New Years Resolutions

1. Keep Running/Fundraising
2. Eat dinner at the table as a family more often
3. Look on the brighter side of things

Should be easy : )

Bringing Family Together...

(Madison and I getting ready to head out for our 60 minute run)

Last Saturday, the day after Christmas, I jokingly asked my 12 year old sister is she would be interested in heading out for my 60 minute run with me. Shockingly, she said, "Sure."

I was a little worried that I would have to go slow for her, or listen to her complain the whole way, but all-in-all, she did great.

When we started she told me, "Wow, you run slow." I simply assured her that in 30 minutes it would feel as if we were blazing the trails. She shrugged not believing me, but as I suspected, at about the 25 minute time mark, she was beat, complaining of a cramp in her side, but she stopped to walk, and would sprint to catch up to me. As we passed the house at about 45 minutes she bailed on me. I was still pretty impressed that she hung with me that long. I think she ran 3.75 miles, I was able to go on and finish in 4.44 miles. Not too shabby.

It was fun having someone to run with, I am looking forward to meeting with the team again this Saturday.

Go Team!
Stephanie

Incentives...

So, like I said a couple of weeks ago, we have an incentive (a free TnT Hoodie) if we could hit $1,000 prior to December 21. Unfortunately, I was a wee bit short. But oh, so close! (I missed it by about $100) There were only a handful of people who hit the incentive, but I hope to hit the next incentive with ease. I believe it is being more than half way to your goal by re-commitment (that is in February), I hope to be way further than 50% of my goal by then since I am already at 30%.

I have some great ideas for the first of the year! If you are still looking for tax deductible organizations to donate to before the end of the year, I (and all of the TnT members) would be greatly appreciative. You can donate by simply going to my TnT Donation page or by mailing me a check to me!

I have had a ton of amazing donations this year, and can't even begin to express my gratitude, this has been such a great experience so far and the continued support from my family and friends helps keep me going! Thank you to all of you who have contributed and to all of those who are considering it!

More fund raising news in the New Year!

Stephanie

Making steady progress!

We have reached week 8 and as you can see from the above photo, I am still out there running! And some of you may notice a light thinning of my face, how nice! My Glee soundtrack is still keeping me going, I need to get the rest of the tracks! I am sure people see me and laugh because I definitely sing out loud as I am running (it helps keep me moving at a conversational pace, rather than running faster than I can manage—this is what our coaches have told us to aim for).

I have missed our group practices this last week and will miss it again this Saturday due to the Holidays, but I think it has been good for me to push myself to get out on my own. I am however looking forward to meeting with them on January 2nd, for what I am sure is set to be our longest run yet! This week will top in at a whopping 60 minutes (my goal is to make it 5 miles). I think it will be fun to head out on Saturday in Beaverton, hopefully to run on some of my old stomping grounds (I just haven't figured out where yet!).

That's all for now! Thanks for following!

Love,
Steph

Seriously Frozen...

(26 degrees and not a cloud in the sky)

So, today as I set off for my run, the temperature gauge said it was 26 degrees outside. This is absurd! It is so freaking cold. We are all just waiting for our 45 degree rain to come back!

Despite the cold, it was a great run!

I think is is time to give a shout out to the company I work for! I wouldn't be as successful without my great gear! For the first time I understand why they go to such great lengths to make "running" apparel for all climates and people. I was properly dressed in my fabulous new pants (Moving Comfort's Cold Weather Tight), they have fleece on the inside and aren't as fitted as most "tights." I love them. Seriously, my legs were not cold! At all.

I was also wearing my Brooks VaporDry 3D Hoodie and Brooks LSD Thermal Vest. Both of which are awesome! I have to work extra hard to keep my core warm becuase of my asthma, and these two items seem to be doing the trick! The Hoodie has little "flip wrist cuffs" that keep your hands warm! With an Equilibrium LS underneath and a fabulous Moving Comfort Sports Bra (never going back to any other brand, ever!) I was set. Oh yeah, my shoes are great too! The Ravenna's, I adore them. And they are pretty. They are super light too, they don't feel like I am carrying a ton of bricks a long with my every step! They seem to be holding up nicley too, I hate when I get new shoes and you go for a run in the rain and you are afraid to get them dirty, the color on these shoes seem to be weathering those days nicely.

I have been rocking out to the Glee Soundtrack on my runs! I love this show and the music is great! I am sure when I run past people they look at me oddly becuase I am sure I am singing out loud and don't realize it!

I got an email from my mentor (Megan) this week reminding me that there are incentives in place for those who hit fundraising goals! I am $200 off from my first incentive. If I can reach $1000 by Dec. 21st, then I get a TnT Hoodie. You all know how much I LOVE sweatshirts! Any donations, of any size/kind would be extreamly appreciated!

Anyhoo! Thanks to all of you for keeping up with my journey! I am doing great and am working hard!

Stephanie