5 days to go!

Only 5 days left until I challenge my body and mind to the LookOut Mountain 50 mile trail race in Chattanooga Tn. It's so exciting but so, so scary too! I've had a little trouble with my lower right leg so I'm a bit frustrated to not be in the shape I'd hoped to be. But I'll give that mountain every bit of myself...all in the remembrance of the day that preeclampsia caused me to hardly be able to walk around the nurses station at the hospital. Every step for those women and infants who will never walk because preeclampsia or some other pregnancy induced hypertensive disorder took their lives away from them. Every uphill for those mothers who have survived a disorder like this. Every down hill for families who have struggled through as their wives, sisters, mothers etc have fought these ugly disorders! Every minute, every heartbeat, every dip of sweat, on the hills of LookOut Mountain I spend fighting to help find a cure for these disorders!! This is only the beginning...

Here is my quote from FB today:

"I CANNOT believe that you all have helped me reach half of my $2012.00 goal for the Preeclampsia Foundation!!! Thank you so much to those who have already donated! You still have time to donate! Please visitwww.preeclampsia.org and make a TRIBUTE donation under my name (Tina Harris) and help us reach that goal and help to SAVE LIVES!!! 5 days til the LookOut Mountain 50 mile trail race!! So excited!"

I can't say Thanks enough to those of you who have already donated!! Please spread the word and let's get this $2012.00 goal met!!!

Loves,
Tina

2012 is my goal. Will you help me reach it?

Well, it's time to buckle down and head toward the finish line! I have just under 2 months left to train for the 50 mile trail run on LookOut Mountain. 58 days to be exact! Wow! That's crazy! But so exciting too!

I've had some great runs and races over the last month. (yeah, I'm not good at keeping up with my blog :-( ) My longest run so far has been a 20 miler. I did it, and I was still able to walk the next day!! That is a huge thing for me! I also ran my 3rd Women's Half Marathon in Nashville with a PR of 2:26, and again...NOT SORE! Yay!! Even though I can run long distances, it's still not easy! But it's so worth it to be healthier in body AND in mind!

Brandon and I are running the Richmond VA marathon in November. Now that's my kinda date! Woohoo! This will be his 1st marathon and I'm sure he'll do great. He's hoping to break 4 hours. This is my 2nd and I hope to break the 7 hr time I ran the trail 26.2 in. Richmond is fast and flat. Hopefully I'll break 7hrs big time!!
    *Why am I doing this?  
 -Here's why-           
             "Globally, preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death. By conservative estimates, these disorders are responsible for 76,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year."

       I was one of the lucky ones. I survived Preeclampsia & Eclampsia with all 3 of my pregnancies. Some are not so lucky! Together we can help to find a cure.

In honor of my 40th birthday this year, I'm raising $2012 for the Preeclampsia Foundation. We're almost there.....kind of.  To date the total raised is: $150. (that I know of) We've got a ways to go but I'm sure, with your help, we can reach $2012! 

    *Please help me reach this goal by donating to The Preeclampsia Foundation. 

To make a donation click here: 
https://www.preeclampsia.org/donate
          * Fill out the information under: Gift Information
          * Fill out the information under: Tribute gift
          * This IS in Honor of Tina Harris, (*the money goes to the preeclampsia foundation not to me. This is how we'll know the total amount raised!)
          *Next, fill out Donor Information, 
          Credit Card Information, 
     Billing Name & Address Information
          *Then click DONATE! 
                It's just that easy!!
   Many, many thanks to those who have donated and who will donate. Remember, NO donation is too small. Every bit counts! 

Tax info: The Preeclampsia Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.  Tax ID #91-2073087.  Your personal or corporate donation is deductible to the full extent permitted by law.

Hi All!

I have a challenge for you! Check this out:

-The Preeclampsia Foundation is participating in the CHASE COMMUNITY GIVING to win $250,000 so that they can continue to save the lives of mothers and babies through awareness, research and education. 

* As you may have read, my life has been directly effected by preeclampsia and eclampsia. I have 3 energetic and lovely children, but each pregnancy was plagued by preeclampsia/eclampsia disorders. I have spent lots of time running from preeclampsia and eclampsia but this December I'll be running FOR it. I'll challenge myself to finish the Lookout Mountain 50 mile trail race in Chattanooga TN. I can't wait to cross that finish line and say "I beat preeclampsia!!" 

The Preeclampsia Foundation needs your help to "beat" preeclampsia too! Please take just a few moments to VOTE today. If you don't mind, please copy and paste this information to your fb page, email, twitter, any way you can think of. Together we can make a difference in the challenge to BEAT PREECLAMPSIA! 

Thanks for taking the time to do this! It means a whole, whole lot to me and I know there are many mothers, fathers, and children that it means a great deal to as well!*

PLEASE VOTE FOR THE FOUNDATION BEFORE SEPTEMBER 19 AT

 https://www.facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving/app_162065369655?cv=2&app_data=ein|91-2073087|ref|1070285a45

-Tina

Being selfish, is very time consuming!

Yes, I admit that I am selfish! I have such a strong desire to complete this 50 mile trail race in December and it's taking all the extra time I have!!
I can envision myself crossing the finish line and crying like crazy with joy, feeling a huge sense of accomplishment that I had prevailed over Preeclampsia. This vision is constant in my thoughts. It's paired with the memory of struggling to walk once around the nurses station, post ECLAMPTIC seizures, the day after my 1st son was born.
I know it seems insane for me to run such a long challenging race. Insane it may be, but it's just 4 more months of me getting to do what I love, to the extreme,...with a purpose! Rest assured that I won't die trying to run this race, if at any time I feel the need to quit, I can. And I'm ok with that. I just want to try!
Running brings me back to who I am at heart, minus the clutter of everyday life. I can be at peace in my heart, mind, and soul. I'm sure you all have something that you feel this way about, something that is just fun for you.
My days don't always work out as I would like them to and it's hard to let a run go when I'm so wanting to do it. But I guess that is what my biggest challenge is, working with what's given to me. I'll make it work, somehow.  

Using my best asset....

READER DISCRETION ADVISED- ;-)

   I am so excited!!!! I just had the best run I've had ALL year! I had absolutely ZERO pain in my 7 mile run, and I also took ~1 min off my average pace! I have not had a run, free of pain, since last February. This sheds all new light on my training!

   It all has to do with my greatest asset, no pun intended really, my glutes. Today I read an article in the September issue of Running Times that changed everything for me. The article is titled 'Hibernating Heinies' and it talks about how leg, IT band, hip flexor, front of the knee, tight calves, and even foot pain can be caused by the glutes not firing. I never thought that my hip/leg pain could be coming from NOT using my butt!! Turns out my butt has just been along for the ride this whole time...not any more. No ifs, ands, or BUTTs about it! (sorry, I had to put that.)

    I've looked for this article online, to put on here, but they have not posted the September issue online yet. As soon as they do, I'll post a link to it!!!

WooHoo! Let the pain free running continue!!

I'll leave you with a quote that Caballo Blanco used to sign off on some of his emails:

           "Close the gap that separates thought and action...you simply must do things." (Ray Douglas Bradbury)

My fight for a cure to Preeclampsia

TOMORROW I TURN 40!!!!!

I'd like to run a mile (or 2, 3, 20 etc.) for you!! Dec 15, 2012 I will run the LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN 50 mile trail race in honor of The Preeclampsia Foundation. 

Please go to www.preeclampsia.org and make a "tribute donation to Tina Harris." Then LET ME KNOW ON FB OR ON MY BLOG- www.mommasgonnarun50@blogspot.com, 

which mile # or #'s I can run for you! That way, when I run the 50 mile race in Dec, I will know each mile who I am running for. 

You may not have been personally affected by Preeclampsia/Eclampsia/HELLP SYMDROME/PIH, but you may know someone who has. Together we can help save lives! Thank you for your help and support!

www.preeclampsia.org http://youtu.be/bvQna6NXKS4

Let it rain...

Two days ago I started back running. Just 2 miles but it was great. It felt so good to be back on the road, by myself, going for a run. And pain free too!! It has been a good long while since I have had a good, pain free, run. I've missed it tremendously.

Today I ran 3 miles in the rain. I loved hearing the rain falling around me. This area has needed it so badly, it was comforting just to be out in it as it fell. I had another run free of pain in my hip and I savored every second of it. I'm praying that I can ease slowly back into it and keep running without injury.

I still have 5 of the Momma's gonna run 50 dry fit T-shirts for sale. 50% of the proceeds will go to the Preeclampsia Foundation. Please message me if you'd like to purchase one. Thank you!!!

http://www.preeclampsia.org/