Still Running--Now with a Cause!

It was another good week. This Saturday's big endurance run was 6 miles. I joke with Amy about how far 6 miles really is when you are walking/running it. I guess I take it for granted when I am driving at 60 miles/hr. Amy continues to do great. I am so proud of her as she is running in front of me and I am struggling to keep up a fast walk.
A couple stories from this week's run...I was on about mile 4 and approaching a stop light. Amy had run through it about 5 minutes before i got there and I heard someone yelling at me. He was stopped in his truck and yelled over..."Are you gonna let her beat you?". My reply, "She already has". Then we went to grab some breakfast (this has become the tradition now--to meet my mom, family friends Dick & Madelyn and of course Peyton for breakfast at the Sandfiddler Cafe). We go in with faces bright red, shirts, shorts, etc. soaking wet with sweat in desperate need of ice water. I can only imagine what everyone is thinking. This week we missed the family and friends so Amy and I went in alone. After sitting there for about 30 minutes, long enough to drink a bunch of water, cokes/diet cokes and eat an omelette (you didn't think i was going to such a great place and not eating, did you?) it was time to get up and walk back home (another 1/2 mile). Our muscles were exhausted and as I tried to get out of the booth and leave the restaurant, a gentleman who was sitting at the table next to us with his two children asks me, "Is she gonna beat you home" referring to the fact that he also saw us in the middle of the 6 miles when Amy was having to wait for me as I fell back.
This is all motivation for me and i am getting better, but it is a slow process. Years of sports have done a number on my knees and the extra weight that I am carrying doesn't help. Through it all, Amy is there and very supportive. We are in this together.
I decided today that I want to have another reason to run this race. There are several groups that run for a cause and I contacted Nate from http://www.cfhusband.blogspot.com and asked if we could run for his family and the CFF. We have signed up and will raise money leading up to the race. I will ask you to do what you can and donate (there is a widget on the side of the page that will take you to the donation page). I may struggle as I train for the 1/2 marathon, but it is nothing compared to the struggles of those who are affected by CF. Please take a moment to donate to this wonderful organization and help families such as the Lawrensons.

Week 3

Everything is going well. We are now in week 3 of training and feeling good. Saturdays are our big training day where we do longer distances. Week 1 & 2 were 4 miles each. We never realized how far 4 miles...WOW. Week 1 was good for both of us. Week 2 was a different story. Amy did great and ran almost all of the 4 miles. Kevin was a different story. He ran for the first mile and then his body told him he couldn't do any more...he hit a wall. He was discouraged, but Amy kept encouraging him that he was doing well and to not give up. With the 1/2 marathon coming up soon, he can't give up. On Sunday we decided to run out and get some running clothes. Kevin is addicted to Under Armour and we both bought shorts & shirts. Monday was a new day and we both did our 35 minutes of running. We both did really well. We are up to about 2.7 miles in 35 minutes. We keep running towards our goal.
As another tool to help us reach our goal, we bought a set of Bodylastics exercise bands. We will write about them next week as we learn how to use them.
This Saturday our run increases from 4 miles to 5 miles and it is supposed to be in the 90's with a heat index around 100.

The Starting Line--Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon Virginia Beach

Amy & I signed up for the Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon Virginia Beach on Sunday night. The race is September 6, 2009 and my training began yesterday, June 1st. We have set our goal as completion of the race...we will run as we can and walk the rest in order to complete the 13.1 mile course which will be a great victory for both of us.
It is supposed to be an awesome race and we are so excited. Setting this goal has given me the extra push I needed to get active and get in shape. I look forward to the many benefits from this. Sitting in an office for the past 8 years has taken its toll on me as I have gained almost 100 pounds since graduating from college. I was very thin when I graduated from college, thanks to a great metabolism, which now means i have to work that much harder to reach my goal. It is amazing what happens when an office chair gets in the way of your metabolism. My goal through all of this is to get in shape. I never thought i would be embarrassed to take off my shirt in public, but I am. I never thought i would have to worry about whether i would be able to keep up with my son as he grew up, but i am worried.
Yesterday, I started on a path to getting healthy and happy. I am not going to fall into the same trap that i have before...I normally start out sprinting with regards to exercise and diet and go strong for week or two and then I give up. This time I am going with the slow & steady approach. I will eat better, drink less Coke, exercise more...this time I will succeed.
I am so lucky to have such a supportive wife who will be helping me along the way. We will start this race together and end this race together. Thank you Amy for being there for me.
Stay tuned for updates as we continue working towards our goals and The Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon.