Week 6-10 marathon training

Wow I really did not realize how far behind I am on updating my awesome followers on my training. Since the last time I posted I have had an amazing Pizza Inn fundraiser where I earned $260 for Leukemia and Lymphoma society. It was a great success and I really saw all the love and support I have out there. 

As far as training goes I am trying to push harder than ever. I have been in the gym the last two weeks or so because I realized I really needed to gain strength. Two weekends ago I ran 12 miles and around mile 11 my back began to give me trouble. From that point on I knew I had to get stronger. This past weekend I ran 8.25 miles. My 8 mile route passes my parents house and so from mile 4- 5 they ran/ walked with me. I am so proud of them and how far they have come. 

On my run today I was thinking who my biggest influences are for getting in shape and three people came to mind. First my husband, he is such an amazing inspiration. He has taught me so much about becoming healthy. He is always encouraging me even when I'm tired. I am so proud of the lifestyle he lives, I know being healthy will help us to live longer lives together. The other two people are my parents, wow have things have changed in the way they live their lives over the past 19 months. In January 2012 my dad had a massive heart attack. Since then they have started eating much healthier and working out three times a week. They both look amazing. I think we truly encourage each other, because they are also training to run a 5k (3.1 miles) which is such an amazing goal. 

I don't know how I couldn't be inspired to run my marathon (26.2 miles) in November. I have inspiration from family, friends, and amazing cancer patients who have fought, are fighting, or have lost their battle to cancer. I am so blessed to run for such an amazing organization. Please continue to donate. I am about $700 short of my goal. Thank you for your love and encouragement. 

Week 5 or Marathon Training

An amazing of running. How things change when you wake up early and glorify God with your talent. This week my running went great. My body finally feels back to normal and I have not had any aches or pains this whole week. Saturdays, as you know, are my team run days. I woke up Saturday morning and it was raining. Quickly I went back to bed and then had a message saying we were still running. On the way there the rain really slowed down and almost completely stopped. We were able to run about a mile or two and then the rain really starts coming down again. We continued to run the whole time. The rain finally stopped at mile 7 and at mile 9 I spoke to soon by saying my shoes had began to dry. At mile 9 the ran came down so hard I had to look down the whole time. I couldn't see anything in front of me. I can definitely say that our 10 mile run was definitely not a hot one. The run over all was amazing and I love being with my team.

Remember the fundraisers I have coming up. 

-Arbone Party: August 10 2:00-4:00

-Pizza Inn in Greer: August 15 5:00- 9:00

Donations any time can go to:

Http://pages.teamintraining.org/sc/rnrsc13/ Kbellpxh9g

Thanks for all your support. God Bless!

Pictures from this week:

Weekly Training Updates

I wanted to start with thanking everyone who has donated to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society so far. You guys are amazing. I am a little over half way there on raising my minimum goal and I am only 5 weeks into my training plan.

I thought it may be fun to start updating you every week on how my training is going. Remember every mile is one step closer to finding a cure with team in training. I will also update everyone with fundraisers along the way. 

Today started week 5 of my training so I want to update you on the last month of running. Last weekend I was able to do my first team run with some teammates and my coach. We train at 6:30 in the morning and ran 7 miles. When I first started I hated the thought of waking up that early on a Saturday. Now I realize why, we beat the heat, and when we get up to 16,18,20 miles I'm really going to enjoy that. 

I definitely began really wanting to pick my training last week. I realized there are so many people counting on me to finish this for them. I realized I am not just running this for myself but for those who have lost their lives to cancer or are fighting now. I have friends and family members who have asked me to run for their family member and I will not let them down. 

Last week I actually injured my calf muscle, but after sitting out for just one day I am feeling better, thank goodness. I had a gorgeous run downtown this weekend and 3 other runs jus

around town. If you ever see me make sure to honk or wave, the motivation is amazing.

Today I told my mom I had stopped listening to Christian music when I run, and this weekend I began to listen to it again. It's amazing the difference in my mood. I feel like this is a way for me to worship. I love to sing along while I'm running and also use the gift of running he has blessed me with. I want to post pictures every week from my runs so everyone can see how hard I am training. I am also trying to go to the gym, but so far that's only been around once or twice a week. 

So as of right now my fundraisers are:

Pizza Inn Night- August 15

- tickets are $10/adult and $5/ child. This includes a a buffet and a drink. I get $3/ adult and $1.50/ child. All proceeds go to Leukemia and Lymphoma society. 

Arbone Party: date TBA

ZumbaThon: date TBA

I am very interested in doing a wine tasting/ silent auction, and also selling t- shirts.  I need ideas and help to plan these things. If anyone knows a place to do these, donate, or just has any awesome ideas I would love to hear them. Thank you so much for all your love and support. I am beyond blessed. 

GO TEAM!!

I thought this gram was just red polka dots, but as you see its actually for Christmas in July.

A daily challenge last week.

Training with a Purpose

Last Saturday I ran my first race with team in traing. It was such a great experience. The race was called the sunrise run, so as the name implies we began running as the sun was rising. It was gorgeous and helped being early so we were not all so hot.  I have always heard that with TNT when you feel tired there is always someone there to yell "Go Team!". Well I finally had that experience. This was my first five mile race since my surgery, and two weeks off was a lot harder than I ever imagined. I was getting tired in the race and one of my teammates ran by me and yelled "Go Team". I then remembered who I was running for; the families who lost a loved one to cancer, those who can no longer run, and those fighing even now.   The folllowing Wednesday I ran a race called "Run for One" which raised money for all those involced in the Boston Marathon bombing. Its'a amazing how we truly are a runner's nation. We love to support other runners that we do not even know.

 Thank you for all the love and support I have recieved from the last few weeks. I love all the letters of encouragement that I have gotten from friends and family.  Yesterday I was able to add another name to my list of people I am going to run for in November. A sorority sister of mine lost her 17 year old cousin to Lymphoma. Please keep her family in your prayers. This showed me and should show so many others that cancer does not discriminate. It can take anyone at anytime. We really need to find a cure for cancer and stop letting it take the lives of the ones we love.

Below is a picture of my family picture from the Boston run.

Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

I know many of you may think that these do not sound good at all. To be honest I did not want to even try these because I don't even like cauliflower (the main ingredient). I am so thankful that I made these the other day anyways. Justin found a recipe online and while he was gone to get propane for the grill I fixed them. Yes, I know it's crazy that I actually made something in the kitchen. They were delicious, but then I realized I left something very important out.... garlic! So tonight I tried to make them again. They taste just like mashed potatoes if not better and without all the carbs!

Here is what you need:

 Bag of cauliflower

 Tbsp of fat free cream cheese

 1/4 cup of Gouda cheese

 4 cloves of garlic

 Ground Pepper

Scallions

They are so easy to make. Here is how you do it:

1. Break all the cauliflower into small pieces and place them in a pot of boiling water.  Let them boil for about 6 minutes or until soft.

2. While these are boiling; in a food processor chop the garlic and go ahead and soften the cream cheese.

3. Drain the cauliflower and press down on it in the strainer to get as much water as possible. If you don't drain them enough the  consistency will be very runny.

4. Add the cauliflower, cream cheese, Gouda, and pepper (to taste) into the food processor.  Grind to the consistency of mashed potatoes. 

5. Now they are ready to serve. We placed onions and scallions on top of ours and paired these with tuna and a zucchini/ squash medley. 

Hope that you enjoy these as much as we did. Remember eat healthy and respect your body :)

My Two Weeks of Rest

Wow! I never imagined how much I would miss being active. Last Wednesday (May 22) I had surgery and was told I was not allowed to run or hit the gym for two weeks! 

I have missed two runs with my amazing teammates on Friday mornings. I see runners outside and I'm so jealous, but God and Justin quickly remind me that my "NO RUNNING" is only temporary! Takes me back to running with a purpose! Running for those who no longer can, who lost their life to CANCER! 

Wednesday I cannot wait to be back in my running shoes! Back running for my grandmother, Kimberly, and many others that my amazing friends have asked me to run for! This week has been emotionally tough on me! I have thought so much about November 9 (Savannah Marathon) and just imagine the joy of the finish line and what I just did. I'm running to cure cancer!! 

The week before my surgery I have all the miles I could! Monday I ran my first 16 mile run, Wednesday I ran a quick 3.5 mile recovery run, and Friday I ran 13.1 miles at relay for life with my sister in law Jill in memory of her beautiful mother we lost to pancreatic cancer last year! After being diagnosed she lived for 77 days! This run was do amazing! Knowing I ran to find a cure for cancer! No one needs to go what the Bonner family went through! How quickly her life was taken from her! When I finished I looked at Mr. Bonner and told him that was for his incredible wife. I cannot imagine running around a boring track for 52 Laos for anyone else, but it was such an honor to do it for her!!

Please follow me along my journey of training as it all starts this Wednesday when in released by my doctor to run again!! 

Don't forget to donate to:

Http://pages.teamintraining.org/sc/rnrsav13/kbellpxh9g

Running With A purpose

Who or what do you run for? For so long I have run for myself and to some degree it has worked. I think of my day and let go of stress from what the day has brought me. I have always thought there has to be more to running. I have told you several times that I tell myself I run for those who can't, which I sometimes do. Last Tuesday I ran for Boston. This truly showed me how rewarding it is to run for someone else and have nothing to do with running for yourself. I ran next to a man and his soon at the very end of the race and at mile 2.2 he wanted to give up. I told him, "come on buddy only .4 left you can do this!" The little boy looked at me and then his dad told him, "remember who we are running for. We are Boston strong, we run for those who no longer can, who no longer have legs or feet". At that very moment I knew there was more to running then just a course or a way to clear my head; I needed to run for a purpose.

I am now training for my first Marathon which is November 9. I have joined the team, "Team In Training" which is s group that raises money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Many of you may know this already but after my freshman year in college (2007) my grandmother died of Leukemia. She was the most amazing woman. A woman whose heart was always full of joy and laughter. She was an amazing mother, wife, daughter, sister, and of course grandmother. I can still see her sweet laugh when I close my eyes. She's been my inspiration to never give up on anything I put my mind to. So in November I am running for her and I am running for a cure. No one deserves to lose anyone to cancer. A dear friend of mine, Kimberly, was diagnosed with Leukemia a year ago. She is so inspirational to me as well. She never complains or looks sad. She always has a smile on her face. Her faith in Jesus through everything she goes through with Leukemia has strengthened me and my relationship with Jesus. She is such an amazing role model and an incredible nurse that I look up to, I will be running in her honor on November 9.

All of us haves been affected by cancer in some way. We may have lost a family member, a friend, or even a child to the "Big C". I was blessed to be able to do my internship in Pediatric Oncology in nursing school, and this is where I want my nursing career to take me in the future. These kids are amazing, they are strong, and they are courageous. While raising money for Leukemia sand Lymphoma we will be sponsoring our Honored Heros. These are children who have defeated cancer. I cannot wait to meet this sweet children on May 14 as we kick off our training program. Cancer has my heart. I will be running for a cure. What will you run for?

Please donate to my team to help find a cure. Every dollar gets us one step closer.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sc/rnrsav13/kbellpxh9g

This is me and my friend Ashley at the Run for Boston Event

My friend Kaitlyn and I at the Run for Boston event.

The Sweet lady in the middle is Kimberly along with two of my other amazing Co-Workers Neala, and Misty.

My first race after realizing that I need to run for a purpose ( I PR'ed :)). This is at the Diva Half Marathon in North Myrtle Beach. This was my sister in law Jill's first half. She did great.

My Inspiration; my grandmother.