Week 12 - July 20

Almost exactly three months away from the Nike Women's Marathon! I'm very excited. Can't wait to see San Fransisco and can't wait to be in the presence of so many other passionate LLS supporters!

I'm incredibly honored to be an Honored Hero for the winter Team in Training season! Mom and I will both be representing the Leukemia and Lymphoma society as an Honored Hero for the Fort Worth team, which is essentially, a cheerleader for the team! It helps people to put a face with the disease so they know exactly what they're running for and giving to. I'll be speaking this Friday at the North Texas Kick-Off party and I'm super pumped!

BIG thanks to Anne and Eddie Irving,

Week 7 - June 8

Training for the Nike Women's Marathon (or in my case, 1/2) is moving right along! We have recently increased our weekend milage to 4 miles. Not very long ago, the thought of running 4 miles would have been overwhelming. I'm definitely improving in speed and endurance and that's encouraging. I will never claim to be a runner. The only reason I can do an endurance event like this one is because I'm so competitive with myself! A weakness that can sometimes serve as a swift kick in the rear when it comes to exercise and fitness. :)

I start physical therapy on my knee tomorrow. I have had pain since the Music City 1/2 marathon two years ago and I've never done anything about it. It's become increasingly more painful and I'm not able to run at all without being miserable. I hope it's nothing major and won't delay my training much. Fortunatly, we still have four months until the event, so I have time to catch up.

This past week I discovered www.BlameDrewsCancer.com. Drew Olanoff was diagnosed last month with Hodgkins Lymphoma and has given everyone an opportunity to blame anything and everything on his cancer. So along with thousands of others via Twitter, I've been blaming every frustration on Drew's cancer. :) Check it out. I still blame most things on Sarah's cancer...just didn't know there was such a clever way to do it!

Did you know the lovely Jaqueline Onasis Kennedy battled Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma?

And again....thank you for your support. I'm at 8% of my fundraising goal, so I have a bit further to go! I know it's hard to give right now, but remember that EVERYTHING helps. $5, $10...whatever.

One mile at a time-

Sarah (& Veronica)

Week 5 - May 25

Happy belated Memorial Day! I spent a portion of the holiday weekend at the Byron Nelson golf tournament, fundraising for TNT. The teams had several of the concession areas to manage and collected tips to go towards our individual fundraising campaigns. I met lots of other TNT participants and it's so neat to hear their stories and find out why they decided to get involved with TNT/The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I was so moved to meet Kent, who must be mid-60s, retired from IBM and has run 15 marathons with TNT since 2002. In all of his training and campaigning for each event, he has run over 7,500 miles and raised $40k for the LLS! And even more incredible, he has no personal connection to blood cancer. He's not a survivor and didn't know anyone affected by leukemia or lymphoma until he started with TNT. I was overwhelmed to hear him share about why he cares about this cause. For me, it's a no-brainer...I'm a survivor and both of my parents are survivors of lymphoma. I get it. But for those who don't have the same story, it's even more special that they have chosen this cause to support so fervantly. I teared up in my attempt to thank him on behalf of my family. This means so much to us.

I think I personally raised $400 for my campain at the tournament, which will really help with my fundraising goal. Plus, I met a cute golfer boy, which was just icing on the

cake. :)

GI-normous thank you to Chris and Joe Stivers for their donation! You both are amazing and I'm so humbled by your continued love and support.

RUN, RUN, RUN!

Sarah (&Veronica)

Week 3 - May 11

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to visit a leukemia fighter and champ, 8-year old Braden Allard (www.caringbridge.org/visit/bradenallard). He is from Mansfield but is currently in treatment at St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis. Braden just finished his bone marrow transplant and is truly beating the odds. He's given me a new face to remember as I run with Team in Training.

Trivia: Did you know that Mr. T fought T-Cell Lymphoma in 1995? True story.

HUGE-O thank you to my dear friend, Erin Salisbury for her donation to my campaign! I love you, Erin. Thank you for your support.

As I was running last night, I was thinking, "Why in the heck am I doing this? I don't even like to run!" Then I remembered the Braden's and Mr. T's of the world and it all came back to me. :)

Best,

Sarah (& Veronica)

Week 2 - May 4

We had our first group meeting and run on Saturday at the Trinity River Trails in Fort Worth. It was awesome! Seriously. I was extremely tired that morning and decided that I just couldn't go. Sleep was taking precedence. With a little butt-kicking from my mom, I got up and went and...wow. I'll never miss another one! Extremely motivational and inspiring. And fun, believe it or not!

If you are going to train for a race, consider Team in Training. Now that I'm training with this group, I'll never do it another way.

BIG THANKS to Desi and Justin for their donation this week! I love you. Thank you so much for believing in me/us/this challenge.

Big Hugs-

Week 1 - April 30

Training has officially begun! Our first group run is on Saturday. Mom and I have been faithfully running/walking on our own, which is nothing short of a miracle. :)

Big thanks to Judy, Tammy, and Mark who have already donated to our team! Mom and I each have to raise $3900 to particiate with TNT in the Nike event. For us, it's not a "have to" but a "get to." The LLS is a wonderful organization and I'm thrilled to partner with them in this event!

Thanks so much for particpating with us...either in your giving or your encouragement! Means so much.

Big Hugs-

Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

I'm training to participate in an endurance event 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!

Many of you know that I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2007. You may not know that my mom AND dad also battled Hodgkins Lymphoma. Lymphoma is not known to be hereditary...we just got lucky. :) So, this cause is very near and dear to our hearts, as blood cancers have impacted my family greatly.

My mom, Veronica, and I are doing the Nike Women's Half Marathon together in San Fransisco to celebrate our health and and honor all survivors and fighters who have bravely battled blood cancers.

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

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