Perhaps I should rename this blog, Kara cooks and eats…and runs! I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to run the Boston marathon again on April 21, 2014. I’ve joined the Run for Research team and will be running to support life saving research on liver disease. I will rack up more than 500 miles during the 20 weeks of training, and every step I take and every dollar I raise will make a difference in the lives of more than 30 million Americans living with liver disease.
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| From the Mass Ave bridge |
Did you know:
- Liver cancer is one of the few primary cancers on the rise in the United States.
- Approximately 5.4 million Americans are chronically infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C. About 65% and 75%, respectively, are unaware that they are infected.
- It is estimated that up to 25% of the U.S. population could have Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, a condition that can lead to life-threatening damage.
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| Storrow Drive, by the Hatch Shell |
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| View of the BU bridge |
My training started on Monday, and my schedule this week included a few fartleks, a bit of cross-training, and a long run of 8 miles. I opted to skip the team training run on Saturday for a few reasons. I wanted to save one last week of not having to set my alarm on Saturday morning (and I may have had a couple of margaritas on Friday night before going to see the Nutcracker). I wanted to figure out what my comfortable long run pace is, since it can be tempting to run too fast in a group setting – and speed is not the goal of the long run. It was also a shiny day and I wanted to get out on the river (though when I crossed the river and headed westbound, the wind reminded me that it definitely is December). I know I will super appreciate the group runs as the days get colder and the miles get longer – I am looking forward to them!
I’ll be out there for the next 19 weeks, working on getting myself to the start line ready…both mentally and physically. There will be good days and bad days. There will be unpleasant ice baths. Sometimes I’ll have to miss a run or shorten the distance. Sometimes I’ll feel great and have to force myself to stick to the training plan. Sometimes I will stop to take photos.
And I know all of that is ok.
Total distance covered
16 miles
Donors of the week!
Kelly Blake
Susie and Robby Snode
Bob Sullivan
Goals for next week
More stretching!
Visit my web site for more information or if you’d like to make a donation!
Kara Cooks and Eats 