One and a half weeks!

I don't have a run to report because I took yesterday as a rest day. BUT I do have some jitters to report. My race day is only 1.5 weeks away for my half marathon!! While most people would be worried about the race itself and performance, I will tell you that 65% of my worry resides here: http://firstgiving.com/rachelheiman. YIKES! Luckily, the deadline for collecting funds is Oct. 9, 10 days prior to my marathon. BUT...I'd still like to see some more support from those who KNOW how Nuerofibromatosis strikes. (And those with sympathy or even some fellow runners). I want to help find a cure for this bad boy. Anyways...despite being nervous over that whole gig...I am a teeny bit nervous about my performance as well. I'm thinking of this run as halfway to my marathon...but I will tell you somedays I have my doubts (11 mile hellish run earlier this week!). Oh! And Andy probably won't be accompanying me to my marathon because he has to usher a wedding (sad). Now the real challenge will be to stay focused with even one more less in the crowd to watch me...

A New Goal!

Run Time: 1:05 Run Distance: 6.25 miles Additional: 150 crunches, 3/15 @ 80 Abductors and Adductors

After running the Race for the Cure, I decided that I really did like the whole "running for a purpose" mentality. I saw crowds of people who were running because breast cancer had struck their family. My aunt had breast cancer and I did put a tribute tag to her on my back, but since I don't see her everyday and in fact don't see her much, it wasn't something that hit me really hard. I wasn't around to see her battle.

But there is something that strikes my family pretty hard. It is Neurofibromatosis. It is a form of a cancer that has taken the lives of my grandmother and my uncle at early ages and affected many more distant cousins and aunts of mine. It runs in the family and can also be inherited without a family tie. While they have found the gene that is affected by this disease, they have yet to find a cure.

I have decided to turn my half marathon into a fundraising event as well. I would like to reach $1,000. I believe that with a great network of runners and a family that knows this disease well, I can reach that goal. Please help if you can. Your support and thoughts are appreciated nonetheless. I now have a mental focus to complete my half marathon. I will be running with my grandmother and uncle in mind. I have added a widget to my blog to assist with donations.


On a side note:

Yesterday I ran...(drumroll please) without significant side stitches!!!! Yay!!! I did have a few very small ones in the beginning but I made it 6 miles without sharp pains!!! Woohoo!!

And yes Chris...my plan was go take it chill this week. However I ended up in a packed gym yesterday. Every single eliptical and bike was taken and I needed some sort of cardio. So I jumped on the treadmill and ended up very suprised...