I'm Back!!!

After a three week break, I started my "unofficial" training for the Chicago marathon today. During the three week break since Nashville, I successfully finished a prolonged tax season due to the floods in the Northeast. I also got engaged last week! I figure that planning for a wedding while I train for a marathon this summer makes things way more exciting!

So today it was sunny and 77 for most of the day and I had the idea of running when I got out of work in my head since I woke up. Then I got to work and I received an email from Genvieve with the Chicago Marathon registration paper attached to it. Ah ha, its a sign, now I must start training this afternoon. I've been missing those endorphins and have been trying to get off my butt and start continuously running again. If I do not run for more than three days my body starts to betray me. I feel like I have to go for a run or my level of stress increases...

That leads me to my next sign now is the perfect time to start training! This afternoon, Coach Kevin posts a blog post about "feeding your endurance monster". A direct quote from Coach's blog:

"If the monster is denied his daily miles he releases feelings of guilt and shame into my system. This ugly process only adds more stress to life’s daily dose."

Spot on! Although I have not run more than a couple of times over the last three weeks, I have been thinking about it all the time. I found myself one morning a week or so ago getting ready to go out for a run during the normal time I am getting ready for work. I went out on a beautiful morning and ran five miles. It felt great! I showed up to work a half hour later than I normally do but had so much more energy than most mornings. I know this sounds crazy, but I am think I am officially addicted to running!

So today I went out and ran 4 miles - in 40 minutes! That is a faster pace than I liked but it felt great to be out there. I am going to build on this and the good vibes that I am feeling and hopefully start to get back in a routine.

Not only has the training process started, but so has the fundraising. We are in the process of planning our main event - the golf tournament in August. I'm really excited about a possible wine tasting event that could be happening in the near future. And of course there are lots of different ideas everyone can be a part of to raise money for the quality of life of brain tumor patients. Interested in having a car wash? Selling candy bars at your work? Got another great idea? Whatever idea you may have, let me know, I am up for anything, and I could use all the help I can get!