smashRUN - Run #1 - 4.10.08

Thanks for coming to check out this blog.

Here's my mission:

Not a day goes by that I don't wonder what more we all could be doing with this Web 2.0 of ours. There have been several champions using this platform of the interwebs, working towards positive goals, and I'd like to add a mission to that and support our friends, family members, colleges, and even friends of friends that are fighting a blood cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma.

In truly desiring to do something more for those fighting the good fight against cancer, I am taking on the challenge of training for and running the 2008 Nike Woman's Marathon in San Francisco on October 19th (5 months away!) as a way to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with Team In Training.

All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help STOP leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of ALL individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, but I need YOUR support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

As part of the Web 2.0 Community, I know the power of the Internet, and I know that even if you aren't able to donate even $5, by passing this to ALL of your friends, followers, collegues, and family members, AND by blogging and twittering about this effort, we can reach my team's goal of raising $1 million dollars! I've set my personal goal at $10,000, but I know that many of you have over that many followers on Twitter alone, or maybe even that many readers on your blogs, so imagine if you asked every single person to donate $1, $2, or even $5!! We could put a serious dent in this effort to find a cure!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission, and PLEASE link to this in your blogs, and pass it around to your co-workers. I know many of you have started your own companies, and by donating on behalf of your company, it becomes a tax-deductable donation. Also, there are a TON of companies that match donations, so don't forget to ask!

I'm hoping to start video-blogging and posting photos and notes from my training efforts, so to keep up check back here, and check out my fundraising page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nikesf08/mdeforest

Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support, I can't do this with out you!!!

xo,
Michelle DeForest
www.mdfsmash.com
michelle [dot] deforest @ gmail [dot] com

Run #1 - 4.10.08 - 2.5 miles

When I arrived there were at least over 100 people there checking in. We heard a couple announcements about our workout, and heard from a lymphoma survivor who is now training for her 1st marathon (she’s actually already completed 2 half marathons since her remission!). Hearing our honored teammates speak always helps to remember why I’m doing this. Sure, I’m going to be in great shape, and even have some bragging rights when I complete the marathon, but really, we’re doing this for something much bigger.

I can’t explain how I feel called to do this. I guess some people are called to different things in life, and while I feel like I have purpose as it relates to my career and work, this is just a whole different feeling. I feel like I have all the power in the world to do this, like nothing can hold me back…not asthma, not previous injuries, not time, not weather. It’s just beyond that, and the real reward is how everyone is being incredibly supportive and donating to this cause I believe so deeply in.

Back to today’s run…it was nice…a little challenging, but nice. To be completely honest, I haven’t worked out since I moved to New York. It’s terrible of me, I know, but the winter was just the worst. I wanted to be snuggled in bed or on the couch at all times and not leave the house. (In fact, I basically didn’t leave and never heard the end of it from my roommates).

So for the run, we did the low loop of the park, plus a little further with a half loop. I guess it was somewhere close to 2.5. I had a little trouble breathing, but one of my teammates, Jenna, told me to focus on exhaling more, and that helped me relax my diaphragm and back muscles. In fact, I highly recommend trying that if you ever feel tight in your chest while running. It really helped!

After the run we all stretched as a group, and then had a team picnic. Ok, and when I say picnic, I mean bagels and cream cheese;) I ate a poppyseed bagel with vegetable cream cheese. It was a great treat after a work out.

While at the picnic I met up with my roommate Jen, who introduced me to Team In Training, and she had just compeleted a 20 mile run!! It’s hard to believe that that will be me in 4 months, but it’s also completely inspiring. It just speaks to Team In Training’s program, and its coaches. I’m definitely pumped for the next work out on Tuesday!

To support me in raising money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, please visit my Training Page.

xo,

Michelle