Today I ran my longest run EVER - 16 miles!!! There is no doubt that I am sore (and can pretty much guarantee that I will be for the next few days), but I feel really good that I still have 6 weeks until my marathon. I mean, if I had a difficult 3 mile run at the first training back in February, then a good 16 mile run is HUGE!!

Quick summary of my morning: We started at the Alpharetta Greenway, went through the roads off of Windward Parkway (aka HILLS) and eventually back to where we began. It was tough. My head was really in the game and I felt very confident going in, but my legs and feet were another story. Ouch. About 10 miles in I could feel the lactic acid building up.. and it didn't stop.

So what kept me going? First, the motivation and 'you're doing great!'s from our coach, second, my crazy desire to KICK this marathon's butt, and lastly, the reason I am training with Team In Training. To raise as much money as possible for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and KICK cancer's butt. I am now over half-way to my goal of $3500!

Thank you to everyone who has donated and continues to support me!! (I even appreciate the gasps and 'whoa!'s).

My co-worker and fellow Team Purple member, Amy, and I (with the assistance her friend Kristina that came to help!) sold 112 koozies at tailgates for the Braves Home Opener game and made $554!!

Kristina, Amy, and myself selling (and "testing out") our TNT koozies!

We had a great time walking around and talking to people, sharing the mission of LLS and why we are so passionate about the cause. We were in awe of how many people lit up the second we said The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and said, "What an amazing organization!" Some said they participate in our Light the Night walk, some said they are regular donors to LLS, and some people told us about their friends that do Team In Training.

Everyone's reason for buying a koozie was a little different. There were the people, like mentioned above, that are supporters of LLS already. You could tell some of the guys bought a koozie because their girlfriend was giving them that look, and there were some girls that bought them because they're a sucker for the word charity. Some people were just impressed that I was running a marathon and Amy was doing a century ride. Then there were of course the people that just wanted a koozie for their beer. :)

Want your very own TNT Koozie - 'It takes more than LIQUID COURAGE to cure blood cancer'?? I have more!! Just donate $5 to my page and I'll put it in the mail! Thank you for your continued support!

As I write this, I’ve got my legs up and my feet wrapped in ice packs.. seriously! After each 8, 10, or 12+ mile run on the weekends, I fill my bathtub full of ice and lay in it for what feels like eternity just to prevent pain the next day! Yes, the marathon training is taking a toll on my body, but every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday I strap on my running shoes to continue my training (not to mention cross-training every Sunday).

Why continue inflicting such punishment on my body? Because the rewards are infinitely better!

New Milestones Each Weekend…

Almost every week I surpass my previous longest run length and/or beat my best time in a given distance. The first run of this training was a three-mile run on February 4th. Today I ran 12 miles and while I was happy to complete my run, I felt I could have continued. On my way home, I was relieved to realize that I “only had to run 14 miles” as part of my training regimen the next weekend. “Only 14 miles” was a thought foreign to me just a month ago! I can do this!

Running for a Cause…

I am not only training for a marathon, I am raising funds to cure blood cancers and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. My goal is to raise $3,500. The money raised by TNT participants (over $1.3 Billion since 1988) has enabled The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to fund millions of dollars of research to help advance new treatments and cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and provide critical education and support to cancer patients and their families. Nearly 50% of all cancer drugs approved by the FDA during the past decade were for blood cancers. And they are helping other patients as well. Five of those drugs have been approved for patients with solid tumors and others are being tested for other cancers and diseases. Survival rates for children with leukemia have improved from 3% 40 years ago to 90% today; Hodgkin lymphoma patient survival rates have more than doubled to 88% since the 1960s. And the survival rate for myeloma patients tripled in the past decade.

If you still wish to give, I prefer you make your donation by May 1st. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

And on behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, thank you very much for your support. I greatly appreciate your generosity.

Thank YOU!

Sarah

This past Saturday was our All Sport GTS. It's when the spring season teams and summer season teams come together to train and socialize - and eat! We met at Piedmont Park mid-drizzle.. thankfully no downpour and the tornadoes were over.

Amanda, my co-worker, and I were in charge of ending the silent mile. The silent mile is the first mile of the training course in honor and in memory of blood cancer patients. We were also able to get our 6 mile run in :). The cold actually made it a GREAT run! Every week the Saturday runs get longer and longer.. but it's all for a wonderful cause.

Go TEAM!

That's right folks! 78.1% goes towards programming services.. or in terms of money that's $.78 of every $1. Doesn't it give you that 'feel good' feeling?