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May

04

Life-Changing Journey to Find a Cancer Cure

Posted by : Carol Dani Toro | On : May 4, 2012

Category: Running Progress

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In Miami, I don’t think I ever experienced a spring season.  It was either super cold (in the high 50’s/low 60’s) or extremely hot (in the high 80’s).  The grasses and trees were green year-round and there was always someone walking around in shorts and flip-flops.

As the cherry blossoms bloomed and the days became longer and warmer, I, with open arms, welcomed the changes brought on by spring.  Although I’m still cold in this weather, for many, spring is the perfect balance between hot and cold.  Eventually, I hope to reach that balance and get accustomed to this cooler climate.  In the meantime, I have beautiful trees to admire, trails to run, and games to go to, all while wearing my Miami Hurricanes hoodie.

It’s been almost a year since I made the life-changing decision and traded my flip-flops and heels for Uggs and running shoes.

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Feb

12

Negative Splits to beat cancer!

Posted by : Carol Dani Toro | On : February 12, 2012

Category: Training

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Take that cancer!

With this new concept I will be…

Better, Faster, Stronger

This morning I ran my first negative-split in 38 minutes.  Don’t know what a negative-split is? No worries, I didn’t know what it was until this morning.  At first I thought it was something we should never do, especially since it contained the word negative.  After all negativity wont help us find a cancer cure. Little did I know that running negative can have a positive effect. (Yeah, yeah, I had to do that.)

As Coach Shelby explained, a negative-split keeps you from hitting the wall at the end of your run.  The concept is that if you run slower in the first half of your race, your body will be warmed up and it allows your body to conserve precious resources.   This allows you to push yourself a bit harder without much effort. If you’re doing it correctly, you should be able to pick up the pace to finish with speed and strength.

While I’m no expert, I believe I completed my first split today.

I also never thought I would say this, but…. Heyyy, check out my splits.

negative split 1024x409 Negative Splits to beat cancer!

*CORRECTION* The highlighted stat should be under Average Pace. (Sorry I was out of it when making this nice little excel table... which of course I forgot to save.)

My second half was definitely faster AND I didn’t hit any walls! From looking at the Average Pace stats you can definitely notice that as time progressed my average pace got better and better. WOOHOO!

If I’m patient and keep up with my negative splits, I’ll be able to run a full marathon in no time and continue fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society so that one day we may find a cancer cure. Little things like this in my training, give me the motivation to push myself even harder.

 

Aug

03

Thank you!

Posted by : Carol Dani Toro | On : August 3, 2011

Category: Reasons to Run

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Thank you to everyone who participated and donated in our fundraising competition.  Team Microsoft won; hence, I will be wearing a Microsoft shirt (Nope, not Bing… apparently they don’t make them.) to the Googleplex this Friday.  I will post pictures Friday night. icon smile Thank you!

In total, Jose and I were able to exceed our fundraising minimum by raising over $4,500!!! As a team we took the rivalry to a new level to benefit a cause we both are passionate about, we are running to help find a cure for cancer.

Whether you donated to Team Google or Team Microsoft your money will go great lengths in this battle against cancer.  Thank you for all of your support and encouragement.

Apr

30

Season Kick Off

Posted by : Carol Dani Toro | On : April 30, 2011

Category: Reasons to Run

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Last week we had our season kickoff and it was such an emotional experience. During the presentation I got to see all the reasons why people have come together to run for a cure and why many keep coming back season after season. Some did it because a relative had or continues to battle cancer, while others did it because they were cancer survivors. Rather than being a group formed by a common hobbie, Team in Training is more than that, TnT is a support group that reaches out to the community affected by a common atrocity.  Everyone running for Team in Training is running for a cure.

The most inspiring reason to be a part of Team in Training came from one of our honored teammates: to protect future generations.  When she first joined TnT, she joined in honor of her grandparents and parents.  They had all battled cancer.  Years after joining the team, she was also diagnosed with a blood cancer.  Now as she battles cancer, she stresses the importance of funding research to find a cure. She runs so that her children and grandchildren do not become another statistic.  She runs to protect future generations from cancer’s wrath and to honor all those patients, like herself, who have not given up in the fight against cancer.

Since joining Team in Training, not a day has gone by that I haven’t been motivated to run.  I run with the hope of finding a cure and ridding the world of one less evil.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/wa/nikesf11/ctorob

Please help me reach my goals as well as help fund cancer research and patient services by donating to Team Bring It.