Erin St Pierre's Team In Training Page
Racing to Save Lives
Welcome to my Team In Training home page.
I am training to participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I'm completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!
For me this race is very personal. Over five years ago someone who had a huge impact on my life died after battling with leukemia. Muzzy was so full of life, and I miss her so much. I remember how helpless I felt when I couldn't do anything to help. Muzzy will forever be in my heart and I am running this race in memory of her. She was, and always will be, one of my heroes.
I don't want other people to feel the loss that we felt when Muzzy died. I don't want kids to see someone they love struggle and battle for life. We can beat these diseases. I am running for all those who can't run anymore or who would do anything that may help save their loved one's life. When you look at a three year old with leukemia or a child who has lost their father to the disease, running 26.2 miles and raising $1,800 seems simple compared to what those families have been through. What they, or I, would do for one more minute with a lost loved one is priceless.
I plan to cross the finish line on October 28, 2007 with several people attached. I plan to cross it with Muzzy's spirit in tow, the memory of Sheriff Harry Lee, and several of our honored teammates from the DC area. These individuals aren't able to physically run a marathon to raise awareness of these diseases, but I plan to run it for them.
I used to think that all I could do was pray for the people I loved. And while praying is important, there is more I can do. God may not have given me the knowledge to cure these diseases, but he may have given it to someone else, a doctor somewhere doing research. I am raising money to fight this disease and hopefully one day it will be gone.
I hope you will join me on this journey by making a donation to my campaign. You can donate online or you can also mail a check to me made out to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. All contributions are tax-deductible.
I hope you'll visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!
05/12/2007 - TNT kickoff Celebration - meet other honored Teammates, our coaches and our running teammates!
05/14-20/2007 - This week I'm starting the training program - 3miles on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; one mile on Sunday
05/20-06/09/2007 - There was a minor setback during the last half of May - I was feeling some pain in my knees, but I took it easy for a week and started again. I've done two "long runs" and felt fine. This past weekend, even though I was traveling and home for a funeral, I managed to keep things together and finish four miles. I'm back in DC/VA, and hopefully things will continue like this.
06/10-06/24/07-This past weekend we did five miles at Burke Lake. It was rough, but I finished it! Next week is the honored teammates picnic, and although Muzzy won't be there, she'll be in my heart and in my thoughts (like she so often is). As we continue training, our mileage gets longer. Next week we are to complete 6 miles for our long run and then 7 the following week. It's going to be rough, but I know I can do it.
I've already signed up for races along the way to help me get ready for THE race. In July I'll participate in the Rockville 8k and in September I'll participate in the Quantico Half Marathon.
This past weekend I ran 6 miles. It was not intervals and it was not slow as molasses either. I ran six miles!! Wooooo hoooo!!!!
06/25/07 - 07/08/07 - Things are going so fast! This past weekend we did EIGHT (8) miles. That's a lot but so little compared to people who are fighting this disease. It was hard and it was HOT, but my running buddy and I kept going and we finished it running. Of course my body is feeling it more now than it has ever felt it, but it's not so bad. Next weekend (07/14) we'll do our first double digit long run - 10 miles.
07/14/07 - Yay!!!! I did it and it was awesome!!! Finished in 129minutes (roughly 2hours and 9min or a 13min mile). Normally I run in a group but Saturday they were moving much too fast for me. I was afraid I wouldn't finish...I began to focus on being by myself...I began to question myself. But I kept repeating that I wasn't alone. I kept telling myself Muzzy is watching and running with me and God is with me and I have the support of so many people. Eventually I wound up passing some of those people because they had worn themselves out. It was awesome!
On the 21st of July we'll do our first race...an 8k called the Rockville Twilight. I can't wait! I know I'll be able to run the whole thing!
08/16/07 - The race went well. I had a pace of around 12:35/mile, which made me happy.
Training has been rough lately. I had friend die at home and it's made me so homesick. I try to stay focused on running but it's so hard not to think about the things your missing and how short life really is. It doesn't help that I've roughed up my knee and at these longer miles everything starts to hurt. I don't mind the soreness but pain is not something I'm good at. As I sit here and re-read my entries, it inspires me. If Muzzy could fight as long as she did, then I can handle a little pain. Many more people suffer greater pains than I am going to suffer during this training. This weekend is ONLY 10 miles. The morning of the 25th, Drew (my brother, it's also his birthday) has very nicely volunteered to run the scheduled 16miles with me - YAY! A big thank you to him. That's all for now. I'll update again soon. Love everyone!
09/07 - training is going better. I'm going to physical therapy twice a week to work out my knee. Apparently I have a tight IT band (iliotibial band) which is causing the pain after long distances. We're stretching it and doing some electric therapy too. The doctors and trainers continue to say that I will be able to do the marathon (just maybe not in the time or fashion that I wanted in the beginning).
Tomorrow we run 12 miles and I'm hoping to get through it all, even if I have to walk some of it. In two weeks (Sept 22) Sara and I will run in the Quantico Half Marathon and we're both looking forward to it (13.1miles).
10/01 - The half marathon went well. The marine base Quantico is beautiful!!! This past weekend was the 20mile long run and it went fantastic. No, I didn't run the entire thing, but I felt great and I finished it.
This morning I found out that one of my honored teammates, Sheriff Harry Lee, has passed away. Please keep him in your prayers. This is why I am running. He died because of complications from this horrible disease. One day I hope it will be gone. If you have not given, or even if you have, please donate. Together we can fight this disease. Together we can do this.
10/25 - It's Thursday before race day and I'm not sure how I'm feeling. There are so many things to do and think about...the family is coming...logistics for race day...work...travel for work...so, it's going to be a whirlwind weekend ;-) I can't wait!
When I started this, I was so afraid of the 26.2 miles on race day. But I've been training and hanging out with some awesome coaches and I've got more confidence in myself now than before. I know I can do this. Recently I've been more emotional about it than before because I think it's been good for me. I've thought about things and people and come to terms with so many things. It's amazing what you can discover when you're running a 20miler almost by yourself.
So thank to you to everyone who has supported me in this endeavor. Thank you for the money, words of wisdom and comfort of knowing that you believe in me.
Dear Erin,
On behalf of the McKinnie family, we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for running on behalf of our Mother and Grandmother, Shirley “Muzzy” McKinnie. We know that in your heart you are running for her and that every step you make, she is with you. We all believe that Muzzy is our Guardian Angel and is watching over all of us, all the time. She was a wonderful person and made sure that family and friends were included in her life. Muzzy always wanted everyone to be happy and together; therefore, for every function, she included her family and adopted families.
She is thought about daily by everyone and by you running this race to help with this awful disease, maybe one day they will get closer in finding a cure.
So keep your faith up and remember that we will all be thinking of you on Sunday and can’t thank you enough for this great endeavor that you have chosen in memory of our Mom.
God Bless and Lots of Love, The McKinnie Family
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
