Training at Marymoor Park

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/168108548
Here is the training run I completed today. It felt good, I did not have the same problem with cramps that I have been dealing with in past long runs. This run I stopped every 15-20 minutes to stretch my IT band and calf, well worth the time. Prior to today I was not confident that I would be able to complete the Vancouver marathon. I believe that I will be able to cover the distance, just not sure how fast. I would never have thought that I would be running in a marathon but life has a way of putting things in front of us. In my case it was my brother's diagnosis of leukemia which lead me to Team in Training. I am running for a cure for leukemia and other blood cancers. You can go to my fundraising page to contribute: http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/vancouvr12/jmcgowau5t

Thanks,
Jack McGowan

Training continues

May 6th will be here before I know it. I am doing my best to prepare for the Vancouver Marathon. I am completing the marathon as part of an effort to raise money for cancer research. I appreciate your support and hope that you are able to help me reach my fundraising goal. I am doing this in honor of my brother Charles who has leukemia.
Thanks,

Jack McGowan

3/26/2012

Today I completed my P90X2 workout and completed a mile on the treadmill. In the afternoon I went to the pool and completed 30 laps there. I am getting back into training mode.

Monday, 82 days to go . . .

Today I went swimming in the morning and in the afternoon, it was a good workout. I am working on improving the techniques that my swim coach taught me. The improvement in my swimming from September to now has been remarkable and I am growing in my confidence in my swimming. The attached video clip highlights a swimming method and I found the mental images in this system very helpful.

I would appreciate your support and look forward to meeting my fundraising goal.

Sunday, 83 days to go and I need your help to reach my goal.

I am writing this on Sunday after spending a wonderful day with my wife in Seattle on Saturday. However the weekend started on a more somber note. I attended a memorial service for a person who lost their life to cancer a few days ago. The memorial was tribute to a person whose life was cut short by cancer, I did not know the person who died but it was clear from those who spoke about his life, he was a terrific person who had a lot to offer the community and his loss will be felt not only by those who knew and loved him but the community at large as well.
I could not help but reflect on my own efforts to raise funds for cancer research and how in a small way I am contributing to making a world that could be cancer free someday. But it seems that my efforts have not been enough. I cannot do this alone, each person who reads my blog or Facebook page is a critical part of this fight. I need your help, I am asking that you consider how you might be able to help if you can donate $25 that would be great, $56 is 1% of my goal  so please consider contributing to help rid the world of cancer. Please tell your friends and family and let them know what they can do to help.
Thanks,
Jack McGowan

Thursday, 86 days to go

The diet is improving, for me it is essential that I log my food intake. I started using My Fitness Pal and simply knowing that I need to record what I am about to eat has helped me eat less and the scale is moving in the right direction again.
Yesterday I went swimming, first time in nearly a month. It felt good to swim again, I need to become less reliant on swimming aids such as fins and buoys.
I had a good run today, still a bit painful behind the knee but I think it is getting better. Looking forward to training with the team on Saturday.
My ultimate goal is to raise $5,600 for leukemia research in honor of my brother and in memory of my friend and all those who have lost their lives, please consider sponsoring my efforts by making a donation to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

88 days to go

Today was a good training day. I had a good ride on the bike felt strong and confident. I am feeling the pressure to increase my efforts on the training and fundraising fronts.

2012 Training Starts Today

Been dealing with a sore left knee for the past week, which has impacted my training schedule. I have 89 days remaining to complete my training and raise $5,600. Thanks to my friends and family I have raised $425, roughly  8% of my goal.
I have decided to switch my eating plan to the Bowflex eating plan which I intend to complete two rounds 6 weeks each which will take me to the triathlon. The time that I have is going to go very fast and I appreciate the support of my friends and family to help me in this effort. If you would please tell your friends about my effort and encourage them to support my effort to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society that will go a long way to help me meet my goal. My motivation for getting involved with Team in Training is my brother Charles who was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma. After I started this journey I learned that a friend passed away, so it is for them that I continue to press on. I also realized that in a way I am paying back the efforts of those who paved the way for the current treatment options. My understanding is that  the anti-body therapy used to treat my brother was funded by the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. So again thanks for your support and I look forward to meeting my goals with your help.


Thanks,

Jack

Training continues

Well things are headed back to normal at home. I ran 6.17 miles today, It felt good. I experienced a different feeling when I was stretching out my strides. I have been running with short choppy steps, Ken has been encouraging me to lengthen my stride and it paid off today.

In August I ran 6.2 miles on the treadmill, 0% incline in 95 minutes. Today it took 72 minutes with about a 400 foot elevation gain. 

Here are some running tips from Runners World

Post Christmas run

I went for a run today, as I was running I was thinking about each person who has expressed their support for my effort. I am extremely grateful for support I have received. I had a wonderful Christmas day with my family and I hope that everyone had a good day as well. I am looking forward to getting back to training in earnest; as Ken reminds me, my preparation time is running out.

Thanks for your support,
Take care and God bless,
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Jack McGowan

PS.You can take a look at my YouTube Channel to see what I have posted there




 Link to my YouTube Channel

Schools Over!

Some of you were aware that I have been going to school at night and online for the past year. Well on Saturday December 18th I took my final exam. I will find out if I passed in February. It is a great relief to be finished with the course work. Now I can concentrate on training for the 2012 Lava Man. In order to finish my school work I took time off from training and writing this blog.
I must admit that by taking this time off my conditioning has slipped and I need to get back to training and keeping track of my progress, especially my food intake. I have been not watching what I eat and it is starting to show on the scale.
I am scheduled to run a half marathon on February 19th and of course the 2012 Lava Man. I need to get back in a workout / Training mode. Thanks again for your support, do not forget that if you shop at Amazon you can help me reach my fundraising goal and it costs you nothing. All the proceeds will go to Team in Training, so far you have raised $27.

Thanks,

Jack