Sunday, January 25, 2009

50k is how far?

I did it, my first 'ultra' - I ran a 50k on Saturday morning! That is 31 miles. I ran 31 miles. I ran 31 miles. I ran 31 miles. I still don't believe it. Saturday morning was the Pigtails 50k around Lake Youngs in Renton. I made it to the early start and ran the entire way with Michelle and we finished in 7 hours 2o minutes. The first lap around the lake (it sounds so short, but was around 9.6 miles) we had a fairly large group, which was really nice because we started at 6:30 and ran with headlamps - who is this writing... I woke up early on a Saturday and started running at 6:30 am. We ran three loops around the lake, which is the Seattle watershed and then a short out and back with a huge hill to the finish. I am sore today and my giganto blister has been deflated and is doing fine, I am also still really tired today. Through all of this I am super proud of myself. I did it! And now on to bigger and better things!

Anyway this is a short and sweet post as I have some running fundraising to start. I've been thinking about this whole running thing lately and that while it has been amazing and life changing for me, there are surely others out there that I could help while running, so I joined Team in Training last week and I have been reviewing all of my information and getting ready to get some flyers out to everyone I know. It is a really great organization with 75% of the fundraising going toward research serving patients and families that are affected by blood cancer. Thankfully I have not had first hand experience with blood cancer, but I strongly believe in research and supporting a group that furthers that work. So that being said, take a look at my fundraising page and help if you can. I will be working on fun ways to raise money and posting them here - if anyone has any ideas, I'm game.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/anchor09/jwillia6im

Also, please become a blood donor. It is easy, doesn't hurt and hey, what a way to instantly loose a pound. I've been donating every six weeks for over a year (that's over a gallon donated)http://www.cascadebloodcenters.org/home/index.htm


8 comments:

Backofpack said...

You were great Jessica! We should have lots of fun runs to come.

Last time I went to donate blood, they told me that I could not. To quote the wonderful lady with the excellent bedside manner "your heart could explode if you donate". Wasn't that lovely? She followed it up by telling me I could if I got my Doctors permission. I have to admit, I've never asked after that. Sheesh!

wendy said...

Sadly, I can't donate blood either! The needly they use is too big, and they can't get the blood with that size. Last time I left with bruising that covered about a 4x2 rectangle on both arms, it was brutal!

Congrats on your first ultra, you're amazing GF! Just think, you added on more to your long run (marathon) than your first 5K!

Karen-TNT said...

Congratulations on your 50 K! TNT is a great group to run with and you will be making many friends. From looking at your posts I can see that you will have no problem with their marathon.

Susan Mathis said...

Hi! It is sooooooo nice to meet you. I didn't know what a 50k race was until I just finished the Kauai Marathon last Sunday and my running friend said she was running an ultra 50k next week so I came home and looked it up by searching (how far is 50K) and YOUR BLOG popped up!!! :) that is soooo cool! I am so happy you finised!!! and tonight I have a NEW goal to run my first ultra :) my family dad- sister- mother in law have alllll said I am crazy my 8 year old daughter thinks I'm coool my husband likes my new exercise body but does not like going to the races that much lol and I am sooooooooooo happy to find a new running FRIEND on facebook - YOU! thank you for inspiring me!!! God bless you :) I'm 48 and slow slow slow and steady :) I just like to finish :)

Susan Mathis said...

Hi I was searching (how far is a 50k) and your blog popped up! Is that cool or what! I just finished running the Kauai Marathon Sunday and a running friend said she was running a 50K and I was just wondering how far that was and your blog really inspired me!!! Thank you - I have a new goal tonight!!! a 50K!!!
I started running two years ago after finding out I have a heart condition! That woke me up and got me OFF the couch! I was thinking OH NO - I have GOALS I want to finish before I die and one of them was to run a marathon and God let me do it - TWO of them and 5 half marathons and now God is letting me train with Team in Training like you are for a Olympic Triathlon! It is so goooood to meet someone with a blog that likes what I like, shoot it is just good to meet someone who likes what I like!!! I hope we can be facebook friends. My family; dad, sister, mother in law, nieces all think I am CRAZY so I can't talk to them about this passion I have my daughter thinks I'm cool but she is only 8 and has made it clear after two 5 k's that she will NOT be my running buddy lol my husband likes my new running body but said no no no to running with me and doesn't really like going to the races that much - he does it cause he loves me and wants to support me but keeping up with our 8 year old allll day is a trial for him. anyway just wanted to say Hi! Nice to meet ya and hope to talk to ya more! Oh I am 48 and I started running hum last Dec... I found out I had a heart condition 2 years ago and that WOKE ME UP and got me OFF the couch! I remember thinking oh no no no I have goals and dreams and I am not going for them I am NOT READY to die yet!!! I prayed and prayed and God helped me get to water aerobics and lose 80 pounds during the next year and a half! Then last Dec. God let me run my first marathon!!! A dream I have had from the age of 13!!! Then He let me run 5 half marathons and last week another marathon and now I am training with Team in Training like you are to do my first Olympic Triathlon!!! The GOAL in my heart is to win a ticket to the FULL IRONMAN Kona Hawaii before I turn 50 in 2 years!!!!

Susan Mathis said...

Hi I was searching (how far is a 50k) and your blog popped up! Is that cool or what! I just finished running the Kauai Marathon Sunday and a running friend said she was running a 50K and I was just wondering how far that was and your blog really inspired me!!! Thank you - I have a new goal tonight!!! a 50K!!!
I started running two years ago after finding out I have a heart condition! That woke me up and got me OFF the couch! I was thinking OH NO - I have GOALS I want to finish before I die and one of them was to run a marathon and God let me do it - TWO of them and 5 half marathons and now God is letting me train with Team in Training like you are for a Olympic Triathlon! It is so goooood to meet someone with a blog that likes what I like, shoot it is just good to meet someone who likes what I like!!! I hope we can be facebook friends. My family; dad, sister, mother in law, nieces all think I am CRAZY so I can't talk to them about this passion I have my daughter thinks I'm cool but she is only 8 and has made it clear after two 5 k's that she will NOT be my running buddy lol my husband likes my new running body but said no no no to running with me and doesn't really like going to the races that much - he does it cause he loves me and wants to support me but keeping up with our 8 year old allll day is a trial for him. anyway just wanted to say Hi! Nice to meet ya and hope to talk to ya more! Oh I am 48 and I started running hum last Dec... I found out I had a heart condition 2 years ago and that WOKE ME UP and got me OFF the couch! I remember thinking oh no no no I have goals and dreams and I am not going for them I am NOT READY to die yet!!! I prayed and prayed and God helped me get to water aerobics and lose 80 pounds during the next year and a half! Then last Dec. God let me run my first marathon!!! A dream I have had from the age of 13!!! Then He let me run 5 half marathons and last week another marathon and now I am training with Team in Training like you are to do my first Olympic Triathlon!!! The GOAL in my heart is to win a ticket to the FULL IRONMAN Kona Hawaii before I turn 50 in 2 years!!!!

Susan Mathis said...

Hi I was searching (how far is a 50k) and your blog popped up! Is that cool or what! I just finished running the Kauai Marathon Sunday and a running friend said she was running a 50K and I was just wondering how far that was and your blog really inspired me!!! Thank you - I have a new goal tonight!!! a 50K!!!
I started running two years ago after finding out I have a heart condition! That woke me up and got me OFF the couch! I was thinking OH NO - I have GOALS I want to finish before I die and one of them was to run a marathon and God let me do it - TWO of them and 5 half marathons and now God is letting me train with Team in Training like you are for a Olympic Triathlon! It is so goooood to meet someone with a blog that likes what I like, shoot it is just good to meet someone who likes what I like!!! I hope we can be facebook friends. My family; dad, sister, mother in law, nieces all think I am CRAZY so I can't talk to them about this passion I have my daughter thinks I'm cool but she is only 8 and has made it clear after two 5 k's that she will NOT be my running buddy lol my husband likes my new running body but said no no no to running with me and doesn't really like going to the races that much - he does it cause he loves me and wants to support me but keeping up with our 8 year old allll day is a trial for him. anyway just wanted to say Hi! Nice to meet ya and hope to talk to ya more! Oh I am 48 and I started running hum last Dec... I found out I had a heart condition 2 years ago and that WOKE ME UP and got me OFF the couch! I remember thinking oh no no no I have goals and dreams and I am not going for them I am NOT READY to die yet!!! I prayed and prayed and God helped me get to water aerobics and lose 80 pounds during the next year and a half! Then last Dec. God let me run my first marathon!!! A dream I have had from the age of 13!!! Then He let me run 5 half marathons and last week another marathon and now I am training with Team in Training like you are to do my first Olympic Triathlon!!! The GOAL in my heart is to win a ticket to the FULL IRONMAN Kona Hawaii before I turn 50 in 2 years!!!!

Susan Mathis said...

so sorry about the multiple post my husband was helping me and it didn't look like any went on the page... It was throwing error messages..