the 9 year old at mile 17 says "good job" and reminds you that you have only "9 more miles to go" refrain from hurting him and 3) at the 20 mile point you may only make it to the finish if there is an 80 year old tailing you (pride is an animal all it's own apparently)! Thanks everyone who's donated - I'm almost at the 25% mark. There are several charity fundraisers over the never few weeks so ask if you're interested in helping out more! More next week...until then...dig deep and give to a great cause! Cara
WEEK 5 & 6 UPDATE:
Okay, sorry for being late on here...so busy! Week 5 was our 8 mile run and it went very smoothly. We also did our Crown Expo fundraiser and after the proceeds were split I hear I made about $60 more towards my fundraising goal! Week 6 we ran 9 miles and that too went smoothly...by smoothly I mean nothing hurts and I there was no urge to commit myself:) This week we did the Pizza Hut fundraiser and I'll have the results of that one later this week. Looking forward to the 10 miler we have this weekend! Next photo op too! Tune in next week for more! Thanks for all your support guys!
WEEK 7 & 8 UPDATE:
10 miler was a success ~ still no injuries or aches and pains to speak of *crossing fingers*. Having some trouble with my camera software thus no update on the photos yet (still working on it though). The pizza hut fundraiser was only moderately successful (my piece of the pie was a whole $21.00)... so for those of you who haven't yet donated...please do! This last weekend was 11 miles and it was one of my best runs yet! I'm feeling great and keeping to my training schedule. We moved to a new trail and three of us got lost but eventually found our way back...so I got in another mile walk:) Next week is 12 miles and it doesn't look like it's going to get any easier from here...wish me luck and support the cause!
WEEK 9 & 10 UPDATE:
Note to self...hydrate, hydrate, hydrate "before" running 12 miles. With that said - this was my hardest run yet. To my good friends who ran with me through the cramps and witnessed first hand my "Road Rage"...thanks for being so understanding! Next week is a half marathon distance and I've already started watering this flower! See you soon! Week 10: Half Marathon Done! Hit "The Wall" at 12 miles but managed to finish despite total body strike! My fundraising has also seemed to hit the wall so hopefully next week will look better! Next week we jump to 14 miles...Yikes!
WEEK 11 & 12 UPDATE:
So, I have to keep my integrity in check and admit that I missed my first long run:( I spent the weekend kayaking and biking and had nothing left to run on, however, I think this was a great opportunity to get in some recovery time! WEEK 12: Hello everyone! We ran 16 MILES this weekend!!! I'll let you in on a little secret too ~ it was EASY! I tried a new method that incorporates short walk breaks throughout the distance and even though I thought I'd lose serious time...it allowed me to run faster overall and take nearly 11 minutes off my time! I know you all still think I'm looney but I think I've finally convinced myself otherwise! Got a few more kind donations this week so I'd like to thank my newest supporters! I'm working on trying to get some corporate sponsorship at this point and I am optimistic. I think we're running either 17 or 18 next weekend ~ it'll be time for a new photo so visit again after Saturday! Until then...support the cause!
WEEK 13 & 14
WEEK 13: This week we ran 18 MILES! I stayed with my new technique and stayed fresh and strong all the way to the end! I was actually able to speed it up for the last four miles because I felt so great - and when I got done I still had a few more miles left in me! The running has been going great but I have to admit that the fundraising has been much harder. I've sent letters, emails, sponsorship packets, begged and everything short of having a yard sale and selling all my possessions...I have until the 22nd of May to meet my fundraising goals or pay out of pocket so if you know anyone that might support this great cause please forward them this link! WEEK 14: I learned something valuable this week - and I will repeat it to myself as a mantra for the next few weeks of training - "Self, do not run hard the day before a 20 miler". Yep, this week was 20 and I did not breeze through it like my other recent runs. Apparently my leg muscles were already fatigued and not fully recovered to give me the strength and endurance I needed to finish strong. Not to say I didn't finish (that's right - I ran 20 MILES!) - but I did run almost a minute/mile slower than normal. I guess without the mistakes you would never learn anything (unfortunately not pleasant)! About another week and a half before my fundraising deadline and I have received a few more donations from generous souls and I thank you all! As you can see, I'm still a bit behind and it has become a pretty big focus...again, please forward this link to your friends & family and encourage them to support this cause. We begin to taper down in the next few weeks so it will be a nice break on the legs. I received my race packet and I am number 7553! I am getting very excited for sure and hope you will get excited with me! Until next week...
WEEK 15 UPDATE:
Well folks, we're starting to taper down the mileage for race day to make sure our muscles are nice and rested for the big event ~ so this weekend we only had to run 10 miles...sounds wierd "only" but after running 20...10 is a welcome rest! The biggest news as many of you might have noticed is that my fundraising picked back up! In the last week I've had over $1500 in donations! I'd like to thank each of you personally as you're all making such a tremendous difference in the fight against blood cancers:
PLATINUM DONATOR: Joshua Wilhelm!
GOLD DONATORS: Cristina Gresham & Jeffrey Ferro!
SILVER DONATORS: Amy Burrows, Linda Fogt, Vernon Green, Luke Grim, Delia McKalpain, Christopher Myers, Darin Tibbetts, Clay Washington, and Lonnie Williams (+ my 2 anonymous donators)!
BRONZE DONATORS: Eric Aslakson, Jack Sander, James Lipsette, Robert Purtle, and Pete Roney!
ELITE DONATORS: Thomas Clark, Barry Davis, Daniel Mellerson, Dave Reardon, Rebecca Nichols and Jennifer Schriever (+ 2 anonymous donators)!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
