What Do You Run For?

This video totally amped me up today. I run for wellness: well·ness/ˈwelnis/

Noun: The state or condition of being in good physical and mental health: "stress affects every aspect of wellness

If you want to be part of changing the lives of children around the world, please scroll down to my previous post. In case you didn't catch it, I'm running the ING NYC Marathon for Team World Vision, finding sponsors to revolutionize the lives of impoverished children.

Training has been super consistent. I've gotten in all my long runs, strength training, cross training, etc. I need to work in some speed work, but it's so darn hot! 90's all weekend equaled sweaty me.

We spent the holiday weekend with my family in CT. I got in runs on Sunday and Monday. Here is what I noticed about running in the country vs. running in the city

Country: dead animals EVERYWHERE on the side of the road

City: Avoid flying pigeons at all costs.

Country: sprinklers are the BEST! Run through them! Instantly cooled off!

City: Avoid water dripping from ac units at all costs.

Country: The HILLS are alive with the sound of running...yea, complete hill immersion.

City: Go to the park or a bridge to find some version of hills.

Where do you run? Why do you run? Good questions to ask at the start of racing season!

ING NYC Charity entry info!!!

HERE IS MY CHARITY INFO!!! I'm running with Team World Vision. Below is my support letter, I have NO idea how to get it to be beautifully formatted into this blog!!! :-D By participating in this fundraising effort, you will literally change lives forever. Please consider being part of the resolution to poverty:

Dear Friend,

I want to share exciting news: I’m running the 2011 ING New York City Marathon!

Although running a marathon is an incredible goal, I have an even greater goal to accomplish. I am running with Team World Vision, dedicating my race to finding sponsors for 26 children living in poverty. In light of the challenging marathon training schedule, I know that training with this purpose in mind will keep me going. Would you be interested in joining me by sponsoring a child, providing them with opportunities that they are severely lacking?

As a child sponsor, you will be connected with one special child who will know your name, write to you and feel your support every day. The cost of sponsoring a child is $35 a month, about $1 a day. Your monthly sponsorship gift will provide a child with necessities such as:

· Clean water

· Nutritious food

· Health care

· Educational opportunities

· Spiritual nurture

My husband and I recently became child sponsors to a 3^rd grade girl in Uganda named Prisko. Through World Vision, we are able to send her letters and emails, letting her know that someone in America cares about her life and well being.

Will you consider supporting me by becoming a child sponsor through World Vision? You can sign up to make a tax-deductible donation one of two ways:

1. Speak with me and I will be able to connect you with a child to sponsor.
2. Visit my webpage to sign up online by emailing me for the website address link: kristinannm@gmail.com

Your donation will make a significant difference: it will impact the lives of children around the world AND encourage me to make it to the finish line!

Thank you for your generosity,

Kristin Miller

PS: You can learn a lot more about Team World Vision at www.teamworldvision.org.

Consistency

The Yankees have been struggling with it. Come on boys, get it together! Isn't this cool though? After church Brian took me to Madison Square park where they were showing the Subway Series (Mets vs. Yankees) on a big screen. Only in NYC! But let me just say, eating Shake Shack probably trumped the coolness of the game and Delta expo...Shake Shack is the best. If you haven't been, just do it.

Sunday: Rest

Monday: 4 miles

Tuesday: 3 miles (tempo)

Wednesday: 4 miles

Thursday: 3 mile (tempo)

Friday: 25 minutes Elliptical / core/strength/weights

Saturday: REST

I completed all my runs for the past two weeks. Consistency has been an issue with me in the past, especially since I work at school on Saturdays. My weekends feel shorter and crammed in so I tend to relax on the weekends. Hello long runs, how ya doin?!

After our baseball Shake Shack adventure, my running partner agreed it was time for a "long run". I did 5 miles, she did 6 (GO S!). Let's just say, eating a DELICIOUS burger and fries 3 hours before a 5 mile run is not advisable. At all. Never. Again.

But I finished. And that's what is important. This weekend was a tough one, last week threw me through a loop. If it wasn't one thing, it was something else; I was getting it from all angles. What is important is that, in the midst of it, my goal was still visible.

I've been making the sacrifices. Getting up at 5am when I DEFINITELY don't feel like it. Doing core work when I clearly feel like throwing up (ie realized how weak my core is this week!). Not hitting snooze. Oh snooze, I do miss you.

This week I will post about my fund raising goals. Please stay tuned, this is a really exciting opportunity.

I care. And so I run.

166 days until the ING NYC Marathon.

Running with a heavy heart

Training has been successful this week. Although this is a highlight, I've had a lowlight to deal with.

A friend from college and her two month old daughter passed away this week. I was stunned. Life is so fragile, yet so beautiful. After a lot of prayer and contemplation, I feel even more determined to make a difference during this marathon path I'm on. I need to live life to the FULLEST. I need to stay up late some nights to enjoy my family. I need to put in the extra training so I feel confident and prepared for my race. I need to cherish each and everyday. I need to gather people to help make a difference in the lives of children around the world.

Praying continually for the family dealing with this severe loss.

I care. And so I run.

Base Training has begun!

This is the cute poster my darling husband got for me as a congratulations kick some booty present. Isn't he sweet? Love that man.

I got in four runs this week, three 5am'ers and one afternoon I-wish-my-phone-hadn't-died-over-night-so-I-slept-in run.

Base training has commenced. Just maintenance running until I begin crazy training in July. Oh Lordy Loo. I need to start praying more for 80's and not 90's or 100's in July! Crazier things have happened (eh hmm at least one snow day a year for the last three years in NYC...).

Tomorrow I will post about my fundraising efforts for my charity entry. I am SO excited. Get ready to read about an amazing opportunity!!!

New digs

Ah, you like what you see??? Decided to revamp my bloggy looks a bit. My blog is lookin' fiiiine. Explanation of some of the features:

- The "Mrs. Miller's Miles" title is now in orange, representing the ING NYC Marathon colors. Also, Team World Vision colors (CONVENIENTLY!!!).

- Picture is of the ING NYC Marathon on the Verrazano Bridge.

Yea, that's about it ;-) Now, onto some other "new digs". My feet got some new digs in the mail this week:

I got fitted for these shoes, but chose the color because it was cheaper. Since I'll have to purchase new shoes again before the marathon, I'll get my preferred color then...although these are really growing on me...my students said I had "cool shoes" when I broke them in at work on Friday!!! I haven't been running for the past few days due to some MAJOR allergy issues. Tomorrow, allergies or not, I have to run again. I have to work through it, because I'm not throwing up, I'm just stuffed up.

Lambeau also found some new digs in the form of bedding. He discovered the storage container we got out with summer clothes, and look at that, a perfect sleep spot. Can't say I don't envy how comfy that must've been...for a 5 hour nap. Nice Lambeau, real nice...

181 days until the ING NYC Marathon

I'M IN!!!

This is a pretty good example of my reaction to finding out that I received a charity slot with Team World Vision for the ING NYC Marathon:Lambeau is very excited. He wants in on everything ;-) Also, Brian is ecstatic and ready to coach me with moral support and high fives.
I need a saying to repeat to myself. Any suggestions?!

184 DAYS UNTIL I RUN MY FIRST MARATHON!!! WOWZAS!

I run New York.

The waiting game

NFL Draft mayhem - I made friends with Vikings! EEK!

The Love of my life supporting his second wife; the Green Bay Packers. (He's one step up I think, but he really is 6'2" and I'm 5'2")

So. The wait is on. I submitted my charity application to Team World Vision after (sadly, but not so sadly) not getting in to the NYC ING Marathon through the lottery. I submitted my charity form IMMEDIATELY. Part of me was kind of hoping I would go through the charity route; I want the challenge to raise money while training. It's such a beautiful thing to see generous people. Again, thank you to my 13.1 NYC donors, you are truly wonderful. All those who donated moral support are wonderful as well, I'm a blessed person. So, if I get in (Praying I do, because I have a lot of peace about it!!!), the challenge is to connect 26 people to supporting a child in Africa. How amazing is that? I can't wait to do it myself. More on that later. I've already thought of plans...vlogs, youtube, support letters. Yup. We're going multi media...pending if I get in!!!

Another waiting game moment is my New York State teaching certification results. I had a big headache back in January, and I've been trying to fix it ever since. I finally finished, but I'm awaiting my test results. If I pass, perfect. If I don't pass, really bad (life altering) news. I'm choosing to take the positive road. These butterflies won't stop, but I'm choosing to believe that I passed. May 9th. We'll see.

Did you know I'm also an anxious person? Yea. Um. This waiting thing is not cool. Lots of nervous energy around me. Lots of prayers are coming out of me. Lots of Bible coming into me.

Do you ever have one of those days where you get a little down? I think I'm having one of those days. My mileage is down (3 5am runs last week, no runs this weekend...), I've got allergies tickling (in a not so nice way) my throat, and work is hectic. Here is what I've chosen to do: think of what I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for...

-My God

-My husband

-My family

-My job

-My home

-My life

Yup, that about sums it up. Oh, and how could I forget: LAMBEAU. :-D

Tomorrow is a new day, with new runs, and new possibilities. I'm choosing to focus on moving forward.

What are you focusing on?