Running the Demons

Twelve solid miles really gives one time to run some of the demons out of one's head. I also spent some time thinking about the ladies who are participating in Tri for a Cure in south Portland today. It is a great event with great people and I wish them all the best.

My music was treating me right this morning. I settled into my rhythm with some Chili Peppers, played the new Decemberists album midrun, and brought it home with some Rollins Band. Henry is the perfect little kick in the butt when I feel like walking.

Post run I had a bagel with veggie tofu spread and a apple juice. It just might be a good Sunday.

Update

I cannot say enough about the generosity of the friends and family around me. I am also making new friends through my efforts. I am up to $710 dollars that have been donated towards my race through my Sea Shepherd donation page. www.seashepherd.org/marathon-bell. I believe I will easily surpass my goal of $2000 at this rate (and hopefully finish my marathon in my goal of under 4 hours). The Sea Shepherd organization is needing the support right now, with one of their most important vessels currently detained.

www.seashepherd.org

I have received a couple of new raffle prizes as well. Grace Restaurant in Portland will be donating a gift card- amount TBD. Grace has been keeping a vegan entree on their menu, a rare find in a fine-dining establishment. I had the current vegan stir fry with thai basil pesto- it was gorgeous. www.restaurantgrace.com. Bard coffee, by far one of the coolest spots in town, will be donating a gift card or basket. www.bardcoffee.com. Finally, the always lovely and generous Meg Wolff will be donating a copy of 'Life in Balance: Delicious, Plant Based Recipes for Optimal Health'. www.megwolff.com.

As for the training, after struggling through the hot spell, the mild weather feels wonderful. I had a nice easy run today and will probably do the same tomorrow. I hope it isn't still this drenching rain but I can't let the weather slow me down. I feel strong and capable. Now it is a matter of, with two months left, eating clean, living clean, getting rest, and spending the time on the pavement and trails to teach my muscles to keep me moving along unreasonable distances.

Thank yous

I spent my 8.5 mile tempo/ goal pace run reflecting on all of the people that I already have to thank for all that is happening with my marathon.

Thanks to all of the people who have already generously donated on my Sea Shepherd web page. I do not have a complete list yet but I think I know who you are. Thank you so so much.

Thanks to all of the businesses and individuals donating to the raffle. I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people around me.

Thanks to Sarah Conroy for designing an awesome flyer and agreeing to sell raffle tickets at the ever-popular Vegan Meetups. Thanks to Robin Watts for also agreeing to try to sell some ticks,

Thanks to Donald McEwan- a stranger who told me about a whale rescue filmed and on youtube, who is now a friend and involved and spreading the word about my race all the way in Kentucky!

Thanks to my mom who always warns me not to run when it is too hot, not to run when it is too early or too late, not to run when I am too tired, not to run too far. I know she will be there the day of the marathon to tell me not to stop! She is the definition of unconditional love. Oh yeah, and she is donating my next pair of running shoes which I may need soon because my Asics are getting hole-y and my baby blue Nike Airs hurt my feel terribly.

Thanks to every friend of mine who encourages this crazy plan. I mean, running 26.2 miles just because is not a sane endeavor. Thanks for every person who has said I look like I am in great shape on days I am not feeling it.

Thanks to Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for all that they do- the donors, the volunteers. Thanks to Paul Watson and the ship crews who put their very lives on the line to save the oceans. Thanks to Sheryl Bryner, a lady with a million things to do, who jumped at my idea and made it all happen by getting me a great donation web page.

And I am not done thanking. Stay tuned for more mushy thanks yous.

Raffle Prizes So Far

RAFFLE PRIZES AS OF 7/17

Cookbook and wallet from Herbivore clothing (herbivoreclothing.com)

$50 gift card for Green Elephant (greenelephantmaine.com)

$25 gift card for Silly's (sillys.com)

$40 gift card for Pepperclub or Good Egg (pepperclubrestaurant.com)

$25 gift card for Sebago Brewing (sebagobrewing.com)

Gift Card from Whole Foods (amount TBD)

Gift Basket from Whole Foods (wholefoods.com)

Gift certificate from Vegan Essentials Online Store (veganessentials.com) (amount TBD)

5 20% off coupons from Rosemont Market- all 5 as one prize (rosemontmarket.com)

Copy of 'Lucky Pigs' by Susan Rooker (ahavapress.com)

heat, well-wishes, and blueberry beer

Portland Harbor was gorgeous on my run this morning. But hot, so very hot. Adding heat and humidity to the mix makes me feel as if I just ate a box of Newman-O's and drank a gallon of soy milk before the run. I felt HEAVY this morning. But I pulled through my 10 slow, sweaty, chafing miles and even had the cheer to stop and admire these three sail boats sitting in the peaceful water.

I spent a great deal of time today thinking about two friends who are going through some really tough times at the moment. My thoughts are with them. Running really gives me time to reflect and send good wishes, if you are into that hippie-dippy shit. Jury is still out as to whether or not I am into that hippie shit, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

I am also going to attempt to begin meditating again. I keep trying and then falling off the wagon. I need me some zen and crap, so I am going to give it another go around. Between that and the running, hopefully I can get this crazy head of mine to slow down a bit.

Take some time today to reflect on someone you know who might need a boost or a well-wish. And I also recommend, if you are so inclined, enjoying a blueberry beer at some point today as well. It is Maine, after all. 90 degrees in Vacationland, and we are just on the verge of blueberry season. What better way to consume blueberries?!

Raffle Prizes Update

- $25 gift card from Sebago Brewing
- $40 gift card from PepperClub/ Good Egg

Did my quickest jaunt around back bay today- 8 minute miles. God, I wish I could be that fast all the time! Perhaps if I quit making vegan mango coconut pancakes for breakfast...nah, unlikely! They were so very yummy and worth a couple of pounds weighing me down.

Herbivore Clothing Raffle Prize

I know some of you are not on Twitter and don't want to be so here is a pic of the Herbivore clothing wallet and book (herbivoreclothing.com)

raffle update

I am constantly trying to get more raffle donations. Whole Foods (my lovely people) will be giving me a gift card and a Whole Body gift basket to raffle off. I am damn lucky to work where I do!

I am hoping to have all kinds of prizes to hand out. Now I am working on trying to find places to sell tickets. More to come...

Twitpic - Share photos and videos on Twitter

Twitpic - Share photos and videos on Twitter

Here is a picture of the goodies Herbivore Clothing sent for the raffle. (herbivoreclothing.com). It is the cutest faux leather birdie wallet and an awesome cookbook. I will raffle them together as one prize.

Twitpic - Share photos and videos on Twitter

Twitpic - Share photos and videos on Twitter

Here is a picture of Vegan Brooklyn Pad Thai that I cooked tonight from Vegan with a Vengeance. I have decided I will cook one new recipe a week, the night before my long run. Anyone who has been in my house knows that I have a bit of a cookbook addiction- I am a hoarder of sorts. Now I can feel justified.

The Pad Thai came out great, despite lack of lemongrass. It really came together quickly once I had everything chopped up. I want to prove to anyone who might be reading that vegan food is so very far from boring. I highly recommend anything by Isa Moskowitz or Sarah Kramer. They are both bad-ass, cool as hell ladies who are bringing funky vegan cuisine to the masses. Both are perfect for someone new to vegan land.

more raffle fun

So many people are coming through with prizes...the following are on board with prizes to be determined:
Whole Foods (wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/portland-me)
Herbivore Clothing (herbivoreclothing.com)

I am hoping to have a couple to announce every day.

And Running...

Yesterday I did speed work on Back Cove. 1/4 mile sprints (or however far I could go just short of passing out) in 85 degree weather. It was pretty brutal and I am still shocked at the amount of sweat my body produces. Not very sexy at all.

This morning was hill work. The humidity still feels high and I am pretty sure the pollen or ragweed or something is slowly suffocating me. East End Beach area is great for hill repeats, though the people sipping their coffee on the benches overlooking the bay were looking at me like I may be a wee bit of a wackadoodle.

And now my quads feel like it would be a really good idea to go at them with one of those meat tenderizer mallets. Damn my vegan ways, I don't think I have one. To ad to the agony, I am meant to go hiking tomorrow. Ouch.

Raffle It Up

People are starting to really come through as I look for raffle prizes. I have decided to hold a raffle to raise $$ and awareness for my run and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The prizes thus far are as follows:

$25 gift card for Silly's (http://www.sillys.com)
$50 gift card for Green Elephant (http://greenelephantmaine.com)
5 20% off coupons for Rosmemont Market (http://rosemontmarket.com)
Gift Card for Vegan Essentials Online Vegan Store (http://www.veganessentials.com)- amount TBD
Gift card for Pepper Club (http://www.pepperclubrestaurant.com) -amount TBD
Copy of 'Lucky Pigs' by Susan Rooker

This is ongoing so I will have more to announce as time goes on. Thanks so so much to everyone who already committed.

Tickets will be $2 or 3 for $5. Please contact me to buy or help me to sell.

Yesterday was my longest run so far. I did a 12-miler and averaged 9 minute 14 second miles- just a bit above my goal pace. I think that I ran the entire thing on pure anger as I was having a very, very bad day. But, once again, I was reminded how running becomes therapeutic for me and all of the ugliness in my head dissipates for a time. I really don't know how I stayed sane before I can a runner because it is definitely my anti-anxiety drug!

I am loving my android phone technology that uses my GPS in my phone and gives me 5 minute updates on distance, time, and pace. It means I don't need to use a track or the boulevard for those distances and that makes me a happy runner.

This week my goal is to put in 8 hours or so in the fund-raising department. As my training really takes off, I find the time for the other legwork is lacking. I hope to reach out to area businesses for raffle prizes so that I might try to raise further funds with a vegan raffle. Silly's, Green Elephant, and Rosemont Market have already been very generous and I want to add to the pile before I start selling tickets.

I am going through some challenges right now- non running or fundraising related- that may put the blog on hold for a short time. Those of you who read this, please keep me in your thoughts and wish me luck.