Training Update: It's Crunch Time!

Hi everyone!

Less than 72 hours remain until the Mini Marathon!  At 8:30am on Saturday, I will be taking off from downtown Indy with 35,000 of my closest friends!

Training has not gone as expected, but I have been pleased with my preparation in spite of the roadblocks.  Injuring my thumb and having surgery at the beginning of training really set me back, but I see it as a beautiful metaphor for life.  Like the saying goes, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans."  I had planned to buckle down, run 3-4 times per week, and gradually increase my long run mileage each week.  Instead, I was on painkillers for several weeks, had stitches and a pin in my hand that I was not allowed to get wet, and was just overall wiped out from healing and from a change in my work schedule.

Despite this, I was still able to get several long runs in.  Granted, they were not as fast as I had hoped, but I got them done.  I even fit in a couple races.  Before I got hurt, I ran the Indy Mini Miler Series 3-miler, and the Run4Love 5k (photos in a previous post).  I participated in the Indy Mini Miler Series 10-miler at the beginning of April, and the Carmel Marathon Weekend 8k just a couple weeks ago.  Running with a splint on my arm is cumbersome, extra sweaty, and makes my shoulder sore.

But you know what?  I am very lucky, and very blessed.  I am healing, and still able to participate in an activity I love.  I am still able to work.  And above all, I am able to spread the word about the wonderful things that are happening at Riley Hospital for Children.  I was featured on the "Riley Blog" about my Mini with a Meaning mission and that blog was even featured on the Mini Marathon Training page (click here if you want to read it--http://www.rileykids.org/stories/blog/running-the-mini-for-riley.html#.VTkFpSFViko ).  What I am going through pales in comparison to the obstacles that the Riley kiddos face.  These kids are strong and resilient and they deserve our support!

Team Riley's goal is to raise $10,000 for the kids before the Mini Marathon.  We have raised $9200 so far.  Our goal is so close!!!  Please help us reach it.  Every penny goes to help the kiddos, and no amount is too small!

If you cannot donate money, we would appreciate your prayers and positive vibes.  Pray for all of the runners, spectators, volunteers, and law enforcement and that they all stay safe during the race.  And pray for the kids!

Thank you SO MUCH for all of your support!  You can still donate by clicking on this link.
http://donate.rileykids.org/goto/staceydraper

Runner in Disguise

I apologize for the lack of blog updates recently, but about 3 weeks ago I unfortunately tore a ligament in my right thumb.  Last week I had surgery to repair it, but typing is pretty difficult and will remain difficult for several more weeks.  I am not allowed to run until my stitches come out at the end of the month, but I am finding other ways to stay in shape (see: "Cross-training" entry).

Due to my current handicap, this entry will be fairly photo-heavy.  Enjoy!

Running can be hard.  It is a mind-over-matter exercise.  Right foot, left foot, right, left, right, left.  Music can only distract you for so long.  Same goes for counting piles of dog poop along the route (or am I the only one who does this?), or singing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall."  If you are at a race, spectators can be helpful in breaking the monotony, but at a lot of the smaller races, there may not be many spectators.

I have found that occasionally dressing up in costume at races can help make them fun and exciting.  I have dressed up several times for races and it is always fun to see how people react.  Those extra cheers as people yell for you by name (or character) can help propel you forward and make you forget how hard you are working.

So please enjoy some of my favorite costumed race moments!

And as always, I am still raising money for Riley Hospital for Children as I train for the Mini Marathon.  Please click this link and donate to help these awesome kiddos!
http://donate.rileykids.org/goto/staceydraper

And last but not least...my dad dressed as Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" at a 5k in Kansas City :-)

Quotable

I am going to let some of my favorite quote do the the talking for me in this post.  Thank you to my dad for the suggestion!

Thank you for your generous support as I fund raise for Riley Hospital for Children and as I train for the 500 Festival Mini Marathon!  I have revised my goal and am hoping to raise $750 for Riley before May 2!  If you have not yet donated, please consider donating so that the kids at Riley can continue running (because it is fun)!
http://donate.rileykids.org/goto/staceydraper

Training and Fundraising Update

WE DID IT!!!

Thanks to your generosity, I have reached my goal of raising $500 for Riley Hospital for Children!  There are still 2.5 more months until the Mini Marathon (May 2) though, so that means that we have plenty of time to crush that goal and donate lots and lots of money to help the amazing kiddos at Riley!

Training for the Mini Marathon is going according to plan.  Over the past two weekends, I have participated in my first two races of the year.  On February 7, I ran a 3-mile race in downtown Indy as part of the Mini Marathon "Miler" series.  During this series, I will run races of increasing mileage each month leading up to the Mini Marathon.  It was 3 miles in February and I will run 6 miles in March and 10 miles in April!  The race went great.  The weather was chilly, but it was sunny and beautiful.  There were over 1000 runners who participated, and I was very proud of my time.  My average time was 10:30 per mile!

Yesterday (Valentine's Day), I ran the Run4Love 5k in Fishers.  It was especially fun because I ran it with my friend Kristine.  The race was very challenging.  It was about 25 degrees outside and there were wind gusts up to 40 mph!  There were also flurries coming down on us the whole time!  Afterwards, we were treated with hot chocolate, sparking grape juice, roses, and M&M candies!  I was pleased with our time for this race as well, especially given the tough conditions.

My longest run so far in preparation for the Mini has been 5 miles, and this week I have a 6-mile long run scheduled.  I have also discovered "hill training," where I use different inclines on the treadmill to prepare myself for any hills I might encounter while running in training runs or in races.  Living in central Indiana makes it hard to prep for hills (since we don't have many!), but since I am training for them now, I will be ready for any that get in my way!

Thank you again for all your support as I train for the Mini Marathon and raise money for Riley Hospital for Children.  If you have not yet donated and would like to give money to help these awesome kiddos, please visit my fundraising page at http://donate.rileykids.org/goto/staceydraper .

Unsung Heroes

I would like to dedicate this blog post to the unsung heroes of running, the spectators (and especially the oft-forgotten running spouse/parent/sibling/support person)!

There is a reason that running is quite often a punishment in some sports.  You missed that shot?  Run laps.  You didn't catch the ball?  Run laps.  Running is hard!

Whether you are trying to stay motivated to run your first mile without stopping to walk, gearing up to toe the line of your first race, or even running your 100th race, runners would not be where they are without a strong support system.

Mini Marathon 2014.  Runners and our families!

These support people put up with and make sacrifices for their running counterparts in many different ways.  Running is a commitment that at some point will interfere with your everyday life.  Family events may be missed or cut short due to the necessity of a long run in preparation of a race.  Spare money may start going towards specialized running shoes or race entry fees.  If the runner and support person live together, they will even have to start putting up with super extra smelly and sweaty clothes!

Matt and his dad Bob were waiting for me as I finished the Little Miami Half Marathon.

When the runner finally does line up for a race, the support person has to make one of the biggest sacrifices of all...sleep!  For a lot of races, especially the larger ones, the event starts early in order to beat the heat of the day.  That means that after you factor in preparation time (dressing, breakfast, etc.), drive time, parking time, packet pick-up time, and time it takes to get to the start line, it already feels like a whole day has passed and 8:00 am hasn't even occurred yet!  And if the race is a longer one (say, a half marathon/13.1 miles), the poor support person has to wait around for between two and three hours for the runner to finish!  They may not have run at all, but they sure deserve a medal and a t-shirt for waking up early, cheering for the runners, and being so positive!

My mom and me after my first marathon.  She is a running wife AND a running mom!

The spectators at races are wonderful as well, especially at a large event like the Mini Marathon.  Bands volunteer their time to play music along the route.  People stand outside of their houses along the route to cheer.  People make signs to encourage the runners.  I ran a half marathon last year where a man had a whole wagon full of miniature water bottles, tissues, and cough drops (it was a cold day)!  I have seen people put out their lawn sprinklers for runners to go through when it is hot outside.  Last year at the Mini, a group of belly dancers even danced to encourage the participants!

Santa Hustle Half Marathon 2013.  Poor Matt waited in the 20 degree weather for me while I ran, but had a smile on his face when I finished!

 Volunteers make the whole race world possible.  From setting up and tearing down to manning the booths at the expos to helping people find their way to handing out water and Gatorade, they are wonderful.  The police officers who help to hold up traffic so runners can pass safely are amazing.  One of my favorite things to do at races is to thank and high-five the volunteers and police officers.  They do not get thanked enough for what are probably the most valuable jobs in the whole race!

The Mini Marathon has amazing support people, spectators, and volunteers.  I think that is why it is one of my favorite races!  Training is going well for me so far.  I have been able to run outside a couple of times but due to cold weather, most of my running has been confined to the indoors on my treadmill.

So far, I have raised $300 for Riley Hospital for Children as part of Team Riley and "Mini with a Meaning."  I am so happy to have raised this much, but I still need your help to reach my $500 goal!  If you have not donated yet, please consider donating even just a few dollars.  It all adds up!
Thank you!
http://donate.rileykids.org/goto/staceydraper

Cross-training

Cross-training is an important part of running.  Constant pounding on the legs day after day is not good for your joints and muscles, so cross-training (ie doing different forms of exercise) helps keep you in shape while giving your legs a break.

I have never been very good at cross-training.  A lot of runners use biking or swimming to help them stay in shape.  I, on the other hand, thought for a fleeting minute about training for a triathlon...then I remembered that I don't like to swim OR bike!  Some runners use an elliptical or stair stepper to cross-train.  I have access to neither of these pieces of equipment and I am too cheap to buy a gym membership.

So what is my preferred method of cross-training?  Dancing!  My parents put me in dance classes when I was about four or five years old.  I took ballet, tap, and jazz classes until 6th grade, when I quit to pursue other activities.  A couple years ago, I missed dancing so much that I started taking a tap dance class for adults!  When I was in high school, my senior Spanish class even learned the Michael Jackson "Thriller" dance and performed it at Prom.  I am no longer taking organized dance classes but that doesn't stop me from dancing around my house while doing chores or from playing the "Just Dance" game for Xbox!

Ballet

Pebbles Flinstone surrounded by...bunnies?

It may not be the most conventional way to get exercise when I am not running, but it is fun and so good for the body!  Some days, it is hard to work up the motivation to run and changing my workout routine helps keep things from becoming too stale.

I'm the one on the far left of the photo, in the green dress!

Me and Matt dancing at our wedding

I'm working on a special blog post featuring a special dance to be posted in a few weeks, so stay tuned for that!  In the mean time, check out this video made by children undergoing treatment at a children's hospital!



Remember, I am raising money for Riley Hospital for Children as I train for the 500 Festival Mini Marathon.  Thank you to everyone who has generously donated so far, and if you have not donated, please look at my personal fundraising page and consider donating.  No matter how small the dollar amount, every little bit helps to make sure that these amazing kids can continue dancing for years to come!
http://donate.rileykids.org/goto/staceydraper

If you can't fly, then run

I do not have anything deep or profound to say today, so I will let some of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. do the talking for me.  I picked out a few of his quotes that I feel encompass the spirit of what I am trying to do by raising money for Riley Hospital for Children as I train for the 500 Festival Mini Marathon.

Have a wonderful day, and thank you for reading and for supporting this journey!  The link to donate to Riley is below--

Http://donate.rileykids.org/goto/staceydraper