5/6 - Race for Literacy

Today my friend Dena and myself along with my boys went to run in the Union Tribune Race for Literacy charity run... The 8K started near the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park, then runs down scenic Highway 163 (closed, of course) and finishes at Pantoja Park on G Street in downtown San Diego. It was a great run and Dena and I had a blast...

Every year, thousands of families and friends gather to participate in the festivities of the Union-Tribune Race for Literacy. All proceeds benefit the San Diego Council on Literacy, which provides reading programs to more than 100,000 San Diegans.

I have to say another successful day of running... and for another great cause!

Be looking out... 21 mile run coming up this weekend!

5/5 - Torrey Pines Run

Today was a great day to be out there on a run.... My boys were going to be at our 2nd aid station and I had something to look forward to half way through my run... to see their smiling faces... Not once but twice! We started this run out easy leaving Torrey Pines Resevoir Beach going North up towards Del Mar... I don't know if I ever told you guys this BUT I HATE HILLS! This hill lasts for awhile but it's manageble... but I still don't like them... As we are going into Del Mar I am running with Gary-the-Brit and we are chatting as usual... keeping a steady pace as we go and as I continue to take pictures along the way.... At mile 2, I lose Gary to the bathrooms... I told him I would slow down so he could catch up but I didn't see him again until were were entering Solana Beach near the train station... so we ran together from around mile 4 until just before mile 6... he turned around at the 12 mile marker turn around but my handy dandy Garmin said I had not reached my 12 mile turn around... so I continued on... I think he just wanted to get ahead of me!!! I was happy to see my boys at the aid station both times I passed it as they are great encouragement... They were having fun giving our runners water/gatorade as they came by.

On my return 6 mile trip to the start I am running solo again and I am just enjoying the run... the weather was awesome, my running felt great and I had a chance to kind of think about things that are going on in my life. We come to a point in life were we are just struggling and that is exactly where I have been the last few months... Just trying to find one self is hard and a huge struggle. But in this short time I feel I have a lot to be thankful for... I have a great family, I have amazing friends, and I have the two most wonderful boys in the world to be thankful for... I know it's been tough for me but all that I go through only makes me stronger. I also think of the people that I am running for and the ones that have lost their battle... and it makes me realize; I really don't have it that bad...

Today I had the best run in a very long time where I felt there was no struggle, there was just complete contentness and a free spirit... I finished my 12.26 mile run in 1:50:35 and only took around 70 pictures during the run... Not too bad.

I keep my faith, I keep running and just enjoy my experience...

In Memory of:
Mike Acosta - My dad's brother
Frank Medina - My great uncle
Papa Joe Gonsalves - Family Friend's Father

In Honor of:
Matthew Dean - recently relapsed and has 15% chance of survival
Michelle Larson - recently relapsed and went through 2nd bone marrow transplant
Julie Fuller - 7 years in remission
Sarah Zdanowski - 4 years in remission
Vince McGrath - 2 years in remission

4/28 - 18 Mile Run Lake Hodges

Today I have to say was a rough day... It started out being a perfect day to run 18 miles in Escondido along the trails but the sun decided to come out and make it tough on me. We ran three courses today and the first one was running along Highway 15 and under it to the run along the lake... it's a nice out and back to the trail head. I am in charge of taking pictures for our team and I took about 114 over the course of the 18 miles... Yes, I know it's a lot of photo's but you know there are a lot of newbies out here making memories with each mile and I love capturing them.

Ok, back to my run... So did the 3 mile out and back and was back at the trail head for the next somewhat out and back... this is the part that was tough... The trails are so much nicer to run on but harder to train on... make sense? Probably not but to us runners we know there is a difference in how your body is reacting to the trail opposed to the streets... I took several pictures along the way.. of runners, signs, a rock and somemore people... it's funny I think I am distracted during the run with taking pictures that I sometimes think the run goes by quicker.

I am just about to head back on the third section of the run which we head out towards our coaches house which we conveniently have an aid station. By this time, I am struggling as I feel two HUGE blisters in each of my shoes... One isn't feeling so hot but I try to ignore it... Mile 13 is looking rough but I trug on and manage to finish the last 5 miles with some very bad feeling feet. I know it's the small things that I sacrifice to train, fundraise and run the marathons in honor of the people who are unable too...

After 18 miles, two blisters and a nice little sun tan I completed another training run and it's just getting closer to marathon day.

Keep checking back for more updates... I have a 12 mile run this weekend and then on May 12th I will be completing my longest run of the season; 21 miles.

4/21 - 11 mile training run

Our Saturday run was located at Miramar Lake...and today I was sweep. Sweep duties are basically you have to be the last person back in... We had teammates running 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 miles out here... I had to be the last one... I only ran 11 miles today due to some major stomach issues but I managed to help my teammates along the way... I ran with several people this day but mainly stayed with Gary the Brit... It was more likely that he stayed with me since I lost my breakfast half way through the run... It was a tough run but I was running for a cause and we had some bad news with one of our honored teammates that he has relapsed and his chances of survival is 15%.

4/18 - Track, Track, Track

Ok, so I know everyone knows this but I really do not like the track... But, I did it anyways! I ran in circles last night chasing the finish line... Coach had a great work out of 12 - 400's doing relay's with someone else on the team... It was Fun... Jennifer and I teamed up and had a great work out... My calves were cramping but it felt good... I wish I could say the same thing about my stomach but I can't! We all had a good time though and that is what this is all about... Running for a great cause and helping others that are unable too.

The Train Run - 16 Miles

What a day!!! I can't even begin to tell you how exciting this run is... How many times do you get the chance to ride up on the Coaster from Solana Beach to Oceanside and run back to Oceanside with 300 other runners?? Only with the TEAM do you get this experience!

We started out the run from Oceanside at 7:30 and it was almost a perfect day for a run if you just take out the sun portion of it... David and I ran together the whole way and we always tell eachother that we will stick together... And this time we did!!! Along the way, we talked and chatted and then there were those moments of be quiet I am in pain... SO don't feel like talking... But, we both got through it... Even with David pushing me up the hill into Solana Beach. :-)

I actually cut this run short of the 18 that I was supposed to do due to my IT Band being inflammed but I managed to get it massaged and work it out to where it somewhat feels normal... I was a little disappointed in myself but I knew I was doing the right thing...

Be looking for more... This weekend we are only running 10 miles... and then our next big run of 18-20 will be on 4/28!!! So excited!!!

Dear Friends,

On Thursday April 5th, 2007; my Grandpa lost one of his younger brothers (my tio) to an infection while fighting Leukemia; his name was Frank Medina and he was 67 years young.

September 4, 1939 - April 5, 2007

Today I am asking for all your support in helping me fundraise for my Tio Frank and to put a little extra towards helping fund the research for blood cancers. One day, we will find a cure. As I continue on my training schedule I have 56 days worth of training left until I take my very own venture through a 26.2 mile course in San Diego for the Rock N Roll Marathon. I have a closer purpose to a great cause that I have been involved with for the last two and a half years and I will run this one for my Tio Frank and all the honorees' that have been affected by this blood related cancer.My Tio Franks funeral is today and I was told that his rosary was very touching yesterday... So I am looking for donations in honor of him as he was a great MAN!!

FOR ONLINE DONATIONSwww.active.com/donate/tntsdh/RunDeborahRun

4/7 - 15 Mile Run Torrey Pines to Encintas and back.

Dear Friends and Family,

Yesterday as I prepared for my 15 mile journey I had a much closer purpose for running for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. On Thursday, my Grandpa lost one of his younger brothers to an infection while fighting Leukemia; his name was Frank Medina and he was 67 years young. The one thing that really touches me about him is that he knew his time was coming... In talking with my mom the day he passed away she was telling me that the weekend prior that he wanted to go see all his brother's and sisters. So with his wife at hand they took this journey, even dispite being weak and not in the best of health. He went one by one to visit everyone and especially my grandpa as he always worried about him the most. On Wednesday, he was admitted into the hospital around 10pm and from my knowledge he was given meds to help fight the infection... My mom went to visit him around 2pm the next day and she told me the first thing out of his mouth was not of his own health but he was asking how my grandpa was doing? In his weakest moment, he wasn't concerned about himself but he was concerned of those around him. He had accepted this fight and fought to the end. He lost his battle around 4pm on Thursday afternoon. He was a good man and will be greatly missed! So yesterday, I shared this story with the 80+ teammates and gave them another connection of completing their journey of 13,14 and 15 miles! His spirit got me through the difficult miles and kept me pushing hard.

Today I am asking for all your support in helping me fundraise for my Tio Frank and to put a little extra towards helping fund the research for blood cancers. One day, we will find a cure. As I continue on my training schedule I have 64 days worth of training left until I take my very own venture through a 26.2 mile course in San Diego for the Rock N Roll Marathon. I have a closer purpose to a great cause that I have been involved with for the last two and a half years and I will run this one for my Tio Frank and all the honorees' that have been affected by this blood related cancer.

My Tio Franks funeral will be on Tuesday April 10th so I am looking for donations in honor of him.

Happy Easter, everyone!!!

***Pictures to come.

4/1/07 - Carlsbad5000 5k Race

Today along with majority of my teammates we competed in the fastest 5k in the world. We all started in different gender/age groups which was nice as we got to see a lot of our teammates complete this race. I finished the 5k in 24:45 which was an improvement from last year but not the improvement that I was looking for. I didn't make it in the top 250 of my age group that I wanted but I did my best and that is all I can ask for. ~ Deborah

3/24 - 12 Mile Run Solo

Not too much to tell other then I couldn't run with my team today as my kids had a 9am baseball game that I needed to be at. I ran 12 miles solo... it was a rather tough run but very happy when it was over.

3-17 - 14 Mile Run in Carlsbad

Blog being writtin more to come...

Check out the photo's though!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2015972685

3/10 - 12 Mile Run

Today I ran solo... it was a long hilly run 6 miles away from my house and back along the Rancho Penesquitos hills. My kids had a baseball game in the morning so I had to make this run in the afternoon to get my miles in... Nothing too exciting to report other then I made it through another run.

3/3 - 6 Mile Team Run

How can you not enjoy a run in Encinitas??? The weather was almost perfect, the day was starting off right and we were going on a short team run. What more can you ask for? I ran with a few people today but mostly David and Gary at seperate times... I took pictures of our team running and everyone seemed to be having a great run but it was a little hot and dry by the half way mark.

We ventured back to Moonlight at the turn around and put another successful TEAM run on our shoes and on our belts... Next week 11 Miles! YAHOO!

Pictures coming soon!

2/26 - Another Mentor lead run @ Oggi's

We all met at Oggi's tonight and we were going for a 6 mile run... I had my boys with me today and they were riding their bikes... I have had a few tough weeks and I am just trying to get my life all back together so when we took off... I literally took off... :-) I have a tendancy when running with my boys on their bikes I tend to follow them and speed up with them... I lost my team by the first block and just got lost in my run... My mind was spinning, I was talking to my boys and at the 1.5 spot I turned around to catch up with the team behind me... we in turn continued on our quest of 6 miles... I of course did it again, left them with my kids and we just continued to run to the 3 mile turn around.... Feeling great during a run has not been in any of my runs lately.

David, Gary and myself along with my boys turned around at the 3 mile mark and shortly after I lost one of my kids on the floor... He took a great wipe out!!! We picked him up, dusted him off and off we went... I told him to suck it up and ride... that is what happens when you try to do tricks on your bike!!!

We all had a great run back and another successful TEAM RUN!!! Till next time!

2/24 - 7 Mile Team Run

Today for the team we all met up at Kit Karson park and were going on for a 10 mile run... my health is still recovering so I only went on a 7 mile run... I ran a great run out to the 3.5 mile turn around pretty much solo as the runners I started out with were WAY too fast for me but it felt great so from 1.5 to 3.5 I was solo... I don't mind that at all... but from what I found out later that mentor Gary was trying to play catch up and didn't catch me until my turn around point... Oops, had I know I would have slowed down a bit more... Hee, hee... Oops!

At the turn around I ran with a newbie named Brad... His wife and him joined the Team and are enjoying everything... He is signed up to run the half marathon at RNR but I think I convinced him to run the FULL!!! We ran a great pace back at 9:27's-9:30's... He said he felt great on the trails and thanked me for running with him. It was great to run with another new person today... It's always nice to hear their story on why they are out there.

Well, here is to another week of training...

2/19 - Mentor Run

Today seems to be a better day... Another mentor and I were meeting up at Oggi's to run with a few of our teammates to help them along... I decided to add mileage to my run to see how I felt and I left my house a bit earlier to head over... I put my iPod on and just started running and it FELT GREAT!! It was the best I felt in a LONG time and I was sure happy that the beggining portion of my run went well... I met up with the gang and there were 5 of us in total... I ran with Stacy and Joanne and we had a great run... Gary ran/walked with Kelly for the short 3 mile run. It was a little loop that went somewhat by my house... it was great! After bringing everyone back to Oggi's I talked to Gary for a few minutes and then headed back to my house on foot... with iPod running buddy with me.. I was listening to a few songs that really make you think but really got me going... "Suddenly I See" and "Over my Head"... two songs that my life totally seem to be in right now.

More to come in the coming week... First track work out on 2/21 and another Mentor lead run on 2/22!

2/17 - 9 Mile Training Run (Cut short)

Met up with our team this morning and the C team was scheduled to run 9 miles... I wasn't feeling up to speed so I just ran/walked 4 which was all my body said it could handle. I tried to stay positive and listen to it as I went along. It was the best thing I could have done for myself. The rest of the team had a great run and a few of my mentees seem to have a great run and that made me very happy. I look forward to getting back to "normal" and being able to go out and just run like I really want too.

2/11 - San Dieguito Half Marathon

I have to say the day started off a little weary with me being sick but being around my teammates and running with David made the run special. I was able to see Lilly, Jennifer, Jeff, Heather, David and a few other of my teammates before and after the race. David and I stated we would take it slow as he didn't get to sleep until 3am that morning and of course for me I have been sick for the past 3-4 weeks. The day was very wet and yet another amazing run... David and I stuck together for the whole race and had a great time!!! Thanks David!!!

2/10 - Training Run

Today I was sick and needed to rest. I did not run my training run with the team but will run the half marathon tomorrow.

2/3/07 - 1st training day with TNT

We had a great training session and it all started at 8am... We met some of our mentee's for the first time and I have to say each and every one of my mentees is awesome!!! Most of them are new to running and are taking on this great journey to support LLS.

We started our training session today with a lot of talking and information regarding our honorree Sarah, she is a cute little 9 year old that is going on 4 years of remission... She is amazing! Off on our run we went and it was a fun 6 miles to start off with... Ok, so not everyone went 6 miles but most of the group stuck with 2-3 miles for their first go around... I however, who just came off of running a marathon on 1/14 and then another half marathon on 1/21 which ended up in 21 grueling miles... was SO ready for 6 miles... I ran with some of my mentee's to start but then I had to drop back as 8 min pace was SO not doing it for me!!! I couldn't hang for the full 6 miles at that pace and needed to step down to my own level... We always forget that one major stepping stone that it isn't about who you can keep up with it's about who you are most comfortable running with. I had the joy of seeing my boys out on the course for the water stations and they had a great time!!! They really liked handing out the water to the runners and just had fun with it...

After our lovely run a few of us on the team headed over to the Potato Shack and had a great breakfast... It was delicious!

More to come next week... Next training session 2/10

I will be running the Rock N Roll Marathon in San Diego - June 3rd, 2007

On June 3, 2007 I will once again participate in Rock N Roll Marathon in San Diego , CA as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program. I will run another 26.2 miles for my honorees, who battle with leukemia every day.

This being my fifth season with Team In Training, I love to go the distance for such a great cause. I look back on my marathon experience over the last two and a half years and I know there will be another huge challenge for meduring this season's training, but it is nothing compared the challenges faced by my honoree's. After experiencing the grueling 26.2 miles in Phoenix , AZ in '05, the amazing 26.2 miles in San Diego , CA, the painful 26.2 in Washington , DC, the awesome 26.2 in Las Vegas ALL in '05, the yet another amazing PR in San Diego, CA in, the grueling hills of Big Sur, the wonderful city of Chicago ALL in '06 and this past January of 2007 experience the grueling bitter coldness of Phoenix, AZ to completing my 8th marathon; it is my pleasure to go through the4 months of training to experience another life changing event. This is a minor stepping stone compared to what my honorees have gone through.

I have made a commitment to raise $1,700 this season and I know this seems rather low for everyone as I am normally coming out with goals of higher dollars. With your help over the past two and a half years I have raised over $11,826. For every dollar raised at least 75% will directly fund research, education and patient support programs. With this letter I am asking for your support in the fight against leukemia and lymphoma. Here's your chance to make a difference! Your contributions are 100% tax deductible. (If you are unable to contribute at this time, expressions of encouragement are always welcome!)

I am hoping to reach my fundraising goal by February 28th, so please respond soon! I AM MOTIVATED! I AM COMMITTED! I WILL DO IT. AGAIN!! (Watch your mail for my post-event new updates.)

I greatly appreciate your friendship and support that you showed me the first four go arounds and hope that you are able to once again help me reach my goal. You will be with me in spirit as I cross the finish line once again in San Diego , CA ! I'll keep you posted on my progress!

If you can pass this along to at least one of your friends or family members I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if you know of someone that has been touched by Leukemia or any other blood related cancers please let me know and I will add them to my race jersey.

With my sincere thanks,
Deborah Acosta
Contact me at DebRuns26_2@sbcglobal.net

DONATE ONLINE - Click HERE
http://www.active.com/donate/tntsdh/runDeborahRun