"Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we really are!" In times of adversity it is recommended to do as Theofanis does, take those sour lemons and make lemondae! That is excatly what my little friend Theofanis did last Saturday when he and his family hosted a lemonade stand at the GREAT SHAVE-OFF. All of Theo's friends and their families from school came to support him by shaving their heads in order to buoy up morale as he fights his cancer! Pictured here are Brian with Thoefanis and Bri's and my son Jimmy. Friends stick together always!
Theofanis is for fighting through his personal advsersity called Neuroblastoma, and simaltaneously I am training for my first half marathon to support Theofanis fight and personally get menatlly and physically stronger.
So far training is going really well as I am consistent and building on a program. Last Friday I completed my first 9 mile run in under 2 hours. The run was not a cake walk, but it certainly wasn't a rigorous feat either. All my past and current speed work contributes to growing endurance, and real ability to sustain a long distance run. I experimented with GU, an energy gel, which definitely supplied the extra push in the middle. The speed work is not the most fun thing to do at the beginning of the week, but that is what gets my body to go the extra mile. Today, I had the workout of my life inlcuding 6 quarter mile repeats at 5.7 up to 6.0 followed by an active recovery to pick-up 6 more :30 repeats at 6.8 up to 7.0 all inside a 6 mile treadmill run. Next workout is Wednesday when I do a 3 mile run with 6 pick-ups in the middle. Internvals build speed and train the brain to pick it up. Friends, the training is the practice for race day, and I will be ready.
Details are forthcoming about how to sponsor me in the Chicago Rock n Roll Half Marathon in honor of Titan Theofanis!
Togehter we will win, well I will finsih, Theo will win!
Yours in energy,
The Roadrunner
