My 26.2 Miles

My headphones rang with "U Can't Touch This" as the starting announcements were made.  The group huddled around me in anticipation, bobbing and throbbing with heat.  Over 20,000 people stood around me waiting to run the next 26.2 miles, and you could feel the excitement.  I made it to the halfway point in just a little over 2 hours and I felt great!  I had a blister to take care of around mile 9, and had rolled my ankle a couple times (that comes back later), but I was smiling and breathing easy.  At mile 14, my ankle started to swell pretty significantly.  I tried powering through, but the pain was incredible.  Meeting with mom at mile 16/17 was relieving.  At mile 19, Joe came in as my human crutch and together we hobbled across the finish line.  This was 3 hours later.  Yes!!  I made it!  A group of Team In Training coaches formed a love tunnel and cheered me through every painful step.  I couldn't have made it without their, and your, support.  It was beautiful.  The highlight of my run was finishing and having a woman come up to me crying as she hugged me, telling me that I was her inspiration for doing next year's marathon and having her daughter join her.  Thank you everyone.  Now I have to try it without injuries!!  We'll see.. ;)

Thank you all, again, for your incredible support.

I finished, and I am home safe!  I'll post more stories/photos later.  I did it!

One, two, three, four, uno, dos, tres, quattro...  

I'm packing.  Ahh!!  Thank you everybody who helped me in the past 5 months, thank you to those who donated, thank you to those who sent support and love, thank you to my coaches who got me through, thank you to the team I love being a part of, and thank you Meridith for making me do this crazy event.  I love it!  San Diego, here I come!  I'll keep y'all posted on when I cross that finish line!!

5 days left! Then I run the full 26.2 miles and pass out on a beach.. My goal is between 10 and 12 minutes per mile, depending on the weather ;) I start fresh at 6:30 A.M. I plan on taking my time with intervals, jamming along the way to stay motivated. There will be a lot of dancing! I can't wait for the California sunshine! I'm loving it here this week. Base tan: check. Bikinis: check. Shorts: check. Sunscreen: check. Are my legs ready? Sure! It's now or never!

Last week to donate to a great cause! Have you donated to a great cause today? You should!! http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/rnr09/cgoade

Fundraiser$

I run on May 31st, it's your last week to donate! My recommendation: throw $100 at me today! Tell all your friends! One more week!!

For sale! All proceeds go to help fight blood cancer: http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/rnr09/cgoade

Loveseat & Ottoman: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fuo/1175284191.html

Queen Mattress & Box: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fuo/1175294143.html

Twin Mattress & Box: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fuo/1175297971.html

Matching Wood Coffee Table & End Table: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fuo/1175288101.html

Coffee Table: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/fuo/1175290722.html

Lamps: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/hsh/1175301626.html

Pillows: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/hsh/1175305830.html

Suitcase: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/for/1175309370.html

Black Floor Pillow: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/hsh/1175315350.html

Plant thing: http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/hsh/1175317288.html

It's my last week for fundraising for this great cause, so I've decided to deliver cookies to anyone who can get their friends, family, and coworkers to donate! 

Also, if you haven't gotten around to it yet, here's the link: http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/rnr09/cgoade

Thank you all who have helped me for the last 5 months!! XoXoXo

Less than 3 weeks left!  Make sure you get in your donations this week :)  The garage sale and bake sale went really well, I'm $500 closer to my goal!  This Saturday will be one more garage sale, one more night out for money, and hopefully the last reminders will kick in a few more donations.  All the stuff in the truck is leftovers that will be for sale this weekend!

11921 SE 198th CT

Renton, WA 98058

Saturday, probably 10-whenever it's gone.  Wish me luck!

I am baking cookies and it's 3:30 in the morning.  Woot!  Thanks to Colleen and her magical cookie-baking skills, I am 2 dozen ahead!!  :)  Time for bed.

I'm nervous about the long run this weekend. It's going to be 3 hours! It will give me a good idea of how I stand for the marathon, but being sick for the past week has thrown a bit of a damper on my excitement. I'm also having my garage sale (really this time! see the Craigslist ad) and the Mother's Day Treat sale at Holy Family in Auburn on Sunday. If there's a lot left from Saturday, I'll be back in Rainier Beach that afternoon to haggle off the rest of the items. WooohoO! Cheer me on!!

Just a few more weeks of fundraising, people! Get your donations in ASAP. Thank you all again!! http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/rnr09/cgoade

Check it:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/gms/1159443160.html

Major Fundraising Week!! AHH!!

Running!  30 days until the 26.2 marathon!  Ahh!!  Joe helped set up a bake sale/flower sale/card sale on Mother's Day at one or two churches next Sunday :) (because he is the greatest boyfriend ever) And I'll be having the garage sale next weekend as well.  $$$  Tomorrow night I'll be passing out cards with my girlfriends and collecting as much dough as possible before the deadline hits.  25% complete!  Woohoo!!

Woohoo! One month to go!

Still running, still fundraising!! I'll be holding a fundraising garage sale this weekend in downtown Renton near the Boeing Airport, stay tuned for details! Again, if anyone would like to donate items for sale please email me at: crystalgoade@gmail.com

Happy Monday!

Ok! Signed up for a gym last week and haven't been writing, so here goes:

I train (jog) 5 times a week. I do a new weight training program Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I'm starting yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I took before pictures today and will take follow up ones about every month from now on... or when I feel like it. I'm pumped up and I'm pumping up! The marathon is May 31st and I have a couple fundraising event ideas for April!! Stay tuned!! I need to raise AT LEAST $4000 by then, people! Let's rock this joint.

One of my plans is to have a garage sale either next weekend or the following weekend, depending on how soon my mama is ready. If anyone has things they would like to sell for a cause, please let me know at crystalgoade@gmail.com. Thank you! I'll have a donation bucket there as well :) Wish me luck!

Going to rock the gym tonight. Yes!! I love it.

This week I pumped iron like Arnold.

P.S. Alki Moment

"Little Mermaid.  Emphasis on Little."

Week Nine

I have been running like crazy!  I started a new job over the last couple weeks where I help pack and move, which is helping tone my arms, and I jog daily.  In addition to my team schedule, Colleen and I have been doing pretty well at going to Alki a few times a week (and it's absolutely wonderful!), plus I have my standard Saturday morning team practices.  Our times went up this week to 40 and 50 minutes, and we're also incorporating hills.  Ouch!  My ass is going to look great, though, which is what keeps me going!  My sister and I sing  "Apple Bottom Jeans" to get me pumped up.  Here's how this week works:

Monday: Rest

Tuesday: 40 minute Hills

Wednesday: 40 minute Run

Thursday: 50 minute Run (small hills)

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 70 minute Matthew's Beach Team Run

Sunday:  30 minute Run

I'm beginning to incorporate more yoga, toning exercises, and pilates into my workout.  My arms are already feeling it from work, so why not?  I did an ab routine tonight after the jog.  Feeling good!  26.2 miles good?

Tuesday was "Recommitment" day, which basically means I was supposed to be at 25% of my funds raised and I ALLLLmost made it.  Look out for a few fundraising events over the next two months as I prepare to collect the last 3+ thousand for the cure!  I love making a difference!  Woohoo!!  Join me, come for a jog, donate today!!!

It's a race to the first finish line today and I reach my first deadline:  $1000 or 25%.  Will I make it?  I hope so!  Help me fight!  http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/rnr09/cgoade

Team iPoop

"Rich Goade is a survivor.

Team iPoop is inspired by Rich Goade, the full-time cancer fighter. (www.richgoade.com) He's taking down cancer with faith, an excellent team of doctors and a positive attitude. We want him to know that we’re fighting right along with him and we always will be. Watch out…we fight dirtier than butt cancer and we won’t stop until it’s wiped clean! Send prayers, send love, get involved!" -P Daddy

Mercer Island 5K with the Goade (Waltner/Kennedy) Girls (+Paul)! It was the greatest, just like Uncle RICH!! <3

Friday Thought

Leukemia is a malignancy of the blood-forming tissues; bone marrow, lymph nodes and spleen. It appears as uncontrolled multiplication of abnormal blood cells. When leukemia strikes, millions of abnormal and useless white blood cells accumulate in the tissues, preventing the production of normal cells. It is estimated that leukemia and its related cancers will strike over 100,000 Americans this year. Every week 1,155 Americans will lose their lives to this disease. Leukemia is the number one killing disease of children, yet affects 10 times as many adults. The cause of leukemia remains unknown. However, the effectiveness of recently developed treatment methods and steady advances in research bring us closer every day to finding the cause of leukemia and related cancers and probable cures.

lululemon

I've been getting a lot of questions about my gear, especially my white jacket with the back pocket (for my iPhone!  Great for photos on the go!)  It's all lululemon athletica. Their clothing is awesome! There's an outlet store in Burlington! Check it out.

The men's clothing is also great. They have pockets in the back of the shorts like my jacket does. Super cool!

Week Six

It was about a two hour walk/run through Ballard this morning.  I jogged while one of my girlfriends walked, and we tried to stay warm in the "almost" snow.  It was great out there!  I feel good.  I'm able to run longer, stretch, and enjoy it.  I love this training!  The time is going up to 40 minutes this week, and I can't wait.  Cheer me on!  

I really need help fundraising.  I'll send out another email this week, but if anyone is keeping up make sure you spread the word!  $5-$10 is ideal.  I hope you can help!  And remember that some companies will match donations, which can double it quickly!  Let me know if there's anything I can do.  XoXo

Colleen and I walked Alki yesterday!  It was gorgeous, before the storm rolled in.  

Running inside this week!

Week Four, is it?

It was a 70 minute Saturday at Seward Park in South Seattle. What a perfectly gorgeous place to wake up! It was freezing along the lake, but we had plenty of time to warm up. I flew solo this week; the one visitor I had was an Honored Teammate who joined me about halfway along. His story, as always, was inspiring and full of hope. He and his wife had done a marathon in Portland years ago, noticing the constant "Go Team!" and wondered what program was so upbeat with it's participants. He was later diagnosed with blood cancer. His wife found Team in Training, and he's now done a couple seasons himself. Cheers to all those fighters! Here's to another great week. Remember to donate! XoXo

Saving Gas!

Yesterday I jogged to a friend's house.. 45 minutes in the bag!  A little longer than I was supposed to go for training, but it was nice out and it felt good to stretch my legs.  I was low on gas to boot, so had a couple pop-tarts, a few glasses of water, then WALKED HOME.  Woohoo!  I'm proud of myselft.  Who knows where I'll end up next time ;)  Hopefully somewhere with less hills!  Xo

Week Three

Going strong!  I jogged with the best group today, they were three ladies who cracked me up.  We alternated between jogging 4/5 min. and walking 2 min. for an hour.  It was fabulous!  Our mentor kept having us run for longer, so by the end we were feeling strong (and weak!) and pumped up.  I feel great now.  I've got "Womanizer" loaded onto my iPhone for tomorrow's run.  Now I'm off to hydrate!

New Gear! Thanks to Pops and Molls

The Aches!

Our running schedule starts with a week of 30-40 minute runs on our own, with two rest days.  Tonight I did an old neighborhood route and felt it a little over the small hills. My legs are already a little sore!  I may miss my jog tomorrow due to my birthday, but have a lot of walking planned to make up for it. Stay tuned for more news this weekend; Mer and I will be stretching our legs in the Big Apple!

XoXo

Huntsman Institute takes battle against cancer into new phase:

Read the article.

"Nice article on Hope, Cancer and the expansion plans at the Huntsman Institute." -Uncle Rich

Check it out!

Day Two

Today I did a 40-minute jog/walk around Seward Park under the wonderfully overcast sky. I've been trying to pay more attention to my form and it seems to help my breathing as well. Score! My legs are a little sore from yesterday, but tomorrow is a "rest" day so I'll do a yoga session and stretch. My body feels great! I love feeling like this; tight and lean. It's a happy mixture. Tomorrow come the fundraising letters! XoXo.

Team in Training has begun!

Today was our first team run, a 40-minute trek through Eastlake and South Lake Union.  It was gorgeous!  The sun was high, the air was crystal clear, and the water looked fantastic.  My hands were almost numb near the end, but jogging kept me pumped and warm.  The music helped!  (Thank goodness for my iPhone).

I didn't quite keep up with Meridith and her long legs.  She's a pro; we'll see if I catch up over the next few months.  I look forward to more!  Don't forget to help me fundraise:  

I'm Running to Save Lives!

Have a terrific weekend everyone!  I'll be out tomorrow for more..