Nike is coming so quick! I was looking at my training schedule earlier today and realized...I only have 6 weeks till marathon day! WOW! What an eye opener that is. Training is going much better since starting physical therapy. I ran 4 miles this evening and felt great! I love runs when I feel like I can keep going. Feel good after the run too. I plan to get in at least 13 miles on Sunday. Let's hope it goes well. That would be my longest run to date and since my injury. I am optimistic that all will go well.

Still raising funds and I hope to reach my goal soon! I have been amazed by peoples generousity. I really appreciate all the support everyone has given me so far. I have about $1,000 to go before I reach my goal. I know together it can and will be done.

I have been training hard! The longest run so far has been 12 miles!! AMAZING!! I am so happy with myself that I have gotten this far! The last few weeks have been a little rough though. I am not sure if I injured my knee or if it is just irritated, but either way it is greatly interfearing with my training efforts. I have an appointment to have it checked out and am hoping for some answers. Whatever the outcome I WILL finish this race!! If I have to crawl over that NIKE finish line I WILL DO THIS!!

So hang with me people.....I am on my way!! And thanks so much for your continued support whether it is in donations or encouragement! It is all welcome and appreciated!

Thank YOU!!

So I participated in a 3 hour Zumbathon this past Sat. It was for another TNT member so the money spent went to a GREAT cause! I stayed the entire 3 hours and Zumba, Zumbaed.....And let's just say my calves were letting me know in the morning. I almost didn't get my 10 miles in, but then I went for it. Happy to report that with my hubby by my side riding his bike I completed the 10 miles and was feeling pretty good, minus the calve pain.

Monday rolled around and I was so sore, I could barely walk so I decide to take a rest day. That one day turned into 3!! WOW! I got back to it today. Ran 3.5 miles after a HardCore class this morning. My legs felt like heavy weights the entire time, but I got some miles on them.

I am having a Yard sale on Friday and Sat. and all the money will be going to the Lekemia/Lymphoma Society. The kids are excited and are gonna have a lemonade stand set up for donations. I also have a SUPER sweet friend who is baking some cookies for donations as well! I am alway's so pleased to witness human compassion and generousity. Wish us luck out in this record heat :)

WOW! So this Saturday at the group training run I went all out and ran 10 MIles! I don't think I could have completed it as well as I did if I did not have the support of my team there with me, pushing me through. That is the thing with Team in Training (TNT) we are all out there to help each other and this cause. It shows at every group meeting, run or event I have been to. Everyone in TNT have been so great! I am SO thankful and happy that I chose to train for my first marathon event with them.

Some big news.....I am now training for the FULL marathon!! That is 26.2 MILES PEOPLE!! WOW! I am a little intimidated by that distance......but I know with TNT there with me, I CAN do this!!

So are you with me?!! How can you help me get over that finish line?? By donating today! You not only help me cross the finish line but you also are helping patients and their families have a better life. So why not donate? Every dollar gets us closer to a cure.

I am excited to share with you that the fun run/walk will be on July 30th which just happens to be my birthday too!! WAHOO!! It is gonna be a blast! I hope lot's of people will be able to come out and enjoy a fun event while helping me raise money and awareness for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.

Details: Run/walk will be on July 30th

Time: 7 AM

Pre-registration: NOW e-mail kingman kares or stop by Go Run Wichita and sign up in the store

Check in/registration: 6:30AM

Anyone who pre-registers for this event before July 22nd will recieve a free t-shirt! You can also order a shirt for $17.00

Questions: E-mail me kingmankares@att.net

I hope to see you there!

I am happy to say that this week our very special honoree Ayla will be at camp hope. Camp hope is a very special summer camp where kids with cancer can be kids again. As you can see in this picture her mom shared of Ayla (on the left) she is excited for camp.

Doesn't her smile just melt your heart? I can't wait to hear what a great time she had.

I am constantly amazed at this little girls bravery. Even through her continued treatment which includes a spinal tap just last week and more Chemo, she still has that great big smile. Makes me just want to hug her so tight and reminds me what a blessing my own kids health is.

4 AM comes really quick for me. I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. Lucky for me I layed my clothes out the night beofe. Otherwise who knows what I might have put on while half asleep this morning. I had the never-ending yawns even during the first mile of running! Then I finally woke up. It felt good to be out with the team and running.

Today I signed up for 7 miles. This is my longest distance I have run solid.....I have done 7 once in the past but I walked a little of it. My knee became a little cranky toward the end of this run, but my TNT running buddy helped keep me going, SO thankful for her! So far my TNT experience has been amazing! I love the comradery of the group. I also love the one goal we are all working so hard to acheive. Raising money for the Leukemia/Lyphoma Society.

Lately when I am not running or doing my daily activites, I am busy planning and getting ready for the 2 mile run/walk event I am putting on in Kingman. I am excited for this event. I am looking forward to a great turnout of people. It also helps that the event will be held on my birthday, July 30! YAY! What a way to spend my birthday, raising awareness and funds for this great organization! So if you will be in the Kingman area come on out and help support a great cause and my birthday too!

Well, I am off now to maybe get a little rest before my next shift...hahahaaa! Whether you have offered financial or moral support through my training so far, Thank you! I am so excited to be able to do this!

Hello friends! Today starts week 2 of training for me. I gotta tell ya there is just something about Monday's.....I just seem to drag during my run. I felt pretty good once I got going but, when my alarm went off this morning I did not want to get out of bed. Sometimes I think it is the days like this that build the most endurance and strength. I mean, to push yourself to get up and lace up your shoes to go out and run takes a certain amount of dedication and drive.

While I was running today there were a few times I wanted to stop and walk. Not because of the distance or even because I was out of breath, I was just tired and it would be so easy to stop. Then I started thinking about why I was out there today. Yes part of it is because I love running even on the bad days. And yes, I am training for my first half marathon. But even more than that I am running to be the best I can to help raise funds for people like Ayla. Little girls who endure so much so soon in life. They don't give up! And I know what she and so many others go through is so much harder than what I was feeling when I wanted to stop and walk. So I kept running. I ran and even started doing some 100 meter sprints. It felt good to run fast and I was proud of myself for not giving up.

Tomorrow I have a meeting to help plan a 2 mile fun run/walk event to help me in my goal to raise $3,500 for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. I am excited to get this event up and running. I will keep you posted as to the date and time.

Jenn

Today was our first group training run. I don't know that we could have had a nicer more beautiful day to get together. I met so many new people, it is going to take me a little while to remember everyone's name. Everyone was so nice and just fun to be around.

Our first group picture:

I was scheduled for 3 miles today, so that is what I stuck too. Next Sat. I am going to ramp up the mileage a little :) The run was so fun and it was great to have people to chat with along the way. So much support, I just LOVE it! I am going to get so spoiled on Saturdays.

Thank you for your support, and stay tuned for more training updates and events along the way. Jenn

Meet Ayla Gard. This is the little girl I will be running in honor of at the Nike Womens Half Marathon on Oct. 16th. This is her story......

July 1 2009 wasn't a good day. That is the day that Ayla's parents took her to the doctor.

Ayla had complained of pain in her arms. She also felt extremely cold after getting out of a family friend's swimming pool. A fever came and went.

“Two days before going to the doctor, she was walking across the living room and just fell to the ground," her mother Krista said. “We knew it was serious." It was.

After several tests, the doctor confirmed Krista's suspicions. Ayla had cancer.

“It was shocking and painful," Krista said. “For someone to tell you your child has leukemia, it's like getting punched in the gut."

Ayla was immediately admitted to the hospital. She stayed there for 10 days.

Since then, she's had a bone marrow biopsy, three blood transfusions and an operation to place a central line in her chest for chemotherapy.

Treatment has been ongoing since that summer. “You have to have a positive attitude," Krista said.

Krista has been through this before. Relatives on her mother's side, including her mother, have had cancer.

Krista said she feels blessed, however, because the form of Ayla's leukemia has an 82% survival rate, which is due in part to the research funded by LLS.

Krista and Shaun Gard also have an 8-year-old daughter, Kaeli, a third-grader at West.

Krista said it's been difficult for the family, but she has appreciated the support of the community. “It's incredible," she said, “absolutely incredible."

To date, Ayla has had:

2 Hickman catheters

1 PICC Line

4 bone marrow biopsies

4 blood transfusions

23 spinal taps

32 days of backpack chemo

9 hospital stays longer than 3 days

Over 2,500 pills taken

Ayla is stll going through treatment today.

As you can see this is just one little girl's story, there are countless others. How could I not try and help in anyway I can.

So while there will be times during my training when I am sure things will be tough, it will be nothing compared to what these families go through. And if by my running and getting donations for this foundation can continue to change lives, then it is so worth all the sweat and hard work.

This Saturday is my first Team in Training training run with the team. I am excited to meet all the rest of the team. I hope you will join me in this journey by making a donation to my campaign. I will be keeping my web page updated with my training information and upcoming events. Thank you for your support!