The 8k at the vineyard

Hi guys - I went to the Gotta Run store in Annapolis on Sunday and picked up a race packet. It has all of this information about races in the area, etc. There is a reg. form for the race that Sarah had mentioned but I wanted to let you know that the form also says in big bold letters that the terrain is VERY DIFFICULT. So yeah - I think I am going to pass on that one. But there are a lot of other races listed. They also have a website www.racepacket.com or www.racepacket.org. I can't remember which one.

I ran!

I ran 2 miles yesterday. I got on my treadmill and immediately wanted to stop but I forced myself to at least do 10 minutes. Then I ended up doing 2 miles. I really hated putting those shoes back on though. All I could think about was the pain they brought me!

Andrea's 13.1 Mile Experience

I did it!!! I helped raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and ran the entire 13.1 miles in the Virginia Beach Rock and Roll Half Marathon. This was such a truly amazing experience and I think everyone should do this at least once!

I arrived in Virginia Beach the day before the race to check in and get familiar with all the race day details. I met up with my 6 friends from high school(Harmony, Jenny, Kim, Sarah-survivor, and our running buddy Lauren) who I fundraised with and we headed to our Team in Training Pasta Dinner in preparation to carb load before the big day. After dinner and our meeting, we went back to our rooms and decorated our running jersey with our names, etc… and laid out our outfits for the next day and then headed off to bed.

On Sunday, race day, I got up at 4:15am. The race started at 7am and we arrived to the starting point at 5:30am. Wanted to make sure we had plenty of time before the race officially started. We started in the 24th corral, the last one to go, and crossed the start line at 7:37am. Approximately 25,000 people or more ran in this race. Once the 5 of us were off and running, we reached mile 1, the first band, Jamie and my parents before we knew it. After that, I knew Rocking and Rolling for 13.1 miles wasn’t going to be so bad. It was so awesome seeing people you know holding up signs and cheering you on! During the entire race we passed a band and/or cheerleaders about every mile.

At about the 2 mile marker we headed up our first hill onto a bridge. As we were running downhill off the bridge there was a group of older individuals who were dressed in Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus outfits (they had shirts that looked like they were in bikinis or swim trunks, etc…) cheering all the runners on! Miles 3-8 we ran down and round Camp Pendleton. Some parts of this section of the race were a little boring because there weren’t as many spectators but the bands and cheerleaders kept us going. On the back strip coming out of Camp Pendleton there were 3 sets of cheerleaders who were divided up and dressed as if they were in the 60’s, 70’s, & 80’s. There outfits were superb!

At about mile 7 there were shots of Miller Lite being handed out to anyone who wanted one. Harmony and I passed. A little further down there were a few houses decorated in Luau/Jimmy Buffet decor and all the homeowners were dressed up as well in grass skirts and Lei’s, etc… If you were a privileged/fast runner to be passing by early on in the race you could get leid! They also had a few hoses cooling us down! After running through the mist to cool down, we were up to our 2nd and last hill. The hill led us back onto the bridge to cross over the Rudee Inlet. As we came down the hill and rounded the turn we saw Jenny’s mom cheering us on! It makes such a difference when you see someone you know! That was a big adrenaline rush which is just what we needed at that point.

At about 8.5 miles Harmony and I passed Sarah and Kim as we were making a loop to start heading down Atlantic Avenue. It was fun and exciting seeing our team mates. As we are approaching mile 9 we are joined by one of our TNT coaches who ran with us for a while. TNT was so supportive out on the course and during your whole training and fundraising experience. I was just so proud to be running in that purple jersey!

Finally we see Harmony’s parents, who were MIA for the first 8-9 miles. As we continue down Atlantic Avenue we pass Sarah’s family who was cheering us on!!! After a few more bands and cheerleaders we reach mile marker 10!!! Once we have passed the mile 10 sign we are officially running the longest we have ever ran in our lives!!! We reach 22nd street and are longing for a water stop. A few more blocks and we meet up with our other coach and Alleluia we take a power shot and reach water station #6!!! Running at this point is a little hard but not too bad.

Finally we reach 37th street and take a right and head toward the boardwalk. Only 2.1 miles to go!!! Miles 11-12 were hot going down the boardwalk and not much of a breeze coming off the ocean. The spectators were nice though, holding down the shower strings along the way so we could run under them if we wanted. This was definitely the hardest part of the race!!!!!!

Then comes mile marker 12 and this awesome band performing a Gin Blossoms song and I got totally pumped back up. Only 1.1 miles to go!!!!!!! As Harmony and I are approaching mile 13 we see our families and it was such a wonderful feeling. I got the chills hearing them cheer me on and we are now able to see the finish line!!! After that the runners high kicks in and I just started speeding up!!! Before I know it I am doing a full sprint, my feet just taking off under me and it was the best feeling in the world! As I cross the finish line I was so proud and excited I just kept going for a second then realized oh yeah, I can stop! I turned around and watched Harmony as she came across the finish line. I just couldn’t believe I just ran more than I ever have ran in my whole life. I had just completed 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 33 minutes while helping raise a total of 1.1 million dollars the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!!! I think the best part about this whole thing is that the 5 girls I ran with from high school helped raise over $10,000 ourselves and we celebrated with Sarah her successful 5 year anniversary of her bone marrow transplant.

After the race I didn’t really feel all that bad. My right knee was hurting a little but besides that I was alright! After hanging out on the beach for a little while we headed back to the hotel and got ready for our Teams in Training Victory Celebration. We ate lots of food, had some tasty beverages and then started dancing. Believe it or not, it felt better on our legs to dance than just stand or sit around and get stiff. After the celebration party we headed back down to the finish line and enjoyed Vertical Horizon and Journey in a post race concert.

I would like to thank all of you again for your support and generous monetary donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. And a special thanks to all who came down and cheered us on in Virginia Beach Labor Day weekend! It really meant a lot to all of us and I know this is one thing I will never forget! I am actually thinking of doing another event because I have enjoyed this experience so much!!!!
Love, Andrea

RUNNING IS SILLY

WHO HAS RUN SINCE THE RACE?
NOT ME!!!
BUT I'M GOING TO START REAL SOON.

Please help if you can

Results are up!

Go to www.rnrhalf.com

We Did It!!!

We Did it!! And if you forget about the excruciating pain and the mental anguish, I would say we had a pretty fun and successful weekend!! Snapfish photos are being sent out soon!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Sorry, I had to get that out of me.
Whose dumb idea was this anyway?