It started so well...and ended just as well. Bye, bye, TC Marathon.

It all started so well on December 3, 2010, when I launched my effort to run the 30th anniversary Twin Cities Marathon. I thought that providing myself with a 10-month training period would be a wise decision to acclimate to running longer and longer distances.

The first seven months went very well culminating in my second annual run of the Red, White, and Boom Half-Marathon on July 4, 2011. I finished with a per mile time of 12:35, almost right on my targeted pace of 12:30.

But, as the mileage started to ramp up, the physical demands started to manifest themselves in greater and greater health issues. Each run over two miles became a challenge to balance the multiple effects on my body and soon my mental determination was increasingly being overpowered.

The proverbial "straw" that broke this runner's resolve was a diagnosis of runner's asthma that creeped into my non-running hours. It took the better part of a month to make the decision that I'm a great half-marathoner, but I'm just not destined to run a marathon.

Thank you to the many people who supported me over the eight-and-a-half months of training. I am proud to have logged over 500 miles of running in that time, two 5Ks, a 7K, my second half-marathon, and my all-time longest distance of 14.24 miles.

Most importantly, I learned to put my health in front of my goals. The moral of the story is that sometimes you need to fail to succeed.

If you find my story inspiring, please continue to donate toward the efforts of TEAM PAM by donating on my Razoo page or to one of our other eight runners. I am still trying to raise my committed $900. I'm supporting my colleague Will O'Keefe and throwing my funds his way. In the end, it will all go to support PAM's mission to preserve, protect, and promote Minnesota's historic resources.

Take care,
Bon

Thinking of my Grandpa

Today was my last run in Arizona. I've been here since Friday night to be with my Grandfather, Frank, as he was in hospice care. He passed away late on Sunday night after a long battle with emphysema. In the end, he was fighting for breath, something I would never wish on anyone.

I was running four miles on the treadmill really struggling today. It was just hard to get strength to my legs and to catch my breath. Every time I took a really deep breath, I thought of him and how I wish I could have just given him my lungs at the end. That probably sounds pretty stupid. Who can watch a loved one suffer and not want to ease their pain, or take it away, or take it in their place?

I am fortunate. My family has much love to give and many great memories of our life together. That is what will push me to go the distance. Knowing that I have a big group of people who believe in me as much as I believe in myself. Please, hug your family and tell them that you love them.

Care for yourself to care for others

This week in running started out strong with a good six-mile run on the track. Unlike the six-mile run the week before in Chicago, traversing slush and traffic, I did not feel like I was going to die. That's always a plus.

Tuesday was a four-mile day and back on the treadmill. With a very short window of time, I had to kick it into high gear with a steady four miles at 5.5. At least my stamina with increased speeds is improving.

Wednesday was supposed to be another four, but I chose instead to have dinner with friends. That was a tough decision knowing that it would put me a total of 19 miles behind on my schedule. But, if there's anything that this training is teaching me, it is to pace myself through life. That means taking mini breaks when necessary to actually LIVE. What a concept.

Thursday was three miles on the treadmill and again at a pace of 5.5 miles per hour. Nothing special.

Friday, I hopped a plane to come to Arizona to help care for my Grandfather and give support to my Grandmother. I know that being a good caregiver also requires giving care to oneself. This prompted me to continue with my training runs and to push it a bit in honor of those who may never have that opportunity again. If we can, we should. One mile at 5.5, one at 5.6, and one at 5.7. This little run was one way to honor my Grandpa, a person who taught me how to laugh at myself. I love you.

Miles run to date: 165.2
Deficit from plan: -19 miles
Lessons learned: It's okay to deviate from the plan as long as you can still see the road.

Only the strong survive

My colleague Dave S. gave me some sound advice when I told him that I would be running a marathon. "Get in your strength training now. You're gonna need it," he said. I suppose the very fact that you're expecting your legs to carry you 26.2 miles and not stop or fall over would require some muscle strength.

I do my strength training on Monday nights as part of a class at LifeTime Fitness. It's a group strength training class called "TTT." That stands for tummy, tush, and thighs. No men in our group--I wonder why?? It's been a helpful addition to the training plan as I HATE strength training. I just find it tedious as I'd rather be moving fast. But, it really a key part of endurance, so off I go to do what needs to be done.

No running tonight. This week begins another ramp up by adding a running day on Wednesday. That means I strength train Monday, run Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, yoga on Friday, run on Saturday and Sunday. All I can say is, "thank goodness for the iPod!"

Distance run: 117.6
Deficit from plan: -15
Today's quote: "Rule 1: Don't sweat the small stuff. Rule 2: It's all small stuff, except a 15 pound barbell triceps curl."

117.6 miles and counting!

With some generous icing and a lot of stretching, I'm back on the treadmill with a vengeance. It was with some trepidation at first to make sure my skiing accident was all but a memory. This weekend saw me working on increasing my speed and distance to get back to where I was before pulling the ham string connector around my knee. Today was five miles and back up to 5.3 mph. I still have to think that at 11:30 per mile, that's still five whole hours of running for the marathon.

All I can say is that I'll need some good tunes to keep me going. If you have any suggestions for great running songs, send them to me, please. My iPod needs a boost.

Distance run: 117.6 miles
Deficit from plan: -15 miles
State of mind: happy to be back on track

Slow and steady wins the race

That would be me--definitely a slow runner, but steadily making progress getting back on program. It was good to learn early on how to handle and injury and come back slowly.

My boyfriend and I ran the Valentine's Day 5K on Saturday and that went well. He is so supportive of this albeit crazy idea of running a marathon. The race went well as I feel good about being able to run the entire way without the knee giving out. Got on the treadmill and ran 3 miles on Sunday. Back on program.

Distance run: 100.6 miles (broke the 100-mile mark!)
Deficit: -15 miles

I love the inventor of Cortisone

Thursday night was my first test on the treadmill after a ski injury has kept me off of my training regimen for a week. The one-mile test run ended in pain, so I went in to see the orthopedic doctor with an air of desperation. A few cortisone shots and a stern word about warm-up and cool-down and I was on my way to recovery. Thanks, Dr. K!!

Got back in the saddle this morning with the Valentine's Day 5K around Lake Harriet. My sweetie, Michael, and I did this together. He's so supportive to do these runs with me, despite the fact that he really doesn't enjoy running. We finished in a little over 36 minutes, so a 12-minute mile is fine with me after being on the disabled list for a week.

With that 3.1 miles under the belt, I feel good-to-go to get back on plan. That would be 3 miles tomorrow. I'll have to work on that deficit gradually.

Thanks to those who are reading the blog and sending your encouraging words.

Take care and enjoy this great weather,
Bon

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single one.

Back onto the treadmill tonight to give the bum knee a try. Thought I would run a mile and assess the damage. The ruling--not so good. Five days' rest gave me a mile. Sigh.... One day at a time. Better to let it heal than push it too fast.

Miles run: 97.5 miles
Deficit: -15 miles

Please go and check out why I'm doing this in the first place--to support the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota.

Sign-up, Check. How about your check, please?

It's official! I signed up to run the 30th annual Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday, October 2, 2011. Less than 10 months to go! Well, that might SEEM like a lot of time, but there's no time to waste in getting in those training runs. At least I can check that big thing (registration) off of my list.

NOW--I'd like to ask you to check something off of your list. Can you support my effort to go the distance to raise money for my excellence cause: the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota (PAM)? I need 30 of my close friends and family--well, okay, how about anybody--willing to donate $1 for every marathon mile I'm running. It's my organization's 30th anniversary, the marathon's 30th anniversary, and thus I'm a "30 for 30" Team PAM member.

You can donate now on my runner page at: http://www.mnpreservation.org/2011/02/03/bcm-run/. I'll continue posting my progress here on bonsthon blog and on Facebook. Thank you for your support of my goal--a healthy community and a healthy me.

Itching to get on the treadmill

It's been five days since I've run due to my skiing mishap and I'm missing my run. That must mean that I either like it or have an addiction. Can't wait to get going again. Hoping that I get the "all clear" from my ortho doctor on Thursday seeing as I have signed up to run in the Valentine's Day 5K on Saturday. Of course, it's only supposed to be 3 degrees...that injury excuse is looking better every day.

Count--still holding at 96.5 miles
Balance--deficit of 12 miles from plan :(

Two left skis.

Thank goodness I left plenty of time in my training regimen to allow for one or more injuries. This Saturday was filled with a great day of skiing at Afton Alps, until the last run when my skis caught in a neighboring snowboard and twisted one knee going north and the other going south. I'm down and out for a few days until my orthopedic doctor can come to the rescue.

This is a real bummer as I was right on track. So far, I've run 96.5 miles. This has put me eight miles behind. Better to heal properly and make it up later.

One more note, we've uploaded our "30 for 30" Team PAM (Preservation Alliance of Minnesota) program description. Click here to sign up and run for the past!