Hey everyone - well I finished my last long training run for the Chicago Marathon over this weekend. After a rocky 19 miles the week before, I really needed my 20 to go well & luckily it did. I ran 5 miles right before the start of a half-marathon, then a ran the race (and set a big PR for that distance - 2:24:47!!!), and then ran a little over 2 miles once I was finished. Two days later and I'm still a little sore, but nothing unmanageable which is really encouraging! By this time on 10/10/10 I will be finished with marathon #2!!

I also wanted to let you know that I have gotten a bunch of new Bondi Bands in. I deleted the old pictures on my Facebook album and updated them with the Bondi Bands I currently have. I'm going to post them all here, but you can also look at them in my Facebook album (I'll keep the pictures updated as to what's still available here)! Remember each Bondi Band is just $8 and 100% of the proceeds go to Team in Training.

Thanks for you continued support!

~Jenn

I just realized it's been a while since I've updated you on my training. Today's date is significant for me. It's September 10th - that means that in one month I will be running 26.2 miles around the city of Chicago with 44,999 other runners while completing my second marathon. This weekend I'm headed to Effingham, IL to run the Heartland Half Marathon - I'm using this race as a training run and am going to tack 5 miles onto the beginning of it and call it my 18 mile run in preparation for Chicago. I can't believe that I have less than a month to go!!

After I complete the Chicago Marathon, I will be solely focusing on the Goofy Challenge and getting myself ready to run 39.3 miles over the course of just a little over 24 hours.

The picture above is of my personal honored teammate, Bob. If I remember correctly, it was taken in early 2010. Bob battled leukemia - and I'm happy to report he's back at the office, in fact I can hear him laughing from across the hall as I type this. Bob is my only personal connection to a blood cancer, however I cannot even begin to count the number of people in my life that have been touched by various cancers. I'm sure many of you could say the same thing. Simply put, cancer sucks! It is my belief that one day we will find a cure - that's why I am doing what I am doing. I could have registered for The Goofy Challenge on my own, but supporting cancer research is something that is dear to my heart. So thank you for your support of Team in Training, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and me!

Racing to Save Lives at the Go! St. Louis Marathon

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

Update - 8/11/10

Please join me from 5-7 on Thursday, September 2, 2010for a Wine Tasting to benefit Team in Training. It's being held at City Gourmet, 920 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63101. Just $25 per person gets you wine and awesome hors d’oeuvers. Hope to see you there!!!

Update - 7/30/10

I am going to be selling Bondi Bands as a fundraiser this season and I'm super excited about it. Each bondi band is only $8 and you can see the different styles I have here. Simply make an $8 donation through this website and when you make your donation leave be sure to leave a comment letting me know which bondi band you would like. I'll do my best to get it in the mail to you the very next day! Thanks so much!!!

Update - 7/29/10

This morning I found out that a dear friend of mine has to have another biopsy done soon. She's devestated. I'm devestated. My heart hurts for her. I pray that this is just a false alarm and that cancer has not invaded her body again. This is why I decided to become a larger part of Team in Training. I hope that in some small way my ability to run can make an impact on the disappearance of this awful disease. Maybe one day cancer will be a word we only read about in history books.

Update - 7/9/10

Well, I'm at it again - this time I'm training to participate in the Goofy Challenge 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.

Did you know.....

• • • • • • $25- Provides newly diagnosed patients with an individualized notebook to manage their treatment plan.
• • • • • • $100- Covers the cost of the First Connection program for one patient. First Connection provides patients and their families the opportunity to share experiences with someone who has been successfully treated for the same diagnosis. They learn coping skills and gain hope from trained volunteer survivors on their recovery process.
• • • • • • $250- Helps to fund LLS focused workshops on the diagnosis and management of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Attendees are patients and their families and healthcare providers.
• • • • • • $500- Will assist a patient with significant financial needs by covering some costs associated with transportation, medication and treatment.
• • • • • • $1000- Enables one-on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information, resources and counseling from the day of diagnosis and throughout their cancer journey.
• • • • • $1500- Provides patients with the funds to cover drug co-pays or health insurance monthly payments when it becomes difficult or impossible for LLS patients to cover the costs themselves.
• • • • • $2000- Will cover one week of clinical research funding to a top researcher in the field of blood cancer research.

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