Racing to Save Lives

Welcome

to my Team In Training home page.

Dear Neighbors, Family, & Friends,

I have heard of too many family members, friends, and patients being diagnoses with cancer. This year I have decided to do something about it.

In response to this dilemma, I've taken a pro-active approach and joined in the fundraising effort for cancer research. I'm currently training with coaches and mentors to run in the Phoenix ULTRA-Marathon on January 17, 2010 through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training Program. There are about 30 of us on the team here in Boise, and I'll also be helping with injury prevention and treatment issues to help keep our team running strong. I will be running my first "ultra" marathon of 31 miles (instead of the regular 26.2 miles).

I've set a new marathon day goal of 31 miles in 5 hours for my legs, and a minimum of $5,000 for cancer research. I will be running in the inaugural Dean Karnazes 50K ultramarathon. (Dean Karnazes ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days).

I'll be running in honor of my friends, Satya Linak, who successfully battled Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and Bernadette Shintaffer.

I humbly ask your support through a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Donations are 100% tax-deductible and 75% of all contributions up to $3,850 will go directly to research and patient assistance. Every dollar I raise above $3,850 is fully donated. I'm a little late on starting my fundraising, so I appreciate your prompt donations.

Thank you for your time and consideration and I hope you will consider joining me in this effort. Please pass on this information to others who you think would have an interest in helping improve cancer treatment and hopefully someday, a cure.

Sincerely,

Matt Booth

*To learn more about Satya Linak and her journey, read her bio at www.SatyaLinak.com

I hope you will visit my web site often.

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

support!

UPDATE!

I revised my goals and raised the stakes. I'm running the 50K (31 mile) ultramarathon at Phoenix in January. Training in the snow in Wilderness Ranch is putting some good stress on my legs. Hopefully I can get the long mileage in before New Years. This new goal should also spur my friends to donate even more to this good cause!

Thanks to everyone that has already donated!

UPDATE: 12-30-09

Last week I finished my best training this season: 43 miles of running in one week, and 28 miles in a period of 36 hours. I'm confident about completing the 31-mile ultramarathon in Phoenix in mid-January. Now I need to raise some more money. Luckily there is still a day left for people to get their donations matched by a $100,000 grant. Can you hit the donation button now?

Thanks for all your help raising money for cancer research and treatment.

UPDATE: 1-12-10

I'm going to raffle a SIGNED Boise State Broncos "Brothers in Arms" poster. This is from the 2009 season and features all 4 quarterbacks. This is a great present for someone in Bronco Nation! For all donations to LLS through this webpage from today through January 22nd, I'll put an entry into a hat for every $5 donated. I'll notify the winner on January 23rd and post it here. Thanks to Cole/Marr Photography Workshops in Boise for donating 25% off matting and framing for this poster for the winner (they taught me everything I know about photography). You can find an example of the poster here: http://www.thebluemag.com/store/bleed-blue-posters/brothers-in-arms.html

Thanks again for your donations to help fight cancer!

POST-RACE UPDATE!!!!!!

Thanks for all the emotional support on race day. I MADE IT! My final time for the 31-miles was 5 hours and 30 minutes. This was right in the middle of my anticipated finish "window" of 5-6 hours. The weather was perfect, the course is great because it is so flat, and the fans and Team in Training support is AWESOME! I wish I could have trained more than once per week, but considering that I feel quite fortunate to finish with no injuries. It was an incredible experience to work with Team in Training for the worthwhile cause of raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Thanks again for all your donations!

UPDATE: 1-24-10

The raffle for the signed BSU poster went to Jeff Kidwell. Congratulations Jeff! He definitely stacked the deck in his favor with a $250 donation. But everyone's donations go to a great cause!