Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I have been training since my last update and recently completed a five-mile run. Real life, however, has prevented me from training for several days now.
My wife, Melody, had her water break last Tuesday. She was only 35 weeks pregnant, but far enough along that our wonderful doctor decided to go ahead and deliver. Carolina Lily Kessinger, our second daughter, arrived on Wednesday, March 12, at 6:37 p.m. She was 5 pounds, 8 ounces at birth and 19 inches long - several ounces lighter, but half an inch longer than big sis Victoria Jane, who was also born at 35 weeks.
Mom's doing well and so is baby, though she was a little bit jaundiced. Okay, a lot jaundiced. She had to stay an extra day at the hospital, then - on Monday - had to go back. We first came to the hospital last Tuesday night, meaning we've only been out of here a day and a half in the past week.
We hope to be able to take Ms. Carolina home tomorrow morning or early in the afternoon. It will be nice to have our whole family together again after having not seen much of Victoria the past week.
I'll soon be able to get back into training hardcore, but for now nothing is more important than the health of my second baby girl.
Here's the long-awaited running post I referenced. Enjoy...
Saturday was the weekly team run, this week at Sequiota Park. The temperature was in the low 20s, but the sun was out. I dressed for the cold, with a stocking cap, light blue gloves (that belong to my teen-aged sis-in-law) and my purple long-sleeved Under Armour mock turtleneck and tights. Quite an ensemble. I'd post a pic, but your computer screen might melt from the hawtness.
I had an easy 3-mile run scheduled for the day, so I was looking forward to the run...until I realized the course Coach Richard had planned for us. We headed south on Lone Pine until we hit Republic Road, where we turned right. Dang, I thought. I'm in trouble.
See, there's this hill there. A big one. And we had to run up it. I didn't have a camera handy, but the hill looked something like this:
"This is where we separate the men from the boys," Coach Richard said. To tell the truth, I'm still not sure where I stand. I knew right away that running to the summit was not a good idea. Not, at least, if I hoped to finish my run with both lungs intact. I set a goal for a road sign near the top and, once I reached it, I allowed myself to walk for 60 seconds.
My goal from then on was to keep the lead pack in sight (the men to this boy). I accomplished that feat, slowly working my way downhill towards Sequiota Park. Towards the end of the run I was encouraged by a pair of geese, honking as they flew overhead.
Well, at least one of them encouraged me. I'm pretty sure the second one was laughing at my purple legs.
So, my time for the run was somewhere in the 32-minute range. I'm pleased with it, considering the tough hill work early on and the minute-long walk break. Hill work, though hard, is crucial. I hear there are several hills on the Nashville course.
The running has gone well this week. I did my speed work Wednesday, covering two miles in just under 20 minutes. This Saturday, a five-miler...which will become my longest run ever. Wish me luck.
Fundraising Update: We're still slowly climbing towards $1900. We're up to $1144, 60% of the goal, with just about two months to go. Thanks again to all who have donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through my Team In Training run. Be sure to share this with your friends and families, especially those who have been touched by cancer. With your help we can work towards a cure and improve the quality of life for all those afflicted with these diseases. Here's the fundraising link:
P.S. - Here's a good laugh for you. I stumbled across the video somewhere in the blogosphere. It's a clip from auditions for the presidents race they hold at Washington Nationals games. I'll never get tired of TJ biting it.
Sitting here at the local coffee shop, doing some work for my dad, Emmy the Great on the iPod, good news to share:
I have hit the halfway mark for fundraising!
As of 9:35 p.m. I have a total of $1,069, 56% of my total fundraising goal. That means it's on like Tron. I've hit my recommitment target and now have until the race to raise the rest of the money ($831).
Thank you notes will go out soon, but I want to right now thank everyone who has given to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I am so touched by everyone's generosity. I keep hearing "I wish I could do more." Please know you've done enough, no matter how much you've given. You are making a difference in the lives of those who have been afflicted with these diseases. I hope I can make you proud in Nashville.
I will hit you with a running post ASAP, but I couldn't wait any longer to get the good word out about the fundraising. The internet connection at home has been dodgy (hence the trip to the coffee shop) and there's a paper to get out, so the running post may be tomorrow night. Hopefully sooner, though.
If you know someone who might be interested in donating to LLS, please pass this along. If you are considering donating, there's no better time than now. Please visit my page and consider sponsoring me at $2/mile ($26)...but again, know that every little penny makes a difference. Here's the link:
I did the longest run of my life Saturday night 4 miles on the treadmill. My sense of accomplishment was somewhat tempered by fatigue. I'd spent the day helping my sister-in-law Jennifer raise her Team In Training money at the Nixa Winterguard Festival, a day that started at about 6 a.m. I didn't get home until around 10 p.m., so I was already exhausted.
But I got the run in, then did my 2-mile recovery run Sunday night. I was feeling it Monday. My left quad was sore, as was a spot on the outside of my right foot. Mondays are rest/cross training days, which I usually use to cross train (a nice, slow, 30-minute walk to work the lactic acid out). But I briefly closed my eyes last night to take a short nap and didn't wake up until 5 a.m.
Oops.
The good news is I woke up without any soreness today, in either spot, and still managed to get the paper out on time. Today is a 3-mile run, which I'll knock out after getting back from a girls' district basketball game.
Fundraising Update: We're up to $215 as of right now, which is awesome. I've still got a long way to go, though. I need to get $735 more by the first of March. Difficult, but not impossible.
If you've thought about giving to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through my Team In Training run, please do so now and help me get to Nashville. If you've already given, tell a friend and let them know all the great thing LLS does for patients and their families.
Also, let them know how badly you want to see this silly fool run 13.1 miles.
Jeff Kessinger is the Sports Editor of the Christian County Headliner News and Nixa Xpress, as well as a part-time apprentice barista at Kaldi's Coffeehouse, training to run the Chicago Marathon and raise money for Autism Speaks.
