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I awoke the morning of 10-10-10 at 5:30 to get ready for the 34th Chicago marathon. Down in the hotel lobby by 6:15, I joined my team to walk down to the start line. Three blocks later, we arrived at the start line where we waited for 30 minutes to even cross the start line! They reported that 1.5 million fans lined the streets of Chicago to cheer on the 45,000 runners. We ran ALL over the city and saw many different parts of town. It was an experience I will never forget.

But something else I will never forget is the number of lives that were affected by this race in ways other than running. Your financial support encouraged me and my friend, Mark Whitlock. Your contribution will make a difference in funding research for leukemia and lymphoma, like Mr. Whitlock has. Thank you for your monetary gift and the gift of your encouragement.

It is because of research like this that Mr. Whitlock was able to receive treatment after his diagnosis last Spring and make it to an important milestone the day before the marathon. He walked his only daughter down the aisle at her wedding. It was a big weekend for both of us!

I wish I could share the entire 26.2-mile experience with you, but since I can’t, I am sharing pictures here. As I visited Mr. Whitlock at his store, Mark’s Outdoors, on my way to the airport, he told me he’d like to see what the start and finish would be like with so many runners. Then he gave me a pair of neat sunglasses that he sells at the store. They have a video camera built into them! I wore them during the race so I could share the experience with him.

Again, thank you so much for your generous support!

This Saturday was Jesse Owens (the 5th biggest meet in the nation). I dropped 2 min at that meet!!! Only to drop ONE MORE MIN at Herdmont yesterday! ...I like where this is going ; )

...flying to "The Windy City" Friday morning! This is really happening! WOO HOO!!!

My second XC meet of the year! Very different from marathon training.... but I got a PR and finished first for B'wood girls! WOO HOO!!! Getting pumped for CHICAGO!!!!

This past Saturday at 5:30 a.m., I got out of my baby blue 92' Volvo to meet Kevin, Whitney, and Vanessa. We began our run early so we could get in a full 20 miles (the longest distance I'll run before the marathon)! Running while watching the sun and moon exchange places in the sky was truly awesome.

Soon, back with our big group, we headed out on the 17-mile loop. They have become my "Saturday Family." I don't know what I'd do without them! I have been blessed with a wonderful, fun bunch of runners to join every Saturday morning for this training. Also, the weather was just perfect!!! We pulled through with much more ease than any other Saturday.

As Prince (our TNT coach) and I rounded the corner to reach the "finish line," we were greeted by sparkling grape juice, my parents and other finishers cheering :) (I can't seem to get this photo turned right-side-up!)

Party in the parking lot! (It was here that Vanessa informed me, we actually did 21 miles!) Way to go LRE's (longest-run-evers)!!! We did it!!!! Look how far we have come! I wish I could bottle that moment to re-live it and share it with you all... but since I can't, pictures will have to do the job!

(BTW, ... ice bath for knees and muscles.... FREEEEEEEEZING!!!!! Who decided that was a good idea?! I'm gonna need to have a talk with you, whoever you are.)

Thank you for taking the time to read about our efforts to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The money we raise here will go to help fund research toward the cure for and to provide different kinds of support to the people battling these horrible diseases. I especially want to thank Mr. Whitlock for including our efforts in his newsletter. To all of you Mark's Outdoors customers and Mark Whitlock fans, we say a great big thank you for your participation.

Please come back to our page often to read updates on our two races--Mr. Whitlock's race against Lymphoma and my race to finish the Chicago marathon in his honor. Read on to see how this all began!!!