Thankful

I have much to be thankful for today. Lots of quality family time during the Thanksgiving break, got to run every day except Monday, including the Marin Turkey Trot with the family, my Friday favorite 8-mile run out to Phoenix Lake, and a 12-mile run to Mill Valley Sunday, which was gorgeous. My total for the week was 37.37 miles, the highest mileage week I've had since March 2014 (when my weekly total was just over 50 miles, a few weeks before my first Boston Marathon). I got plenty of sleep, enjoyed time with my family, and loved every minute I spent running.

Marin Turkey Trot 2016

Corte Madera Creek and Mt. Tamalpais

Phoenix Lake and Mt. Tamalpais

Mt. Tamalpais as seen from Mill Valley-Sausalito path

Greater egret in Mill Valley

Training is going great so far!

My 8-mile run on Friday 10/28 was wet. But I loved every minute of it! There's something about the mist, and the quiet, that makes it especially calming to run in the rain. It also makes me feel like a REAL RUNNER. Sometimes, even though I run almost every day,  I don't feel like a real runner (mostly because I'm so slow). Running a semi-long run in the rain says "hardcore!" 

I like to run from my house out to Phoenix Lake. Of course, nothing compares to a New England autumn, but I was very happy to see some color around the lake and along the roads on the way to it.

Phoenix Lake

Hills around Phoenix Lake

Tonight I ran an even 10K, and felt great. It's my first day of my "no added sugar" challenge (which is especially tricky considering the Halloween candy in the house at present!), and even though I performed a long and difficult surgery this morning, I had plenty of energy for an hour-long run. My right hand had Raynaud's afterwards, but a cup of jasmine tea remedied that!

I'm currently running 25-30 miles per week. I will gradually add to that, with my highest mileage probably around 45-50 by late March/early April. You can follow me on Strava if you'd like!

First official Friday training run

This morning was the first run longer than 5 miles since the Mighty Niagara Half Marathon in September, and my first >20 mile week since then as well. So far this week I've run almost 22 miles, but it's almost cheating that I got an extra day since I flew from Korea on Monday, landing in SFO 4 hours before leaving from Incheon! I ran 5 miles on Monday morning in Seoul, then another 2.75 miles on Monday afternoon at home (which was Tuesday morning in Seoul).

Edward ran with me this morning, and although I was too tired to converse during the last mile, it was a great workout and enjoyable time together. We rewarded ourselves with a trip to Donut Alley afterwards. (If I eat 2 donuts for every 7 miles I run, then I could have a half dozen after my 20-miler!)

180 Days to Race Day!

I am happy to announce that I will once again be participating in the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge, running the Boston Marathon on April 17, 2017. I have not run a full marathon since Boston in 2014, but training is going well so far, and I am feeling strong and ready to raise funds for cancer research!

Part of my fundraising plan this year is selling headbands, appropriate for supporters and runners alike. They are made by Sparkly Soul, and are guaranteed not to slip. Fits ages 3 and up! These fabulous headbands won't slip, won't cause headaches, and won't break hair.

As shown, we have two colors of "Boston Strong" headbands: black & white or blue & gold. These are fantastic for spectators as well as runners.

There is also a teal "Run Boston 26.2" headband, as shown below. All headbands are 3/8" wide. 

Headbands are $20 each, including shipping, and all proceeds go to the Claudia Adams Barr Program in Innovative Cancer Research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Research projects funded by the Barr Program have directly impacted survival. For example, discovery of certain "kinases" led to treatments which have improved survival by 63% for certain patients with metastatic melanoma.

To purchase, please e-mail me at mjlommer at yahoo dot com with your choice of color; I will then contact you to arrange payment either online or by check and your headband will be on its way in a couple of days!

To make a donation, please go to http://www.runDFMC.org/2017/milinda 

For donations of $100 or more in honor or memory of a loved one, I will wear your honoree's name on my race singlet. My goal is to raise $10,000 this year. I would love your help!!