Winter Season Starts

I'm looking forward to meeting the new team and starting to train for the Napa Marathon in March. I'm also targeting to raise $2,500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This is why ...

John Haluck became part of the LLS family almost a decade ago. He is now a trustee of the Greater Sacramento Area chapter and is not only a survivor but is a huge supporter of LLS.

When I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2000, I was no stranger to leukemia, having lost a good friend to the disease. Still, going in for a routine physical and finding out I had an "incurable" form of cancer was a massive shock to both me and my family. I looked at my three kids and I wondered if I would be around to see any of them graduate from college or get married. It was the worst weekend of my life.

My doctor recommended a "watch and wait" approach, since my form of leukemia was chronic, not acute, and some people have lived twenty years with CLL. However, my cancer progressed much faster than my hematologist predicted. By 2004, he recommended that I start chemotherapy soon as the cancerous lymphocytes were increasing in number and could cause a stroke. He told me that there was no hope for a cure and advised me against looking for a clinical trial.

By this time, I was volunteering with my local chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, chairing and helping organize the annual Light The Night Walk. I also learned about a doctor, who has been funded by LLS, who does leading edge research in CLL - Michael Keating, M.D., at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. I contacted him and heard back immediately - he would see me as soon as I was ready.

The morning after the Light The Night Walk, I boarded a Southwest flight for Houston. After a battery of tests, I waited to see Dr. Keating. In walked this big, burly man (a rugby player, no less) who grabbed my hand and then gave me a big bear-hug. To my surprise, he said, "John, I think that we have a very promising treatment for you!"

I called my wife, who flew in, and I started a clinical trial the next day of a new targeted drug, Rituxan®, which was developed with the help of funding from LLS. The rest is history. After four days of chemotherapy, my white cell count had dropped to normal! A week later, the lumpy cancerous lymphocytes had disappeared from my lymph nodes. It was happening just as Dr. Keating had predicted.

Now I've had 53 months in complete remission. I feel a debt of gratitude to Dr. Keating and LLS, whose funding helped make Rituxan a reality. I have my life, and am able to enjoy it. And I have hope!

-- John Haluck

1:49:03 Thrilling US Half

Wow. My most thrilling race yet!

Replay my run here.

As we ran toward the Golden Gate Bridge from Aquatic Park in San Francisco, and climbed up to it, we couldn't see the Bridge until we ran onto it - it was that foggy. However it was just that time of the morning when the fog was burning off. As we ran north across the bridge the fog slowly thinned. We emerged on the north side in brilliant sunshine. Then, as we descended down and around the bridge on its north east side, we were treated to a magnificent few of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, the City skyline and the Bridge through wisps of fog. Many runners around me were gasping at the view, as was I. We then ran south on the Bridge with the City skyline unfolding to our left while to our right we could see nothing but white fog.

Now it was a hard run! A tough climb up to the Bridge on the south side, slow climbs in both directions crossing the bridge, a tough climb back up to the Bridge on the north side and a final climb during the last mile through Fort Mason Park. Again the hills took their toll and the final three miles were fairly hard, but I was able to persevere for just three miles and finished strong. 1:49:03 is only a minute slower than my SJ Rock & Roll Half finish at the beginning of October, and SJ is a flat course.

I am thoroughly satisfied with the finish time, and thrilled about the experience. I'll try to run this race every year from now on!

US Half

I'm looking forward to running the US Half this weekend. That's two times across the Golden Gate Bridge, starting and finishing in San Francisco.

race humour

Nike San Francisco FULL Marathon: 4:12:57

Finished my first marathon!

The course was probably about as flat as possible in San Francisco - but a flat San Francisco course is impossible. The hills took their toll. I learned something every time I ran during training - and I learned something today too: respect the hills! In hindsight, I think I might have broken 4hrs if I'd walked down the early hills. !! But I couldn't resist the temptation to pick up some time on the early downhills. I trashed my legs and paid the price in the second half.
Miles 19 through the finish were a head down, teeth gritted, whole body (and mind) effort to keep putting one foot in front of the other and finish strong. Miles 19 through the finish were pretty horrible, but as so many have said - endure short-term pain in exchange for everlasting achievement!

Replay my run.

What I endured was nothing compared to what our many honorees have endured. I wore the names of some of my honorees on by back: Dad, Mom, Tia Teresa, Tia Maritza, Edward F, Ana. I had them in mind as I persevered during the last 8mi.
The Team In Training Nike San Francisco Marathon runners raised more than $14M for cancer research. That's more than $500k per mile.

I was touched by so many supporters who lined the course and called my name or cheered for Team In Training. I was especially touched having all of my coaches run a portion of the race with me, as well as several team captains and mentors.


My next Team In Training full marathon is March 7th in Napa!

3 Days to My First Marathon!

Following 5m of training, my target time of 3:59:59 is within reach - challenging but feasible. Over the last 5m I've dropped 20lbs, taken 4" off of my waist, and definitely increased running speed and endurance. 2wks ago I finished the San Jose Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon in a personal best time of 1:47:58 beating my target time by 2min and last year's time by 22min! Last week I ran a 10k also in a personal best time of 48:30. And thanks to generous donations I met my summer fundraising goal of $2,500. Thank you!

This Sunday I'll be running in honor of: Dad, Tia Maritza, Tia Teresa, Ana, Edward F, Kristin, Mom, Wayne, Rob, Keith, Doug, Carlos, Leah, Jack, Patti, Mike, Ellen, Todd

I can't think of a better city in which to be running my first marathon, better people with which to run it, or for any better a cause. Thanks TNT!

Run for Your Life 10k

The SF Full Marathon is 1wk away. Like everyone on our team, I've been tapering the distance over the last week or so - allows the body to recover from training in advance of the race. However it's good training to include short, fast runs during the taper. So I ran the "Run for Your Life" 10k around Stanford University campus, in support of Stanford Hospital Emergency Medicine.

Fastest 10k of the season for me: 48:30. A 10k is 6.22mi, so this finish time corresponds to 7:48 min/mile. My 1/2 marathon pace last Sunday was 8:15 min/mi.

I ran this race in honor of my good friend Rob who was recently diagnosed. I learned of his battle just this past week. Fortunately the prognosis is excellent. In addition he has a super attitude - will kick his cancer's butt. Rob - today's PR was for you and I'll be thinking of you when I have to dig deep around mile 22 or so next Sunday!

1:47:58 !!!

Replay the run.

4 Days to Go Before the San Jose 1/2 Marathon

Following 4m of training, my target time of 1:49:59 or better is within reach. It will be very challenging, but it's feasible. If I succeed, I'll have taken 20min off of my previous best 1/2 marathon time.

Over the last 4m I've dropped 20lbs, taken 4" off of my waist, and definitely increased running speed and endurance. This past Saturday we completed our last long training run - 20mi - and it wasn't that bad!

18 days to go before the San Francisco Full Marathon.

I'm very thankful to all those who have donated to support cancer research through my web-site. However I'm a little short on my fund raising goal. Can you help with a donation to support cancer research? You can do it right now, right here online.

Thank you so much for your support, and check back on Sunday to see how I did!

We Run for Carlos

Carlos is 17yrs old - he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when he was 12:

... I underwent three more years of treatment. Throughout this process, I had about two dozen spinal taps, several dozen blood draws, about 50 chemotherapy infusions, I lost my hair four times, I came to a point where I vomited up to 7 times per day, and I was hospitalized A LOT. My family, friends, and teachers were incredibly supportive of me, for which I have much to thank.

I’m currently completely off of treatment! I’m a healthy junior in high school who enjoys biking, designing for yearbook, reading, and refereeing. Because of astonishing people like you, cancer survivors like me have so much to be thankful for. The effort you put into accomplishing your milestones is incredible, and has taught me a great deal about facing challenges in my life. Thank you so much for doing what you do!

20mi Monterey - Beautiful

This morning we ran the last long run before we 'taper' in advance of the marathon. 20 miles.

The setting was the Monterey Peninsula in Northern California - a run along the ocean on a cool, sunny Saturday morning - very beautiful.

You can re-trace the run here: Monterey 20mi. Be sure to click on Player.

I finished in just under 3hr - that's consistent with my target marathon pace. And for the first time, 26.2mi seems feasible. Won't be easy - but for the first time it actually seems conceivable.

Some of us followed the run with a natural ice bath in Monterey Bay. In the photo, I'm at far left. The fellow to my immediate left in the purple Team In Training race shirt is Keith - who has a (presently) incurable form of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. According to Keith, the typical survival for someone with the specifics of his cancer is 7 years. He was diagnosed 1.5yrs ago. He has celebrated his May-October break from chemo by training with us. He already ran a full marathon in Kauai earlier this month, and will run the Nike SF Full with me on October 18th.

We all run and fund raise for folks like Keith.

for Kristin

I ran a fast 7mi this morning in memory of Kristin.

One of my teammates this season, Emory, was inspired by Kristin to train and raise money for cancer research.

Kristin's leukemia came back. She'd been waiting for a bone marrow transplant when she succumbed this past week. 35yrs old. Left a husband and two young daughters.

Thunder, Lightning, Hail, Frogs, Locusts

Well the thunder, lightning and hail part is all true.

This morning we ran 18mi in 2h:44min- the next to last 'long run' of our marathon training. The run was in Golden Gate Park, along the Great Highway and around Lake Merced - all in San Francisco. The marathon takes us through Golden Gate Park; miles 19-23 are around Lake Merced; and we'll finish on the Great Highway. So this morning was a preview.

The weather was half the story! On the drive up to SF this morning from San Jose, I saw a couple lightning strikes. We heard thunder during the run, and in GG Park it hailed on us. Otherwise pleasant, cool conditions for a run. :-)

I've learned something on every long run. This morning: I need to replenish electrolytes. Immediately after completing the run, both calves cramped up. Pretty painful. A teammate gave me a sodium/potassium tablet and 10min later - problem solved. On very long runs, one perspires enough, and loses enough salt, that it needs to be replenished. Muscle cramps are the first indication of a problem. I'm glad it happened this morning and not in a couple of weeks during the marathon. I'll take a sodium/potassium tablet or two during long runs from now on.

Achievements? 18mi is now the longest single distance I've ever run. Also, the first 13.1mi passed in under two hours, so that was the fastest half marathon of my life even though I wasn't deliberately trying to run a fast half.

3wks to the San Jose Rock & Roll Half Marathon: my time target of 1h:50min is within reach although it will be a challenging run - right around the limit of my speed/distance right now.

5wks to the Nike SF Full Marathon: 18mi was hard enough today that 26.2mi still seems daunting. I may have to dial back the pace a bit more to complete, but I really want to finish in sub four hours too. 5wks to take off another couple of pounds, add a little more strength and endurance, and practice getting hydration & nutrition straight during the run.

Faster 6mi Campbell Park

This morning I finished the 6mi run at Campbell Park in 48m:11s. That's almost 20s faster than my target 1/2 marathon pace to complete in under 1h50min. It also shows steady improvement - a month ago on 8/13 I finished the same run in 49m:33s - that's an 80s improvement over this 6mi distance in one month.

Now approximately 1m to the San Jose Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon, I'm beginning to be capable of pace and distance that enable me to achieve my target!

Yasso 800's - take 2

We ran Yasso 800's at Track again tonight. (Take a look at my 7/14 post)

Again we ran 8 reps at 800m. I run these hard - basically at the fastest pace that I feel I can sustain rep after rep. And what is great is that I've improved since the last time we ran this work-out 7wks ago on 7/14. My first lap is now very consistently 1:45, and my two lap time very consistently 3:30-3:35. That's a 15-20s improvement over the distance in just 7wks. This bodes well for my relatively fast pace target for the SJ 1/2 marathon (fast pace for me). As each week goes by, I'm able to increase my pace just a little bit over any given distance. Very satisfying!

16mi Coyote Creek (+90C, Full Sun)

Pretty grueling. This morning we ran the longest of our weekend 'long runs' - 16mi along the Coyote Creek Trail in South San Jose.

It was supposed to have cooled-off by today (Saturday); instead it was the hottest day of the week. When I finished after ~2.5hrs, at only 10:30am, the temperature was above 90C, and a lot of the run had been in full sun. That took its toll. I went out too fast. Through ten miles, I was on cloud nine - felt great. And as it was I finished 16mi in a respectable time. But that last 4-6mi were very, very hard. I had to walk most of mile 15, and ran mile 16 only because I willed myself to finish running rather than walking.

I learn something on every long run - this morning I learned two things: 1) you need to dial it back a bit when it's warm, and 2) on a long run you HAVE TO run a reasonable pace from the beginning and resist the urge to run fast through the first few miles just because it feels good. You pay for this mistake during the last miles when your legs are done.

Otherwise, you know what? This was the longest single distance I've ever run, and, after drinking a lot of water since the end of the run, I feel good and I realize that 2.5hrs was very respectable for me for that distance. I've come a long way in a couple of months, although I still have to say that the idea of running another 10mi beyond what I did this morning remains a daunting thought.

49:33 6mi Campbell Park

Training for both a 1/2 and a Full marathon requires improving both speed and endurance. On Tuesday evenings at our track work-out, and on Thursday mornings during our 'buddy' runs, I work on speed.

This morning was a new milestone. I finished our usual Thursday AM 6mi buddy run in 49m:33s - first time under 50min. That's 8:16 per mile pace, and pretty close to my required pace if I'm to beat 1h:50min for the 1/2. While I celebrate the accomplishment, I also note that it wasn't an easy run, and I don't think I could have sustained the pace for another 7mi. So, I'm getting there, but with less than 2m to go if I were to run the 1/2 today I probably wouldn't break 1:50.

But it feels really, really good to be making steady progress!

Waddell Creek - Beautiful Trail Run

I learn something new on each 'long run'. Every other weekend we push the distance on a run another 2mi compared to our previous long run; this morning we ran 12mi. The setting was beautiful - Waddell Creek State Park on the N. Calif. coast north of Santa Cruz. We ran ~6mi in to a picturesque waterfall, and 6mi back.

What did I learn? Two things: 1) I have to run my own pace and not someone else's, and 2) don't play an ice hockey game the night before a long run. The second lesson is an obvious one. The first is a very typical mistake. You start a run along side some others; the guy next to you is running a bit fast, but you feel fine over the first couple of miles, the setting is great, and you feel like maybe you can sustain this pace. WRONG. After 6mi I was barely able to appreciate the waterfall, and struggled to jog slowly back over the remaining 6mi.

I'm aware of what a realistic pace is for me right now. I think the problem is that my pace is still a bit slow compared to my target race times, especially my target 1/2 marathon time of sub 1h:50m. So I like to think that overnight I can run a lot faster and longer. But I still need to train to achieve my target times.

Waddell Creek is a very beautiful setting. It's actually a very technical run - narrow trail - lots of twists and turns, rocks and roots; you cross the stream many times. I'd like to go back and run it again at my own pace and more thoroughly appreciate it!

Time Trial #2

3mi in 23m:37s at Track tonight. That's sub 8min mile pace over this distance. If I could sustain this pace I'd beat my 1/2 marathon finish time target (but I probably couldn't sustain this pace even for another one mile let alone another ten).

However, the marvelous thing is that we ran this same time trial a few weeks ago (see 6/23 post). I've improved by more than 4min over the intervening time. That part is very satisfying.

I need to do two things over the next 2-3 months: acquire the endurance to run a long distance in preparation for the Full marathon, but also improve my speed over the shorter 1/2 marathon distance. Tonight shows progress against this latter goal.

Tely 10 in 82:10

The training continues to go GREAT! We've been in Newfoundland for the last ten days. I've missed the Tuesday night track work-outs back in Los Gatos, but have enjoyed several 6-8mi runs around the town where I grew up. For those familiar, I've learned that one lap around Quidi Vidi Lake is 2.4mi; one lap around Kent's Pond is 0.9mi.

The highlight was the Tely 10 this morning. The "Tely 10" is a 10mi road race that has been run in St. John's, NL, on virtually the same course every year for the last 82 years (with the exception of a break during WWII). Even though I grew up in St. John's, I wasn't a runner back then; had never run the Tely 10 before. There were more than 2,600 spirited participants. My target was to break 90min. I SMASHED 90min! Finished in 82:10. That's now the fastest 10mi of my life, and it's under my 1/2 marathon target pace. I finished strong, sprinting for the last minute or so across the finish line. Felt really good.

But do you know what? Even though I felt I ran a great race, I nevertheless finished in the lower 50th percentile in my gender and age group; more than half finished faster than me! I kind of think its an indication of how seriously the Tely 10 is taken in Newfoundland - participants really prepare for it. But mainly it tells me that I can get better. And I will.

I'm looking forward to the San Jose Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon in October. The FULL in San Francisco two weeks later is still daunting.

Yasso 800's

A tough speed work-out tonight at Track. Yasso 800's. Bart Yasso is a legendary marathoner, and he insists that if one can run 800m (two laps of the track) 10-12x with a short break in between each 800m, in a consistent time (e.g. 3m:50s) then its a good indicator of one's ability to finish a marathon in the same time only in hours and minutes (i.e. 3h:50m). Most people after thinking about this decide Yasso is crazy. Why should the minutes to hours and seconds to minutes translation just happen to work-out between 800m and 26mi? On the other hand, so people say, it does seem to correlate well.

We completed 8 reps of 800m tonight. It was tough but I concentrated on completing each 800 in the same consistent time. Mission accomplished. Its remarkable how each first lap was very consistently 1:50-1:55, and each 800m (two laps) was 3:45-3:55.

I don't believe for a minute that I could complete a marathon today in 3h:55m, but it was a satisfying work-out!

Nike San Francisco FULL Marathon

I'm so pleased with how well Team In Training is going that I decided to replace the Kaua'i 1/2 marathon with a FULL marathon in San Francisco on October 18. So, in addition to running the San Jose Rock & Roll 1/2 marathon on October 4 in 1h49min or less, I'm now also going to run a FULL marathon in San Francisco two weeks later.

Most people tell me your goal in your first marathon should be to complete it. But I'd really like to complete it in sub-4 hours. So that's the goal I'm setting.

I'm really looking forward to it and the speed work and long runs we'll do between now and then to prepare for it!

PR 10mi

Excellent progress! This morning we ran 10mi along the Guadalupe trail through downtown San Jose. I took the run seriously, planning my pace, thinking about nutrition and hydration just as I would for the events I'm going to run. And I'm delighted to report that I ran close to 9min miles on average, completing 10mi in 1hr30min44sec. This is a personal record (PR) run for me - I've never run 10mi that fast before. Its also a sub-2 hour 1/2 marathon pace / sub-4 hour marathon pace. I finished strong, so I'm confident that I could have completed 13.1mi in less than 2 hours. I'm closing-in on my 1/2 marathon target still with a couple of months to go. I'm very pleased with how Team In Training is going. Two months ago I could barely run 3mi at a 10min pace let alone 10mi at 9min pace.

31mi week

What a great week of running! Started off Independence Day / ended the week meeting five of my training partners for a pleasant 6.5mi morning run in Los Gatos. I was feeling so good this week that I ran TWO TIMES on Thursday - a fast 4mi run at 7am in Campbell, then an easy-paced 5mi run at Rancho San Antonio at 6pm on the same day. Speed training on Tuesday night at the track, in the heat, was grueling but I'm sure will pay off.

My training now includes a mix of hills, speed and distance, to enable me to slowly increase my pace and sustain it longer. On Thursday morning we ran 4mi at close to my half marathon pace. It was hard and I could not have sustained that for 13mi. But give me a few more weeks and I will be able!

Total distance for the week: almost 31 miles! I'll try to maintain this weekly distance, to slowly strip-off the extra pounds.

A few times this week I experienced that runner's high - when you feel strong; you feel you could run indefinitely. It's a great feeling.

8mi long run / 25mi for the week

This morning we ran 8mi along the Los Alamitos Creek Trail in Almaden Valley - our longest 'long run' of the season so far. And that makes 25mi for the week having run shorter distances last Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

This morning I ran too fast to begin with - a common mistake - which made the run a little harder than it needed to be. However this week I learned that the wife of a friend who had been battling breast cancer for several years passed away in April. She was four years younger than me. There is nothing fair about cancer. I finished strong and steady this morning in honor of her.

Time Trial #1

I'm actually cheating by posting this to the blog and back-dating it.

We first ran a time-trial at Track on 6/23 - I completed 3mi (12 laps) in 27m:55s and was happy to have finished in under 30min (10min mile pace). I didn't realize it at the time, but part of the reason to run this trial was to baseline our ability at the time. Jump ahead to my 8/4 post - you'll see that the training over the summer seems to be paying off.

During this June evening Track work-out, I gave it my all, although I also recall that it was fairly warm. Still the improvement by 8/4 is notable!

10mi weekend / 11wks to Kaua'i

We met at Rancho at 6:45am for a 5mi run yesterday (Saturday) morning. Then I put in another 5mi this morning on the treadmill at 1% incline.

On the treadmill I ran approx. 9m40s miles which is close to my personal best half marathon pace. Not sure I could have sustained that for 13mi though. And my target pace is 8min23s. So while I'm getting there, I need to drop more weight, build more endurance and increase speed.

It's Father's Day - I found myself thinking a lot about my Dad, who succumbed to lung cancer. In his memory I will meet my goal.

Kaua'i is 11wks from today.

Rancho San Antonio Park - Hills & Heat

My car thermometer indicated 85F just before the start of our run this evening. We ran 5mi, the first half mostly uphill ascending approx. 270ft. That's 2% grade, on average. It turns out this is quite representative of Kaua'i where I can expect it to be warm and the average grade for the first 7.5mi is 2%.

It was a tough run, but very satisfying! Nobody said this would be easy.

I'm told as the runs get longer at Rancho San Antonio, we climb even higher. Something to mentally prepare for.

My first online donation came in today! Thanks Rob!!

Tuesday Night Track

It was hard! Teamed-up with a partner. One lap of the track at a 'challenging' pace followed by a couple of minutes of strength exercises while your partner completes her lap, then another lap at 'challenging' pace, then another round of strength exercises, etc. We fit in 6 laps. Strength exercises included plank, side plank, push-ups, lunges, crab walk and bridge. Did I say it was hard?

On the other hand, my partner was Leah - a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor - who now runs marathons despite the fact that the chemo damaged her heart. Makes you remember why you're doing this. It wasn't that hard tonight.

I take-on the hills at Rancho San Antonio Park again in two days.

Hellyer Park Long Run

We were introduced to 'Run-Walk' this morning. You choose an interval such as five or ten minutes, and divide into running:walking portions such as 4:1 (follow 4min running with 1min walking), or 8:2 (follow every 8min running with 2min walking).

This is a concept promoted by world famous marathoner and run coach Jeff Galloway. It's counter intuitive for most, but you can run faster half marathons and marathons this way! Different muscles are used for walking vs. running, so you give your running muscles a chance to recover while you're walking.

I joined a group running 7:1 this morning. We ran 6mi. This is the same distance I covered a week ago. A week ago, however, I ran it all - no walking. It's pretty interesting that we covered the same distance in the same time despite taking regular walking breaks. And I feel GREAT right now - I really don't feel fatigued at all. Last week I was tired.

Half the reason I joined Team In Training was to learn how to run / make it more enjoyable / get in to shape. We're off to a great start!

(And next week I'm going to start fundraising - which is the other half of the reason why I joined Team)

A great run tonight at Rancho San Antonio Park. 4mi - the first 2mi straight up hill. It was grueling. Over the summer this run will get longer and longer - the first half always uphill. But this is the practice I need for Kaua'i.

After the 'long run', we took a few moments to listen to an honoree. Doug was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer in 2002, stage 4 out of 4 meaning he had tumors all over his body. To try to save Doug's life he was brought to the brink of death a number of times between 2002 and 2006. By 2006 it wasn't looking good, but doctors told him that there was a new experimental drug called Bundamustin. They suggested it was worth a shot.

Now in 2009, Doug is celebrating his third year in remission. He notes that when one has had cancer, you're never advised to use the other 'c' word - 'cured'. But for three years since the Bundamustin treatment, doctors have been unable to find tumors.

That's what it's all about. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society supports cancer research such as the development of drugs like Bundamustin. Team In Training raises money for LLS.

Last Saturday was the first Team In Training training event - a 'long run' on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. There are a couple of hundred of us training together. You know - it seems like there are as many volunteers as trainees! This is a great organization.

It was up to us how far we wanted to walk or run - up to 6mi. I hadn't run outdoors since last fall, although I had been running on the treadmill. I was going to try 5mi.

I completed 6mi and felt great! I actually forgot to time the run so I'm not sure what the pace was - but I'd estimate approx. 10min miles. I need to run 8:20 miles to achieve my target time, but this is just the beginning.

I've never been to Hawaii, but based on all I've heard and seen my expectation is that it will be beautiful. But I need to tell you about the Kaua'i Half Marathon.

The good news is that the last 5.5mi is downhill.

The bad news is that the first 7.5mi is uphill. An average 2% grade for 7.5mi. An over 800 ft climb. And: hot, humid, might rain.

And I'm determined to break 1:50.

Wish me luck!

While this is my initial post, I've actually been training for a couple of weeks now. So I'm going to make a few posts over the next few minutes to catch you up.

I actually took the decision 5wks ago to get in shape and fundraise for cancer research. But in fact the Team In Training season hadn't started yet. So I trained on my own.

One of the metrics I'm going to report in this blog is weight loss. I'm too ashamed to admit what my weight was to begin with, so I'm not going to use absolute numbers. My goal is to drop my weight by 15% before Kaua'i. 5wks in, I'm 23% of the way there!