Still Running Towards Eugene

Hi Friends,

Thanks for stopping by to see what I am up to today.

I am still excited about the Eugene Marathon even tho it is still more than 2 months away. I want to finish but I also want to finish strong when I go. I know that a lot can go wrong in a 26.2 mile race but am confident that I will run to the finish with a strong kick to celebrate the finish line.

This week I have scaled back my running just a bit too allow some rest for legs and feet that ran around Reno last Sunday. I feel great but am allowing some reduction in miles to let anything that may have been stretched to it's limit to heal and rebuild stronger. I did get a great run in downtown Reno yesterday. 10 miles from downtown to Sparks and back along the Truckee River trails. It is all paved and landscaped nice but still has a few spots where you wonder if you should be running alone there. I had no problems and was mostly met with smiles and encouragement.  Downtown Reno looked great yesterday, I was really impressed with how she seemed to shine. Way to go Reno!

After we finished the McCarran Loop run last weekend, I quickly signed up for next months McLoop so I could get another long run in to start March off on the right foot. I really enjoy running for long distances. It seems to do wonders for my head and I am sure is helping me to stay healthy as a side benefit. Hopefully it helps me be a better person as a bonus. Only those folks that I see all the time will be able to tell you the answer to the latter comment.

We have reached the $300.00 mark in our fundraising so far! I am really amazed at that number and even more amazed by the generosity of the those that have contributed to "Team Run Don Run." We still need to raise $1200.00 (or more) but I am as confident in reaching that goal as I am in being able to finish The Eugene Marathon. You can help me get the word out to more folks by sharing the link to this Blog with all your friends and family. Just mention it in a Facebook post or Tweet. You could even add a link to a signature in your emails ... every little bit helps. Heck if 1200 friends donated just $1.00 each we would be there. That breaks down to 600 friends donating $2.00 each or 120 folks donating just $10.00 each or 48 people donating $25.00 each!

Thanks a bunch for stopping by and even more thanks for sharing this Blog (if you can) so we can reach or exceed our goal and make history out of blood cancer. Some day that last donation will be the one that finally makes a difference. Maybe it will be one of ours!

Don

More Training Adventures

Hi Friends,

I just finished a 23.5 mile training run yesterday (Sunday February 3rd) and wanted to get it written down and shared before it vanishes into my memories.

This was my second time around Reno on the McCarran Blvd loop road with the group from Reno Running and Fitness. They are great group of runners that like to enjoy the miles in training as a group and allow non members to tag along on some of their runs. The entire loop around Reno is 23.5 miles or there about as my Garmin said it was 24.08 but who is counting?

The group gathered at Shelly Park in Sparks and ran off clockwise around McCarran Blvd at 6:00 am on Sunday. It was good sized group with 3 people running it for the first time. The pace was confortable made even more relaxing by the conversations between runners as we headed towards the University. I ran the loop by myself the first time afraid to leave with the others because I was intimidated by what I thought would be the speed of the run. I should have waited then and learned that this month. Chalk up another lesson to experience. If you are joining the group in March or any other time this year don't worry about your pace. You will be fine and fit right in. I also learned where all the restrooms were on the route! It may not seem that important when you look at the big picture, but when you get a bit older and especially if you are a Man it matters plenty.

With all the chatting and energy it was not long before the Sun was rising over Reno and we were at North Virginia Street and McCarran. It was a beautiful sunrise! Next we arrived at the North McCarran Blvd Wal-Mart for some refreshment (vending machines) and unse of the facilities (again). We stopped for our group picture next by the McCarran Blvd wall  just before the freeway underpass. Still in good spirits it was on to the hills in the Caughlin Ranch part of town. We walked, we ran and we made it up and over the dreaded hills. It is all down hill to the finish from here.

It really does not seem like we are into this thing 3 hours now and we are nearing Meadowood Mall and the last big stretch before the finish. I felt good not feeling any pains or aches but a bit tired as we entered mile 18 to 20. Wow, we are almost done now and everyone is going to finish. The last mile or half mile seems a bit long maybe because you can see right where it ends but there are a couple street lights and plenty of traffic between you and the park. I tried a couple of times to put on some hero kind of kick at the end to really finish strong but had little luck. Having not been able to finish in a sprint, I was happy to finish with the pack and enjoy some post run chatter with the others.

So another long training run is completed and I am already excited about the March "Loop" run. I think I will probably rest a day before getting back to the street for some more training. Special thanks go out to Reno Running and Fitness for allowing me to tag along with them and partake in the fun.

Things are going great for the Eugene Marathon the last of April. I will have 2 more of these great long runs in by then as well as my other training and am confident I will finish strong in Eugene.

Last ... I am still working on my goal of raising $1500.00 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to help find cures for and treat blood cancer. You can help them do their important work by donating any amount via this page. I am running hard (23.5 miles yesterday) and thought about making a difference during the run. You can make a difference too, donate today!

Thanks again for making a difference,

Don

First Run of the Year, Longest Run Ever

Hi Friends,

I finished the longest run I have ever attempted on New Years Day. It was the 23.5 mile McLoop around Reno and Sparks on McCarran Blvd.  What a wonderful way to start the year!

I had been planning to run the loop for a couple months. Actually I had told myself that I was going to run this route a couple months back, but talked myself out of it.  So I was determined to overcome my ability to talk myself out of things and make it this time. To say I was excited about this run was an understatement. I had gone thru a mental checklist of all the things I thought I would need on race day. I even had my clothes laid out the night before just so I would not run off and forget anything.  I even got a fuel belt and some power gels to get me recharged during the run.

When I got up on Tuesday it was really cold, near zero and there was still snow and ice in our yard at home. I got dressed, laced up my shoes and headed to Shelly Park in Sparks to see just how much run I had in me. I was sure in my mind that I could complete the whole 23.5 miles but needed to prove that I could follow through and actually finish.  Just as at home the sidewalks and sides of the road were still covered with some snow and ice. I started the day by starting my Garmin and falling flat on my left leg and hand. Way to go Don! I got up, considered just going home and decided to dust myself off and head out.

The miles seemed to really fly by and I was able to take in the first sunrise of the new year as I neared the university campus. What a sight and it encouraged me to continue to the hills in Northwest Reno. As far as the hills go, they slowed me down some but did not kick my butt as I expected they might. Actually they went quickly and I felt great as I came out of the hills near lakeside Drive. I had made it past the biggest challenge I thought I would have to tackle.  From here it was mostly flat and relatively clear sailing.

My next challenge was the long flat straight stretch after about mile 18. It was really monotonous and seemed to just drag on.  I learned that I need to have something in my mental toolbox to help get me through these times. Maybe it will be music on an iPod or it could be something that I tell myself like a mantra or positive self talk. I am sure I will figure it out by the next long run. I was able to get past this section by reminding myself that I do this run everyday and it was easy, just another 6 miles ... just another 4 miles ... just like you do every day.

I finished at Shelly Park in 5 hours and 13 minutes. It was great to finish and then receive my medal for finishing. I also got a coolio sticker for the truck so everyone will know that I ran all 23.5 miles. I really appreciated the folks from Reno Running and Fitness for letting me run with them. They were an amazing group of people and so much fun to run with. Actually, I was worried that I would be so much slower than they were that I left 30 minutes early so I could finish with them. As it turned out they were just having fun and I probably could have run with them anyway.

So I have already checked off my first goal of the new year and what a way to start. next on my big goals is the Eugene Marathon in April. I learned a lot from this run that I can use to do better in Eugene. For one thing I found out it is better not to fall on your ass before you even begin. As I write this I have really no soreness from the run except for the damage I did when I fell. I do have soreness in my left heel, but will be able to eliminate that by working on my running form.

Now, on towards the Eugene Marathon!

As you know I am running to help fight blood cancer in the Eugene Marathon this year. Why not help me out with a small contribution? Anything helps research, so a donation of $5.00 will make a big difference. Donate more if you can, too much is better than not enough. Thanks a bunch!

Special thanks go to my amazing wife Brenda. Her support was super and helped me keep going.

Don

The 3rd Annual New Years McLoop Run 23.5 Miles

Hi Friends,

I can't believe in 1 week I will run 23.5 miles around Reno and Sparks. I am looking forward to running with a group of local runners in the 3rd Annual New Years Day McLoop Run. It will be the biggest challenge so far for my running and it should be great.

I will be able to get a pretty good idea of what I need to do to get in shape for the Eugene Marathon in April. I know I can finish the 23.5 miles but am pretty sure I will be out of service on the 2nd. Probably with my feet in the air and some sore legs.

So if you see a group of runners out on McCarran Blvd on January 1st, honk, wave or yell out some encouragement. They are celebrating the New Year with a great run and marking a major New Year resolution off their list.

Don