10.14 Miles!!!

So last Sunday I had my best, longest (time), and farthest run yet!!!
I completed all of the following last Sunday:

• Best 5K= 32:48
• Best 10K = 68:04
• Total Run Time = 1:55:23
• Total Run Distance = 10.14 miles
• First 15K (9.32 mi)
• Average Overall Pace = 11:22/mi

I seriously still can't believe I ran over 10 miles!  It was just the motivational boost I needed to get me through my "brick wall"!  I figure if I was able to run 10 miles last weekend, I should definitely be able to run 13.1 by October 9th!

I turned in my TNT recommitment papers today, so it's a done deal!  I am "officially" registered!  No turning back now!

Notes:

• Favorite pre-run nutrition = Clif Shot Blocks--Strawberry
• Favorite in-route nutrition = Clif Gel--Citrus
• Favorite Drink = Lemon Gatorade

While I have met my fundraising minimum of $1,700 and reached my first goal of raising $2,000, I still need $255 to reach my second goal of reaching $2,500 by race-day!  If you would like to make a donation to help me reach my goal, please visit my fundraising page:
http://pages.teamintraining.org/rm/denver11/ccotter

Thank you again to everyone who has supported me in donating to this wonderful organization!!

13 weeks and counting!!

Oh....What a Week!

So this week was crazyyyyy!  And unfortunately, not so good for my training...

Last Saturday after our team run I packed up my things and my two pups and headed up to Brighton, CO to house-sit for my friend, Ken.  Ken and his late wife, Dawn, owned the rescue where I got Reg, my goof-ball of a Great Pyrenees.  If you received my fundraising letter, you know that part of the reason that I am training is because of Dawn.  She is the one who made me realize life isn't about material things, it's about making a difference in someone's life--so that's what I am trying to do as I train and fundraise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Anyway...long story, short...from last Saturday until this past Thursday I was watching nine dogs and two cats.  Yes, that's right, I said nine dogs--for six days!  It really wasn't as bad as you may think, everyone was very well-behaved and got along, but my schedule was COMPLETELY different than normal, which threw my training off a bit!

I was able to get in a couple of good runs around the neighborhood...well, I say neighborhood, but its not really a neighborhood...it's a bunch of farms/land with houses.  I really loved running out there--such different scenery than my normal runs and really peaceful.  But that said, I was only able to run three times this week, which Coach Mike would NOT be too happy about since we were suppose to up our running to 5 days/week starting this past week!  Oh well, such is life...

I didn't go to the team workout this morning, but I did complete my long run.  This was the first time I have run around my apartment complex--a little more hilly than I realized...and it was HOT, like really hot!  I won't be running during the heat of the day anymore.  Period.  I was pouring sweat when I got back to my apartment.  I was literally soaking wet!  Which made for a good excuse to go jump in the pool!

In other news...I have reached my fundraising goal of $2,000!!  This means after race day I will be chopping my hair off for Locks of Love!  I am a little nervous because today I measured 10 inches on my hair...let's just say I hope it grows quickly over the next couple of months, otherwise I may have some VERY short hair!

I just want to give a BIG thank you to everyone who has helped me reach my goal so far--we are $2,000 closer to finding a cure for blood cancers!

• Matthew Cotter [brother]
• Debbie Verderaime [moma]
• Lonnie Strickland [former professor & mentor]
• Diane & Dayn Beam [aunt & uncle]
• Steva Gay [pet-sitter]
• Michelle Parvinrouh [friend]
• Loys Nunez [cousin]
• Allison & Rance Block [cousins]
• Claylia (Teets) LeBlanc [cousin]
• Donation in honor of Sam LeBlanc
• Rich & Clay Heilman [cousins]
• Laurie LeBlanc [cousin]
• John & Missy Gartner [AL neighbors]
• Donna & Andy Rucks [aunt & uncle]
• Clement & Colleen Cotter [dad & step-mom]
• Nadene & Sid Hilton [beloved family friend]
• Valerie & Shawn Hunton [aunt & uncle]
• Mary David [family friend]

...But I am not done fundraising!!  I am setting a new goal to see if I can reach $2,500!  If you haven't yet, please consider donating to this wonderful organization, who has helped so many people and relentlessly searches for a cure for blood cancers!


Here's to another, better week of training!

$90 away from my GOAL of $2,000

I am SO EXCITED to report that I am only $90 away from reaching my goal of raising $2,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!!

Training is still going well, I am up to roughly 15 miles per week!  I was thinking about upping my runs to 5x/wk this week, but I decided to stick with 4; however, next week the schedule calls for 5 so Wednesdays I am going to start running the Wash Park Pub Run!  This is a 5K from Pub on Pearl around Wash Park and back!  Afterwards you get FREE dinner from Whole Foods and your first beer is free!  Beer and I haven't been too good of friends since I started training, but I think I might have just ONE this Wednesday! :]  So far I have lost 4.52% of my starting weight! So excited, and I really do feel so much better!  Love the endorphins!

Only $540 away from donating my hair to LOCKS of LOVE!!

So tomorrow wraps up the end of Week 5 and I am only $540 away from my goal of $2,000, which means I will be donating my hair to Locks of Love after my race (if I get this last $540 before raceday)!

Well, this week was full of firsts...Yoga...Body Pump...a new best pace...and a new longest distance!

My week looked a little something like this:

• Monday = 30 min run + 60 min Yoga
• Tuesday = 40 min run
• Wednesday = 60 min Body Pump
• Thursday = 30 min run
• Friday = REST
• Saturday = 50 min run
• Sunday = hopefully 30 min elliptical

Let me just say...I had NO idea I would sweat that much during Yoga...seriously...it was intense!  But I liked it and I believe I will be returning again this week!  Wednesdays are reserved for cross-training so I decided I would try Body Pump, which if you don't know what this is go ahead and check out their website!  It was fun, but I also felt like I was going to die, well, my legs did after about a billion lungs with a barbell!

I didn't sleep well last night, so I didn't make it to training this morning, but I did run my 50 minutes.  I ended up running 4.26 miles, which is about a quarter of a mile farther than last Saturday's 50 minute run!

Total milage for this week = 13.1 miles

...funny to think in 18 weeks I will be running all of that in one day instead of four!

Best Pace = 11:09/mile

% weight loss = 3.17% of starting weight

Ready to take on another week!

4 weeks and $1,350 completed!!

So today marks my completion of 4 weeks of training!  I have raised $1,350 so far through the support of my wonderful friends and family (if you have sent me a donation and you're name isn't showing up on my fundraising page yet it's because they haven't processed your check yet, but it will show up soon)!!

Yesterday I ran for the longest distance and farthest time yet!  Coach Mike made us run for 50 minutes around Wash Park (we were only scheduled for 40)!  I ended up running 4.00 miles with an average pace of 12:35/mile.  My pace increased a little, but I think it is mostly due to the fact that I have been running inside on a treadmill instead of outside.  I need to start running outside more to get acclimated to the weather and terrain.

Since I have started running/training I have really tried to sustain an all around healthier lifestyle.  I have given up Starbucks and Fastfood until my training is over, and I am eating almost every meal at home...chicken, fresh fruit and veggies, salads, and lots and lots of water!  I have lost 2.49% of my starting body weight...an added bonus of healthy diet and exercise!!

18 more weeks and $650 to go!! :]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!...to all my Sponsors/Donors!!

I have been truly overwhelmed by the support of my family and friends in helping me raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!!

A special thanks to the following people who have already donated:

• Matthew Cotter [brother]
• Debbie Verderaime [moma]
• Lonnie Strickland [former professor & mentor]
• Diane & Dayn Beam [aunt & uncle]
• Steva Gay [pet-sitter]
• Michelle Parvinrouh [friend & workout buddy]
• Clement & Colleen Cotter [dad & step-mom]
• Loys Nunez [cousin]
• Allison & Rance Block [cousins]
• Claylia (Teets) LeBlanc [cousin]
• Rich & Clay Heilman [cousins]

I still have a ways to go!  If you would like to support me you can donate online at my TNT fundraising page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/rm/denver11/ccotter or if you would like to send a check or cash donation email me at christie.cotter7@gmail.com and I will send you my street address!

Thank you all SOOO much!! :]