stress turned to peace

I've spent the past few weeks stressing over money, and in particularly fundraising for this marathon. I've had some frustrations with planned fundraisers not working out like I thought they would, and last week I was still a good $1000 from my minimum requirement. After a couple more pleas on Facebook, I am closer but still several hundred dollars away. I've realized that unless some miracle occurs in the next week (which I often pray to God that it will) and that I'm somehow able to collect $500 from door-to-door soliciting, at least a $500 charge (not including the $250 I've already paid for my flight) will be put on my credit card if I don't meet that $2,900 minimum. At first, I cried. I cried like it was the end of the world and that I would end up living on the streets. Then today, as I watched last week's episode of the Biggest Loser on Hulu, I had a change of heart. Last week's episode was Makeover Week. The last 6 contestants get new clothes, new hair, and it's when you really see the difference between when they arrived and now. It's more than just a physical change. You can see their emotional and mental changes as well. As I thought about that today, I thought about the change I've seen in myself through this challenge of running a marathon while raising money for cancer research. I ran/walked 18 miles last weekend. How many people, let alone individuals who are 40 pounds overweight, can say that? I can't put a price tag on the confidence I've gained through this opportunity. Each week, I continue to do things that I never thought I would be able to do. Today, I was sprinting at a 6.7 on the treadmill when I usually just jog between 4.7 and 5.3. I'm sure I'll push myself and run some 7.5/8.0 sprints next week. Between my weight training sessions with Brian and Andre and all of this marathon training, I've grown so much (well, actually I've shrunk) and I feel good. $500 isn't the end of the world. Yes, it adds to my pile of student debt but it will get paid off. In reality, $500 is a small price to pay for everything I've gained. And it all goes to a good cause. :)

18 miles down, $950 to go.

Well, this morning's training brought on a whopping 18. I'm grateful to tell you that I, despite having to walk a lot and now being sun burned, finished all 18 of those.

So, I'm no longer so worried about the number of miles in the marathon. Once I get over the nervousness and am able to look past the negative thoughts about how looong 26.2 is, I know that I can do it, even if I'm limping my way across the finish line.

The big worry is now the mula. I'm currently at about $1,950, still $950 short of the minimum amount. I need a miracle. I need a day to sit outside at Wal-mart and collect donations. I need all of my Facebook friends to donate $2. I can't front the $950 on my own. That's almost a semester's worth of tuition. However, if several people give small donations, it will make a huge difference.

less than four weeks

So the marathon is less than four weeks away!!! I'm so nervous. We're running 18 miles this weekend, and I confess, I've been doing a lot of run/walking during my weekly runs because my knee has been bothering me. Please pray that it heals quickly.

Also, I still have another $1,000 to raise to reach my goal. If you can help me out and donate, please do so by going to www.malindajmiller.info.

I'll let you know how this weekend goes.

good news

For those reading outside of the Perry County area, or those that are and just managed to miss this tidbit of information: Allie's tumors have shrunk: Read the news article and watch the video on ABC27.

pictures as promised

OK, so I don't like the way blogspot uploads pictures. They're all out of order now, so go by the captions since there is really no time-line.

Kristen, Kelly, and me at the very end of Sunday. We were exhausted.

We headed into the park shortly after I finished the 1/2 marathon. What a day.

After crossing the finish line and getting some food into me.

Two thumbs up at mile 8 :)

4 a.m. race day

Still sticking to the fact that this is how I felt at mile 9.

My first race bib!

The hot tub felt good after that long weekend

A yummy dinner at Jumby Bay (or something along those lines)

1/2 mile to go at this point....

Subtract 21 minutes from that time and that's how long it took me to get to mile 10

Dang! I was distracted by Capt. Jack Sparrow asking me why everyone was walking. Gee, it was mile 11, what did he expect?

The handsome heroes :)

The Genie!!!

with the Chipmunks and my new race friends :)

we ran through Cinderella's castle!

stopping at mile 4 to get a pic with Kristen and Kelly (and to hand-off my gross sweatshirt)

the sun was finally starting to come up :)

At the start line in my Corral at about 5:30am. It was dark and FREEZING!

I've been behind in my blogging. I'll be better once the semester is over. I promise. I still owe you pictures from the Disney Princess Half Marathon. If you're friends with me on Facebook, you can view them there for now.

I sent out one batch of thank you cards, but still have a stash to finish writing and addressing.

I'm roadtripping to Vegas this weekend with some friends (and to visit Precious). It's a 12-mile weekend. Let's see if I can find the time to run while I'm there or if I'll have to get the miles in on Monday. :)

Disney Princess Half-Marathon

Well folks, I went to Florida for a few days and just got back Tuesday evening. I'm proud to say that I finished the Disney Princess Half-Marathon, my first race ever. I didn't really treat it like a race though. I just wanted to finish and not be swept from the course from being too slow. I finished in 3 hours, 32 minutes, and 17 seconds. But, I think I could easily take 20 minutes off of that time for the bathroom stops and the many times I stopped to get pictures with Disney characters (they were all along the course - soooo much fun).

I'll have to update with some pictures later :)They gave us a disposable camera, so that's what I carried with me during the race. I have to get my film developed.