"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible." ~Arthur C. Clarke

August 11, 2010

Wow, it has been a crazy month! A lot has been going on with my training!

First, I have an announcement to make. I have switched from the Marine Corps Marathon to the Baltimore Marathon. This switch was due to two recent injuries that have held up my training a bit. A few weeks ago, I had a minor set back when I developed runner's knee. A lot of ice and stretching helped me to get past that. Now, I am suffering from sciatica (aka..nerve pain in my lower back and glutes). Unfortunately, I have been "benched" from the running for a bit and must do some walking. I am not sure how my recovery will progress and the Baltimore Marathon is more friendly to walkers. At first I was quite discouraged, but then something happened which reminded me why I am doing this.

Recently, my Pop-Pop had a routine blood test come back with some abnormalities. His Oncologist brought him in for an appointment right away. Our entire family was frozen with fear from the moment we found out about that abnormal blood test until he saw the doctor. Thankfully, it was not an indication that his cancer had returned and he will be just fine. However, this scare was enough to remind me why I am here and why I must do this.

Our time is now. We are each met with many opportunities in our lives to make a difference, but how many of them do we actually take? Take this opportunity with me to make a difference in the lives of many.

Finally, I will leave you with an article about a man who did not let cancer beat him. While undergoing chemotherape, Brian Fugere completed a marathon in the hallway of his hospital wing, all while dragging along his IV pole! He has since raised a substantial amount of money for cancer research! People like Brian Fugere have made a difference in this fight against cancer. It is our turn!

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/06/mf.ost.hospital.marathon/index.html

Thank you again to all who have contributed to the cause!

"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." ~William James

July 9, 2010

Wow it is hot in the DC Area! Our training is now heating up as well! Now it is time to set my fundraising for cancer research on fire!

First, a little update on my training. Last weekend I covered 10 miles while visiting my family in Pennsylvania for the Fourth of July. I found out that it is tough to run those long weekend runs yourself! Luckily I had some visitors in the middle of the run and Adam helped me with the last mile and a half. During the week I had two training sessions of three miles and one of five. One of them was done at a track with some of the TNT coaches to hopefully work on improving my speed. Here is a picture of me at the track last Wednesday with my coach, Eric.

Now for a little update on the Team Caponi training squad. My "visitors" during my 10 miles was my Mom and Aunt! They were working on their own training and getting ready to walk the 5K! I am so proud of them! They have been training with a passion and excitement that is infectious! Even with this crazy heat they haven't missed a workout. Here we are on the Fourth of July:

Finally, an update on Fundraising. This is the week I kick it up into high gear. When I decided I wanted to run a marathon, I looked into several training programs. Any of them would have done the trick. I chose Team in Traiing because I wanted to raise money for cancer research. Every time I am training I remember the reason I am doing this: my family. I hope that none of our lives are ever touched by cancer again, but if they are, I want the best possible medical care to be available. I am still so very grateful that modern medical science has kept my Pop-Pop here with us.

This next week I plan to add this fundraising page to Facebook, to e-mail friends and to e-mail friends and family members this page. Finally, I have some exciting news! The Greene Turtle in Laurel, MD has agreed to allow me to host a fundraising day on September 7, 2010! On that day, 10% of all proceeds from food and alcohol sales will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! If you live in the area, please bring everyone you know and grab some lunch or dinner! There will be more details to follow.

I hope everyone will consider donating to this great cause. Almost everyone I know has had their lives touched by cancer in some way. If we all contribute to the cause in any way that we can, I know that we can find a cure.

Finally, I would like to once again thank Setareh for both the title to this blog post and for keeping this page on her status message. Setareh- Your support means so much to me. Thank you!

Me and Pop-Pop on July 4, 2010.

Do Something Bigger Than Yourself!

June 21, 2010

Well my marathon training is now in full swing! Last Saturday I covered 8 miles (in addition to my weekday training)! I also learned some new training techniques. This week I will be working on the Galloway Method. This is basically an interval training program that will hopefully help me increase both my speed and my endurance!

My fundraising is also on its way. I would like to thank my friend Setareh making the first contribution! Thank you also to Setareh for linking my fundraising page to her Gmail status for the day (and for the awesome title to this blog post). I would also like to thank Adam for my second contribution! Adam is my other-half and has been a huge help with marathon training by jogging with me on some days and for massaging my sore feet on others! To both of you and anyone else who may wish to donate in the future: Thank you so very much for donating to a cause that is so close to my heart. Cancer research helps each and every one of us in some way. We can only change things in this world when we stand together to make a difference. Thank you for standing with me to make help find a cure for cancer.

Now, for the most exciting news of this blog post! My wonderful Mother and Aunt Cindy have decided to themselves train for a walking event! This past weekend I presented each of them with a bag that included a pair of wicking socks and a walking program. I also assigned different members of the family to different jobs. We have coaches and cheerleaders and people taking pictures, making signs and preparing team T-shirts! The 5K we will walk in also raises money for cancer research. I am so proud of them and will make sure to link their training here when they begin in two weeks! Everyone needs to exercise for their health. I am so proud of my Mom and Aunt for taking their first steps toward a healthier future! Go Team Caponi!

Mom (right) and Aunt Cin (center) perusing their training schedules!

Finally a few more pictures to remind me why I am doing this:

Me (the lady in all black), my sister, and Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop at their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2006.

Pop-Pop in the Summer of 2009.

I never want to see another person I love go through this.

I am so grateful he is a survivor.

Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

In the summer of 2009 my wonderful, loving Pop-pop, Louis Caponi, was diagnosed with colon cancer after the discovery of a tumor during a routine colonoscopy. The discovery of this tumor rocked my family to its core. How could something as ugly as cancer invade the body of the man we all love so much? As they always have done, my amazing family rallied around Pop-pop and became "Team Caponi!" After months of doctors appointments, surgery, blood tests, chemotherapy, oxygen tanks, antibiotics, fevers and tears my wonderful Pop-pop is currently cancer-free. I could not be more grateful to the doctors and medical researchers who made his recovery possible.

I'm training to complete the Marine Corps Marathon 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, myeloma and every other cancer 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!

I want to help other families who are struggling with a cancer diagnosis and are rallying around their loved one to reach their happy end: recovery for the one they love. Blood cancer research helps to find a cure for every type of cancer. I have my Pop-pop back and I want to pass it forward to protect future generations by finding a cure to cancer.

I am choosing to train for a marathon for two reasons. First, I want to inspire my friends and family to exercise their way to health. To prevent cancer and to be strong to fight it if it strikes, we need to be healthy. This week I am running three miles on three different days, six miles on another day and cross-training on a third. I will chronicle my progress on this page. I hope that if you are reading this you are inspired to go out for a jog or even a short walk. Do it for your loved ones and do it for yourself. Second, I want to encourage others to participate in finding a cure for cancer. Almost everyone has known someone in their lives who had cancer. Together we can contribute to finding a cure so that our children and grandchildren will never lose a family member to cancer. Please consider making a donation to help find a cure for blood cancers and all types of cancer.

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!

Me and Pop-Pop on vacation in 2004.