Thursday, December 29, 2011

Last Run In Deadhorse

Today was the last run I will do in Deadhorse for this month.  I leave Saturday morning but need to pack away the running clothes when I get off work in the morning.  Only did 4 miles, but it felt like a lot more.  I think I have treadmill burnout. Maybe that is only because I know that in a couple of days I will have some other choices.  I am so looking forward to running at the sports center or better yet, maybe even outdoors.  It's pretty cold at home right now, just barely above zero.  But at least there are places where it is possible to run.

Hoping for more help with my fundraising!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

5 Miles Today

I've been a bit behind this week but finally did 5 miles today on the treadmill.  I've been having trouble sleeping then waking up too late.  Just 3 more work shifts and I will be back home.  Then I'm hoping to get in some much longer runs at the Sports Center.  Being off work will give me a lot more time for training.

I'm hoping to come up with some better fundraising ideas when I get home too.  I'm not making any progress there.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

100 Miles This Month

Little goals add up to bigger ones.  I finally hit 100 miles this month.  All on the treadmill of course, here at the Prudhoe Bay Hotel.  I just added another 5 miles.  It was really hot in there but it was far better than outside where it is now -31, Fahrenheit that is! I'm so thankful that we have really good exercise equipment up here because I don't know what I would do without it.  It's pretty close to impossible to run outdoors up here this time of year.  Narrow roads covered with ice and snow, with big trucks going by.  The sun is down all month so it is pretty dark too.  It's not only ridiculously cold out there, it is also dangerous because there are no provisions for pedestrians.  In the summer it is awesome though.  I'm looking forward to my stay up here in June.

It's Christmas Eve.  I miss being with my family.  I especially miss my mother who is no longer with us. This is our first Christmas without her. 
 
I'm going to call everyone I know and wish them a
Merry Christmas! 

Friday, December 23, 2011

10 Miles to Warm Up!

33 below today and no matter what I did I couldn't warm up.  I couldn't even sleep because I was so chilled just from being out there long enough to drive back from work.  But 10 miles on the treadmill worked very well.  Now I am all warmed up! 

I'm busy planning for marathons for 2012.  Yellowknife Marathon in August looks awesome, one week before the Anchorage Big Wild Life Marathon.  Hatcher Pass Marathon in July of course. Rock 'n' Roll Phoenix in January and the most important one, Rock 'n' Roll Madrid in April for Team In Training.

I still need to raise at least $3000 more to meet my fundraising minimum goal. Please click on the little running gal below to donate.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

30 Below Today

It really does feel like winter out there today.  So of course, I did my run indoors on the good old Prudhoe Bay Hotel treadmill.  Slept pretty late today so just had time for 5 miles.  I'm hoping to hit 100 miles this month by Christmas Day.  I will probably have to wait until I get home to get a really long run in.  There isn't quite enough time for a 20 miler when I have to work every night here in Deadhorse.

Rock 'n' Roll Phoenix will be my long run on January 15th though!

It's almost Christmas and I want Santa to bring the world a cure for cancer.
Help him by clicking on his image below!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Another 5 Miler

I had a really good run today.  Just 5 miles, but each mile, I increased my speed by .1 mph.  It's not that much but I did notice it.  I get a better workout and a more interesting workout when I make little challenges for myself.  It can be pretty difficult to make a workout on a treadmill interesting! But sometimes you just have to make do with what you have.  That's all I've got around here right now. It's 20 below zero out there right now.  I nearly froze just trekking across the street to put one of my Team In Training flyers on the bulletin board in the terminal.  I don't seem to have much luck with those flyers because none of the little tabs get torn off.  But I may as well give it a try.  I just haven't figured out a good way to fundraise here in Prudhoe Bay. I'm sure a more clever person could come up with something.  Perhaps I will. I think I'll pass on the idea of a bikini car wash though! 

Help Help Help me in this mission!  http://www.race4cancer.org/ 
Go Team!


Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A Little Cross Training

I wanted to do a fairly long run today but for some reason, even 3 miles was killing me, so I stopped there.  It was pretty hot in the exercise room on that treadmill so that could have been part of the problem.  Or maybe I was just having a lazy day.  But I followed it with 30 minutes on the stationary bike with the Climb Kilimanjaro workout.  I like that one because it makes me feel like I am REALLY training for Kilimanjaro, which I plan to climb in February.

I felt it all in my legs so I guess it was still a good workout.  I'm feeling most frustrated with my Team In Training fundraising.  I just can't come up with a really good plan, especially while I am up here in Deadhorse. 

I want to come up with something that uses my photography.  People don't seem to want to donate just because they care about cancer.  I think they need to get something in return.  It works for Girl Scout Cookies! 

Peace on earth means a world without cancer!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

10 Miles

I hit the treadmill for a fairly good 10 mile run today.  I guess I broke the chain of oversleeping and missing out on running altogether for the previous two days.  I'm hoping to get in some longer runs before I leave here. 

I got another donation today.  I always feel encouraged when I see that my efforts are bringing in more funding for this important cause.  I just hate to see people suffering with cancer.  I dream of the day when we no longer have to fear this disease. 


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Slow Run Today

I had lots of good intentions when I woke up too early today.  But my body was just too tired to listen to those good intentions.  30 below outside and the heater in my room just doesn't seem to keep up.  Between being kind of cold and all the annoying racket going on outside, I just didn't get enough sleep.  But at least I managed to forge through a 5 mile run on the treadmill.  Maybe it's time for a rest day.

No new donations today.  Still hoping for some to come through.  I'm trying to come up with an interesting fundraiser that I can do up here in Prudhoe Bay.  A car wash is definitely out!!!

I'm looking forward to getting home and at least having the chance to run at the sports center instead of the treadmill.  It's pretty dark and dreary and cold here.

This is the fine view from my room during the lightest part of the day.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Treadmill Today

Just another 5 miler on the treadmill.  I can't seem to wake up early enough to get in a good long run.  Maybe it's the continual darkness making my brain think it is always time to sleep.  I hope I don't have to resort to the alarm clock!!! 
But I had a good run today, indoors, considering it is currently 30 below zero.  I don't think I want to go for a run out there!

Good news today from my cousin Michael.  He is responding very well to chemo.  That's what my training is all about.  Running to help find a cure for cancer.  It seems like progress is slowly being made.  It's only through tedious medical research funded by contributions through charities and government programs that the much needed cure will be found.  My fundraising is very slow but I keep putting the word out.  I sure appreciate the support I have received so far.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Blizzard Today

It's blowing and snowing outside as usual, so also as usual I ran on the treadmill.  Only another 5 miles.  I am now making my short runs a standard 5 miles instead of the 3 mile short runs that I used to do.  At least that way I get more weekly mileage.  I'm about ready for a long run though.

I got a new domain name to forward to my Team In Training fundraising page so that it is something easier for people to remember.  From now on, I will point it to whatever Team In Training event I am doing.  That simplifies things so I don't need to update my website and my blog every time I sign up for a new event.

Now you can link to my site here http://www.race4cancer.org

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Another 5 on the North Slope

I just did one more indoor workout on the Prudhoe Bay Hotel treadmill.  Listening to music and watching the news on TV, but trying to imagine that I am running on a gentle trail through the forest enjoying the fresh air instead of the musty smell inside the building.  But it was still a good workout.  I'm really looking forward to Phoenix and a nice long 26.2 mile run through the streets of Phoenix OUTDOORS!  I think just seeing daylight while I am running will be a good thing.  I miss the sun.  It goes away completely this time of year in Prudhoe Bay. 

I'm hoping for some help in my fundraising.  Gotta get rid of cancer.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

5 On The Treadmill

I just had a fairly good workout of 5 miles on the treadmill with many sprints to try to increase my overall speed.  But I sure am slow!  I also did 30 minutes on the exercise bike using the 'Climb Kilimanjaro' program setting. 
I feel inspired by the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, but I think I would have to work out for about 1000 years to ever come close to the amazing runners discussed in that book. I can't imagine how anyone can run 100 miles, but I would sure love to run at least one ultramarathon in my life.

But for now the most important thing is not my speed, it's the cause. My training is to beat cancer. 

Help me in the fight by visiting my

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Half Marathon on the Treadmill!

I woke up so early and no matter how hard I tried, I just could not sleep.  Too much on my mind.  First I went to the post office to mail my last two Christmas items.  Then tried again to sleep - once again impossible.  So I said, what the heck, I have a little extra time so I think I will do a long run today.  So I ran a half marathon.  13.1 miles on the treadmill.  I watched 2 episodes of Seinfeld and 3 episodes of Big Bang Theory on the TV before I was done.  It may be boring but it's all I've got when it is 25 below zero and dark outside.  Not conducive to an outdoor run!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

5 and 5

Just did another 5 miles on the treadmill.  I did a lot of short sprints to try to increase my allover speed.  Then I did another 5 miles on the exercise bike using the 'Kilimanjaro Climb' program.  Seemed like an appropriate program since I am climbing Kilimanjaro in February.  No option but to workout indoors today with a big blizzard going on outside. 

Hoping to get back into pre-moose-stomping shape by the time I get to Phoenix for the Rock 'n' Roll Phoenix Marathon.  I can tell I am still not back to where I was before that injury. But I'm working on it.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

5 Mile Short Run Today

I had a restless sleep day, busy making hotel reservations for the Rock 'n' Roll Phoenix Marathon, and figuring out strange charges on my phone bill when I should have been sleeping.  So I got up late, and procrastinated for a while.  But finally hit the treadmill and did my 5 mile run.  I have a lot of catching up to do to make up for the 4 months this past summer when I was hardly able to run because of my moose stomping injuries.  But I'm motivated with Mt Kilimanjaro and two marathons in my immediate future.

Most important is the Rock 'n' Roll Madrid Marathon that I am running for Team In Training.  More important than my speed, is the need to fundraise to help fight cancer.  Please help me reach the ultimate goal - a cure.

*****

Friday, December 2, 2011

10 Miles on the Treadmill

It's -13 outside and of course dark so I will be trotting on the treaadmill for the entire month of December.  I did 10 miles today.  I'm planning to get in quite a lot of mileage this month, but it will all be indoors.  It seems to be a good workout even though it is difficult to not die of boredom!  At least I am thankful that we have a couple of nice functioning treadmills here at the Prudhoe Bay Hotel.  I would be so lost without them!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Ran and Rode Today

Now that I am signed up for two marathons, a climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and a bicycle trip in Spain I am trying to do a little running and biking.  Everything has to be indoors while here in Deadhorse though.  Did 5 miles on the treadmill followed by 45 minutes on the stationary bike.  If I keep this up all month I should be ready for Rock 'n' Roll Phoenix Marathon in January, Climbing Kilimanjaro in February, Rock 'n' Roll Madrid Marathon in Spain in April, and REI Adventure's Portugal & Spain Cycling: The Alentejo to Andalusia also in April.

Gotta keep in shape while up here in the frozen north.