Racing to Save Lives

RUNNIN' DOWN A DREAM....

*UPDATE 1/16/09*

Well it is 12:51am and I have to be up at 3:00am so I should get a refreshing 2 hours of sleep at most. I am so nervous that I may have forgot to pack something, and I never sleep the night before I fly. I just wanted to thank everyone for their tremendous support in my endevour. There has been alot of up and down times. I was able to run a 20 mile "practice" and completed the OUC 1/2 marathon on a broken foot. My foot is feeling much better, though still broken so as you know I have traded out the full marathon for the 1/2 marathon and Matt will be walking it with me. We are all packed and Lily is going to stay with her grandparents for the weekend which I know she will have a great time. I really need to get to bed now so I will update after my return on how we did. PS, not only did I reach my goal, but I went well over $4000!!! It isn't all showing up on the page yet but I would like to give a special thanks to Largo Medical for their generous donation!!! Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Love,

Shar

*IMPORTANT UPDATE**12/29/08

Thank you so much for your donations. All the money is going to help families get the cancer treatments that they need so desperately. As you may have heard, I broke my foot in two places recently training for the marathon while I was on a 20 mile run. I thought I just strained something and still ran the Orlando 1/2 marathon. I finally decided to get it checked out and that is when I found out it was actually broken. ****Good news, I may not be able to run the marthon, but I just found out that I can walk the 1/2 marathon in place of it. I'm a little dissapointed b/c I have trained for 4 months to run 26.2 miles, but this is better than what I originally thought (that I couldn't do anything). I will be doing it in an "aircast" and Matt will be going with me, YAY! Thank you Janice for all your support and great ideas...you are a fantastic coach, and an even better friend. Thank you so much for everything!!!

Love Always,

Sharon

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Help me on my way to the Arizona Rock and Roll Marathon in January! That's 26.2 Miles of Running!!!

I'm training to participate in this endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!

Thank you!!!! XOXOXOXO!!!!!

Sharon Feinman

UPDATE #1 - 9/7/08

Wow!!! What a response already! I am amazed at the support that I have received in just a short amount of time...Thank you so much! Well I had my first training yesterday and completed 4 miles...not bad for someone who hasn't done much in the line of working out this summer. It's a long way to 26.2 miles, but I'm ready for the challenge. I want to say a quick EXTRA thank you to my wonderful husband Matt who is supporting me for this journey. He has created all of my return labels, address labels, website labels, and made all my copies of my letters that I have sent out. I unfortunetly do not have the patience to sit for that long at a computer and do such tedious work! Well, it is very late and I have work early in the morning and then a long run after that! Cheers! ~Shar~

Update #2 - 9/14/2008

This week went pretty well. Thank you for all the donations and support I've received from so many people! Training was HOT! It was easily in the upper 90's outside. We ran 3 miles and then did strength training on Monday. I also did some cross training in the middle of the week to mix it up. On Saturday, the group went and ran 6 miles but I already had a prior commitment of the OUC Triathlon (yup, I do those too!). It consisted of a 1/4 mile swim, 15 mile bike, and a 4 mile run, so I consider it a fair trade! Well, I've got to get to bed so I can be ready for work and a long run in the hot hot Florida sun tomorrow!

~Shar~

Update #3 - 9/21/2008

Well this week was interesting. Running happened several times as it should have. I went to a shoe clinic...sounds boring but it was very interesting. I bought a much better and more supportive pair of running shoes...YAY! Today was a cross train day and I went for a 27 mile bike ride. Unfortunetly on mile 18.5 a dog ran out onto the path and I had to brake really hard. I went from 15 mph to over the handle bars and eating the pavement in seconds. I have a slight concussion, some bad road rash and swelling on my right arm and hand, and a busted up face. My chin is incredibly swollen and I can't open my mouth very much. I'm going to take a few rest days then will be back to my running by the end of the week. My dignity hurts a little more than my face, but hey, that's why my friend's call me Murphy's Law!

~Shar~

UPDATE #4 - 10/6/08

Sorry for the lack of update last week, but really, it was my week off! I did do a 5k last Sunday at Disney with Matt, Seth, Mel, Margie, Ted, Jess, and Theresa...It was alot of fun! This week I did my runs and I've started cross training 3x/week swimming with a master's swim class. On Saturday I did 7 miles in Clermont which is all hills. I climbed BIG BERTHA 3 times, and that is STEEP! Today (Monday) I did 3 miles then some abs and suicides with the group. This week I will be doing my runs and swims throughout the week, then I have a 10 mile run scheduled for Saturday. Well, I will update again soon! Pass on the word to check out the site!

~Shar~

Update #5 - 10/11/08

I ran 10 miles today!!! I have never run that far before and it felt GOOD!!! My legs are feeling it, but it was so worth it. I think my Garmin Trainer was one of the best investments I've made so far. It keeps me on track with my intervals and time and distance. Almost to my 1/2 way point in fundraising in just over a month, so thank you everyone who has donated so far! It's going to help out alot of people! Cheers :-P

~Shar~

Update #6 - 10/19/08

Well this was a BUSY weekend! I'm pooped. I ran 10 miles yesterday with the team, and then I completed the UCF 5 Miler today. Even though I was up at 5:30am both days, I actually did not take a nap (which is rare). I was busy running around including taking Lily to a kids bounce house place yesterday and to a farmers market today! My legs are sssoooo stiff. Anyway, I felt great on both runs. On the 10 miler, I ran the first 25 minutes straight, then did 9:1 for the rest. On the 5 miler, I ran to the first water station which was just under 2 miles, had a quick sip, took off until the 2nd water station around the 3.5ish mark just long enough to drink some water, then ran it in except for a less then a minute walk in the 4th mile when I cramped up a little. I averaged about a 12 minute mile which is a big improvement from the beginning. I haven't been getting winded either. I feel really great!

Please keep on giving to the LLS and pass the info onto everyone you know!!! Thanks! Cheers!

~Shar~

Update #7 - 11/17/08

Wow, has it really been a month since I've updated? I did try to the other day, but this site was acting a little wooky. Well, training is still going on, LOOOONNNGGG runs on Saturday and building mileage steadily. Feeling a little bummed b/c fundraising has gotten slow. I have some ideas and will be going out to some businesses to see if I can get sponsored. Let me know if you have any ideas! I will update again soon!

~Shar~

Update #8 - 11/22/08

Holy crap, I hit 20 miles today! I physically can't walk but I'm lucky to have a wonderful husband that is getting me pain meds and let me take a long nap after I got home....Wow, 20 miles!

~Shar~

Update #9 - 12/7/08

Yesterday I ran the OUC 1/2 Marathon. This was my first race over 5 miles and it wasn't too bad. I even impressed myself a little in the fact that I kept going even though I felt like my hip was dislocated after running several miles on uneven pavers. To say the least, I will be happy to run another 1/2 marathon, but not in downtown Orlando...the course sucked honestly. But it really was exciting. There were people all along the residential neighborhoods with lawn chairs and signs cheering us on and telling us to dig deep and keep running and it really did inspire me to keep moving. Well the countdown is on, next month is the big race. I am about $1500 away from my goal so please let everyone you can know about my cause and website. I appreciate it! Thanks!

~Shar~