YAY!! I'm so excited that I have reached my financial goal with Team in Training and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!

You may still make donations through my site and we can give above and beyond my minimum... but if you would like to help some of the others on the team that have not yet reached their goals, here are a few friends/team mates that would graciously accept your donations!!

Just click on the name and it will take you to their site!

Kristy Borden

Rhonda Sutherland

Erin Merriman

Andrew Rose

Mavricks Musketeers

Dianna Fuller

Don Armstrong

Jennifer Davis

runfatkid.com

Thank You so much to everyone who has contributed and followed my efforts for TnT!! This is only the beginning! I HIGHLY reccomend anyone to partner with this great organization if you are looking to train for an event and need the motivation to stay the course!!

Now I can put all my focus on finishing that race! If you'd like to come out and Volunteer with TnT or be a spectator, check out the event website! You'll find the course map with all the band locations and good places to cheer on all the runners (and me)!!

~Susan

As you can all tell from the blast of pics on FB, I ran my first race last weekend!! Rhonda and I stuck together through the Cowtown 10K! It was a great run, felt good the whole race! My next event is the Pickle Palooza which I found out about at the Cowtown Expo! Just decided it sounded like a fun way to enjoy St. Patrick's day!

On leap day the Rock 'n Roll marathon peeps announced a special deal for registration. SOOOO.... I signed up for TWO more events later in the year!! Can you believe I'm doing this?! I can't believe it!

I've also committed to doing a relay with my surgeon's office at the OKC Memorial Marathon in April. I'm going to 7.6 miles! I figure after 13.1 and two 10k's under my belt I can do 7.6 miles! I just really hope the weather is better this year than last!!

Lets not forget what got me started in all this... first was being inspired by Erin running her first marathon at OKC last year. She's still going, and still raising support for LLS!

Next, after joining the team and meeting several cancer survivors like Rhonda - I found some true motivation to keep running!!

So, I'm committed to raising $1300 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and with the help of some great folks I have nearly reached my goal!! I'm currently only $160 from my goal! I need 16 people to donate just $10 each and I'm there!! Who wants to go first?

Hubby suggested I put a pic on my page - so there it is...

Ready for the COWTOWN 10K on Saturday!

I've put in 15 miles this week and I'm excited to do this "practice run" and really feel what it's like to run with all the other people around!

The wind was on our side and then against us for tonights 6 miler. But Rhonda and I pushed through it!! I was feeling rather peppy today and Rhonda let me run ahead a little. She said she knew the day would come when I'd want t run ahead, but we started this together so we're finishing it together at our main event in March! After that I'll start working on a PR with future races!

Last night I decided to join a relay team for this years OKC Memorial marathon with my surgeons office. It's in April and I'm hoping this years weather will be better than last years!

I also keep thinking about the Rock n Roll Denver in Sept. Would love to go and visit my family there and get a cool race medal too! What is it about this running thing that becomes so addiciting!?! <--- Did I really just say that? Who am I?

ONLY $330 to go to reach my minimum goal of $1300! Thank YOU so much to everyone that has helped me get this far! I would LOVE to surpass the minimum!! Please take a minute and consider what you can afford to give to help save the lives of many many people who suffer with blood cancers!! My Running partner is a survivor thanks to those who donated to LLS in the past and continue to support this amazing organization! One dollar at a time... as always any amount is appreciated!

Please, feel free to share my page with others who might like to participate!

Today’s motivating lyrics brought to you by Katy Perry “Part of Me”

This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

Throw your sticks and stones

Throw your bombs and your blows

But you're not gonna break my soul

This is the part of me that you're never gonna ever take away from me, no

I completed another 10 mile run this morning! Key word is “another.” Technically I should be on my 3rd 10 mile run, but life interferes sometimes! I picked my usual Treadmill at 24hr, the 2nd one closest to the fan. There was a guy on the treadmill next to me all sweaty and gross but I could tell he was almost done so I asked if he would mind if I turned on the fan. Well, he didn’t want it so after a little back and forth discussion...

Him: no, go ahead

ME: no it’s okay, I can wait

Him: if you want it on go ahead

ME: no, I can wait...

Him: are you sure?

ME: I’m doing 10 miles, I can wait a while...

Well, about 2 miles into my run he was done and kindly turned the fan on and aimed it right at me! thanks mister sweaty guy! nearly an hour later when he was leaving he mouthed the words “you’re still going?” as he passed by and gave me the I’m crazy look when I said “yep, 5 more to go!”

Anyhoo, I definitely can find my groove somewhere around a 4.7 pace on the treadmill and keep that pace for quite some time! (Pretty sure one day I might look like this girl at the gym) The treadmill tracks way differently than my Nike+ app which seems to be pretty accurate when I run with Rhonda compared to her GPS watch. I think the diff with the treadmill has something to do with the length of my stride compared to the rotation of the belt... at least that’s what I’m telling myself! I’ve also noticed that I feel better when I run earlier in the day. Those evening runs always seem to kick my butt and they aren’t near the distance or speed!!

Switching gears: I was doing a little reading this morning about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and came across this story about how Team in Training started. I like this quote from the story

"In the old days, running was a lonely thing to do, and it was easy to get discouraged. Now, all of a sudden, you had people to encourage you," he said. (Bruce Cleland)

I know I wouldn’t have made it this far without the support of running with the Team!

“Twenty-three years ago, Bruce Cleland took the first step as the first marathoner-for-a-cause, as his daughter fought to survive leukemia.  His idea - to support leukemia research by raising money and running his first marathon with a team of friends -- inspired a running movement that has touched many, many people. 540,000 runners have now followed in his footsteps and raised $1.2 billion dollars to fund cancer research through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.”

Lets continue to support this great organization!!

In honor of my PR time today of 11mins 22secs per mile

will you consider a donation of $11.22?

OR even better...

my total this week is 21 miles so how about donating $21.00?

...of course ANY amount, large or small is greatly appreciated! I have almost reached my financial goal and I’m getting very excited for the Dallas Rock N Roll!

BTW: anyone who wants to cheer us on at the event is welcome to join us anywhere along the route!

Thanks again for reading and supporting!!

10 MILES completed on Saturday!! I can't believe I'm doing 10 miles!!

Just a quick reminder about why I'm doing this (again) - it started out just being a way for me to incorporate a work out routine into my weight loss surgery regime.

And then I partenered up with Rhonda and was very motivated by her story!

Then we met some of the honored hero's after training one Saturday... This really helped me to put some faces behind the purpose of Team in Training and LLS.

This past two weeks I have had several personal connections with friends and/or clients who have a family member or loved one directly affected by Blood Cancers. I'm starting to really feel the purpose for joining the team. It's transforming from being about pushing myself to reach this goal, to now being more about helping find a cure for Blood Cancers. I think about each one of these people, even the ones I don't know personally while I'm running and it pushes me that much harder to finish those miles!

Will you help me reach my financial goal by donating? Any amount is welcome, no amount is too small. I have several options for you to show support.

OPTION 1: Simply Donate!

OPTION 2: Cupcakes for a Cause!

OPTION 3: Bracelets $3 each or 2 for $5... inspired by the lyrics of one my favorite songs right now. The Teal bracelets says "Fight-Conquer-Thrive - Survive-Prosper-Rise" and the purple bracelet says "iHateCancer"

OPTION 4: Bourbon Street Ball

Come out THIS Saturday and support the team!

BOURBON STREET BALL!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

7 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Lake Worth Boat and Ski Club

4001 Marina Drive

Fort Worth, TX 76135

Tickets can be purchased at the door but they would like to know in advance how many are coming. You must tell them I invited you in order for me to receive credit for your ticket.

$25 single

$40 couple

TNT Mentors, Trainers, Alumni 50% off

Honored Heros - Free

BYOB

If you have any questions,

contact Leann Sanchez at 817-296-2213 or Cathlina Roberts at 817-715-0505.

As always, thank you for supporting this great cause and helping us in the fight against Blood Cancers!! Those of you who have already donated - I will be mailing you a bracelet soon I promise!