TNT Podcast #9

The ninth episode of my Team in Training Podcast is now online.

Monday Update

I always belive in giving myself plenty of recovery time after a hard week. Since the 18 miler two Sunday's ago, I gave myself a week of recovery with a few easy runs to keep me honest. The opportunity to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and begin putting up decorations was definitely appreciated. Earlier tonight I put in an easy four miler and I ran it a little faster than I have been, so it is good to push the pace a little to help build some speed. The rest of the week looks like this. Four or Five miles tomorrow and/or Wednesday, an off day on Thursday (to watch the Packers and Cowboys on NFL now in HD) and then an easy cross country run on Saturday. On Sunday I plan to get in a good 16-20 miles. I wish the marathon was a few weeks closer because I risk sickness or injury. But I guess I should just be happy that I am getting marathon ready fairly quickly. Thankfully though, I am not worried about time.

Weekend Run Update

As you may know, I had high hopes of running the Gobbler Grind Half Marathon on Sunday in Overland Park. Unfortunately, I didn't register online in time to meet the deadline and the only way for me register was to drive to Overland Park, register on-site for $45 and then drive back home, only to go back again the next day.

Instead, I chose to head out on a long run. Eighteen miles to be exact. Other than the run with my brother as part of his ultra-marathon, I hadn't been over 13 on my own. I crossed the 13.1 mile mark at 2:21 which was well within my goal of 2:30. The good thing was that I was getting progressively faster as I went along. Definitely my best run of this training cycle and one of my best runs I ever had.

With that, I ran 42 miles for the week.

Gobbler Grind

I am running my first half-marathon this weekend in over four years. I will be running the Gobbler Grind in Overland Park. A half marathon is my favorite race distance - its far enough to amaze my family and friends, but not so far that you are physically exhausted. I will be running with my brother Scott and his wife Jennifer. I'll report my finish time on Sunday.

Dear Friends:

Sometimes it is hard to explain why we do the things that we do. This morning, I will be attending the funeral of my high school classmate Yona Julian who passed away last Saturday following a battle with cancer which began in June of 2006.

Yona was the inspiration for me to participate in the Team in Training program and the reason why I have committed myself to raise money and to devote my personal time and energy toward this cause. There are few people who walk this earth that will be remembered for such a dedicated life. I remember reading something she wrote last year how she had always lived a very healthy lifestyle and that it didn’t make sense. Yona was a thirty-six year old mother of four children, had been a stellar athlete in high school and college and a friend to the community in which she lived.

Cancer doesn’t make sense. It can strike anyone at anytime. Great advances are being made, but when we lose the life of someone we know, it reminds us that we have a long way to go.

My effort to raise money for leukemia and lymphoma is beginning to wind down. In just over a month, I will begin to wrap up my fundraising for this effort. Thank you so much to those of you have already contributed. Many others have pledged their support. If you have thought about supporting my effort, take a moment on this day, the day in which Yona’s friends and family will remember her life, and visit my website and make a donation. Donations can also be sent to either:

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
C/O Greg Hill
3460 SW Jardine Terrace
Topeka, KS 66611

or

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
C/O Greg Hill
555 N. Woodlawn Building 1
Suite 113
Wichita, KS 67208

I thank you for taking a moment of your busy day. I realize that this effort might not be for you. If you wish to be removed from future updates, please let me know. It’s always a fine line between sharing something you truly believe in and doing too much that turns people off.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Greg Hill

TNT Podcast #8

The eighth episode of my Team in Training Podcast has been uploaded. This week's episode focuses on the loss of my honored patient and the different ways in which I am using the internet for this project. Unfortunatly, I am not at all pleased with the quality of this podcast. After the success last week with the green screen, I couldn't get it to work this week at all. I think it was because of the black and white checkered shirt I wore. Maybe my new WIBW friends from Twitter can help me out on that one. But because of my schedule this week, the added miles I have been putting in, I just wanted to get this out the door.

Obituary

Thanks to my sister for scanning and emailing the obituary from The Independence Daily Reporter.

In Memory

Yona Julian (1971-2007)

If you have been following my podcasts, you know the reason I running this marathon is because of a high school classmate and longtime friend of mine, Yona Julian who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in June 0f 2006. Yona passed away this past weekend. My heart goes out to Brett, her husband, and four children. From now until the marathon in January, with every training run, I will run one extra mile in your her honor.

Daily Training Update

Yesterday, I took the day off from work to help my wife paint our dining room. That meant I had to get my long run in before we got started. So at 5:00 a.m. I hit the road with my orange vest and reflective gloves. I got a good twelve miles in yesterday, which included a bit of cross country in a park near my house. This weekend, I am planning to run the Gobbler Grind Half Marathon in Overland Park. I am sure hope they will keep the clock going until I finish and don't run out of medals.

Quick Update

A many thanks to all of you who have sent your inspirational best wishes and encouragement. I appreciate all of them. I told one supporter that I would have to print out all of the emails and carry them with me because I might need them at mile 22. I really might consider that. I have also received many generous contributions in the past few days and I thank you sincerely.

Today, I am off to the airport for a quick business trip to Las Vegas. I threw in my camera and laptop and if time, I might just shoot next weeks podcast while I am there. If so, I'll try and get it posted so I can officially say I have done a "remote".

I also got in a six miler this morning before I left. Felt great. And I averaged under ten minute miles. For you runners out there, I know that is slow. But I will take what I can get. I am not necessarily out for speed on this marathon, just covering the distance.

I'll try and catch up with you again before the end of the weekend and hopefully I will get that podcast done while I am out there. Thanks again everyone.

Greg

Podcast #7

Along with becomming a better runner and raising more money, I also try each week to improve my skills as a podcaster. Looking back to the first few weeks, there is a noticiable improvement. This episode looks and sounds much better and took far less time to produce. I don't necessarily plan to do more than one of these a week, but I am getting much better with the process.

For those of you wondering when to make a contribution. Anytime is fine. My deadline is December 28th, but earlier I finish the fundraising, the sooner I can begin to concentrate on my training. I hope you like this week's episode.

Click here to watch it now.

Weekly Update for November 4

A quick update on some of the things that are going on.

1. I am working on this week's Team in Training Podcast and I plan to release it on Wednesday. I am looking forward to this week's episode and a few "special effects" I am working on.
2. Today, I put in a hard 10 miler. My plan was for a longer run, but I revised my training plan a little using a program from Runner's World. I plan to include my training program in the weekly video.
3. Many have asked when the fundraising deadline is. Technically I have until December 28th, but I am really going to start pushing for the $5000 goal now, so I am not sweating it out come the end of the year.
4. I'll be adding many new viewers in the next week or so. To those of you who are here for the first time welcome. For those who have been following me through the past eight weeks or so, I hope you have enjoyed th blog and the videos.

I'll update again in the next few days with an update on the video and updates on my training goal.

Greg