Let the training begin...

It's only July, but the training for the big 7 event year in 2011 is already beginning.

The Kick Off for the winter season of Team In Training was today. All these endurance sports teams from all over the Greater Los Angeles area met in Pasadena for a big pep rally, basically.

Two things are great about Team In Training:

1) This is for an unbelievably great cause. TNT raises funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society which has helped fund research grants that are directly responsible for a lot of cancer patients still being alive today. They do this by offering endurance sports training for the volunteers who are individually raising money. And their training is amazing, which leads me to...

2) The training is amazing. It doesn't matter what level of runner/cycler/hiker/swimmer you are, their coaches have solid experience and know-how to help you step up your game while being healthy and helping you prevent injuries. I may be able to train myself for a half marathon, but when it comes to a full I doubt that I have yet to attain the level of motivation and discipline I would need to do it without my coaches and my team.

So we will be training with TNT for the inaugural Los Angeles half marathon in October. Yes, it's another Rock 'n' Roll event! And that also means that we'll be raising money for the LLS!

• My campaign site: http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/rnrla10/thenness

• Jason's campaign site: http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/rnrla10/jhenness

The winter season will carry on through to January as some members of our team will be training for the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Phoenix Marathon! The very same marathon that I plan on making my #1 event of 2011!

Fortunately, we're able to continue training with the team through the end of the season and will be able to have our coaches helping us toward our full marathon goal.

UNfortunately, we slept in and missed kick off.

RnR Seattle Half Review Part 2

Okay, so the expo....

I know that I'm going back in time but two really cool things:

1) I got to see the prize for which I am running: The Rock Legend heavy medal.

Don't judge me. Some people collect stamps. Psh.

AND!!!!!

2) I got to get a picture with Cindy & Christy, creators of the original RunningSkirts brand fitness apparel.

I l.o.v.e. their running skirts. I have three so far. I will admit that I did originally raise a brow to some of the ladies on my running team when they showed up for our long runs in RunningSkirts. However, I eventually had to admit that they are amazing and embrace the girlie running attire.

I hope to see these two again at the L.A. half expo and I fully expect to get a less blurry picture (iPhone 3g) and wear my running skirt!

RUNNING WITH FRIENDS:

Again, I can't say enough for running with friends.

I know everyone has their own styles, but for me I'm a pack runner. None of the lone wolf stuff. We ran this because our friend Nicole had signed up with Team in Training (she couldn't resist after seeing how much fun we had with TNT). This was her first event and we wanted to be there to share the painful joy of it all!

All in all, this was a very fun event and Seattle is a great city. The sun came out for us afterward and we got to do some site seeing. I can't complain. I'd love to go back and do it again. Unfortunately, it isn't in my 2011 itinerary but that could change.

Here is a view from the Space Needle and some local brews had down by Pike Place market.