Want to Join Team Race Against CF?

Dear Family & Friends,

Feel like going for a run or walk? Come join us!

As you probably know by now, Liz lost her two sisters to Cystic Fibrosis. Annually, the Mullin Family has been involved with the Lehigh Valley Tennis Auction Ball which raises money for the Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In 2007, Liz raised $185 dollars for CF by auctioning off the sponsorship of her race shirt for the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon.

This year we're looking to up the ante. Liz will be leading a team of runners/walkers for the Half Marathon, and Lauren will be leading a 5k team. By auctioning off the race shirt sponsorship for teams of runners/walkers in each race, we believe we can raise even more money to fight CF. We're writing to recruit you to join one of our teams.

Both races are on April 25th. As a team member we'll offer you lodging at the Mullin house, a pasta dinner the night before the race, and a tech-wick race shirt with a logo from the winning bidder. We are only asking that you pay for your registration fee ($55-60 for the half marathon and $35 for the 5K). The race goes through the beautiful Lehigh Valley Parkway, runs through a covered bridge, and finishes with a 600 meter run around the track at J. Birney Crum Stadium. This is a fun, relatively flat course which boasts 13 live musical performances along the route. Racers receive a finisher's medal, and either a technical t-shirt (5K) or an embroidered fleece vest (half marathon). This is a very popular race and will likely sell-out by mid/late January. We hope you decide you take advantage of the fun atmosphere and help us raise money to fight CF!

To register for the race, or get more information, please visit http://www.lehighvalleyhalfmarathon.com/index.html. Please also reply to this email if you'd like to participate so we can order the correct number of shirts.

Thanks for your support,

Liz & Lauren

Sham Rock On!

Sorry it has taken me so long to write my marathon summary. I had planned to write about the race Sunday afternoon, but there is this interesting post-race amnesia that occurs. The best way I can describe it is to liken it to the amnesic happiness displayed by women who have just undergone child birth. Despite child birth birth being a painful experience, the wonder of giving birth to a child overshadows the pain enough for women to essential "forget" the pain and only remember the amazing parts of giving birth (or so I've been told. I don't have any first hand experience.)

For the marathon, I realized how quickly the memories of the painful miles dissapted and how quickly my thoughts revovled around the amazing parts. Let's get the boring stuff out of the way first. I ran a 4:20:39 marathon, which if you've been following my times, it's a 25 minute improvement from my last marathon race. Whoo-hoo! My half marathon time was actually 2 minutes faster than my best half marathon time. And I ran a 1:37 first 10 miles - by far my best 10 mile time. My second half of the marathon definitely decreased in speed. I thought I may have pulled my quad for a few miles and fell victim to being distracted by the pain until I remembered I was carrying advil. 

Onto to the interesting stuff...

I lined up at the start with about 20 minutes til the gun. At Philly, I ended up running with a few people I met at the start line, so I looked around and struck up a few conversations just in case I found someone to keep me company. An older gentleman behind me was wearing a Richmond marathon cap. I've heard and read good things about Richmond and asked him about the race. He started talking about some of his other running experiences...including 2007 Philly. Go figure. The coincidence continued when I found out he lives about 15 minutes from my parents house. Just chatting at the start was huge in distracting me from the nerves that had been piling up during the previous 24 hours. 

Once the fun went off, I ended up running by myself. This actually felt really natural and easier than I thought it would be. During my long runs, I realized that I was able to get into a mindset where time seemed almost irrelevant. Number of miles were irrelevant too. Starting the run was just as good as finishing the run. Once I took the first step in the marathon, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I would finish the race. 

The highlight of the race came around miles 7 and 8. We ran through Camp Pendleton where National Guardsmen cheered us on. About 50 men and women lined the side of the road and I was able to slap high-five with every single one of them. Many of my family members, including my older brother, were/are members of the military. I have always felt very appreciative of members of the miltary. I seriously have a hard time not thanking every single person in uniform I come acorss - as corny as that sounds. So to have men and women in fatigues cheering ME on was beyond surreal. I suddenly increased in speed, momentum, and general mood. I was smiling for the next few miles. It was absolutely awesome. 

Just after mile 10, Lauren was able to run along with me on the boardwalk. I love running with Lauren! It was nice to get someone to talk to. I was able to share my experience described above with her and get a mental distraction from any fatgiue I felt. My almost 2-year-old nephew, my sister-in-law, and my mother-in-law were all walking around and enjoying the beautiful weather and the race. Erin later told me about how much see got into cheering for the runners. Previously skeptical about spectating for a marathon, she admitted that once she realized that the people passing her still had approximately 16 miles to go, she joined in the cheering and clapping. She rocks!  

My increased pace took my parents a little off guard too. They didn't expect me to pass them at mile 12 when I did and consequently my mother couldn't get her camera out fast enough and my dad missed me all together. (They did get to see me at the finish though!). The second half of the race is much quieter. There were less spectators and almost no music. The best form of entertainment were yard signs with corny jokes on them like, "What does a fish say when he swims into a concrete wall?...Damn!" Yeah - they were THAT bad...but after 16 miles, I will admit I was cracking up a bit. I started to feel some pain in my quad and was concerned I was gonna pull something. I just kept telling myself to keep running until walking was my only option. 

With about 5k to go, I passed two landmarks that gave me some perspective. First I passed the Chapel of St. Theresa, followed by the lighthouse that Susan was proposed to near. Suddenly, I got that second wind that I needed to carry me threw the finish. I was able to pick my speed back up and finish the race strong. The last leg of the marathon was on the boardwalk. I wish I was able to take a few more minutes to run slower and enjoy the water I was running next to...but to be honest I just wanted to cross the finish line as quickly as possible and take off my running sneakers. But it felt so good. I felt so relaxed after the race. It was...beautiful! 

I was able to get those shoes off. My parents and Lauren met me at the finish, along with my mother-in-law and my mom's cousins. I couldn't have asked for better weather to honor my sisters' memories. They were incredible people, helping me every step of the way I'm sure. 

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I want to take a second to give a shout out to my "little sister" Bridget, who had a nasty injury a few days after my marathon. Please send her some good vibes as she words towards recovery in preparation for D-I field hockey this fall! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! I hope you all enjoyed being Irish for the day (whether you are Irish or not for the other 364 days of the year!) 

When people would ask me "what I was..." it was always more of a philosophical question for me than many of my friends. Because I was adopted into my family, I'm not really sure what my ethnic background is. The pale skin and faint freckles (along with the strong Irish Catholic contigency in the Greater Lehigh Valley) there is better chance than not that I am at least a little Irish. But who knows for sure? And so what am I supposed to answer...do I answer that I am Irish because my adopted parents are Irish? Do I say I don't know? Does it warrant this much thought? 

Teresa didn't think so. I think she would say I was Irish because I was a Mullin and that was that. Here's a little known secret - I haven't actually finished my sister's book. I've picked it up and read through a few pages, a chapter, or a few chapters at a time, but the thought of finishing the book with having a million more questions to ask is kind of terrifying. I've been told that while she addresses my birth in the book, she didn't address my adoption. I recently just got to that chapter and even though I knew this - was still shocked at the omission. Why would she not include that I was adopted? While I've posited so many possibilities, the only thing that really makes sense is that it didn't matter. I was her sister (her Irish sister at that), and that was that. So like everyone else, I enjoyed being Irish for a day. And acting Irish today is like acting Irish any other day of the year, because I'm a Mullin daughter and I'm proud of it! 

Just thought I'd share that philosophical query with you. Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

...5 days til the Shamrock Marathon! 

Less Than Two Weeks Til the Marathon!!

As many of you know, in less than 2 weeks I will be running the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va. in memory of my two sisters. I have been training tirelessly to prepare myself for the racing, logging over 400 miles en route to reaching my goal. My second goal was to get 100 people involved. So far, 51 people have joined the fight against CF - will you join them? I'm not looking for much - a donation of $5 or $10 dollars to help battle this chronic lung disease. Considering the distance I am running, you would be making a very efficient dollar per step donation. But while it only takes 1 person to run the marathon, 100 people can help make progress in improving treatments for CF and eventually a cure. 

What Can You Do to Help:

1. Forward this blog link to friends and family who might be interested in joining the fight!

2. Write/email me a message as the marathon nears. I will be fighting some definite jitters! 

3. Make a donation. Donations can be made online (follow the link on my blog), via check (information about sending a check is found using links to donate) or if you happen to run into me, I would be more than happy to take the money off of you. (At this point in the fund-raising, you get a little shameless about asking for money. But this cause means a lot to me!) 

Thank you so much! Check back to the blog to see how the marathon goes! 

Sincerely, 

Liz Mullin

Be One in One Hundred! Give $10 to Fight Cystic Fibrosis as I Race Against CF at the Shamrock Marathon

http://www.raceagainstcf.blogspot.com/

What I've Learned From Runners

I have picked up a lot about how the world works and how to persevere from runners. Perhaps that it why I find the sport so intriguing. Some of the people I will discuss probably wouldn't even consider themselves runners - but that is how I see it. I wouldn't be doing this -- succeeding at training for my second marathon -- if not for these people. 

There is one thing I've learned about myself in the past three years. I am constantly working to impress my older brother and God Father, Ted. He would probably be embaressed to know this. His academic, work, service, and physical acheivements have always amazed me. Ted is probably the first "runner" I met. I remember watching him compete in high school cross-country. Once I even tried to run with him and my father in the pouring rain when I was about 8 years old. I remember hacking up a storm and I probably only got around the block. My father once said the reason Ted was successful as distance running was because he could "clench his teeth and bare it." Ted has completed many marathons. When I sought him out for training advice, I asked him specifically about how to train in the rain. He response: "Wear a hat." My brother's gut it out and get it down perspective has helped in getting my out the door for runs, especially during poor weather.  As soon as I hit the pavement, you might as well log my planned runs for the day because there is no way I'm not completing those miles. You just need to gut it out. 

Lauren would probably not want me to call her a runner, but she has become one. This past summer we trained together to run the Susan G. Komen 5k. Lauren had never run before. During the hottest days of the year, Lauren worked her way from run/walking 3 miles to running all 3 miles. With each increasing milestone she reached, you could see both the excitement and astonishment on her face. She reminded me how fun it is to run and reach new milestones. While the distances I am running aren't new, I am trying new paces, new types of workouts, and smiling (almost) every step of the way. 

During my first marathon, I ran along side a 52 year old women running her 6th marathon. Unbeknownst to me until eight miles into the race, Carol was running this marathon as a way to honor her husband who was fighting brain cancer. Over 20+ miles, you get to know alot about a person. Carol showed so much strength in facing a grim ordeal. At one point she told me how she used running as her own time.  While on the road, she was able to both work through and escape the emotion of her husband's battle. As a constantly busy and stressed out PhD student, having the hours on the road to escape my other responsibilities and slowly chew on whatever situation needs to be chewed on. At times it serves as my own form a therapy. Other times, it is my release. 

My tennis partner from high school has taught me the social benefits of running. Tina and I bested many other doubles teams. In April 2008, we bested the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon, completing the race in 2:07:17. I have a majority of my training alone. Competing together, Tina taught me how depending on another person will motivate you through the roughest of moments. She kept me upbeat despite knee and hip pain. She literally pulled me up the last hill. And she gave me the biggest hug when we finished. Having someone pushing her own limits next to you while you are pushing yours reminds me how friends can be great motivators and great company on the course. 

It is also amazing to me how running has helped create so many friendships. Many of my friends in my graduate program are triathletes or marathoners. Having the shared experience of competing has created a foundation to great friendships. Mary and I had a few classes together but never had much of an opportunity to talk or get to know each other. After more than a few running conversations in Doctoral Seminar (attempting to derail the day's discussion), we had a great run earlier and talked about future runs and races. I have asked countless questions of my triathlete friends and competed in 10ks with them. Running has allowed me to get to know to very intelligent and fantastic people. Heck - I met Bill Rogers while running! (See the Running With Royalty post). 

I originally made this  list while running (of course). It's late and I don't remember all of the people I wanted to include. I plan to add to this list because there is a ton to learning from runners and running. 

I realize that I've learned from non-runners too. My sisters were fantastic people that taught me to recognize the best in others and take the good from all experiences and encounters. Without my sisters, I'm not sure I would have taken the time to learn from others and be thankful for them. I also learned how to fight CF from my sisters. While my battle is drastically different, my perseverence is not. Join me in the battle and be 1 in 100. Give $10 today! 

20 Miles

Twenty miles is kind of a milestone in marathon training...at least it is in my mind. Maybe it is because it's a nice, round number divisable by 10. Maybe it's because last year when I attempted 20 miles during a training session, I pulled out after 10 because my hamstring was really tight and I thought I was going to pull it. So finishing 20 miles this time was a nice mental accomplishment. Maybe it's because when you tell other people  you did 20 miles, they either look at you like you are entirely bonkers or they look at you with a little admiration. More times than not, it's a little of both. 

I ran a half-marathon this fall. Don't get my wrong - it was a ton of fun running through mud and muck for 2.5 hours (see post on Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon), but the training itself was fairly onerous. Completing even a 10 mile run seemed time consuming and even a little tedious. I have to admit, I was a little concerned about how I would mentally handle all of these long runs for a marathon if I was annoyed doing "long" runs for a half marathon. Then one fall morning it hit me - it wasn't the training that left me wanting. It was the lack of a cause.  I didn't have a clear idea of why I was running. I just was. I like doing things for me and all, but I have enough other exercise interests that I don't need to do halves and fulls just for myself. I have made it through these marathon training almost effortlessly from a mental perspective. I enjoyed every single long run. I knew where I was going and why I was going there. I felt centered and that it just another reason for why I run. 

For now...17 days until the marathon. 

One Month Til the Marathon

Hello All,

So yesterday began the one month countdown to 26.2 at the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach. I thought I'd take this opportunity to let you all know how I'm doing. 

Just over a week ago, I ran 10 miles with a friend of mine who is much faster than I am and after falling into a normal running routine, it was nice to be pushed out of my comfort zone by running with someone else. Suddenly, I found myself running outside that comfort zone on my 18 mile run this past weekend, knocking down the miles in 3:12. This was pretty awesome for me and could never have happened without the support of my running friend, my family, and the sponsors who have supported me in this endeavor to raise money to fight Cystic Fibrosis. 

I recently read an article in Slate Magazine about whether you should really feel obligated to support everyone you know who participates in a [insert event here]-a-thon. It's a valid question. It's tough economic times. And a lot of people are involved in causes that are important to them. I find myself struggling with this question all of the time because I know so many other runners who are running for a cause as well. Here's a little what Slate said - and a little why I hope you will support me. 

Is the mission of this organization one I would put on my Top 20 list? If not ... just hug and release. Life is short.

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, who will receive the the money from this initiative, spends around 77 cents for research for each fundraising dollar it earns. Based on that factor as well as other efficiency standards, it is commonly ranked as one of the most efficient charity foundations. Don't take my word for it - check out: http://www.charitynavigator.org/

Like I said - everyone has their own causes. CF has touched my life and all I can do is ask to see if you can help. If now is not the time and this is not the cause, words of encouragement, hugs, and forwarding this email onto someone who may be interested in donating are free ways to support me in my race. 

Has this organization demonstrated progress pursuing its mission? f those involved can't answer this question for you, move on.

The CFF has did great things for my sisters while they were still fighting. Significant progress has been made just over the last 30 years. When Teresa was born, the life expectancy for an individual with CF was 12 years old. Currently, the age is will into the 20s with more advances coming all of the time. 

Is the individual asking for the pledge—or the organization arranging the fundraiser—worth supporting? Do you want to encourage their social efforts? Do you want them to represent you and your intentions?.

I have been given so many gifts in my life, the least of which is a healthy body - something my sisters could never say. I can't think of a better way to honor their memory than to show respect for the gifts of healthy lungs, a health heart, and strong legs I've been given. If you are receiving this email from me, it is because you have touched my life. Take a few minutes and join the others who have sponsored me in this race. At the end, hopefully we can all say that we are 100 people determined to change this world for those who battle CF. With a pledge of only 10 dollars, you can join the Race Against CF. 

You can go to my blog http://www.raceagainstcf.blogspot.com/  to read more about my training, preparation, and the other sponsors. 

You can go to http://teresamullin.org/pages/donate  to donate via Paypal directly. 

Thank you!

Liz Mullin