I can't believe I have made it this far! Race Day is only one week away and to celebrate the completion of training we had a costume run. I was a lady bug! This has been a fantastic journey with lots of ups and downs. I've met amazing people, learned about their lives, and shared some very touching moments. I have truly been touched in many ways by my fellow runners, mentors, and coaches. They have showed me that anything is possible as long as you believe in yourself and the power of positive thinking! Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way! I've always been a very independant person, and I don't like to ask for help. I've always feared that no one would be there for me if I did ask for help, but now I've found that there are some wonderful people out there that have been there for me. Thank you!!!!! This has truly been life changing!

This morning is was cold and raining. But I stuck to it and ran out of the house to meet the team in Santa Monica. It turned out to be a beautiful morning! Running 20 miles is NOT easy, but the pain is worth the cause! I'm doing this for all those people out there that can't do it themselves. Please help me raise funds to support The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! I could not do this alone, and I'd like to thank all of the TNT coaches and staff for helping me realized I can do anything I put my mind to. And thank you to all the folks who have donated to this cause, you have been my motivation! Spread some love today and enojy life to the fullest. WE ONLY LIVE ONCE, SO ENJOY IT!

Today we finished 18 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes. It was a monumental distance in my eyes. 18 miles is the difference of only 8 miles to a marathon. Everyday we run it seems like the marathon is getting closer to becoming a reality both physically and emotionally. It takes a lot of focus to get into a zone and just "cruise" starting around mile 14. By mile 16 my muscles start to feel the distance and ache a little more but at this point nothing will stop me from crossing the finisih line. I can almost taste the bittersweet victory of completion.

I am excited to have the opportunity to run with the TNT Westside team and achieve these goals with such a diverse and dedicated group of people. I am both proud and grateful to all of the lovely people that dedicate each Sunday to running. They have shown me that no matter what, you have to believe in yourself and the power of team work for motivation and encouragement. The Team in Training staff does an incredible job supplying water stop snacks and hydration and most of all after hours and hours, I'm grateful to stop for a smile and a quick dance, and a bite to eat. Together will are a team, and together we can achieve everything we put our minds and hearts to!

Thank you also to all of my wonderful family and friends for supporting me through donations, encouragement and motivation. I literally could not have done with out you all. You have shown me that a little encouragement can motivate me to keep going for hours. Thank you everyone!

Make it a great week!

Alex and I after 16 miles, still smiling (even more so cause our shoes are off!)

Happy Easter to all!

This morning I woke up excited to set a new personal record of running 16 miles. I got more out of today's run than just a number and time (3:11). I also got to share personal moments with the ladies in my pace room, up's and down's of discomfort and pain and lots of laughter. Yes we laugh while running, we have to. We all run in memory of those that can't run anymore, those that have lost their battle and even for all those people that simply can't sacrifice part of their lives to train for a marathon. We run for everyone at certain moments...

Today I ran for my step-mother, Buffy. She is an amazing women who has helped hundreds of lives through her "Deaf Kids Kamp" the only sponsored deaf children's camp on the west coast that not only taugh many children that they are not alone in thier world of silence but she also taught them than although they can not hear, they can communicate, they can do anything, be anything, and shoot for the stars. She was diagnosed with terminal lung disease a few months ago. Buffy no longer can go about daily activies without having to think about breathing. Every breath is a struggle and she can no longer even go into high altitude places, much less run.

Today I ran for you Buffy. The amazing person that you are, you have inspired many and will continue to. I have hope that you will keep fighting the good fight and keep a smile on your face the whole time. I love you!

Yesterday, I learned the story of a beautiful woman named Jenna, who a fellow teammate is running in honor of, and now I am as well. I would like to share her blog at

http://killitinthebutt.blogspot.com/.

I would also like to share the email I sent her yesterday. She is currently in the hospital recieving chemotheraphy and still an amazingly positive, strong person!

SENT 04.17.2011

Hey Jenna!

I would just like to wish you the best luck in the world over the next five days of your treatment. I am a member of the Westside Team in Training group and today we ran for you! I will continue to fight for a cure and I know you will forever me in my thoughts. Never give up on your dreams!

Kill it in the butt, you go girl! Together we are a team....GO TEAM!

Take care,

Julie

RECIEVED 04.17, 2011

Julie,

Thank you so much for participating in Team in Training! What you are doing is nothing short of remarkable- i hope you realize that. For patients like me it means so much to know that you are willing to put yourself through such rigorous activity in order to raise awareness for such a critical cause.

Thank you for running in my honor yesterday. I was thinking about you all yesterday and it really lifted my spirits. I even decided to get on the stationary bike while hooked up to chemo and rode 18 miles in your honor! You see we are equally able to motivate each other!

Thank you for reaching out- for fighting the good fight- and for lifting my spirits.

It means so much to me.

With admiration,

jenna

:)

Training Up-date:

I can't freaking believe how good it felt to run 14 miles this morning! Once again the first few miles were tough. I felt drained but then I started to feel good once I took a "gu" shot and got some energy! It's amazing to me that every week I able able to achieve more than I thought was possible only the week before. It was a beautiful day and I'm more excited about running than I ever have been in my life!

Training Up-date:

Today was an amazing run on multiple levels. First, it was the first time I ran 12 miles along Santa Monica Beach and up San Vicente, and for over two hours. That’s a long time to be up and on your feet in motion. Second, I was babying an injury from last week and had limited my mid-week runs. And third, emotionally, I had told myself for many years that I am not a runner. Well, I had success on all levels. I did it and it felt great! I told myself I was going to and I did, hurray! Every week is different during the run, but I continue to surpass my greatest expectations and I finally believe I can do anything I put my mind to. (and I’m starting to think I might actually be a “runner”!)

Motivational Story:

Today we met a young Honored Teammate named Stevie. He was sick as a baby and suffered multiple bone factors and finally one-day doctors tested for Leukemia, but Stevie was found to be negative. Problems persisted and when he was (approx.) 4 years old, they tested again and was finally diagnosed with Leukemia. The family was devastated and had no idea how they were going to emotional deal with the trama or pay for it. That’s when TNT fundraising came into play once again. Stevie was given a grant to fund his treatment and after a year of treatment he is healthy and cancer free. They still have monthly check ups but stay positive.

Stevie is the cutest little boy that got a second chance at life because of TNT. This is another example of why I have committed to raise $2,300 (only a very small portion of the cost of treatments similar to Stevie’s). Yes, I will make it across the finish line, but only with your help and motivation!

*photo above is my pace group (#4) includ: Carlos, Mollie, Me, Alex, Mary Beth, Michelle and Stephanie at the beach in Santa Monica after an "ice bath" in the ocean! [12 miles in 2:28:00]

Training-Update:

On Sunday, March 27 it marked seven weeks of TNT training for the Westside team and the day after our first race, a 10K, as a team. Overall it was cold and raining but it felt great to run only five miles, especially after our last 10 miles in the rain. As a team we support each other, motivate each other, and make each other laugh. This unity has gotten me through it and even wanting more. Next Sunday we will be running 12 miles and it will be a huge milestone for myself, as I have never run more than 8 miles and never with a team. I'm hoping that my feet don't swell too much and my knees hold up. As the miles and hours get longer and longer, I have started to feel the discomforts of long distance running, but one thing continues...it is not and never will be as painful as I imagine having cancer would be. That is why I continue...to help remind myself and others, how lucky we are to be healthy.

Motivational Story:

We had a very special honored teammate today. Audrey is 7 years old and was diagnosed with leukemia when she was five years old. Her mother told us the horror of going through a parents worst nightmare, about the months and months of treatments, that turned into years. She felt helpless and lost not being able to help her daughter. That is when she herself started training with TNT. TNT gave her an outlet and a direct way of supporting her daughter. Audrey was able to get two grants from TNT that allowed her and her family to afford the treatment that saved her life. Today Audrey is healthy and shows not signs of leukemia. She is bright eyed, and ready to discover this world, as all children should have the ability to. She will live as a direct result of TNT fundraising!

I would like to reiterate that our fundraising really does save lives and I have seen that hope, curiosity and excitement for life in the eyes of Audrey. Please donate and spread the love!

It was a fantastic, cold morning in Agoura Hills today! This was our first race of the season as a team, a practice run if you will. It was great to see everyone cross the finish line and give each other support durring the run! And I never thought I would be so happy to only run 6 miles, especially after last weeks 10 mile run in the raining. Training is going well and I'm excited to start getting into high milages soon.

I need to work on getting video and more photos. So, to be continued...