History Becomes My Teacher

Life is a bit unruly right now and therefore, not leaving me much time for writing on this blog. I'm not sure if it's lack of time or energy but the end result has been the same...long delays between posts. It's sad because it's something I enjoy and after reading through some old posts today, I was reminded that I write more for myself than for anyone else. So why do I make public? Good question and one to ponder at another time.

I have been making time to write here because of the commitment I made to be part of a team of fantastic women and I want to be as supportive as possible while also keeping my generous supporters up to date with my progress. Marathon training is quite time consuming but it's good for me. Exercise gives me an outlet to release my emotions from the day, be they good or bad and obviously, it gives my body strength and everyone knows that's important. Reading my posts from last season was fun and even informative. I can see how far I've come in my understanding of my body, my mind, my limitations, my strength. Over the past couple weeks, I found myself becoming gradually more frustrated. Why can't I run farther than this? Why are my friends, who haven't completed a marathon before (or any race in some cases,) able to run much farther/faster than me? I'm proud of them but what's wrong with me? I had many judgements for myself and I was slowing building resentment against my own body. Reading these old training entries somehow allowed me to accept my body, recognize my improvements and accomplishments and let go of the unspoken expectations I had placed on myself for this season. I'm sure I'll need reminders of this along the way but for today, I'm ready to move on, focused and determined but gracious.

Tim Russert, You Are Missed

I didn't know him personally but like so many others, I felt like I did. Maybe it's the fact that we're both from Western New York or that I spent so many Sunday mornings watching Meet the Press and learning from him. Many of Tim's friends are telling their stories and offering eloquent statements. I won't attempt to improve upon them. I simply want to recognize that we've lost a remarkable man and I'm deeply sad for his family and for Buffalo. He is surely missed.

The following is an interview that Matt Lauer did with Luke Russert, Tim's courageous son.

Stories From The Bus

This week, on LA's Metro:

Story #1: An elderly woman sits in the aisle seat with a 20-something woman sitting in the window seat. The older is searching through her bag, as though she's looking for something to do more than a specific item. Ah, she decides on an activity, it's time to retire the teeth for the evening. To the likely horror of the stranger seated on her left, she proceeds to extract her dentures, carefully wipe them off and put them into a box. She continued to rifle through her bag and pulled out a pair of latex gloves. I got nervous but thankfully, she was just moving them to a new location in her bag.

Story #2: A gray-haired man, looks to be in his early 60s, stands up from his seated position for seemingly no reason. He chooses to stand for quite some time at the front of the bus. He's not talking to the driver as some do but just standing there, occasionally, looking back at the rest of the passengers. After a few miles, he realizes he needs to adjust his undergarments and right then, takes his time dealing with his apparent wedgie...in front of the entire bus! Amazingly, no one said a thing but many chose that moment to look out the window and enjoy LA's scenery, which happened to be a gas station and a highway. He got off at the next stop and finished the job he started on the bus, that's right, he picked another wedgie as we drove on by!

For those wondering, according to dictionary.com, the definition of wedgie is:
"Informal. The condition of having one's underpants or other clothing uncomfortably stuck between the buttocks."

Thank you, LA Metro passengers, for entertaining me on a fairly regular basis.

TNT Training Update

For anyone curious about my Nike Women's Marathon training, click here for the latest update.

The Good Samaritan

For those of you who think LA is a scary city full of self-centered people, let me tell you a little story about my evening. As I sat in the office at my latest temp job, I overheard a few people mention dark clouds and the coming rain. Uh oh. I didn't have an umbrella in my bag. I know better than this. I've been relying on public transportation for two and a half years and I know one should never leave home without cash, a cell phone, a book, and an umbrella...even in southern California. As I left the office, it was only lightly raining but as I arrived at the bus stop, it was pouring. A guy came over with his umbrella and offered to share it with me. His name is Mark and he's my new best friend in LA! We got on the same bus and he told me where his stop was, which happened to be the same as mine. He walked me all the way to my apartment! Now, I know what you're thinking, he'll show up at my door in the middle of the night or something but I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt. He said he was "overdue for a good deed" and I was desperate and happy to oblige. I love life's unexpected moments and I'm glad that I'm more open to accepting them.

So, the next time you think of LA, think about how kind it's citizens are and plan a visit. Who knows, maybe Mark will share his umbrella. :) Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go put an umbrella in my bag.

1,694 Miles

Thanks to my dad, one of my favorite activities is to hit the open road. Ironic, since I don't own a car and haven't for at least two and a half years. Over the weekend, I accompanied a friend on her move from Missouri to California. I did that same drive last fall with my sister and it was just as beautiful this time around. The views are just spectacular so if you ever have an opportunity to spend 24 hours in a car headed west, take it and take me!


"O public road, I say back I am not afraid to leave you, yet I love you, you express me better than I can express myself." ~Walt Whitman

Support A Good Cause

Last week, I sent out my first email to family and friends, letting them know that I'm partnering with Team In Training again this year in order to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I'm also posting it here in case you would like to join me in this effort. Thanks, everyone!

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Dear Family and Friends,

Last year, I had the distinct privilege of training for and participating in the Nike Women's Marathon with Team In Training (TNT). The event is a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and thanks to many of you, it was a great success. It was such a moving experience that I've decided to do it again! And this time I'm taking along at least 7 college friends, my sister-in-law and my mom! Our training has begun and I'm asking for your support, perhaps for the second time.

This year's training is a bit different since I'm doing it along side so many people that I love. Kristin, a college friend of 15 years, is one of them and while this is her first endurance event, this is not her first encounter with the LLS. In 2000, her husband, Gideon, was diagnosed with Acute Promylocetic Leukemia and thanks to the research that has been done thus far, he is cancer-free today! Gideon and Kristin have three beautiful children and we are all grateful for the success of Gideon's treatment. We want more people to have the same opportunity at life. That's why we're running.

All of us with TNT are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma from taking more lives. I'm completing this event in honor of my friend Gideon and all those battling blood cancers and in memory of all those who lost their lives to the disease. These people are the real heros on our team and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line--a cure!

I am incredibly grateful for all the support I received last year. And I appreciate that many of you support deserving charities throughout the year. If you can consider this one, I'd like to ask that you please make a tax-deductible donation to the LLS on my behalf. Donations can be made at my website, http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/nikesf08/awallenbeck or if you would prefer to make a donation by check, feel free to contact me for instructions.

I hope you'll stop by my website often to check on my progress, visit the blog my college friends and I have set up to document our experiences, http://nikejournal.blogspot.com and even forward this email along to others that might be interested in partnering with a worthy cause. We welcome all support!

On behalf of the LLS and the lives they touch, thank you.

Amy

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"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." ~Mahatma Gandhi