See Mango Run!

For those of you who won't be able to join me at the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon tomorrow, you can track me here: http://www.liveraceresults.com/liveelite/

Just type my name and voila! Kind of reminds of me of the "dot races" at the Spurs and hockey games...without the dots.

Here's been my motto for my entire training: "I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith." 2Tim4:7

9:30 p.m.

It's a Friday evening and everyone in the house is asleep. Even the dogs and cats. I'm the only person who is still awake. Crazy. I feel like I should watch a chick flick or something, but I don't have any worth watching. bleh.

However, I am watching "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team 3." Who knew that seeing women vie for a spot on the most famous cheerleading squad would be so entertaining? I haven't been able to watch it lately due to Moco's football schedule. Now that football season is over...I might have time a few nights a week to watch some regular T.V. Yay!

Not a whole lot has been going on as of late. As mentioned before, finishing up Moco's first season of football. He had a lot of fun and it's something I know he will miss. I know I miss the 3 nights a weeks of 2 hour breaks that I had while he was at practice. Yet, I think I will enjoy some freetime with him as we get ready for the holidays. (Side note: I had to re-type "holiday" over and over again because I am now programmed to type it "h-o-l-l-i-d-a-y." Why? Well, that's how Ms. Lindsay spells her last name. heh.)

For the past 5 months, I've been training to run a race. Now the San Antonio's Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon is next weekend! I'm super excited. I'm even more excited that my very best friend in the whole wide world, Moe, might make it down to see me race. Nothing is set in stone just yet, but there's a possibility. I was there when she ran the Dallas White Rock Half-Marathon last year. She and her hubby are my inspiration for beginning to run in the first place. So I'm hoping I do them proud and make it happen! :) I'll keep you posted on how it goes. Moe's already given me a time to beat. ;)

Signing off for now...

How to Save a Life

Who knew that I could run 10 miles in a couple of hours?! It was an amazing accomplishment for me. Sure, I might be sore and my right knee is bothering me, but that's nothing compared to what blood cancer patients go through. This past week I ran for two victims of blood cancer: Matthew Thompson, cousin of Sonia Samora (Gabe's football team mom) who died of ALL at the age of 18; and Esther Turbyfill (Shane Chaney's mom) who died of leukemia in 1998.

75 cents of every dollar you donate benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and its mission. More than 823,000 Americans have leukemia, Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma or myeloma. Every five minutes, someone new is diagnosed with blood cancer.  Every 10 minutes, someone dies.

I still have a little less than $1,250 to raise with only one week to go. Your contribution of any amount is greatly appreciated, and of course, tax deductible. To make a donation to this great cause, please go to my web site at http://www.monicatarantino.com/ (a secure site). We are all facing difficult times financially, but just remember...you're donation will help save lives. Now is the time to donate!

I'm training to participate in the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon & Half-Marathon (13.1 miles) as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training on Sunday, November 16th. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop blood cancers from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling these horrible diseases. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Please pass this email on to any of your friends and family. Every effort counts.

*Did you know that Mary Travers, from Peter, Paul and Mary, has been battling Leukemia since 2004?*

Thank you for your support!

51.54 and more...

That's how much it cost me to fill up my gas tank on Tuesday. WTH?! Yeah, yeah, I know. The cost of gas has been going up steadily for the past months...I just hadn't put 2 and 2 together until today. Bleh. I don't even use premium. oh well.
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It's time for another road trip to Dallas! Moco and I are going to see Moe & Co. Yay! Even more fun is that Moe & I will be running in a race. I'm not doing anything big, just the 5k. (I had originally wanted to do the 15k, but I didn't have anyone to watch Moco while I ran.) Moco will be "running" with me. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. ;)
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The hubby has been working some serious hours to finish a project. That means that he really hasn't been spending any time at home...leaving the kid and I to hang out together. Since he finally finished the project yesterday, he figured that he would take the son to work today. Moco was really excited and I was ecstatic that I could get ready for work without someone asking me a million questions. They cleaned up the shop and then went for a "working man's lunch." Two grilled cheese sandwiches with fries and sweet teas. The hubby said Moco loved it, especially since he was paid a dollar for his workday. ;)
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Training for the half-marathon in November has been going well. Last week, I ran 6 miles in 1 hour, 45 minutes. It's a horrible time of 17 minutes per mile. I didn't do so hot because I stayed up late the night before plus I drank one too many beers. I'm still not believing that I'm a runner and nights like those can not happen with 6 a.m. run times. I've been running around the neighborhood, but haven't done much practice work. This weekend is what I need to get motivated again. I've got lots of work to do! Argh!

$2000

It's time to make a difference...and contribute to my fund raising for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training!

So, visit the following link...Mango's Team in Training Site!

Come on now...what are you waiting for?!
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Listening to: Kim Virant - Constant Motion
via FoxyTunes

13.1

It's official. I have registered for the San Antonio Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. Oh, and I am not doing this alone. Not me. I'm a social person, driven by friendly competition and motivated by a cause.

That's why I joined The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. They provide you with training for 4-5 months, group training sessions, clinics, and other fun stuff. Everything I need to begin this new adventure. All I have to do is raise funds to go towards cancer research on their behalf. How cool is that?!

Tonight was the information meeting and let me tell you...I'm SO PSYCHED!! Just talking to some of my new "team mates" has totally energized me. They are also pushing me to do the full marathon. Pfft!? Are they crazy?! Then again, it's early in the training and anything is possible at this point.

Pre-season training begins this Saturday at 7 a.m. Early, right?! As God has planned it, I am now used to rising early on Saturdays, so nothing new. (With the adoption of Moco, I have not had a day to sleep late; and Moco wakes up Saturdays at 6:30 a.m. on a regular basis.) It's a simple 2 mile run through Brackenridge Park. The official training season begins June 7th. As of today, I have 5 months and 26 days until the gun goes off!

I ask that you keep me in your prayers as I begin training and to block out Nov. 16th on your calendar so you can see me cross the finish line! ^_^

15/1

That's a 15 minute mile. At a pace of 4 mph, I've got some work to do. It would take me 45 minutes to finish a 5k (about 3 miles), which is not horrible but not great when you think about a half-marathon...3.2 hours to finish. Even then, it's not accounting for the terrain, etc. Bleh. I know, I know - it's only day 1 of official training.

I also did the following:

• 3 reps of pull-downs
• 3 reps of lateral fly
• 3 reps of pectoral fly
• 2.5 reps of drop hang knee lifts (for lower abs)
• 3 reps on the hip abductor machine

Yeah...when I left the gym, my body was shaking. I had to drive to the convenience store and but a Gatorade & a banana. Whew! Did I mention I have a gym consultation tomorrow? Let's see if the trainer can pick my butt up off the floor. heh.

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Now playing: Survivor - Eye Of The Tiger
via FoxyTunes

7 months

That's about how many days are left until the San Antonio Rock 'N' Roll Marathon.

My New Year's Resolution was to get into better shape. My best friend "Moe" decided to up the ante. She decided that we could both run a half-marathon together. "Great," I thought...only Moe had already been training & completed a half-marathon. Being the friend that she is, she encouraged me that it would be a good thing and we could do it together.

January comes along and I begin researching running. I check out books, search the Internet for good training programs, and Moe buys me some running gear - now we both have matching socks & caps. [Side note:You may think me crazy to "research running" but there are a ton of things that one wouldn't know about the sport if you had never, ever attempted it before. So there!]

We're finally into February and I've dabbled with working out & running - nothing serious. Then I get a phone call from Moe. She delivers the message as such:

Moe: hey there...what ya doing?
Me: At Moco's soccer practice. What's up?
Moe: Have you started training for the marathon yet?
Me: I wish. Moco has consumed my life and I haven't even truly started.
Moe: Well, it looks like you are going to have to do it alone.
Me: Huh? What do you mean?
Moe: If I did run it, it would be with a baby stroller.
Me: WTF?! Are you trying to tell me you're preggers?! *jumping up and down*
Moe: *laughing* Yes.

There went my training partner and coach. Selfish, I know...but I had these dreams of a glorious accomplishment as I crossed the finish line. Then again, I thought to myself, I hadn't started training so nothing was lost.

Towards the end of March, our new family was getting into a rhythm and Moco wasn't taking so much of my time. That's when I finally decided that I needed to do something for myself. I once again set my goal to complete a half-marathon. I'm going to gym, cracking open the books again, and trying to stay motivated. It's going to be a long journey for me - the novice runner. However, I am sure it's one I can do. :)

After all, I have 7 months to make it happen. Right?!

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Now playing: Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends
via FoxyTunes