Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Only 21 days to go until the Houston marathon and a few days until 2012!  This weekend I got in some mileage in SA and Lytle, in the midst of cold weather and rain.  My last long run is this week, a 20 miler.

I have added some new links for future races post marathon, including Austin half marathon (2/19/12) and Rock 'n' Roll Dallas half marathon (3/25/12).  Let me know if you want to join in!  I have also set up a link for the Houston Livestock and Rodeo , which I will be a "rookie" in the Special Children's Committee.  Looks like 2012 is starting off on a great foot (no pun intended).

I wish everyone a blessed and love filled Christmas.  I am so thankful for all of the blessings and love present in my life.  It is simply amazing!



Love,
Lauren

31 then done!

31 days to go!

About 1 more month to go until it is time for my marathon!  I have been doing better with progressive runs, tempo runs, and yoga.  I have a few long runs to go, taking it a bit easier to avoid further injuries.

I am asking for prayers for Laura Castillo and her family; tomorrow a big step in fighting breast cancer will occur.  My "problems" in my life have been definitely into prospective tonight.  I am so grateful and at peace with my life as is, thankful that certain prayers were not answered as I truly believed they should have been.  God knows my heart and has something so real and amazing for me.   It brings the biggest grin to my face!

I am thankful for the honest ,genuine, and loving people in my life!  I appreciate everyone's continued support and can't wait to see everyone on race day.

Love,
Lauren

18 miles down, 7 weeks to go!

Tonight I am writing this blog listening to Christmas music, finally!  This week will be filled with apartment decorations, search for Christmas candles, and maybe mistletoe!

I hope everyone had a wonderful, love filled Thanksgiving weekend with way too much pie and sides! 
I completed the TXU Energy 2011 Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day and got my PR for a 10K race at 50:55, 55 seconds short of my initial goal, but I was happy that I was at least close.  The turnout was over 13,000 runners at the race.  It was wonderful to see Houstonians getting up early on a holiday to burn some calories and to help raise money for Sheltering Arms.  I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family, and it meant more to me than any other Thanksgiving before.  My family has shaped me into the person I am now and still becoming.  I am  forever grateful to my parents, David and Doris,  for all the sacrifices and for always supporting me even when I didn't believe in myself. 

Today I completed 18 miles, feeling a little sore but overall pretty great!  The cool weather felt wonderful and I'm crossing my fingers for similar weather conditions on Marathon Day.  I can't say thank you enough to everyone for their support and kinds words of encouragement.  Next week's long run is a 20 miler; get excited!!!

Love,
Lauren

I'm back!!

So update on the ankle.  It is doing much better and I was able to complete a 9 mile run today with no pain!!!
I am signed up to run the TXU Turkey Trot benefitting Sheltering Arms on Thanksgiving morning.  My goal time is complete the 10K race in 50 minutes, which would be my PR in that distance category. 

It is now less than 2 months till Marathon day! Please mark you calenders and cheer me on, especially after mile 18.  I will gladly except beer, candy, hi-fives, and love big loud signs! :)

Have a great and hopefully short work week! Safe travels to all of those flying and/or driving home for Thanksgiving.

-Lauren

D.C. state of mind

I was fortunate to enjoy the amazing weather in Arlington, VA and Washington, D.C. this weekend.  After some poor GPS navigation, and possibly a personal weak sense of direction, I finally found the Mt. Vernon trail!  It was breath taking to see the tree foliage all around.  It was a definite blessing from God and helped me to see that all changes have a purpose; sometimes the beauty isn't appartent until we take time to the whole picture.
This is just what I needed to pump up my spirit!  Only 9 weeks to go!
Love,
Lauren

It's officially official!

I'm "officially" registered for the 2012 Chevron Houston Marathon, meaning I have met my initial goal to raise $500.00 dollars!! Thank you everyone for your support now and along the next 11 weeks until the big race.

Over the past week weeks a lot of changes have been going on in my life.  Some that have taken me by surprise and others that are prayers being answered.  Nevertheless, I have a peaceful feeling in my heart knowing of all the great love in my life that surrounds me now and in the future to come.  I have come to a turning point in my life and realize how blessed I am in my life regarding my family, friends, career, and ability to physically participate in sports.  Love and laugh everyday to the maximum capacity, otherwise you will never experience true happiness.

Just smile and set fire to the rain! :)
 -Lauren

Less than 12 weeks to GO!!

I can't believe it is less than 12 weeks to go and marathon day is here!!  Last Sunday I completed the Houston Half Marathon & Relay and had my PR of 2:01.29:27.  Thanks to Christina, my friend of over 12 years, for coming out to cheer me on at the finish line!  :)

I am now making my music play list for the big day, so I'd like for you to please send me song ideas.  Preferably song that reminds you of a happy memory that we have shared at LDisler@gmail.com.  I want an eclectic mix of music to keep me going and smiling, so get creative!!


I am very close to my initial fundraising goal, so please donate as you can!  Remember it is tax deductable and it is going to support CanCare, which provides emotional support to individuals and their families diagnosed with cancer.  The two people I am running my marathon in celebration of includes my uncle, Jimmy Disler who beat cancer;  and a family friend,  Laura Castillo currently fighting cancer.  They were blessed and fortunate to have supporting family and friends to help them along their journeys, but not everyone is as blessed as they are. That's why I am raising funds for CanCare, in hopes of all cancer fighter/survivors receiving the emotional support they need and deserve.

If you are in Houston for Thanksgiving, come join me in the Turkey Trot benefitting Sheltering Arms at
7 AM.  I will be running a 10K (over 6 miles) in order to throughouly enjoy the lovely Thanksgiving feast prepared by my lovely Mom. :)

Have a Happy Halloween weekend!!!

-Lauren





 

Mmmm, carb loading!

So this week has been a little slacking on the running.  Crazy allergies and crazy work week = losing my voice at work and sounding like Joan Rivers (so one male said, ehmmm).

I had an awesome speed run with the Brian O' Neils Racing Group this past Tuesday.  I love meeting more people that love running, and local pubs, as much as I do.

If you are in town this Sunday and decide you want to see my running in action, I will be racing at the Houston Half Marathon and Relay at 7 AM in downtown Houston.  Here is the link to the map of the race, looks like an easy, flat run.  Houston Half Marathon and Relay. 
That being said, tonight was an carb load dinner with quinoa pasta dish, red wine, and Halloween pastries of course.  Thanks Veronica and Eddie for grubbing down with me!

On a side note, I am in pursuit currently of Texas A&M running tops, so send me a message if you have seen them somewhere for sale.  I hope everyone is doing well and maybe I'll see you on Sunday!:)


Gute Nacht,

Lauren

Feel the burn!

Logged already 22 miles since Monday! 

Monday was a long run -- 15 miler!  Filled with a Steven Segal look a-like sighting, a random "gig 'em" from a runner, a shout out by an employee from bakery off Westheimer, and swarms of gnats.  Gnats, in River Oaks of all places!  Overall it was a good run and I'm getting close to the half way point!

Today was a speed run with the Brian O'Neils (BON) Racing Team working on pace, basically trying to get my mile faster.  It was awesome to get competitive with running again and acting feeling the burn (in a good way).

I wanted to say thank you for the recent donations I received!!  I am very close to my initial fundraising goal.
Thank you again to everyone for your support, only 95 days to go!


-Lauren

19 days to go until Houston 1/2 Marathon & Relay

Another good long run today, starting with temperatures in the upper 60's!!  The highlight of my run was stopping on the bridge over Shepard Drive to let a group of grandma cyclists past.  All had helmets donned and all had fashionable baskets, of course.  Instead of my normal trip to get iced coffee to celebrate this afternoon, I was fortunate to join in supporting CanCare at their annual golf tourney at Lakeside Country Club.  It was a great afternoon with amazing weather and it was nice to meet more people involved with CanCare.  I am definitely proud to represent this organization in January!

I have started doing my speed runs on Tuesday at Brian O'Neils in Rice Village around 6:30 - 6:45 PM, so let me know if you want to join!  Thank you everyone for your support and cheers, it really makes a difference and makes me so excited to accomplish this goal.  19 days to go until the Houston 1/2 Marathon & Relay!!

Buenas Noches -Lauren

Half way there and WHOOP for Aggies joining the SEC!

So today I ran around 13 miles and I feel pretty great!  This weekend I will be participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure with the Castillo family.
I am so excited and can't wait to be in a sea of pink and to honor Laura's fight against breast cancer.  :)

I have less than 1 month until the Houston 1/2 Marathon and Relay on Sunday, October 23rd.  Let's hope it is a nice and cooler weather run!

What I love most after long runs right now, is being able to indulge...a little.  Today it's in an iced coffee and mozzarella sandwich at Antidote Coffee. If you haven't had either, you should definitely check it out.  Hopefully tonight a few good beers with the girls to celebrate Aggies joining SEC starting in 2012 and watching the Cowboys kill the Redskins! :) 

Adios amigos!
-Lauren

Being present

Running in 70 degree weather today made my 12 miler so much more enjoyable.  It was definitely nice to run and see puddles of water and mud....not dust!  I have about 4 months or so till the big day, so I feel good on my mileage right now.
So to treat myself for my hard work, I am enjoying an nice iced coffee at Catalina right now.  Hmmmm good stuff.

If anyone is interested in joining in Team CanCare for the Run for a Reason program, please let me know.  They have spots available for 5K, half marathon, and full marathon.  It is such an exceptional organization and I would love to get more people involved in support those diagnosed with cancer.

I recently came across this quote and I feel that it speaks volumes.  My runs, especially the long ones, give me time to think about my life.  Mostly what's about to happen or what recently occurred, but I am challenging myself to just be in the present.

"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment.  And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new.  Right now."

So here's to being present and making everything new.  Thank you everyone for your support!

Indoor stadium race?

So the other night I was trying to find more running races around Texas and I discovered that there is an indoor half-marthon race at Reliant Stadium.  It sounds a little crazy, but I think it's right up my alley.  
I am trying to see if I get a position in the Sunday, November 20th race at 12 PM,  and hopefully celebrating another Fightin' Texas Aggie football game victory .:)

 Indoor Half-Marathon -- Reliant Stadium


Any takers?

Happy Labor Day

Today has been an interesting Labor Day, much more productive than I expected.  Started off with an amazing trail run around Memorial Park area with temps in the 80's!!!  Finally!!  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that cooler runs are in the near future.  I definitely think all the yoga classes I have been attending are helping my running, especially my endurance.  If anyone is looking for a yoga studio or wants to join me, CuraYoga is an awesome place. Right now I am enjoying a nice iced coffee and people watching at Agora.  Ahhh iced cofee....

So back to running updates and my progress on funds for CanCare.  Thanks to some very special people in my life, I have raised over 50% of my initial goal.  This definitely has helped to increase my motivation to crush the marathon in January 2012. :) 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend!!

-Lauren

WHOOP!

 WHOOP!  It's a phrase second nature for Aggies to say when they are want to share how excited and joyful they are in a moment in time (often during sporting events or NG adventures).  So I thought saying "WHOOP" is the best way to describe my excitement for what's to come in my running future.   Since it's finally starting to cool down at a cool 99 degrees this means longer runs and pre-marathon races.

So far October holds two races in my running future.  First is a 5K run (little over 3 miles) --
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on October 1st, 2011 in Downtown Sam Houston Park.
Second is a half-marathon (13.1 miles) -- Houston 1/2 Marathon & Relay on October 23rd, 2011 again in Downtown Sam Houston Park.  Come out and run with me...because I just want to run with you! :)

Below is the links to donate towards raising funds for CanCare and to support my running my first marathon! 
Link to Lauren's marathon fundraising site
If that link isn't working, you can search for my page on the Run for a Reason page:
Run for a Reason Search


Thanks again for your support and cheers!
Lauren

Here we go...

2011.  This has been a year full of highs and lows to say the least.  With help of family and friends, I have become stronger in my faith and make a conscious effort to live each day the max capacity.  My love of running has also helped me get through good and bad times.  One of my life long goals is to run a marathons, but I have never have made it a priority.

A few months ago I was given the opportunity to obtain a spot in either the 2012 Houston Armaco Half Marathon or Chevron Marathon through CanCare,  involved in the Run for a Reason program.  At first I signed up for the half marathon and was content.  But I felt like I needed more of a challenge.  After debating pros and cons with family and friends, I decided to take the plunge and meet my life long goal.  This blog is dedicated to my first marathon on Sunday, January 15, 2012 and to help raise donations for CanCare through the Run for a Reason program. 

CanCare is a national organization provides one-on-one emotional support to cancer patients and their family members from trained volunteers who know first-hand the physical, emotional, and spiritual turmoil that someone newly diagnosed with cancer is experiencing. Clients are matched by cancer type, treatment method, age, gender, and family situation. CanCare's services are free. CanCare was founded as a non-profit cancer support network in 1990, and has brought its message of hope to thousands of survivors.

I am asking for any donation in order to meet my goal of raising at least $500 dollars to benefit families dealing with the fight to beat cancer. 

I am dedicating my run to two wonderful people -- a survivor, and a fighter.  Jimmy Disler, my uncle, is a cancer survivor.  Laura Castillo, my roommate's mother, currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.  Both have made a great positive impact on my life and I want to honor them with this race.

I will post links for the Run for a Reason website where you can donate funds in the near future.  And of course stories of my progress in the next months to come...:)