Friends and Family,

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." - John Bingham

I'm going to have Saturday morning training withdrawal for the next few weeks, but I'm already thinking about what my next challenge will be - Goofy's race and a half, perhaps?

As Walt Disney himself used to say, "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them"

GO TEAM!!

Lauren

Friends and Family,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I was able to work off my turkey and pumpkin pie with a scenic (and hilly) 14 miler through Central Park! 

It's December - just weeks away from the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend and my debut as a . . . wait for it . . . marathoner!!

Training has been long, and hard, and tiring, but I've committed 26.2 of my best miles to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the quest for a cure to blood cancers!

I've had wonderful support along the way - our second annual "Fly to Fight Blood Cancers" charity event yielded over $1,200!! A HUGE thanks to those who came out to Fly with us, and to Melinda Sarkis for leading an incredible ride!!

Saturday long runs have also challenged my limits. We've past the 13 mile-mark and are now pushing 13-14 miles:

And 16 miles (where we were joined by turkeys and horses in Lexington and Bedford):

We're also just $925 shy of my fundraising goal of $6,500. I'd LOVE nothing more than to find a running costume that goes well with purple hair . . . there's never been a better time of year to give back and save lives!! And if I'm not living proof that your donations have an impact, I'm not sure what is.

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. - Mother Teresa

GO TEAM,

Lauren 

Family and Friends,

Happy Sunday! Fall is here, and the landscape of changing leaves here in Boston makes for a beautiful backdrop to my Saturday long runs!

I’m up to 13 miles. Already - can you believe it?! To check the mileage off of my training weekend, I participated in the Newburyport Half-Marathon last Sunday. I ran the majority of the race, and achieved a 2:26:15 PR. I even got a medal, a T-shirt, and a pint glass out of it.

But, as Coach Andy cautiously reminded us during yesterday’s 10-miler, we’ve got a distance to go, and from here on out, all of our long runs will be longer than half-marathons. Eek! I guess I'm no longer allowed to say that I'm only half-crazy . . . 

As I reach out to all of you this morning, I’m feeling particularly inspired, sitting and watching the New York City marathon, and cheering on friends that are running from here in Boston. Some are running their 6th, 7th, and 10th marathons, while I continue along the journey of my first. I am reminded every day that life isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon, and I am incredibly thankful for all of your support.

If you haven’t donated yet, there’s still time. I’m always open to belated birthday presents and I’m looking forward to holding true to my purple hair promises. Donate via this fundraising page!

Better yet, if you’re in Boston on November 15th, come “fly” with me during what will be an amazing spin ride at Flywheel sports to benefit the LLS!!. A few of you have asked, and we don’t reserve a specific bike until we receive your registration. So snag your favorite bike before someone else does!

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/fly-to-fight-blood-cancers-tickets-18927532760

My finish line is the beginning of cures,

GO TEAM!!

Lauren 

Family and Friends,

Friends and Family,

We're off to an amazing start - thanks to all who have been so generous to date, we've already raised $3,225 in support of innovative treatments and patient services for those like myself who have been affected by blood cancers. And our continued efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Since my acceptance of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society's "Lucy Against Leukemia" award a few weeks ago, I have been interviewed by a few local media outlets, and I'm as eager as they are to get our story heard:

http://brookline.wickedlocal.com/article/20150822/NEWS/150816911

September 1st also marks the start of Blood Cancer Awareness month (for those in Boston, the city will light the Zakim Bridge up in Red on Monday, August 31st, in effort to raise awareness). To kick off the month, this East Coast runner is taking her running shoes out West to participate in the Disneyland 10K and Half-marathon next weekend. Assuming all goes as planned, I'll have completed the "Dumbo Double Dare" challenge and head home with four medals, including one that signifies my "Coast to Coast"achievement of having completed a race in Walt Disney World and Disneyland in the same calendar year!!! The miles will only increase from here on out, as I continue my marathon training for January 2016's event weekend.

I challenge each of you to stick with me on this incredible journey. We've made great progress, but we've got a long way to $10,000 and I am committed to nothing less than 26.2 of my best miles in exchange for your continued support. Perhaps even more importantly, I've decided to dye my hair PURPLE - Team in Training's signature color - for event weekend once I've hit my fundraising goal!!!! Let's do this!!!!