Week 8: Working Through Challenges

Well, another week of training bites the dust! Just like these families of Hospitality Homes have challenges, I too have had some with my training. I confess, I am nursing a pulled muscle in my buttock for the last two weeks that had me worried, but I managed to get in my long run of 19 miles this weekend. I have been doing some cross training, yoga and stretching to make sure I don’t do any long term damage that would prevent me from reaching the finish line and letting down all of you who have been so generous to Hospitality Homes. I also have tried to befriend the treadmill doing some hill intervals to prepare for Heart Break Hill and some speed work; though I promise I will not be breaking any records other than the one where we reach our $10,000 dollar goal!

I know I am lucky just to be running and want to enjoy the journey and that incredible feeling of accomplishment crossing the finish line. Some days you just have to accept that you are just not feeling the desire or drive to get out there and train, but then there are days when the sun is shining, you have a new pair of shoes or a bright colored shirt that inspires you to go shine and so you plug along and the next thing you know, you just ran 3 hours. Sounds easy right? Well it’s mostly mind over matter and the trick is making your mind matter!

The folks at Hospitality Homes and I check this site regularly and we squeal with delight at the comments and generous donations so many people have made. We are all making dreams come true and that’s enough to get me to lace up my shoes and get out there. I just have one more week of the really heavy running and then it’s all down hill from there. So keep the words of encouragement coming, I really appreciate it!

Gotta go run…

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Week 7: Training Update

Well I just passed the 7 week mark of my training which means I only have 9 more weeks to go before the marathon. I have been pretty lucky with the weather so far compared to the rest of the nation that is knee deep in snow and blizzard like conditions. Luckily, where I live at the beach, I only have high winds as my biggest obstacle on some days and for those days that I just can’t get outside, I hit the gym for a little treadmill work. I know there are a lot of people out there who have no problem spending an hour, or so on that machine, but for me, I get so bored that I have difficulty keeping to the marathon schedule. I have worked my way up to 16 miles for my long run and thanks to the weather holding out, I have been able to do that on the board walk and along the beach routes, which is very inspiring and full of interesting sites.

I was recently introduced to a fellow Boston Marathon trainee who has done the half marathon and knows “Heart Break Hill” well. I confess I may have not fully understood the significance of this hill as it relates to the placement during the actual run. It appears that it occurs close to the 22nd mile mark which is why it’s so appropriately named. I don’t think I have done enough to prepare for this part of the race so I have decided to hit the gym a bit more frequently and become friends with treadmill doing hill intervals. The good news is that I can catch up on all my favorite TV shows or the latest videos while I am plugging along!

I want to thank everyone who has visited this site so far and made such generous donations to Hospitality Homes. With your donations, and your help spreading the word about this organization, we have a better chance at reaching our $10,000 goal.
Thank you!

Gotta go run…

Welcome to my training blog!

Hi, my name is Kristina Duke and I am running the Boston Marathon for Hospitality Homes on April 21, 2008 (Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts). Running has always been a passion of mine and the best way I know to release stress and solve the world’s problems in 60 minutes or less!

Though I have run several marathons in the past, this one will be particularly special to me as I am reaching a milestone in my life, turning 40! They say 40 is the new 30, and inside I feel even younger. I feel lucky that I have never had any major health problems to speak of and I am aging as gracefully as possible.

I know first hand that so many people are not this lucky. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 and thankfully she is now considered “cured”. My father has been in and out of the hospital with a variety of issues over the past 5 years; a few included lengthy stays in the ICU, where we thought we would never get the chance to say those three precious words again. I also know, as a registered nurse, that our family’s challenges pale in comparison to others and this makes you realize how precious time is with loved ones and that access to quality health care makes all the difference in this world.

With the help of Hospitality Homes, I am combining both my passions—running for my health and running for others—and setting a personal challenge to raise $10,000. My family was lucky to be able to receive medical treatment in our home town. Many families don’t have that luxury as they don’t live near the best medical facilities or the condition requires special attention that may only be found out of state. These families need our help to find a safe, affordable place to stay so that they can concentrate on supporting and nurturing their loved ones back to health, which often is an enduring process.

I have never been afraid of challenges and even put my fundraising capabilities to the test walking 60 miles for the AVON Breast Cancer Society and raising almost $5,000. I walked for three days with those who had beaten the odds, those who had been the support system through the fight, and those who walked for hope.

As I turn 40 and run the Boston Marathon, my legacy will be something far more precious than a shiny medal. It will be knowing that in running, I helped make life a bit easier for patients and their families at a time when they need it the most. I hope you will join me in making a difference for these families.

Stay tuned for training updates and pictures and wish me luck!