Oh, there you are!

Do I really look that different dressed for athletics vs dressed for every day, or with my sunglasses on vs. off?

I’ve had three people say that to me over the course of two days.  They saw me in my work clothes with my hair not in a ponytail and didn’t recognize me.  Only when I pulled my hair back into a mock ponytail did they say, “Oh, there you are!” Not sure if that is a good thing or bad thing, but I have to admit, I’ve been guilty of thinking the same thing during my cycling seasons.

I’ve heard people tell stories of training for triathlons together, specifically the swim. Then when they see each other out on the street, not recognizing each other, or saying, “I’ve never seen you with your clothes on!” (Awkward or shocking to those observers close by, but funny at the same time.)

I walked into this training with the mindset that I did NOT like running.  After reading the book “Born to Run,” By Christopher McDougall, my attitude towards running began to change.  I am not completely sure why, but it did.  Once I started running with a group of people, I really started to see a difference in my thoughts of running.  In fact, one day, several hours after my first 5 mile run in over a year, I was driving home after running some errands and thought, “I want to go for a run when I get home,” then remembered that I had already put in 5 miles that day. That was when I realized that I am no longer only a cyclist. I am also a runner.

To date, my longest run is 7 miles. This next Saturday, I’ll be running in a 10K event called Barber to Boise, partly because that is what some of the folks in my group were training for, also because I want to experience a running event before I get to my half-marathon in January.   I am looking forward to it!

As mentioned above, I am fundraising for the half marathon. It takes place on January 20^th, in Anaheim, CA and is called the Tinker Bell half marathon. Funds raised will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and will be put towards research for treatments and a cure and for financial aid for patients.

Did you know that:

•                A gift of $150 will fund a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society researcher for one day

•                A gift of $500 will allow The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to reimburse one patient for medical expenses for a year through our Patient Financial Assistance program

•                A gift of $1,000 will fund a patient education program on topics such as coping with chemotherapy and healthy cancer survivorship

You can donate by clicking on the link above or going to my fundraising website:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/vtnt/tinkerb13/jkdowner  

This is a secure website to donate to the LLS. If you aren’t comfortable donating on this secure site on line, please write a check to LLS  (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) and send me an email for my mailing address.

I am running in memory of:

Phyllis, Isaiah, Dale, Peter, and Nathan.

I am running in honor of:

Randall, Bill ,Byron, Lindsey, Lindsey, Lula, Kacey, Dan and Mike

Thank you so much for your consideration!

Julie