The winner of the Kindle is Stephanie S. Thank you for you donation!

The winner of the $50 gas gift card is Catherine J. Thank you for you donation!

The winner of the Starbucks $20 gift card is Steve Z. Thank you for you donation!

Now, on to why I'm doing all this...

I'm training to participate in the Mayor’s Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska 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!

Why?

Why would I decide to run ANOTHER marathon? Because I can! The first marathon I did, LA, last March, was a HUGE challenge. Just completing it was my goal. And, I achieved that goal. The picture above is me, with the two people I completed the marathon with Lisa and her brother Rico, right after we crossed the finish line. Now, I'm love running, and I want to not only improve on my time from the first marathon, but also continue to do what I can to help find a cure for blood cancer. I know it will be a challenge, but I'm up for it. In fact, I ran my second marathon, the Nike Women's Marathon (benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society) in October, and did so 22 minutes faster than I ran LA (that's almost one minute per mile faster! And I sprained my ankle at mile 22, so think of how much I can improve without a sprained ankle!). Alaska will be my third full marathon, with a few 1/2's in there as well.

The most important reason I'm doing this again is because Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are doing amazing things to help people who suffer from blood cancers. In fact, this will be my THIRD full season with Team in Training; I was a volunteer Mentor with Team in Training for the last fall season, helping others prepare for their first endurance event.

My connection to Team in Training…

When I was a kid I remember my older sister's mother getting leukemia and eventually dying at a very young age (when she was only 42, my sister was just 16). I am running the marathon and raising money in memory of my sister's mother, Janet Zamucen. And in memory of the many others who have lost their courageous battles with blood cancers as well as those who continue the fight and sill need our help today and tomorrow. Every little bit helps. Blood cancers are scary and difficult to overcome and we need to do everything we can to find a cure and help those living with these awful cancers and their families, and if my running a marathon and raising money helps even a little then I will be glad to know that I'm making a difference. Janet fought a brave battle and her memory lives on now in her friends and family and I want to honor her memory by continuing to fundraise and do what I can to help find a cure. No one should have to suffer through the difficulties of blood cancer. And, I am also running because I feel that no daughter, mother, sister, brother, father, son, friend or relative should have to watch their loved ones fight this battle, or worse lose it. It’s time to find a cure and put an end to cancer!

I know that I can do this, but I can only do it with your help! THANK YOU!

Follow Me

To follow my training, find out more about my passion for running and keep up with how I’m preparing to run a marathon in Alaska check out my blog: http://runningatthespeedofme.blogspot.com. I want to make sure that those who donate know that I'm keeping up with the training and I'm with this every step of the way.

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

I hope you will visit this web site often, as well as my blog. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress, I can use your support every step of the way. Thanks for your support!

Check out my medal from LA pictured below.... LOVE IT! It reminds me everday how far I've come, but how much further there is to go.