Last week, Rachael and I both decided to join up with the Team in Training program, which is actually a major fundraiser for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The program calls for me to train for a marathon, triathlon, or 100 mile bike ride. The real goal is to raise money to support the LLS.
The LLS is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient service. Three main functions are 1) invest in blood cancer research. 2.) provide critical information and support for patients and their families, and 3.) advocate for issues impacting blood cancer patients. A ton of information can be found on their website at http://www.lls.org/.
Team in Training was started by Bruce Cleland in 1988 and thru 2007, over 340,000 participants have raised over $800 million to support blood cancer research and patient services. Currently, it is estimated that 1 in every 15 participants in a marathon is participating in the Team in Training program on behalf of the LLS.
I am fortunate, as I have been asked to serve on the local board for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As a result, I have been quickly exposed to the work that is being done and the need for continued support of these endeavors.
This is the road that led Rachael and I to participate in the program. Truth be told, I actually started running last Friday, July 4, and nobody was chasing me and my car was still working.
We will be running in honor and memory of friends in our communitites. I will post more about them later, after I have talked to those affected and make sure they have no objection. We will have their names on our backs as we run the race. Additionally, we would be honored to recognize others who have already or are currently fighting this fight. Please include their names and a little information when you send in donations, or simply email me at jmatthewmayo@gmail.com.
Our goal is to raise at least $4,000 each and run in the P.F. Chang's Rock 'N' Roll Arizone in Phoenix, Arizona on January 18, 2009. The good news in I have 6 months to train. The bad news is that I am training to run 26.2 miles. The program has a 16 to 18 week program that will help me get ready for the race. It assumes I can already run 2 or 3 miles so I am using another program for the next 8 weeks that will help me get to that point (Rachael calls it my remedial course).
I am actually going to use this page as my running journal/log. I just thought I would post it here so I can easily get to it (except from work where it is blocked) to update my progress and look back on what has been accomplished so far.
I am sure it will prompt some heckling, and hopefully also some encouragement. I will also gladly accept any of that fundraising from here. I will put a link that has the fundraising page where donations can be accepted by credit card as soon as I get my LLS page. If you want to chip in towards the $8,000 before you get asked, feel free to mail a check payable to LLS to Matt Mayo, 128 Bent Creek Drive, Chelsea, AL 35043.
And so I start running.....
July 4, 2008 - 10:30 am - Ran the first part of the training program from Runner's World website that should help build my base. Ran for 1 minute, walked for 2 minutes, repeated 10 times. I actually spent 34 minutes getting back to the house. I measured it with my truck and this was 2.4 miles on flat road at Lake Eddins.
July 7, 2008 - 6:00 am - Actually started the 8 week program today. Ran for 1 minute, walked for 2 minutes, repeated 10 times. Thirty minutes brought me to the end of my drive way. Ran in my neighborhood by going to the end of the street, then back and turning right, then right to the end of the street past the pool, came back up and turned left without going to the cul-de-sac, turned right to go to the front of the neighborhood, back to the end of the road and back to my drive. This is the "pool" route for future reference and is 1.9 miles. Two really good hills and one other that I would consider significant. Also determined my starting weight when I got back to be 228 lbs.
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