Personal Best & Amazing Family

My bootcamp trainer sent us all out an e-mail telling us that we needed to have a goal for each week. He told us we needed to e-mail him our goal before our first class of the week. If we didn't have a goal, don't come to class, it's that simple. My goal for this week was something that I've wanted to do for a while, run 5km in 25 minutes or better. I decided Friday night would be the time to complete this goal.

I went down to the gym about 9pm, cause I'm cool like that, warmed up and got ready to tackle this goal! I'm not going to lie, I thought I was going to die, and was really worried I was going to vomit, but I did it! The treadmill works in miles so it was 3.12 miles in 24.55 minutes. I'm super proud and am going to add in some speed work into my running training so I can keep getting faster! I've come a LONG way in less than two years of running!!

This week I got a tweet from my wonderful cousin telling me that next week she's going on a fundraising mission for me! She's going to try and get some loose change and donations to help me with my fundraising. I'm soo excited and it means a lot to me. My mother in law also told me that her brother is asking people at work for donations. That got me thinking. I can't fund raise at work, it's against my code of ethics, but some of you can!

Inspired by my cousin Alex, I'm going to hold a fundraising contest. I would like people who can to take a jar or container to work, or ask friends and family for change. Loose change can really add up and kicking cancer is an amazing cause!

So anyone who hosts a loose change or any other fundraiser on my behalf in the month of August will be entered to win a prize. I don't know what the prize will be yet but rest assured it will rock! If you need jars, stickers or anything from me let me know. Alex already has a head start so get going!

Thanks as always for your support!

Stephanie

Hill Training

So tonight was the first night of hill training with team in training. After work I headed to High Park to meet the group. Now I don't go to High Park often aka never so naturally I got lost. Luckily I was wearing my team in training shirt and ran into Mark, also wearing his team in training shirt. Judy one of the coaches had flagged him down and told him which way to go. By the time I got to the meeting location I felt like I had already done my workout. Also I wore pants.. what was I thinking? Now last night I went to the gym and did lower body weights. This isn't something I usually do as I run, I normally just do upper body at the gym. This resulted in me being very sore this morning.

Sore + Hot + Hills = UGH!

But it can only get better right? We did a warm up, about 2km, and then went to the hill. We were supposed to do three hill repeats, I ended up doing four. I dread what my body will feel like tomorrow. I have boot camp tomorrow so I hope I'm not too sore.

I'm getting close to recommitment so if you were thinking about sponsoring me but haven't yet, please do!

As always thanks for your support!

Stephanie

Cross Training

I am training for a half marathon but it's important to have variety in your workouts, and to cross train. For almost two years now I'm been doing a bootcamp class one day a week. It's a hard work out, but I show up and don't have to think about anything other than completing the exercises. Sometimes when I go to the gym I hate thinking about what exercise I'm going to do next. It's nice to show up and know you're going to get your butt kicked. Here's a video that gives you an idea about the bootcamp I go to.



I also like doing weight training as well and try to do weights at least once a week. Either at the gym in condo or the gym I have a membership to. Having lean muscle can help with running and staying strong.

Yoga is also important. It helps improve your immune system, your flexibility and breathing. So important when you're marathon training. Yoga is something I need to get back into. I'm hoping to add in yoga once a week to my very busy schedule. It would be well worth it!

Do you cross train? What do you do? I'd love to hear about it!

Thanks for your continued support.

Stephanie

Saturday Run

I was supposed to go to the group training session on Saturday morning. I was having trouble getting to sleep Friday night and slept through my alarm Saturday morning. I'm really not a morning person. So I went off to do my Saturday run on my own. My training plan had me running 9km, and the marathon group running 13km. I decided I could do the 13km, and mapped out the massive route.

Here's me before the run:

The run was hard it was hot and humid. I run 10 and 1's but had to take an extra walk around the 6.5km mark. I also find it hard to run with the fuel belt, the extra weight bothered me. I guess it takes getting use to. The water also heated up very quickly!

Here's me after the run:

Just a little red, and sweaty! My arms are still sore from boot camp on Thursday, I blame the 21 chin ups I did!! My body needs a rest day, so I'm off to my parents for a pool day!

I hope all is well, and as always thanks for the support!

Stephanie

Friday Update

I thought that I'd update everyone on my progress thus far on my fundraising mountain. I'd have to say that I'm doing pretty well. I'm up to $2,236.22 please someone sponsor me $3.78 I don't like these uneven numbers!!

Recommitment is 17 days away on August 8th. It's a scary thought for me because it means I'm committing to raising these funds and will have to pay the difference if I don't. That's a scary scary thought, but with these numbers I starting to believe in myself and know it's actually possible!

My goal is to get to $2500 by recomittment and then up to $3000 before minimum fundraising date which is September 9th. That's the scary date, when the rest of the funds get charged to my credit card.

If you've already sponsored thank you! If you were thinking about it, I'd encourage you to go for it! No donation is too small, and no donation too large. Every donation brings us closer to finding a cure, so no one has to suffer through medication and chemotherapy.

Thanks for your support!

Stephanie

Motivation and Accountability

The reason most people fail with exercise or diets is the lack of motivation and accountability. With my running I have no problem with motivation. I'm completing my half marathon for my mother in law. I'm running and raising funds to help cure blood cancers, something my mother in law has been battling for the past ten years. I run with a purpose which always helps keep me on track.

As for accountability I really lucked out finding two wonderful ladies who are also training for races. We tweet each other after we work out to make sure we've done the work outs we set out to complete that week. It's motivation and accountability. I love getting their tweets to know what they've been up to, and I love sending them back good job tweets!

I have found to be successful with fitness I need motivation and accountability. What works for you?

I want to leave you with a video of a real hero. This is why I run, children shouldn't have to battle cancers, they should enjoy being kids! It doesn't let me add the video here, but please click the link below!

Little girl wages a big fight against childhood cancer - CityNews

As always thanks for your support!

Stephanie

Bone Marrow Registry

There's lots you can do to help people with blood cancers. Of course you can sponsor me for my first ever half marathon. 75% of all the funds I raise go directly towards helping cure blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. But there's something else you can do that costs nothing and can help save a life. Add yourself to the bone marrow registry. In Canada One Match is in charge of the registry.

I encourage all of you to read up on the requirements to become a donor. Here are some of them:

You may be eligible to join if you are between 17 and 50 years old and meet certain health criteria.

Health problems that could make you ineligible include some heart conditions, cancer, blood diseases, insulin-dependent diabetes and infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C.

There are also height and weight restrictions in place to protect both donors and recipients. People who do not meet the program's height/weight criteria may be at a higher risk when undergoing surgery.

A person's best chance of finding a matching donor is within his or her own ethnic group, As such, it is important that the donors on OneMatch reflect Canada's rich ethnic diversity. It is also important for the future of OneMatch to attract young donors.

Please visit One Match to find out more, and if you qualify sign up for the registry. You could save a life!

Here are the diseases treated with stem cells and bone marrow:
Specific forms of cancer:
º Leukemias
º Lymphomas
º Myeloma
•Bone marrow deficiency diseases caused by abnormal red blood cell production, such as thalassemia or sickle cell disease
•Aplastic Anemia which is the lack of normal blood cell production
•Immune system disorders (immunodeficiencies)
•Metabolic Disorders

Let me know if you sign up! As always thanks for your support!

Stephanie

Loose Change

I'm sure everyone has a jar or container like this:

It empties your pockets, and collects your loose change. But what do you do with it? I remember when Mark and I moved in I found his large container of loose change rolled it and banked about $70 towards our move. So what am I asking? I'm asking for your loose change. Help me fill up this huge glass, or send me your already filled glass. I will roll up the money and add it right to my fundraising total! Help me get to my next milestone, $2500, one penny at a time!!!

I'm also currently working on my personal training website. I'm still looking for a part time job at a club, but most clubs are looking for full time and that's just not right for me right now. If anyone's good at website design and wants to barter for personal training let me know! Once it's up and running I'll share it with y'all. The plan is to donate 10% of my earnings from this new venture directly to my fundraising.

Thanks again for all your support!

Stephanie

Happy Friday!

I can't believe just over a week ago I was soo frustrated with my fundraising and I wasn't sure I could do it anymore. My frustration turned into action and support and over $500 in donations in a week. That includes four yes four $100 donations!!! I think the overall result of my "Kindness of Strangers" Campaign is that it encouraged friends and family that hadn't sponsored to step up, and maybe even donate more than they would of!

With that in mind, I'm going to continue my Kindness of Strangers Campaign for this week as well. What that means is anyone who donates a minimum of $2.11 this week (July 15th- 22nd) will be entered to win a personal training session or customized work out plan (depending on your location) So keep tweeting, facebooking and sharing with your friends. Together with small donations we can help end blood cancers!

This morning I checked Facebook and team in training had Blue Jay's tickets for Blue Jay's vs the New York Rangers for tonight for the first person to show up at the office with a $100 donation. I got dressed and heading down to get them. I'll be in section 115, Row 15. The seats are amazing, my husband is thrilled! I'd be lying if I didn't say the fact they came in an envelope with an uncancelled stamp made my day!

So keep your donations coming and keep spreading the word, I'm looking for many small donations of $2.11 I'm at 60% of my goal, it's the home stretch!!!

Thanks guys!

Stephanie

Kindness of Strangers Update

My kindness of strangers campaign is now over, but that doesn't mean you still can't donate $2.11. From now until my race on Oct. 16th, 2011 I'd love to keep getting donations from strangers. It keeps me going to know that people I don't even know care enough to sponsor me and help a great cause!

I promised that I'd give away a customized work out plan to a person who donated during this campaign. In total I received $209.22 in donations. The winner of the customized workout plan goes to Carolyn. I'll contact her shortly to to make plans, and I'll let you know how it goes!

I received a $75 donation today which means I'm just $68.78 away from raising $2000. I really want to get to $2500 in order to be comfortable recommitting. Re-commitment is in August, so it's coming along quick. If you were thinking about donating but haven't yet please do! I'm going to send some reminders out to people who told me they were planning on donating.

LLSC Ontario Region Chapter has secured 100 tickets for the Toronto Blue Jays vs Tampa Bays Rays game on Saturday August 27th at 1:00 p.m. at the Rogers Centre. Tickets are $20/adult and $10/kids 14 and under. A portion of each ticket sale is a donation to LLSC. All are welcome, so please ask your friends and family. Seats are in the section 527 (between the home plate and 3rd base)

It is a Jr. Jays Saturday, meaning there are plenty of activities for kids to participate, in one of them being they have the opportunity to run the bases after the game. If you'd like tickets or know of people who would please let me know. Part of the ticket price goes towards my fundraising, and part goes directly to LLSC.

That's it for today's update. I hope everyone's doing well.

Stephanie

Kindness of Strangers Part Two

Hey guys,

So far this weekend I've received $9.22 in donations from my "Can I count on the kindness of strangers" campaign. I feel like we could all do a little better. So I was thinking maybe I should sweeten the deal a little bit. Maybe if there's something in it for people they'd be more likely to donate.

So here's the deal. I'm going to extend the Kindness of Strangers Campaign until Tuesday at 5pm. Everyone who donates a minimum of $2.11 will be entered into a draw. The prize is a personalized work out plan created by me. I am a certified personal trainer. Depending on how well this works I might also add in some personal training sessions (for people in Toronto, would be able to exchange for work out plans if outside Toronto).

So change to the experiment... if there's potentially something in it for you, are you more likely to give? I hope so because I still have a fundraising mountain to climb and I need your help! Please share with friends, family, facebook, twitter, ect..

Thanks guys.

Can I Count on the Kindness of Strangers?

This weekend I am holding a social and fundraising experiment. Can I count on the kindness of strangers? As you can see from my last blog post I feel like I don't have enough friends to climb this fundraising mountain, so the plan, how many complete strangers can I get to donate $2.11 to my fundraising.
Why $2.11? It's 10 cents a kilometer. I want to be running my first half marathon and when I just think I can't run anymore think about the strangers that believe in me.

That's the mission and I hope you choose to accept it. It could be an epic fail, or it could shock me. But I do need your help! Please forward this to your friends and ask them to do the same. Let's see if we can still count on the kindness of strangers!

Update / Pity Party

Hey guys,

I know I'm horrible at updating my blog and I keep saying I'll try and do better but now that I have a fancy new desk set up in my fancy new condo maybe I actually will!

I spent the past week packing, moving and unpacking. It was a horrible exercise week. I manged one 7km run and an hour boot camp class. I have to do MUCH better this week. My plan is at least three runs, boot camp class, and some weights/toning or yoga class.

I'm not going to lie, I'm frustrated with my fundraising. It's not moving anywhere, and I feel like all my attempts are failing. At this point I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make it to the fundraising minimum. In August we have to recommit to our fundraising. If we don't meet the minimum then we have to cover the rest. With my new condo that's just not a possibility. If my fundraising doesn't pick up, I'm going to have to do something I hate... quit.

If anyone has any tips or ideas for me let me know. I'm really surprised no one's interested in personal training. I feel like all my fundraising ideas are good on paper but are all epic fails....

Well that's the end of my pity party.

Stephanie