Happy Sunday!

I just wanted to give you a heads up on a few things I've got planned for my fabulous supporters!

First, I'm an ambassador for a company called RunningSkirts.  They make amazing running shorts that have a skirt over so you feel more covered up. They also make some cute shirts and other clothing, which are great for running. We've teamed up and they have donated a pair of their Runlove compression socks for me to give away! Anyone who makes a $25 or more donation to my fundraising page will be entered to win! 

The second thing is for my local Indianapolis people (sorry friends and family outside of Indy). I'm having a fundraising night at Panera by the Greenwood Park Mall on September 29.  You'll need to show the flyer in print or digital form. I hope to see a lot of smiling faces helping to put an end to blood cancers!

Summer has flown by too fast! I'm back in school and teaching my awesome third graders. I have a great group of kids, and I can't wait to see how much they'll grow this year!

I am still training and trying to find the work-life balance that I see so many teachers have.  I have no idea how they have it worked out.

I recently got sad news.  Our honored hero for our training cycle, little Hadley, has lost her battle.  She was two years old. TWO! In this day of amazing technology, there is still not a cure to prevent this from happening.  It breaks my heart that kids have to battle cancer.  My heart and prayers go out to her parents during this time.

My mom is a survivor thanks to LLS.  The research they've funded helped find her cure, but the chemo and other treatments have wrecked other areas of her body that impact her day to day life. 

My mission is to run wth TNT to make treatments safer.  To fund research that finds cures that don't leave survivors with lingering side effects.  To help support families that have to watch a loved one fight this terrible battle.  To help doctors and nurses see more victories than defeats.  I have watched this battle play out too many times.  I have seen first hand what chemotherapy and radiation do to people.  I have watched loved ones suffer with treatments  (My mom is an RN and gave herself some of the treatments in our living room). I've watched cancer take away people far too soon. But I have also seen victories.  I have seen the strength and determination it takes to fight. I've seen family stay strong long enough to say goodbye.  It is not an easy road. 

And that's why I persevere.  I continue to run for those who fight, those who have lost their fight, and those who have emerged victorious. And I run for the doctors and nurses who watch this battle unfold everyday.  I run and pray for the cure to be found soon.  As Margaret Mead said, "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world." That's my goal.  To change the world and make someday today.

My mom--Lymphoma survivor--after I completed the Glass Slipper Challenge at Disney World.

Summer Vacation is finally here.  School was over last week, but the teachers had professional development and planning time Tuesday and Wednesday last week.  My team has one more planning day later this month, but it will be a pretty good day.  My coworkers are awesome!

I have had some time to get extra runs in with summer break.  And I was able to run with my teammates on National (Global) Running day and our Thursday night runs. "The suck" was trying to make an appearance, but I took two rest days over the weekend. I can't let it get to me, though.  I'm trying for a new PR in the half.  Ideally, I'd like to break the 2 hour mark, but that might be too big of a jump.

I have to give a HUGE shout out to my first donor! THANK YOU Clara! Your support means a lot.  I miss working with you during car rider line at Arlington. 

I'm tired of cancer.  It's an evil 6-letter word that takes loved ones too soon.  I've been pretty open with my family's battles with cancer.  My mom just celebrated her 18th Lymphoma free anniversary.  Unfortunately, the treatments they used have had some serious side effects.  She deals with lupus, arthritis, and other things because the chemotherapy was harsh.  

All of last fall season, I watched my father-in-law battle Leukemia.  He under went months of chemo and two bone marrow transplants.  He fought until the very end, but the transplants didn't take.

 
My Mother-in-Law and Father-in-Law dancing at our wedding.

It hits when I think of how he won't get to see our finished home, or how he won't get to meet his future grandkids.  How he won't be at family celebrations or sitting on the basement couch when we visit. 

So I'm embracing "the suck" of training once again.  I'm embracing the crazy busy schedule of being a teacher and in training for another race. I'm embracing the fact that I've become a part of something bigger than me.  Because it's never been about me and running; it's been about finding a safer way to cure blood cancers.  It's been about making sure people who fight blood cancers aren't fighting alone.  It's about the researchers searching for the miracle that will help people meet their future without pain and lingering side effects.  It's about making sure the fighters make it home.  I want to see someday be today.