SUCCESS AT THE BALTIMORE HALF MARATHON 2011

I JUST COMPLETED MY THIRD HALF MARATHON!!!! Can you believe it?! I can't believe I can even SAY that! And even better, I completed with a personal BEST -- 3:53:35! Yes I broke the 4 hour barrier -- and that was walking! I couldn't have done it without the support of the coaches at TNT, my awesome walking partner Carla B, the unflagging support of my sister Tasha and all my family and friends. The experience was amazing and I think that I made my dad proud :-)

And that success has made me desire to keep it up and come in at 3:45 in my next race -- and yes, Carla and I have already signed up for another 1/2 marathon in DC in March 2012. And we are contemplating at least 2 more as well. Though we are aching and sore now, we are already itching to start our run/walk training for the next race.

I want to thank you all again for all your support!! Because of you and people like you the Maryland team was able to raise over $115,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This money will be used to to support 10 researchers in the Maryland area AND to help LLS improve the quality of life for blood cancer patients and their families. I wish you could have heard the heartfelt thanks of a cancer survivor and the parent of a cancer survivor on Friday and you were understand how much of a difference you all make in people's lives!

A Busy Weekend

So its been awhile since I posted -- but I thought I would recap my weekend! So on Saturday 9/10/11 I did my long slow day walk with Team in Training. Hurricane Irene completely wiped out the NCR trail so we moved our training to Loch Raven Reservoir. I know I've posted pictures of the reservoir before, but I have never seen the reservoir so full or the dam running as forcefully as it is in the picture that I posted here. So instead of doing the 11 miles that was originally posted, my walking partners and I did 7 miles of loch raven hills! YAY!!! Yes my knee was sore and I got another blister, but its getting down to the wire. so we toughed it out! Then after that I headed over to my church to work on our book bag give away that was postponed from last saturday due to Irene. Thank God for Play sport body wipes... just sayin' :-)

Then today I did my first 5K -- I walked/ran in the 9/11 5K this morning at 8:46 am. Yup, you didn't misread -- I did do a few jogging intervals. Of course I use the term jogging loosely as I maintain that I'm just bouncing and am not convinced that I am moving any faster :-) At any rate, I did finish in 53:09!!! I was so excited until I saw that a 62 year old woman finished in 27 minutes......LOL!! more power to her! I can only pray that when I'm that age I can finish in maybe 45 minutes :-)

So as I write, I am contemplating a long overdue hot soak and then rubbing down with Precise. Its been a long, long, but satisfying weekend!

So time is winding down for the fundraising for LLS -- For those of you who have been meaning to support me, please take 5 minutes to visit my TNT fundraising web page to make that donation. All you need to do is click I WANT TO JOIN YOUR WINNING TEAM and join up with me today!

Week 13 of Training -- Did You See Me?!

So last week was week 13 of training. What can I say?! After basically doing a REALLY light training week. I hit the Loch Raven Reservoir with the team. My couch Heather decided to hang with me, the only walker and give me the challenge I needed! We walked a bit faster and I even wait for it.... wait for it... did a SLOW JOG! As my cousin would say... SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!

And I enjoyed it so much that on Monday, I did intervals of 5 min of walking with 1 min of jogging!!! And I didn't die :-p And I'm thinking of doing it again on Wednesday!!! Who would have thought that Ty would be seriously considering jogging?! WHAT?! Maybe that Disney half marathon is closer than I think.

All of this is happening because I made a commitment to Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and most importantly to those living with and fight to overcome blood cancers. These folks are encouraging me to become more than I thought I could be. I know my dad would be proud!

Now I am encouraging each of you reading this blog to make the commitment to the cause. No, you don't have to get up and hit the trail with me in the mornings :-) All you have to do is click I WANT TO HELP and make you 100% tax deductible donation today! And if you donate $10 or $25 you will get raffle tickets for a chance to win a MICHE Bag, a MASSAGE, and A WEEK of FREE CHILDCARE! If you are feeling REALLY lucky, you can enter a raffle for a new LEXUS! So your donation will not only fund research for finding a cure for blood cancers, but you could win some cool prizes as well! Please make your donation TODAY!!

Week 12 of Training -- It's the SHOES!

So... funny story...

Look at my shoes... After week 11 this is what they looked like. I needed new shoes already. And guess what I went to Falls Road Running to get a new pair on Friday. But I did this during work hours so I didn't try them on etc. etc. Fast forward to Saturday morning at 5:30. I open my box to discover that I had the WRONG SHOES!!! That's right -- I had the wrong pair of shoes... What to do? I had to be on the trail at 6:30 am and the store doesn't open until 9:30 or so. Well there was nothing for it but to wear those worn out shoes. I had made a promise and I have recommitted to the cause. So, I laced up and hit my 8.5 miles on Saturday morning. My feet hurt like h - e - double hockey sticks! My knee was hurting. My girl Carla hung in with me and I made it through. My reward was a nice hot shower and then a soak before heading out to see Transformers in 3 -D. We won't talk about how stiff I was when I got up :-)

So I've recommitted -- and I'm still looking for a few good people to join my virtual team! Those battling blood cancers are counting on our support! I am willing to do the legwork and suffer the pain of worn shoes so you don't have to! All you have to do is choose to MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY. You can make a donation and get a chance to win a miche bag, a massage, a free week of childcare and some other goodies! And if you are feeling really lucky, you can try to win a car from LLS -- contact me for details!

Week 11 of Training -- Feel the Burn

I know it's been awhile, but I am still in training! We have been walking about 8 miles on our long slow days for the past two or three weeks. This weekend I will actually be walking 9 miles on Saturday! Feel the burn! And yes we've been walking in crazy heat and yes, in the rain. Walking 4 miles in the rain is no picnic. But me and my team did it!

Oh did I mention the Wednesday Hill Training? I love hill training in Patterson Park and you know that's saying a lot for me cause I hate parallel parking :-P

Why are we going through all this training? What are we doing it for? We are pulling together to fight a battle to end all blood cancers... a battle that we can WIN, but only with your help! I know these economic times are tough, but I am asking you to join the battle! Even a $10 or $25 donation can help toward finding a cure and helping those struggling with cancers!! And remember, a $10 or $25 donation will also get you chances to win the basket of goodies that have been donated to the cause. Want to learn more, head to the website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/md/balt11/twatkin6sl!

Be a Part of the First Annual Battle Blood Cancer Raffle

You have a chance to win some great prizes!
Go to my fundraising web site:
http://pages.teamintraining.org/md/balt11/twatkin6sl
and make your donation, leave a comment, and I will send you tickets!
1 for $10 and 3 for $25!
Join the battle today!

The Silent Mile

This past Saturday, I participated in the state-wide training event at Centennial Park in Columbia MD. It was a great time and I got to see old friends on the hiking and walking teams from previous years. I made a new friend... Paul who was my walking partner for our first 6 mile training of the season.

The TNT coaching team had arranged something new for this event... The silent mile. Basically there were volunteers lined up over the first mile of training to hold up posters to show who we are fighting for... And during that mile we were to walk, ride, or run without music and without talking to reflect on what we do and why. It was a very touching thing. I found myself thinking of my dad and wishing that I had had the strength to make a poster for him. I was sad for all the little kids that were going through this fight. Sad for all those that had lost loved ones to the battle. It was a sobering mile of training.

After that, Paul and I got to know each other over the remaining five miles of the course. We weren't all that fast this week, but in my defense....it was really hot :-P I'll make it up next week!