October begins tomorrow, and it is officially "crunch time" ! This weekend the City of Oaks full team is running 18 miles. I plan on following this up with a 20 mile run next week, then taking 2 weeks to rest until the first event--the Marine Corps Marathon!

Team In Training is joining with Stampin' Up to bring you Stampin' Up for a Cure! The event will be on October 15th, 2011 and will feature new ideas in card making and scrapbooking. Check out the details and RSVP today! Even if you don't live in Raleigh or you can't make it for whatever reason, you can still support this event! Here are the details:

Join us on October 15, 2011 for an afternoon of Stampin' Up fun! Stampin' Up features the latest projects in card making and scrapbooking. We'll be creating 5 cards under the guidance of Stampin' Up demonstrator Terri Walker for the low cost of $15.00, $12.00 of which will go directly to Jennifer Rohner's Team In Training fundraising efforts! Come out and stamp some great projects, enjoy yummy snacks, and wear TNT purple and gre...en for a chance at door prizes!

To register, either RSVP here or go to Terri Walker's page below:

http://www.nutzaboutstamping.com/TeaminTraining

Can't attend? No problem! Simply make a donation at Jennifer's website in the amount of $15.00, indicate that you're a Stampin' Up Remote Guest, and we will make the 5 cards for you and send them your way! To donate online and receive your cards, go to:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/Oaks11/jrohner

Questions? Send a message or email jjrohner72@aol.com 919-851-3673

Check out Terri's blog for pictures of projects and stamping ideas:

http://www.nutzaboutstamping.com/

http://www.stampinup.com/

Hope to see you there!

The temperatures are beginning to reflect the impending change of season...although it's still summer by anyone's account, this is the first week in recent memory that doesn't include triple-digit highs in the forecast. Hooray! It's just in time for the increase in mileage...last weekend it was 12, this coming weekend it will be 14--the longest run of the year for me so far.

I have until August 24th to meet my halfway mark in fundraising. I'm almost there, too! And with your help I'll be sure to acheive this important milestone, so join in the fundraising fun and make your donation today. Remember, not only is it tax-dedutcible but also it gets you entered for a chance to win that FREE GAS CARD. Most of all, it supports our mission and brings hope to patients, families, and friends affected by blood cancer. What's to lose?

More next week after our first venture into the teens of mileage! Whoo-hoo!

Training last Saturday was challenging, to say the least! On what had to be one of the most humid mornings of 2011, we completed our mileage in a timed fashion, and we worked for every mile. It was the first time in a long while that I'd hit the some of the hilliest parts of Umstead park, and boy, could I tell! Nonetheless it was great to be out there with my teammates on a Saturday morning running for our common cause, so all of the effort was well worth it. What's more, it was a reminder that no matter how far we run and how scorching the days are, blood cancer patients must endure far greater challenges. We must always keep that in perspective!

In any event, the days are now getting shorter and the mileage is getting longer, so our fall season events can't be far behind...

More soon!

It is another warm day in the Triangle, and the training for Fall season is in full swing. It's always a challenge to push through these hot and humid months, but when race day comes, it all pays off. The miles that we cover now make us stronger and more prepared for anything--and the cool starting line temperatures of Fall races are nothing to the sweltering training mornings of the summer!

If you haven't had a chance to make a donation yet, now would be a great time--for every $5.00 you contribute you'll be entered for a chance to win $100.00 of FREE GAS! Who couldn't use some help at the pump these days? This is a great opportunity to support an important cause as well as get a chance to get a break at the gas station. The winner will receive a $100.00 gas card from BP. It might be you, so make your contribution today!

More to come--shooting for double-digit mileage this weekend!

Last Saturday was Mission Day, where all of us take some extra time to remeber the people that we run for and the reasons why we joined Team In Training. It was a great day to rejoin my team--no one was happier than I was to be out there again! I got to see many old friends, fellow coaches, and enthusiastic supporters of the cause as well as meet new teammates. I was amazed to learn that our Fall 2011 team has three survivors participating with us! Truly inspiring!

More to come as the season progresses! Please check back often! (BTW, I LOVE the Asics shoes!)