Racing to Save Lives

I DID IT!!!!!! On Saturday 1/9/2010 I ran the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in 2 hours, 43 minutes, and 53 seconds - 1 minute and 7 seconds faster than my goal time. Thank you so much to all of you who have supported me as I have worked toward this amazing accomplishment.

But, although my hard work is over for now, there are too many cancer patients who are fighting for their lives every day. The dollars that I have raised and will continue to raise will help fund research and patient support to help them fight their battles. Please take a moment to make a donation here on my website. My race may be over, but the race for a cure has just begun.

Thank you again!

Why Am I Running with Team in Training?

I have to be honest and say when I first began this journey it was all about ME. I wanted to accomplish something that I never thought I could do - run 13.1 miles! I chose to run this half marathon with my best friend Meghan who has worked for LLS for a couple of years now. Even speaking with her and the other members of the Team In Training Leadership about the cause that we will be supporting didn't immediately drive home the importance of what I would be doing.

Running is a funny thing - the more miles you log, the more time you have to think about things that are really important (well, it's that way for me anyway). As I started training, my thoughts turned to all of the people that I know who have been affected by cancer. It wasn't long before I realized just HOW MANY people who I care about have been diagnosed with cancer and even worse how many have been lost to the terrible disease. Unfortunately, I am sure you have been affected too in one way or another.

So, I am running this race for the people that I love, and those that you love who have fought, win or lose, against cancer. And, I am running this race to help support all those who I have never met who are battling Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin Lymphoma or Myeloma, and will benefit from the funds that I raise on their behalf.

What can YOU do?

Please join me in my efforts and donate here on my website! Every donation is tax deductable and every dollar counts!

If there is someone that you want me to run this race for, PLEASE let me know! I would like to run in honor or memory of anyone that you know who has been affected by cancer (of course, it does not have to specifically be Leukemia or Lymphoma). I will be training and fundraising in their honor and will write their names on the back of my jersey on race day.

Thank you in advance for all of your support. Keep checking back as I update my progress on this page.

<3 Christa

Check out the pictures from my Happy Hour For LLS! Thanks to Kildare's for a Great event!!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=979195531407%3A2015828134

1/ 8/10

I'm here in Orlando!!! And... it is freezing! They are forecasting the first snow in central florida in the past 20 years or something for race day tomorrow! The high is forecasted for 37 degrees tomorrow. yikes! But, the race is tomorrow and I am so excited. Being here with all of the other runners makes it feel so much more REAL.

Our close family friend, Heidi, passed away last year after a long fight with cancer. She has been with me every step of the way as I have trained and, as strange as it seems, I can feel her here with me now. I can't wait to run my race in her honor and memory and to help prevent others from the pain that she had to bear.

I will post pictures as soon as possible after the race!!!

1/4/10

I can't believe that my race is THIS SATURDAY!!!! The holidays made the time fly. It was really rough trying to run during the holidays because we've been driving all over visiting family and celebrating New Years at the wedding of two of our close friends. The past two weeks have been tough on my confidence because it has been a really long time since I ran my longest run of 11 miles in November. I was starting to worry that maybe I peaked too early in my training. But, yesterday I went to the gym to run 4 miles and decided to keep going and run 8 instead. That was the most that I wanted to do the week before the race but I was okay and it restored my confidence that 13.1 is not out of reach. I am so excited for my run and hope that I can raise my final $1,000 over the next week or so to fulfill my commitment to LLS. Thanks to everyone for all of your support!!!

12/9/09

The race is ONE MONTH AWAY! I can't believe it! I am starting to get nervous. Even though I have run up to 11 miles, 13 is daunting, and the 11 mile mark was a long time ago. Not to mention that it's COLD outside! It is getting really hard to run out doors because I HATE the winter. I joined a gym to have access to a treadmill so I can stay on track. I ran 5 miles last night on the treadmill here in Texas on my business trip. I am working hard to fundraise too which is really coming down to the wire. At very least, I need to raise $2,000 more to fulfill my commitment. If you know anyone who may be interested, please pass my website along. Thanks so much for your support!

11/09/09

The past week or two have been kind of rough as far as running is concerned. It is getting SO dark SO early that I don't stand a chance at getting out to run in the evenings after work. And, I am NOT a morning person so I am having a tough time figuring out when I can run. Plus, I had a week that I was away on business when I was so busy, I found it really tough to find time to run. So, I really have to get back into a good routine otherwise I risk losing a lot of my progress.

But, just over 2 weeks ago, I ran 11 MILES during our TNT weekend run! I was scheduled to do 7, so I probably shouldn't have done 11 but I would have felt like a slacker turning around when the friends I was running with had 4 more to go. So, I kept running. It was by far my longest distance and it was fantastic! I have heard runners say that the half marathon is a great distance because it gives you time to get into a rhythm and enjoy the run. I never understood because to me, it just sounded like torture. But lately I kind of get it. At around 5 or 6 miles, it's no longer quite as hard to keep going. At some point it just gets easier. You just keep on running. Very cool to experience it first hand.

10/6/09

This has been a whirlwind so far! Training and fundraising are both challenging, but totally worth the time and effort. On Saturday we ran 7 miles at Valley Forge. There are a LOT of hills at Valley Forge. My left knee started to hurt around mile 3 and it bothered me the rest of the day. Sunday morning I woke up feeling like an old lady hobbling around on my sore knee. But, I am feeling MUCH better after giving it a few days rest. But, a few days off means that I have to really push to get to the gym today after work (on my business trip to Texas) and get back into my routine. Wish me luck!

9/19/09

I ran 8 MILES today at our team run! I set out to run 6 miles, but started out with a couple of my teammates who are running the Philly 1/2 marathon in November. Their mileage today was 8. I felt good, so I ran the full 8 miles with them. I can't believe I ran more than 1/2 of my total race distance, and I felt great! I think it may have had something to do with the fact that I felt inspired by one of our team heros who came to speak with us before our run this morning. He spent a solid 2 years in the hospital fighting for his life, and explained to us all of the support and aid that LLS provided to him when he was sick. He's still fighting toward recovery, but it means a lot to be able to see where the dollars that I am raising will go. Thank you all for your support!

9/16/09

I'm up to 6 miles on my weekend runs, and 3-4 miles each run during the week. I never thought I would be able to run this far! I like running in the evening, but unfortunately it is getting dark much earlier these days so it limits me to running circles in my neighborhood. When I'm here in Texas, I run with my boss in the morning which is much better than the typical meeting!

It's unbelievable how many people have reached out to me since I began this journey to tell me how their lives have been affected by Leukemia or Lymphoma. I have heard stories about children and adults who have faught these terrible diseases, as well as so many people who can relate because they have faced other types of cancer.

9/7/09

On Saturday I ran 6 miles at team training.... 6 MILES! I basically thought I was going to pass out at the end, but it is certainly the furthest I have ever run. I'm almost halfway to 13.1 : c )

9/2/09

I ran 4 Miles on Kelly Drive Sunday with the team. 3 miles yesterday and my knees were killing me the whole time --- uh oh --- hoping it was just temporary discomfort. Trying to keep the cause in mind as training continues to get tougher.

8/29/09

Thank you to those of you who have donated and for your kind words and support! This week I was away on a business trip which made training more challenging. But, fortunately there was a treadmill at the hotel so a few late-night run's had to do. I ran 2 miles at Kelly Drive this morning and am looking forward to our team practice tomorrow.

8/19/09

We had our first team run last weekend - Kelly Drive is a beautiful place to run! I had no idea. This morning I ran a little under 3 miles at a nearby park.... in the heatwave! 13.1 seems SO far away, but, I guess I have to start somewhere. Keep checking back as I slowly but surely work my way up to completing my half-marathon!