Many thanks to all of you who helped me achieve my goal of running my first marathon! It was by far the most difficult thing I've ever done (physically) and at times I felt like my body was going to fail on me, but in the end, I made it through 26.2 miles - something I never, ever could have imagined just two years ago!

Thanks to all of you who helped me reach my fundraising goal as well! Your generous contributions continue to help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society serve blood cancer patients and their families, and ultimately continue the research for a CURE.

That cure hasn't been found yet, so I'm not done! Please continue to follow me on my journey at www.facebook.com/NoelSarahTNT. I also hope you'll continue your generosity by contributing to my latest fundraising event, the Nike Women's 1/2 Marathon in Washington, D.C. - an entire race for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Once again, THANK YOU!

Well, it's a long story.

It starts with a 30-something gal from Delaware who worked a fairly stressful desk job with an irritating daily commute to Philly. She spent a lot of time sitting.... at her desk, on the train, on the couch (because she was exhausted from the first two)... and felt like she had no free time.

She (OK, I.... this third-person thing isn't working for me) did have an amazing co-worker/friend who lost one of her best friends to a blood cancer and completed her first full marathon at age 60 with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program!

The friend (Elizabeth) stayed involved with TNT, becoming a mentor and a coach. As she told me about each practice and event, I began to wonder if this was something I could do... The LLS's Mission is one that is close to my heart as well - my cousin is a childhood leukemia survivor, I lost dog of 13 years to Lymphoma, and I've seen the devastating effects of cancer in so many people's lives. I agreed to go to an information meeting for Team in Training's Winter 2010-11 season, signed up for the Walt Disney World Half Marathon and six half marathons later, here I am!

I've raised a total of $12,845 for the LLS during my year and a half with TNT and it's one of my proudest accomplishments. A lot has changed for me during that year and a half. I no longer have that horrid commute, I am fortunate to have a job that I love and cancer has hit me more directly as my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer this past fall, just a few weeks before I completed the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco. I have met so many strong cancer survivors through Team in Training, and they have brought me strength I never could have found on my own. They've taught me that there is life beyond a cancer diagnosis and they were with me as I struggled through 13.1 miles of San Francisco hills!

And so, I continue to run. Two weeks ago, I finished the Long Branch New Jersey Half Marathon in record time (for me), I took a weekend off, and now I'm back to training at 8 a.m. tomorrow! I will be training for the Philadelphia Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in September, followed by the Philadelphia Marathon in November, which will be my first full marathon!

This is a challenge that terrifies me, in all honesty. 26.2 miles... training through summer heat. AGHHHH! But it's nothing compared to the surgeries, chemo and radiation treatments my heroes, include my dad, have endured.

So thank all, in advance, for supporting this amazing organization that provides support to so many people. Together, we can help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, myeloma and many other cancers. I’m improving the quality of my life by participating and with your support, I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well.

Many of you have already given generously to me as I raised funds for previous events and I hope you'll continue that support. It means the world to me and so many others.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

P.S. I'm not the best at updating this page, so please "Like" my Team in Training Facebook page - "Running (Slowly) for a Cure" - to keep up with my progress!