I did it!!

Last Sunday, on January 10th at 5:40 a.m. the starters gun sounded, and I was ready to run 26.2 miles.

Boy, had I been nervous before. Not so much the race itself, but keeping warm during the 2 hours of waiting for the marathon to start. Who would have thought that LOW temperatures would be an issue in Florida!! Bundled up in layers of tyvek and multiple trash bags I managed to keep warm. And as soon as we started running I stripped all the extra layers. The spectators and many helpers along the course, however, must have been freezing like never before in Florida.

The excitment on that early morning was palpable. Lots of friendly chatting among the racers and enthusiastic cheering from the crowd, even at 5:40 A.M.!!

The first 4 miles went by in no time. And soon it was daylight. We passed bands and DJ's playing for us, ran in and out of Disney parks, had water stops about every mile and a couple of food stops as well. And, of course, the infamous Porta-Potties. :) If you wanted to run in record time you couldn't afford to stand in line to one of those. I had to join the lines twice. =o But I wasn't running for record times! I just wanted to make it.

The miles kept going by, not as fast as the first ones but nothing compared to the last 6. When I reached mile 20, I entered new territory. Never before had I run beyond 20 miles. Yes, it got hard. My legs were stiff like two wooden sticks. But the hardest was yet to come. The last two miles seemed never-ending. I felt like a parched traveler in the desert who started to see a mirage. I was full of hope every time I passed a turn to see the next mile marker. And finally, we passed mile marker 26 and the finish line came into sight. What a feeling!! The crowd was roaring. I saw the huge timer above the finish line ticking away. All of a sudden, I wanted to finish in under 5:45. Just 20 seconds to go. And I gave it my all and raced into the finish. I had done it!!!

Volunteer helpers were passing out mylar blankets (see photo) to keep runners warm and, of course, the medal!!! As I was walking to the Team In Training tent, I was all emotional. All this tension that had been building up through weeks and months of training, all the fundraising efforts, all the preparations... It all fell away and I realized what an accomplishment I had just achieved. I wanted to cry and I felt ecstatic at the same time. A whole mix of emotions.

I am so happy I joined Team In Training. What a great experience. The team in Columbia, mentor Debbie Miller and coach Dana Hughes, and you all have helped me to achieve my dream. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support, your donations, your emails, your cheering comments. I couldn't have done it without you!!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Christine Goyette

The Numbers

There were 55,000 runners registered for the event. 1509 were Team in Training members from 49 chapters around the United States who raised $5.4 million dollars with this event alone! Our Gateway Chapter with 32 runners raised a race-day total of $182,678.81! From the 1988 origin of TNT, just over $1 billion has been donated to the cause to find a cure for blood-borne cancers.

Wonderful things have happened through supporting research, education, and patient care. Cancer-fighting drugs that are a direct result of research supported by the Leukemia Lymphoma Society are now available, and are dramatically improving survival times and cure rates for those who suffer.

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Thank You!

I am ecstatic: The goal is reached. Thank you all for helping me raise $3,900. It is for a great cause and it has helped me stay committed in my marathon training. The event is only days away, on January 10th. I have completed all my long training runs (20 miles just last Saturday) and now it's just taking it easy until the marathon. I am soo excited... :)

When I come back I will report about the event and hopefully proudly present a finisher photo too!!

Again, thank you all for your contributions.

Gratefully,

Christine Goyette

PS: Even though I have reached my goal, it is still possible to donate. Now, every dollar goes 100% to patient services!!

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Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

I'm training to run a marathon 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!

Help me reach my goal of raising $3,900 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by giving as generously as you can. Since 1988, Team in Training athletes have raised millions of dollars. The results are impressive . 25 years ago only 4% of children with leukemia survived; while today 85% survive. We CAN give that other 15% that same chance at life through our support. Your 100% tax-deductible donation will help fund research and patient services. Donations can be made securely on line using your credit card. Please contact me directly if you would prefer to donate by check. If your company has a matching gift program, you could double your support to fight cancer!

Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!

Christine Goyette

PS: I also started a blog to report about my progress. www.ChristineRunsAMarathon.com

Donate & Win

People and businesses in Columbia have generously donated prizes that you can win with only a $5 donation. Donate now and enter one of 3 drawings:

- A Mizzou football autographed by coach Gary Pinkel

- An iPod nano 8GB

- 1 of 10 "Dinner & a Movie for Two" prizes

Each $5 donation enters your name once into the drawing of your choice. After you donate, you will receive an email from me asking what drawing(s) you want to be entered into. You can be entered more than once. For example, if you donated $15 you have 3 chances to win a prize. Either put them all in one basket, or one into each drawing, or any other combination.

Donate NOW or if you want to learn more about the drawing, go to my blog at www.ChristineRunsAMarathon.com

Thank you for your contribution. You are not only helping to improve the lives of people suffering from blood cancer, but you will have a chance of winning and of course your donations are tax-deductible.

Thank you!

Christine

The Power of Your Contribution:

* $750 Provides a leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma patient with financial aid to support medical treatment and to travel to medical appointments for one year.

* $500 Allows (10) patients to logon to a webcast and hear the latest information in treatment for their disease.

* $250 Provides a Family Support Group for one year.

* $150 Will train (6) survivors to make First Connections with a newly diagnosed patient.

* $100 Helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.

* $75 Average cost of tissue typing to become a bone marrow donor.

* $50 The cost of a co-payment for a CT scan.

* $40 Will educate (4) school employees on how to ease the transition back to school for a child with cancer.

* $35 Will purchase (12) Charlie Brown DVDs to explain cancer to pediatric patients.

* $25 Covers a single prescription co-payment.

* $5 The cost of sending a newly diagnosed patient a packet which includes information about their specific disease and support.