How Being Fit Can Save Your Life

I had a rough week last week, but not as rough as my Dad's. He had a heart attack while driving and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. There was a large blockage between the juncture of two arteries that required double bypass surgery. Normally, when this type of open-heart surgery is performed, patients need four to seven days to recover. My Dad had his surgery Thursday afternoon and went home Monday at lunchtime. During his surgery, he didn't need to be put on a breathing machine or have his heart stopped.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because my Dad is 63 years old and very active for his age. He's the sole owner/operator of his own landscaping business. That means 8 to 10 hours of yard work every day for seven months out of the year. My Dad was able to bounce back from this major surgery because he is in very good shape...all things considered. (Granted, he also has diabetes, the occasional cigar and bouts of asthma.)

Being a Fit Mom isn't just about looking your best, it's about feeling great and keeping yourself healthy. We all have little ones that depend on us. So whenever you think that working out is selfish or vain, it's not. It's about keeping your heart, bones and organs healthy. That said, it's also important to make sure that you see a doctor regularly. A simple stress test could have prevented my Dad's heart attack. This is especially important if your family has a history of heart disease or problems.

Be sure to take care of yourself!!

2011 NYC Marathon -- How I Got In

As you may know, in order to get into the NYC Marathon, you have to enter a lottery and keep your fingers crossed that you get in. It's such a huge race and so many people want to do it, it's the only fair way to handle all of the entries they receive each year. If you don't get picked for three years in a row, you're automatically in the following year. There are also other ways to gain entry, including running a certain number of road races through the New York Road Runners (NYRR) team or raising money for a charity.

I entered the lottery last year and didn't get in, so I entered again this year...and didn't get in. Dismayed by the whole thought of having to wait two more years for guaranteed entry, I made the decision to raise money for a charity. I selected Fred's Team, which raises money to support Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Their goal is to live in a world free of cancer. With so many friends and family members who have either fought against cancer or know someone who has, I felt drawn to this particular charity. So now comes the fun part, raising money. I need to raise $3,500 by November 6th. I'm excited and petrified all as the same time -- sort of how I feel about running my second marathon.

I'll share my training plan and the trials and tribulations of preparing for a marathon and fundraising. I'd love to get your input, too. Have you completed a marathon? Any tips you'd like to share?

I could use your help. Check out my fundraising page. Thanks in advance for your help!