Almost There!

Just a quick post before I head out the door for this mornings walk.


Here's my fundraising stats:

As of 19 April 2007 I have raised $2,297.00!!!!!

I am:
$203.00 away from $2,500, which is half my fundraising goal of $5,000.00
$503.00 away from my required minimum of $2,800.00 that I need to reach by May 19th.
$2,703.00 away from my fundraising goal of $5,000!!!!!!!

I'm working with fellow TNTer Janice Walz and Olivia and Magda on fundraising events to close the gap. What are you doing to help?

Make a donation via my website: Help in the fight against blood cancers!!!
Gail's Donation Page

Monday, Monday

Good morning!

I haven't slept too much over the past few days.

Thursday night I was up making the Amish Friendship Bread.

Friday night I went to San Jose to support the Run Team's Bachelor & Bachelorette Auction then spent some time working on fliers after I got home.

Saturday I got up early to go for my 4 hour walk but decided to walk around my neighborhood instead of going to Campbell. I was afraid the heel inserts I was using might irate my feet and I didn't want to develop blisters then have to drive home. I walked to Rancho San Antonio, just to the parking lots, then headed home. The walk there took two hours because I got lost. The walk back home only took 1 hour and 33 minutes. Which was a good thing because it started raining as I walked back and was drenched by the time I got home.

After walking I headed into San Francisco to see my Aunt Jean who was in town for a couple of days. I meet her fiance, Glenn, and his Aunt Marion, and cousins Chris and Joan. I have a great time and it was great to reconnect with Jean.

Sunday, no recovery walk, bad Gail!! Purchased a new pair of shoes and worked on the flier for the Charity Raffle with Janice.

Busy! Busy! Busy!

Fund Raising Shout-Outs

Joan and Chris Qwon - $100.00
Jean Hudson-Reilly - $200.00
Nellie Scurti - $25.00 WaMu Matching Gift
Georgia Urquidi - $50.00 WaMu Matching Gift

THANK YOU for your generous donations!!!!!!

Time to head into work! Have you made a donation yet? What are you waiting for! Just click the link below to help fight blood cancers. GO Team! GO TEAM!!!

http://www.active.com/donate/tntsvmb/tntsvmbGHudson

Gail the Grasshopper

Week in Review

The past week has been busy.

I worked and completed my taxes on Tuesday and Wednesday. I skipped track training Wednesday night to get them done. My left quadriceps
had been bothering off and on since Monday. It feels like the muscle is bruised and I don't know how. The bruise didn't bother me too much when I walked but any pressure on the front of my thigh caused considerable pain.

I'm trying to help my friend and fellow Team in Training teammate, Janice Walz, with her fundraising event. She arranged a band, With River, to come out and play at the Red Rock Coffee Company. We are contacting local businesses asking for donations that will be raffled off. The event is on May 3rd. We will be following up with two businesses that verbally committed to provide a donation, on Monday. We will also follow up with the other businesses that have not given us a donation.

My Beloved Aunt Jean came out for quick visit. It was great seeing her and I really enjoyed meeting the members of her fiance's family.

Today I purchased a new pair of shoes. The same size and type as my current shoes. I also purchased inserts for the old shoes so I can still walk in them.

I'm falling asleep at the keyboard. So I'm heading off to bed.

Gail

Fifteen Miles, Fundraisers and Taxes

I walked 15 miles on Saturday!!! WooooHoooo!!!!

I'm sore but I was in more discomfort after the relay races we did at track training two weeks ago. It's all about perspective.

I was worried about Saturdays training since I was dealing with a pulled groin muscle on my right leg and Saturday morning I started experiencing sharp, grinding pains in my left knee, even when I was standing still. I told myself I didn't have time for this and promised myself that I would complete the 15 miles unless I injured myself.

I walked very slow the first nine miles. I received lots of comments from people asking what I was doing behind them as they passed me. I have shown my speed on occasion and coaches, teammates and friends keep telling me to walk with faster people. I know I should but I also appreciated the other side of the equation. I walked so slowing for the 9 miles that half and full marathoners had to complete that I was the last person to start the additional 6 miles for the full marathons. My legs didn't feel bad and I was going to be walking by myself. I figured that if I could do a 15 minute mile and maintain that pace could finish the 6 miles in 90 minutes.

It had taken me 3 hours and 20 minutes to do 9 miles including bathroom and stretching breaks. It was time to start moving. I concentrated on using good form and with my butt shaking I was off. I was walking the Baylands in Palo Alto. It's a great place for bird watching and I did see a white-crowned sparrow and many ducks and gulls. About a mile into the my walk I passed by my fellow marathoners heading back to the finish. I told them they were almost done and they encouraged me to keep going. Watching my teammates heading back to the start point just made me more determined to finish. I would finish in 90 minutes.

Each step brought me closer to my current goal, the turnaround point. Teammates kept encouraging me telling me how close I was getting and surprised that I hadn't finished already. Finally the parking lot was in sight. As I approached two teammates were just leaving. If I was fast enough I could catch them! I added more water to my bottle, added another serving of Nuun, took a salt shot, and headed back out. After couple of minutes I rounded a bend and could see the two women who had just left the turnaround point. I knew I could catch them. I had to catch them. I never ran nor jogged, I just kept moving my arms and concentrated on taking small steps. My groin pull and knee never left me completely alone but they didn't hinder my progress. Slowly and steadily I gained ground, I was closing the gap. I passed them.

I thought about walking with them for a bit but caught a glimpse of a white shirt not too far away. I could catch up with her too. I was going to do it. I kept walking, trying to remember how many people were walking back as I approached the midpoint. How many people could I overtake? Lots of people were out walking, bird watching, and jogging on the trail. I would use them as short-distance goals to help me increase my speed as I tried to overtake another teammate. I started to panic when I realized that I had almost walked for an hour, I should have completed four miles by now and I have no idea how far I had walked. I already completed the three miles out to the midpoint but I didn't know how far I had gotten on the return trip. I new goal would be to catch up with my teammate by the time my hour was up. As the minutes ticked down the ground flowed beneath my feet. As my hour finished I was within a few feet of my goal. As I passed her I asked if she know how far away from the start we were but she didn't know.

The hour was up, it was 4 hours and 20 minutes into the training and I had completed at least 13 miles. I looked in the distance, trying to see my next target. I spotted two shapes that might be fellow teammates but I wasn't sure, I was pretty far away. Choosing my short-distance targets I was focused.

Within five minutes, Cilla, our Team in Training Team Mom passed me. She was heading out to see who was left on the trail and make sure everyone is accounted for. She complimented me on my speed and said I might catch up with some other people. I thanked her and increased my speed. I was quickly closing in on my targets who turned out not to be fellow Team in Trainers but they still helped my stay on track. I looked and finally realized that strange thing in the distance were the bleachers that marked the starting point. I was almost done. I passed my targets and continued on. As I came into view my teammates started to cheer me on. I was able to find another gear and with my butt shaking like California during an earthquake I finished!!!! Everyone was so impressed that I was able to finish the last six miles so quickly. I am so happy with my performance. I know I need to go faster but it's reassuring to know that if I go slower at the beginning I will have the energy I need for the end.

When I started the six miles 3 hours and 20 minutes had already passed. I finished the entire 15 miles in 4 hours and 32 minutes. I was able to complete 6 miles in 1 hour and 12 minutes!!!! WhoooHooooo!!!!! Go Me! Go Me!!

This week is going to be busy. I have to contact companies for donations for a Fundraising Raffle. Make Amish Friendship Bread, plan a Poker Fundraising event, walk for 4 hours on Saturday, meet a relative I haven't seen in 15 years in San Francisco on Saturday, and do my taxes.

This is going to be a long week.

Go Team! Go TEAM!! GO TEAM!!!

Gail the Grasshopper

Ouch!

Morning everyone,

Last week at track training we did relay races. It was really fun but made my legs sore. During our yoga training I noticed that my right groin muscle was pulled and it made doing some of the yoga poses kinda painful. However, after that night I didn't notice the pull anymore.

This past Wednesday, as I started my warm up lap around the track the pulled groin muscle started to hurt again. It hurt while I walked and was really distracting. We were doing ladders that night and I couldn't walk my fastest because I would start to limp. One thing I've learned is that proper walking form can get me through most situations. I could not maintain my proper form at higher speeds.

I finished yoga and had a slight limp heading back to my car. I stretched and iced the muscle when I got home. I went on my morning walk Thursday and after about 3 minutes hardly noticed the pull. After walking for 30 minutes I stopped stretched and headed home. The pain returned but only slightly and was gone after 3 minutes. I took a Napersen before going to work and didn't think about my leg again, at least until I was walking home. The pull made itself know but it was that bad so I didn't pay it much attention.

I should have iced it last night. The pull was bothering me a bit this morning but I still intended to go for my walk. As the morning had wore on, however, I getting a slight pain in my right arch, and shooting pains in my right knee. I decided I would stay home this morning, ice the pulled muscle and do my walk after work tonight. I will be walking 15 miles on Saturday and need to take care of my legs today. I'm going to sit down right now and ice for a few minutes.

On the fundraising front, I'll be meeting with two other team members to plan a Poker Night Fundraising Event for May 19th. Another team member called me last night and asked if I wanted to help her with her fundraising event that will be held May 3rd. The next few weeks will be busy but lots of fun.

Have a great Friday and GO TEAM!

Gail the Grasshopper

Happy April!

I'm sooooo late for work but I wanted to give a quick update to the blog.

Didn't walk on Saturday due to work event. Walked 2 hours on Sunday to try to make up for missing Saturday. Legs feeling much better, I was still sore for days after the relay races on Wednesday night.

Donation Shout-Out to:

Edwin Bonilla - $25.00

So far Edwin has donated $75.00! Thanks Edwin, I really appreciate the support! Edwin works in my office and make a $25.00 donation everytime a loan funds. You don't have to give a lot of money all at once. You can donate a smaller amount several times.

This morning I did some strectches. I'm getting ready for Saturday's 15 mile walk. Need to stay hydrated and eat well. Lunch will be a sandwich and salad instead of pizza.

I'm up to $1,797.00 so far. I'm only $1,003.00 away from my minimum fundraising goal, $2,800.00 is just within reach! I will follow up with co-workers for matching gift forms and more donations. I'll be meeting with a former co-worker, Lon McEachern, for tips on putting together a poker night fundraiser. Lon is one of the announcers covering the World Series of Poker on ESPN2. A super nice guy who's taking time out of his schedule to help me. Thanks Lon!!!

Yikes, now I'm super late!! Please if you haven't made a donation already please help me reach my goal.

Donate

If you've already made a donation, THANK YOU!! and please spread the word.

Peace and Love,

Gail the Grasshopper

P.S. I almost forgot, I was passed by an electric wheelchair last night as I was walking. Kind of embarassing.