Sep 17, 2012 | Running
Two things happened yesterday, which may or may not be related.
1) I discovered that at some point I purchased a Hot Hot Heat ep from my iPhone. It says right there in the iTunes cloud that it was purchased from MY phone. Hmmmm.
2) I tried to run 9.5 miles in Seattle’s hot hot heat. It was probably high 70s, maybe low 80s. It was fine in the shade, then I turned onto Greenwood headed towards Phinney and the sun bounced off the concrete and the asphalt and I almost died. I don’t do well in heat or under the sun. It’s why we sit on the shady side of the stadium in the club level to watch the Sounders.I did struggle through almost 9 miles–the slowest miles ever. I did some intervals in the middle so I don’t feel like a total waste. My favorite interval training 30 second of running counting my left foot strikes, then 30 seconds of walking. Repeat four times or so making sure to add 3 or 4 left foot strikes each time. It’s quick, it gets your heart going, and it’s harder than you think when you’re already exhausted and nauseous from the hot hot heat.
Sep 14, 2012 | Team Challenge, Thought
Thanks to Everyone who cam eout, we raised $3800.
2nd Annual Team Challenge Fundraiser and Raffle
October 13, 2012
5:30 – 10 pm
Once again, Kristie is raising money for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation through the Team Challenge program. (http://www.active.com/donate/seaLV12/kmacris) Please come out and support her at this amazing wine tasting.
A suggested minimum donation of $30 per person (or $50 per couple when paying cash) gets you wine, food & fun. The donation is tax-deductible if you request a receipt.
As this is a fundraiser, bring cash, your checkbook or a credit card! Yes, I’ll accept credit cards using Square.
Back by Popular Demand: Blind Wine Tasting– Taste and rate wine. Person who ranks the wine closest receives a prize.
New This Year: $5 Premium Tastings– Grab a glass or taste of “premium” wine and support CCFA!
Raffle tickets will be for sale. $5 each or 5 for $20
iPad, Digital Camera, Gift Certificates, Wine & More
Prizes Sponsored by:
Ballard Acupuncture Center, Cabot Creamery, El Gaucho, Elite Island Resorts Caribbean, Luc Restaurant, Krave Jerky, Museum of Flight, Seattle Seahawks, & many, many more…
We are graciously being hosted in a party room at the Bellevue Towers. The Great Room gives us plenty of indoor and outdoor space and an Eastside location! The Great Room is located on the 5th floor. Please enter through the guest elevator next to Lot No. 3. While there may parking in the garage, we will not be validating!
If you can’t make it to this event, please consider supporting me by donating online:http://www.active.com/donate/seaLV12/kmacris
I hope to see you there! More info will be released as the date draws near.
RSVP online here, on Facebook, or to kristie@macristravel.com
I’d like to have a headcount before October 1 to order wine, but you are welcome to RSVP after that date.
For more information:
Kristie Macris 206.617.0613
Please feel free to invite your friends and co-workers–anyone in the Seattle area you may know!!
**************** UPDATE ON THE FUNDRAISER ****************
For those of you who asked, there will be plenty of non-alcoholic beverages (including Diet Coke), we’ll have local Vodka on hand, and beer. There will also be a cheese tasting, a chocolate tasting, and an overabundance of food (cause that’s how I throw a party). There will be a couple fun non-drinking activities as well. There will plenty to eat, drink and do if you don’t drink or just hate wine! Hope to see you there!!!
Sep 14, 2012 | Running
It really is all about the music. I started this season with a new training program that focused on run/walk intervals. My arm still gets a little tender being bent for long periods, so I’m keeping the run intervals short so I can stay out longer. The new program came with its own music. It’s generic techno music, more towards the progressive house flair of years long ago. I’ve been running and walking okay to that, but I never felt great, never really got motivated.
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Sep 11, 2012 | Thought
If you type my name into Google, you may come up with a couple articles I wrote about the tenth anniversary of 9/11, but that’s not what this 11 year celebration is all about.
See 1o years and 364 days ago, I had an appointment scheduled as a recheck on my cancer treatment. It would either mean I was currently cancer-free or that I would need more treatment. I didn’t make it to my doctor, just a few blocks, from the World Trade Center on Sept. 12, 2011.
I had to wait for phones to work again and my doctor’s office to reopen in order to reschedule. I went in a couple weeks later, and the smell of death of asbestos clung to my hair and clothes. As I was prepping, the nurse said to me: I’m glad you’re okay. We don’t know about so many of our patients until they just don’t show up for an appointment.
There was an exam and some tests, an ultrasound performed. It was quick and I walked away with knowledge things looked good. It wasn’t until a few days later that the doctor called and said I was cancer-free. I had many years to go until I could say remission.
I’ve experienced and accomplished so much with my life that I don’t often refer to myself as a survivor. Perhaps it could even be a hang-up of my 9/11 experience. I have friends who are survivors, dug out of rubble, trapped for hours in a collapsed stairwell. First responders and little worker bees. Me, I was at home that day watching from my window.
Or perhaps, it’s because I don’t want to become a disease. I don’t want my identity to be overshadowed by labels. Yes, I had cancer. Yes, I have endometrosis. But I am so much more than that. Those two things do not define me, nor do they dictate how I live. I’d rather you see me and not a disease.
You’ll never see me wear the “Survivor” band at races, but that doesn’t lessen my experience, my present, or my future. But it has been 11 years since I kicked cancer to the curb. That’s kind of special.
Sep 10, 2012 | Running, Team Challenge
You’ve all heard me say it a million times–I hate running. Has that changed this season? Nope, not really. But am doing it? Yup, I am.
Last December, I ran 13.1 miles. Did that change my mind at all? I loved running with my teammates. I loved the lights of the strip. I loved my mom waiting for me at the finish line (with a margarita in hand). Did I love running? Nope. But I did it anyway.
Training is that way too. I have found the things I kind of like. I like running to a place, not in loops. I like to do 30 seconds of really fast running while counting my left foot steps and then 30 seconds of walking, but you can’t do that for 9 miles. I like running on trails. I like running barefoot. I like running at night. I don’t love any of it.
So where am I in my training? I ran/walk/ran four miles on Saturday with Team Challenge starting at Mt. Baker Row Club. Today, I am running as fast as I can the Turkey Trot 5k route. It’s mostly downhill and then I’ll climb the Golden Garden Stairs to get home. I’ll post my record breaking time later today. Next weekend, I’ll do interval training with Team Challenge and run 9.5 miles towards my distance training. So, I’m doing it. I’m just not loving it.
Why am I doing this? Because my mom has Ulcerative Colitis, which really does suck. What a horrible, terrible disease. She shouldn’t be in pain. I can be in a bit of pain and discomfort running all the time if perhaps someday they’ll be a better treatment for her.
I’ll check back in later today with my September Turkey Trot time. If you’re on runkeeper, add me on your street team. I need the motivation, and you’ll feel great beating my average times every week!
Aug 14, 2012 | Team Challenge
Kickoff for the Vegas Team Challenge Season is just 10 days away, but I’ve already started fundraising, getting a head start as I have a very long way to go.
On December 2, 2012, I will be running with the Northwest Chapter of Team Challenge in the Las Vegas Rock n Roll Marathon. This will be my second 1/2 marathon with Team Challenge, and I plan to finish it running in honor of my mother who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2008. During my fundraising last year, I learned that among the 1.4 million people who live with Crohn’s & Colitis are many of my friends. Last year, I raised $8,000 for them and this year I plan to beat that!
Over the last year, my mother continued to inspire me as her Ulcerative Colitis continues to worsen. Like me, she’s a trooper, but I can see and feel her pain and sometimes her embarrassment from her disease. Recently, she was dropped from her clinical trial for having a white blood cell count that was too low. In essence, she was too sick to test the drug that might make her better. She is the reason I am running this and she is the reason that I want to raise $10,000 this year.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are known together as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and are both painful, medically incurable illnesses that attack the digestive system. The cause of IBD remains unknown; however, the effectiveness of recently developed treatment methods and steady advances in research bring us closer every day to finding the cause and probable cure of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
HELP ME REACH MY GOAL
My goal is to raise $10,000 (or more) for Team Challenge and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, as well as to finish the race as my mom cheers me on. Over 80% of every dollar I raise will directly fund the mission of CCFA, to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by inflammatory bowel diseases.
August 22: Kick Off! – I’d like to have $1,000 raised. Help me out by donating what you can: http://www.active.com/donate/seaLV12/kmacris
October 14: Re-Commitment – I’d like to have $6,000 raised.
November 14: Final Fundraising Deadline – $10,000 goal – My goal MUST be met by this day!!!!
December 2: Las Vegas Rock n Roll ½ Marathon.
January 4: Last Day to Accept Donations. Even after I meet my $10,000 goal, I can keep fundraising for CCFA.
I am hopeful you will join me in the fight against Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. You can help by visiting: http://www.active.com/donate/seaLV12/kmacris and donating generously to my campaign for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. Donations are tax deductible. If you donate $500 or more, I’ll dedicate a mile in Las Vegas to you! Thank you for your generosity and support! For my friends who would like to donate a raffle or auction item, please contact me for more information.
On behalf of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, thank you very much for your support. I greatly appreciate your generosity.
Thank you,
Kristie Macris
P.S. I would appreciate it if you would forward this email to as many people as you can to encourage them to donate as well. Thanks again.
Donate and Follow my Training: http://www.active.com/donate/seaLV12/kmacris
