Tuesday Track Practice

If hill repeats at track kill me tonight, please tell my students I love them. Seriously. I LOVE my new fifth graders and I love all the hugs and visits I'm getting from last years students (who grew so much over the summer!). And... I really do think practice tonight may kill me. Perhaps I'm being too dramatic...

Hot!

Training has been a lot harder now that school has started again. It's challenging to juggle teaching full time, helping coach volleyball, train, and maintain something that resembles a social life so I can keep my friends after the race is over. :)

Lots of parents and students from last year are checking in on my progress. I feel really proud when I tell them I'm running double digits now!

Last weekends race in San Francisco was unbelievable! First we ran around Lake Merced, past the San Francisco Zoo (monkey noises included!), 4 miles RIGHT on the Pacific Ocean and 4 miles in Golden Gate Park. With a few walk breaks for water, 2 great running buddies and half a packet of electrolyte gel (I gagged and couldn't down the rest)- 1o miles didn't seem so impossible.

GO TEAM!

Davenport Run in Santa Cruz Mountains

An hour drive was worth the scenery at our run in Davenport on the coast.

Uphill both ways. I swear. Seriously, who runs on a hiking path?! Hello! The plan was to run 7 but my fellow team members convinced me to make it 8! Talk about peer pressure, or I mean, motivation! It also helped when my team member joked I shouldn't run alone because there were bears in the area.

And my running shoes will NEVER look the same! Crossing the finish line was worth it when we iced our sore legs right in the ocean. Best ice bath ever!

Todd and Patti

Training for a marathon, or even a half marathon is very time consuming. Just when I began questioning: "Do I really have time for this kind of commitment?" I met Todd and Patti.

Todd and Patti at first glance would appear to be two fellow athletes. They are in fact two very courageous and strong people, running next to me at track practice with matching neck scars, identical to my own. Two people who had to undergo the same surgery as I did, but whose results were not as lucky as mine.

We call them honorees. They are our teammates and they survived cancer.

That day I decided- if after all they have been through, they can rearrange their busy schedules, train in the rain and fundraise, so can I.

In fact, I'll do it with a smile on my face knowing that I am making a difference for all the Todd's and Patti's in the world. I will train and fundraise for the next 5 months and thank God everyday for my health and this amazing opportunity.

The Beginning

Visit my eFundraising page and track my progress click here or go to at http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf10/sclair.

Thursday, May 20th : Team in Training information meeting

I was really nervous to attend this meeting because I knew once I'd met the people I'd be training with and heard the stories of "honorees" also known as survivors of blood cancers, I'd never look back.

And I didn't.

Registration submitted, race shirt on, tears in eyes.

I learned the secret "handshake"- GO TEAM! It's not a hand shake at all but rather an enthusiastic shout in unison.

Friday, May 21st: Bike ride

I began my own personal training with some alumni Team in Training teammates as we biked 30 miles with San Jose Bike Party.

Saturday, May 22nd: Fun Run and Clinic

First run and equipment clinic with the team. In 45 minutes my brain was filled with the scientific terminology on the importance of proper running shoes. After a short 2 mile run along the beautiful Los Gatos Creek Trail in Campbell, we shared a bagel breakfast and listened to the testimonies of several honorees. Heart wrenching and heart warming all at once.

Sunday, May 23rd: 5 mile run through downtown San Jose in the beautiful sunshine with a beautiful friend!