It's Race Time Baby!

It's Race Time
Well after 8 weeks of training it's time for the my first race of the year, the Vancouver 1/2 Marathon.  I will be toeing the line at 7 am this Sunday to "enjoy" running 13.1 miles through one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  My original goal was to finish under 1:25--about a 6:30 per mile pace.  If I am honest, I don't really think that is possible.  I was honestly really out of shape 8 months ago, I am still carrying a few extra pounds around, and I haven't been running fast enough in training to run as fast as I wanted to this weekend.  The great news is after only 8 weeks of serious training I feel like I am in decent shape and I am really hoping to finish under 1:30 minutes.  This would put me right on pace to run my goal time of under 3 hours for a full marathon this fall.  My real running goal for this year is to FINALLY run a marathon under 3 hours this fall. So right now I feel pretty good about where I am at and I am fired up for the race this weekend and for a great marathon training season in the summer.

Looking Back and Looking Ahead
It has been 3 months and 7 posts since I started this blog and I think I am off to a good start.  I really admire anyone who writes a blog or does a podcast.  Man it's a lot of work.  Doing research and developing content, writing it up, and publishing it.  I don't know how people can do it every week.  Looking back I feel good about getting Naomi and our family's story out there.  I have also learned a lot about Type I diabetes.  AND we have raised $500 for Type I diabetes research!  That is 10% towards my goal of raising $5,000 this year!

It's just a start though. I have lots of running to do before my first marathon, probably about 1,200 miles, a whole lot to learn about diabetes, a bunch of blog posts to write, and $4,500 still to raise for Type I diabetes research.  I am excited to meet these challenges this summer!

Running is a Team Sport
So this is race week.  Running to me is the ultimate test.  There are no tricks, no fancy equipment, no teammates to carry you, no coaches out on the course.  It is you alone, running.  Whether the course if flat, windy, raining, or 400 yards too long (like it was for me last year), you chose how hard you run, you chose to give up or leave it all out on the course.  But running is NOT an individual sport.  All of us run for something and most of us run for someone.  I started running for my sons many years before they were born. After my dad had multiple heart attacks and a stroke I decided I better get in shape so I could be there for my kids. Now I run for Naomi who has let me run every day for 7 years, for Liam who when he sees me wearing my running stuff runs to the basement door (where the treadmill is) and says "Daddy go running?" and for Oliver's amazing smile.  While I have so many people who have supported me -including all of you- and I have so many people who inspire me, this weekend I run to fight the disease that threatens the one's I love most, Type I Diabetes. I run to suffer just a little to fight for a cure so that Naomi doesn't have to suffer anymore. I run so my boys never have to know what it is like to inject insulin. I run in fear and with hope.

So join me.  If you have wanted to donate now to my fundraising campaign now is the time to do it.  If you wanted to comment on the blog, do it (I need the encouragement).  If you want to learn more about diabetes, now is the time.  It's race day.  It's time to lace up your shoes and race like hell. Who knows what will happen but you will never know unless you try.

Click here to Donate to Mike's JDRF Fundraising Campaign