track workout! ahh!

anticipating the first group training session.. I'm a bit nervous - can you tell??

We had our first track workout today.. We all met up at a track in Palo Alto bright and early! 8am on a Saturday.. when I'm not getting off work.. that truly is bright and early! We did some warm up laps, then stretching, and a timed mile. I normally would be a little embarassed to reveal my time to the world, but since this is all about improvement in the name of a good cause, I will! I ran/walked the mile in 12 minutes and 51 seconds. Not bad, considering I haven't been conditioning prior to this week. It wasn't complete misery, but I can't wait until I get to the point where I'm not struggling as much.

I must say, that it's great to have the moral support of the team, and it makes me look forward to group trainings in the future!

By the way, here's my sweaty face on the way home:

hanging out at the house..

visiting the house!! (with my "team RMH" hat on!!)














A few members of the team went over to the house yesterday to cook "breakfast for dinner" for the families there. Although there weren't too many families around the house while we were there.. it was really nice to pitch in a little and provide them with a meal. The house provides the facilities to cook, but the meals are not included in the $10 a night it costs to stay there. Our cooking was greatly appreciated by those who ate, and I enjoyed seeing the families there.

I recruited Kris (my boyfriend) to help, and we cooked mickey mouse waffles and bacon. It was fun! I think the best part was seeing kids having a place to run around a play.. an environment so unlike the hospital. Imagine what it would be like to spend so much time in a hospital that you're constantly reminded of why you're there. So many of these children are going through chemotherapy, or waiting for surgeries and transplants.. but they were running around and playing like any other kids.

It's always nice to be reminded of what you're working towards.

I took a few pictures, and I'll post them up as soon as I get them onto the computer.

added.. 08/11/07

and so it begins...

Hello all!

You're probably here because somehow you've found out that I decided to run a half marathon to benefit the Palo Alto Ronald McDonald House. My plan is to keep you updated on my training as well as my motivation as I continue along my 3-month trek!














I started training this week.. 2-3 miles tuesday, thursday and saturday. So far so good! Hopefully soon I'll post up some pictures of the Ronald McDonald House so you can get a visual of what you're contributing to. Even if it's moral support, I appreciate every little bit, and I want to thank you for taking the time to come and look at my page.


In case you're wondering what I'm getting myself into, here's a link to the "Big Sur Half Marathon" in Monterey.. so you can get a visual of what I am working towards! http://www.bigsurhalfmarathon.org/site4.aspx

here's a map of the course:
















Also, here's a link to the Ronald McDonald House website:
http://www.ronaldhouse-stanford.org/

here's a picture of me in front of the house!




















I'm feeling a mixture of things.. nervous about the marathon.. excited about the fundraising...



here I go!