Gear

Dear Nike+ iPod Sport Sensor Kit,
You are my very best friend.
Love,
Tracy

So the equipment arrived: iPod nano (yellow; inscription LaurynxAddiction), arm band, headphones, Nike+ chip, play list. I couldn't very well not run.


7 miles. Outside. Along Lake Michigan. In the snow.


When I began running, I felt as though I was running in place. I reminded myself that distance, rather than speed, was my goal for the day and that if it took hours to run 7 miles, so be it. It didn't. It took 51 minutes, at a speed of 7.17. My iPod told me. Can I say that upon hearing my iPod congratulate me on my goal I literally threw my arms in the air, Rocky style? I can.

Vinyasa

Went to a morning vinyasa yoga class and stretched hard; a more no-nonsense instructor than at the hatha class from earlier in the week. She rubbed a Tiger Balm-esque potion on my shoulders that I can still smell, three hours after the fact. I did a handstand against a wall and held the crow pose momentarily.

(I look like a cliche when I am walking down the street with an Envirosax bag with my yoga mat in it, holding a latte from Starbucks, whilst talking on my iPhone. If I had cute yoga clothes and/or nice hair, I'd be one of those women I hate.)

Mr. Jablonski reports, via facebook, that his training is beginning today!

Keeping up with Big Sister

Lisa sent me a text last night that she ran 5.2 miles in 70 minutes! Amazing! I was going to, ahem, take the day off today, but I considered her message a challenge and went to the gym this morning. I ran 5 miles, walked 0.5, and watched the 1995-ish movie "Higher Learning"--all about the trials and tribulations of college in 1995. I saw this on a date with someone. Nic Watson? (Anna and Jess: you'll appreciate that.) I may go back to the shoe store to see if my knee pain is caused by my form or my shoes because, meeeowza, is it hurting. I have paper cups of water freezing right now.

xoxoxo,
t.

The Message

Hi Team!

I am taking the day off and resting my knee. I ended up going to yoga last night and it was lovely--I'm hoping to make it a weekly practice. The snow was blowing outside and it was so nice and so very peaceful. All my thoughts turned to Lauryn and my love for her.

Also, we can welcome a new team member--Ryan from Madison! He is a co-worker and friend of Mercy's who will be running the full marathon on May 30. Lauryn's best friend, T.J., is also going to register to participate in the half with us, if I can twist his arm hard enough.


The women's shirts were delivered and reports are they are lovely. The design for silk screening is in process, but will be completed soon.

I sent out an email today requesting donations via a PayPal account so that we can advance the scholarship. I'll include the text of the message here as well, lest you would like to copy/paste it somewhere:

Dear Friends and Family,

As you are probably aware, my beautiful sister, Lauryn Kay Mustain, was in a traffic accident on December 3, 2009 which tragically took her life. At 17, she was funny and bright; beautiful and bold. Her loss grips those who loved her daily--she was pure joy.

In honor of her spirit and the life she led, I am organizing a team to run in the Madison, Wisconsin Half Marathon on May 30, 2010. Team LaurynxAddiction is currently looking for support to raise money for a scholarship to be presented to one of Lauryn's peers in the East Troy High School class of 2010. We aren't a group of runners though--we are just a team of people who love Lauryn and miss her wit, her laughter, and her sloppy kisses. Please consider donating via our secure PayPal account and, if you are able, come cheer us on in Madison! Please feel free to pass this message along to those who may find it of interest.

Best to you and yours,
Tracy VanDeBoom

...but I just ate half a donut so...

Today I ran 4.5 miles in 48 minutes at 6.1 and then walked 0.3 miles (5 minutes) as a cool down. My legs started hurting immediately during the run and now I am feeling pain in my left knee (usually the source of any running related pain). I may try a Hatha yoga class--per Mary's recommendation--tonight if Kid will sleep early enough. Also, I just ate half a sprinkle donut. So that's that.

3.5 miles on elliptical in 43 minutes, followed by weight machines (torso twist, seated leg press, arm press), and 10 minutes on stationary bike to finish. It wasn't a particularly hard workout, so I don't know if I will do more later or call it a day.

4 miles in 44 minutes at pace of 6.1. That's all I got.

Mary completed her first 30 minute run WITHOUT STOPPING today! Great job, Mary. She's been training outside in the cold Minnesota weather, despite the ice and snow on the trails. Wow.

Watch For Zamboni Crossing

Yesterday Anna and I ran at The Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee. Despite the cold--running around the track of an Olympic ice rink--it was really great to get off the treadmill. The Zamboni did not plow us down (although I did get anxious when the skaters marred up the newly glossed over ice; I see where Kid L VDB gets his distaste for chaos) and we ran between 3-4 miles, although we both lost track of laps. I now long for the Nike + Sensor for my shoes; I like the idea of keeping track without me having to, uh, keep track.

I think the idea of a Paypal account is awesome, so will get on that so that people can donate directly to the scholarship fund if they opt to. Now we need a scholarship name!

Lisa has also made an event page via Facebook and invited people to join us.

My quest for yellow shirts at the Pleasant Prairie outlet mall ended in disappointment, so I will try to order the shirts after littleBIG Kid goes to bed tonight.

The snow has started falling in Chicago, which may make my morning gym time difficult. Boo to this stupid winter weather.

Lastly: tonight's fortune cookie fortune was "You will become more passionate and determined about your vision" and my Chinese word on the back was "She" (ta). Why is Lauryn exclusively using fortune cookies to communicate with us?!

3. Too early. Disco stick.

Today I ran 3 miles and walked 0.5 before getting off the treadmill. I was hard--I felt like my energy was low (um, yeah, at 6:00 in the morning that's not too shocking) and my knees hurt. The euphoria of starting to train for this has worn a little. But what I did run hard to was Lady Gaga's "Love Game" (raunchy as all get out) because I remember singing that with Lauryn on the way to Lisa's house a few months back (around birthday time, as I presented her with her ShamWow! kit). I still miss that kid.

Sponsorship?

Hi TeamLaurynxAddiction!

Lisa and I were discussing sponsorship and raising money for our run today. Any money raised would go towards a scholarship fund that we establish in Lauryn's name. Are you all interested and, if so, any ideas regarding going about this?

I will order the women's shirts this weekend, so please let me know your preference if you have not done so. Any yellow shirt from this site works, although I suppose it would be nice if we all aimed for the same shade of yellow. Leaning towards this in "Lemonade" though.

Best wishes for hard training!

xoxoxo,
t.

4 miles at 6.0 speed (~45 minutes), stopping for 0.15 of a mile between 3 and 4 to catch my breath. Realize that This American Life does not increase, but rather decreases, my personal endurance.

"...'cuz you're fit buy my gosh don't you know it" & Jillian + Tracy = tru luv always

Today, 30 Day Shred (Level 3) kicked my fanny. Around the block. A lot. Really hard. And kept going. But after a brief recovery and because I was already gym-clothed and sweaty (and due to the beauty of a napping toddler), I did various strength/yoga/balance games on the Wii Fit. I love you, Wii Fit, even when you tell me I am an amateur at single leg extensions.

6! 6! 6!

6 miles in 70 minutes while, ahem, VH1 Countdown was on (oh Adam Lambert, how you reign!), wearing adidas Supernovas--but now my left knee hurts like nobody's business, so I might not be repeating that again.

6 miles.
6 miles!

...."But it doesn't matter"

[Stepping on soapbox.]

In The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer, the beginning of a chapter begins with discussion of positive attitude and excuse-making. In sum, when you come up with an excuse not to train or run try to tell yourself that whatever it is DOESN'T MATTER.

My quads were sore today. Very sore. During Gremlin's nap, I would have rather stayed in bed knitting, watching "Judge Judy" yell at someone, but I told myself that the sore legs didn't matter. As soon as Mike came home, I left for the gym and ran 4 miles (in 40 minutes). I feel great.

We are doing this, together, for Lauryn. For her spirit. Because she would think we were nuts. Because we love her. Because we miss her.

Team: think of an excuse not to run or train. Then tell yourself it doesn't matter and do it.

[Stepping off soapbox.]

baby steps

well didnt quite get to 4 miles but did do 3 in 38 minutes. I need something to do while running... i dont have VH1 or anything for that matter to look at except a wall. It is torture to watch the distance/ time. Going to fire up the i pod, maybe that will help (but need some new "butt kicking" songs on it to inspire and keep me going.
Addison and Lexi are showing interest in signing up, i told them if I register them they are doing it. I will confirm it with them this weekend so i can get you the shirts required.
just keep runnin', just keep runnin', just keep run-nin' run-nin' run-nin', what do we do- we run!

Like, uh, 5:31 A.M.

Set my alarm to go off at 5:31 so that I could get to the gym at its 6:00 open and run before school responsibilities again swallow my husband (i.e. afternoon/evening kid wrangler) for the day. Ran in adidas Supernova Glides that I bought last July for general gym-ish activities. 4 miles in 41 minutes while, again, watching VH1 because I am old. Doesn't Adam Lambert resemble kd lang? I will always run hard during Lady Gaga. I used some weight machines (seated leg press, chest press) afterwards, stretched, and was able to read in the bath before Gremlin rose from slumber. It's only 7:54 A.M. now--not too shabby.

Whachu talkin' 'bout, Jabo?!

According to Mr. Earnest F. Mustain, a Mr. Sam(uel?) Jabolonski has REGISTERED for the half! Great news and hollering all about my tiny apartment has commenced. Sam was Lauryn's great love and we know that he misses her as we do. And do you know how long Sam estimates he can finish this 13.1 mile beast in? 90 minutes. O to the M to the G. Needless to say, I'll be meeting up with him at the finish line three hours later for a round of hugging.

(My day so far has been spent chasing a naked two year old through the house. This is training, no?)

Jillian Michaels hates me. In lieu of going to the gym tonight due to school responsibilities (Future Supreme Court Justice Leonard, I'm looking in your direction), I opted for strength/cardio/abs with Jillian Michaels and her "30 Day Shred" program. I tried this months ago, pre-gym, for 22 days straight with no visible results other than sweaty clothes. So I just completed the workout for Level 2. Still makes me feel like barfing, but not as much. There. Work out done.

1/2 Marathon!

I am now a contributor to this blog!

45 minutes on the elliptical and then straight home to a crying kid--no strength building, no stretching, nada. Not the most productive session, but something before the ten inches of snow expected tomorrow, which I assume will keep me indoors.

So here we are.

Today I ran five miles--longest distance--in new Mizuno Wave Nirvanas while the VH1 Top 20 countdown was on. I'm so totally old that I opted to watch this. Forgot water bottle and used an old coffee cup from my car. Felt like puking when I was done, but I was proud.