Having deadlines always pushes me to put forth my best effort to get things done. Signing up for races that I am not ready for makes me nervous, and motivates me to get out and run.
Considering my recent injury, my lack of motivation to run, and my love of racing, I have decided to pick a shorter race in the near future as a goal to work towards.
Race season is winding down in Central Florida, so the pickings are slim. However, for the past two years, I have really wanted to run a particular 5k in Tampa, but schedule conflicts have not permitted me to do so. I have decided to train and run in the Miles for Moffitt 5k on May 15, 2010.
Moffitt is a cancer treatment and research center in Tampa. This race raises community awareness and money for helping cancer patients. This race holds a special place in my heart for a few reasons, not all of which I can discuss on the blog.
As an 18-month old toddler, I was diagnosed with this crazy blood disorder that doctors thought was Leukemia at first. My doctors and parents were unsure if I would live! I received treatment here for a couple of months until my body recovered. Without Moffitt cancer I would probably not be alive today!!!
Don’t worry, I’m okay now! 😀
Fun Fact: I didn’t grow from age 18 months to two years old, and as a result I am a few inches shorter as an adult than I would have been! Makes sense now why my parents and little sister are 6-10 inches taller than me!
I am working on creating a plan for the next four weeks to get me comfortable running a 5k. I already know that I can run 2.0 miles, but I want to build up VERY Slowly and work on building up a little bit of speed before I work on endurance.
Just knowing that I have a race coming up made me motivated to jump out of bed and RUN! I ran 2.0 miles in 20 minutes and 30 seconds. It felt good to know that I am running for a purpose now even if I am tons slower than I used to be.
It was extremely foggy out, so I wore BRIGHT YELLOW!
Now I’m gobbling up my Peanut Butter and Jelly Toast (so that I can make it to work on time! I have a feeling that a coffee stop may be in my future. 😀
Have you ever done a race that has a special significance to you?
Running the Disney marathon meant a lot to me, because my mom ran it, too!
❤ MegaNerd
Filed under: Anything and Everything, Motivation, Running |
MegaNerdRuns 
Good luck on the race! I wanted to do the 5 mile but it’s the day after my boyfriend’s birthday and I have a very strong feeling that celebrating with him Friday is not going to lead to a fun Saturday morning.
A deadline is awesome motivation to run, and no matter what your time, etc you know it was all for a great reason! I’m doing Team in Training right now and the bigger-than-myself cause has definitely helped me mentally get through some tough runs.
Good luck with the race – sounds like you’re running it for an awesome cause!
I haven’t run a race for a good cause [yet] – but I’ve only done 3! I’m hoping to run a marathon for charity sometime soon, that would be lovely 🙂 Have a good day!
My brother and sister-in-law may be running in that race, too! She does cancer research and I think she used to work at Moffitt (maybe did some of her post-doc work there?). Almost everyone knows someone affected by cancer; what a great cause to support!
sounds like a great race! I am sure you will do fine!
Being a competitive runner from kindergarten to know, freshman in college, I feel like all my races mean something. Unfortunately I don’t really have the mind-set for running a race for fun. I once set out to run a 5 mile race easy, after having run 9 miles less than 12 hours before, and ended up running in 35 minutes. I just get swept up in the competition haha!
That’s so awesome that you want to run a race that means something to you!! I want to run for cancer research in the future because I have lost so many I love to cancer. Every little bit helps!
Signing up for races always motivates me too. I have a 5k in a month and without that it would be so easy to stay in bed every morning rather than get up and go for a run.
I run a race for Cancer Research every year that is important to me as my Grandad has cancer at the moment.
That is so exciting, you are going to rock that race!
Good for you! I’m sure this race will always have a special place in your heart, no matter how fast you run it. Best of luck with your training!
I am running a 5k in a couple of weeks. This distance is so weird to me! I’m more of a distance runner so it’s hard for me to figure out how hard I can push myself for 3 miles – I’m used to keeping something in reserve!
Thanks for sharing your story! It was very touching and I’m glad you are a-okay. Good luck with the race too. You’ll rock it for sure 🙂
what a great race and a cause close ro your heart! love it 🙂
I love, love that you are doing this race because it means something to you. I do the Susan G Komen 5k every year here in Charlotte, because one of my aunts passed away from breast cancer, so it’s something that really matters to me.
Races that mean something are always the best, no matter the mileage. You may have run plenty of 5ks and even a marathon, but this race is going to be special.
Love you!
I love what a good attitude you’ve had about losing your running mileage. I know sometimes that can be frustrating – to go from marathon to 2 miles – but you’ve handled it so well and so positively, and found other things to take on, like swimming and biking. It’s a good reminder to me when I miss a run or don’t get as many in as I would like – to not let it consume me and to just move on and do what I can!
Also – you should update your About Me!!
That sounds like a great race, good luck with training!
How do you find all of your races?
I like to sign up for races to get me back in the running mood too! Nothing like paying a big fat registration fee to get you out the door!
I’ve run one race before with the American Cancer Society and am deciding whether to sign up to do another race for them this year. It involves 13.1 mile and raising $1000! My dad died of cancer 7 years ago April 15, so ACS is very near and dear to me.
Go for it! You won’t regret doing it, but you may regret it if you don’t! 🙂
Sent from my iPhone
Way to give yourself a goal. You will do great and I know for me, knowing that I spent money on a race really motivates me to try and do my best.
Every half marathon I’ve raced and every mile I run means a lot to me. I prove to myself that I can achieve my goals and feel successful. 🙂
I would love to run for a cause one of these days. Alas I don’t have the time to fundraise at the moment. 😦 But one day I will and it will be EPIC! 🙂
As a student, deadlines are always there for me. The freakish part? I actually like them. Sure, I complain about them (it can be stressful) but I like that they motivate me when I am otherwise unmotivated. I am not one to fail (or get a B if I can help it), so it helps me.
I am hoping this mentality will help me train for my FIRST race ever! I am VERY overweight and trying to eat healthy and be fit, and this race is my first time thinking I might be able to do it. I can barely walk a mile in under 30 min, and I have to be able to do the 5K in under an hour. I’ve got a lot of work to do!
Good luck on your 5K and have fun!
Oh, and this 5K is special to me because it’s the first race AND I get to do it in my home town of San Diego, CA!
I’ve only ever run in one race (I’m still a beginner). It was a 5k to raise money for a wonderful organization here in St Louis that provides housing and care for homeless men struggling with drug addition and HIV. My brother-in-law was receiving services from them when he died of a drug overdose 3.5 years ago. They do incredible things in this community, but sadly they can’t save everyone who walks through their doors. Every dollar counts though. This was the first “race” my husband and I ever did (and my only until this coming June) and it couldn’t have possibly been more meaningful.
When I ran my first marathon (Oct 2009) I dedicated each mile to someone that I knew who had battled cancer (in memory or in celebration). I focused on them when the going got tough out there on the course.
Mile 21 was a big deal since my longest run to that point had been 20 miles. My sister-in-law was diagnosed a few days before the race with Stage 4 colon cancer. I got a little choked up thinking of her but I got through it. And…I’m happy to say she’s kicking it’s butt!
So great to see you running a race that you are personally vested in, such amazing motivation.
I am dying to know what brand your yellow top is, I love it!
The yellow top is made by brooks!
Sent from my iPhone
I’m running the Chicago Marathon this year with Team in Training for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It means a ton to me–my father died of leukemia when I was 8 years old, and he was a runner. It’s going to be really emotional for me to run it.
I’m currently training for my first half (on Sunday, April 25th!) in Oklahoma City b/c of the OKC Bombing in 1995. It’s the 15th anniversary and it means so much to be able to run in this race.
So glad you are ok. I am a mama and I cannot imagine how terrified your parents must have been! 🙂
My first race ever to run was Race for the Cure in October 2007. It was extremely special to me because I ran it in honor of my aunt who beat breast cancer just a couple of years before. It was awesome running it while thinking of her! It gives you an extra boost!
Wow that IS a very special race 🙂
Hi Sweetiekins!
FYI….you were 16 months old when you were diagnosed with Severe Transient Erythroblastopenia. Basically, your bone marrow stopped producing red blood cells 😦 So now you’re a shorty!
hehe oops i guess i should fix it, thanks mom!
Good luck with your next race! Having something to work extra hard for is great motivation. I love how all these races raise money for such worthy causes.
Those are some interesting facts about you…I am glad that you are okay! You will be back in running shape in no time. You are an athlete, so just stick with it and you will bounce right back! I just read your post on the 31 mile bike ride…WOW! I don’t know if I would have made it up that one huge climb. Congratulations Megan!!!!!
How scary about the blood disorder! Sounds like a great race for a great cause 🙂
Oh, cool! I am traveling to the Tampa area with my husband and in-laws for a wedding that weekend. I just looked up races in the area and found this one. I am trying to decide whether or not we will be able to fit it in with our schedule. I really hope I can! Good luck with your training!
Aww, Megan!
I didn´t know you had suffered from such a serious disease!
Thank God you´re ok now, really 🙂
I´m so happy for you – congrats on signing up for that race 🙂
Lovely post, as always!
Have a great night!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela