I went on a run yesterday morning, as a kind of prophylactic to the insane amounts of food one consumes on a holiday like Thanksgiving, and as I ran, I found myself counting my blessings in my mind. I ran four miles, about 34 minutes, without running out of things to add to that list. Some of them were absurd, like hot chocolate, others were super specific, like the way Sunny smells after a bath, others were bittersweet, like the closeness my family has achieved since my uncle died in June. But I came away from that run totally invigorated and bubbling over with gratefulness for all I have, for where this year has brought me, and for this opportunity with Team In Training, to make a difference in the lives of blood cancer patients.

I'm approaching these holidays, every run between now and then, every day leading up, with "a grateful smile and a thankful heart."

Happy day after Thanksgiving, everyone!

Check it out here: http://kostandsforknockout.blogspot.com/2010/11/sidelined.html

Basically, I've been reduced to a couch potato, covered in peas. But it's not over!

Hello all you lucky friends of mine!

Today starts a six month campaign throughout which I will be harrassing you to donate more than you can afford to help me reach my fundraising goal for the marathon I'll be running in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! That's a really long, run-on sentence! Phew!

Many of you know my Uncle Jeff died of AML (acute myeloid leukemia) on June 23rd. He was diagnosed about a year ago, went through a bone marrow transplant and seemed to be doing well, but his blood counts never recovered. He fought cancer for over 20 years - when my Aunt Linda was pregnant with my cousin Anika he was diagnosed with Lymphoma and had a recurrence about 10 years later. Thanks to the dedicated research of those working to erradicate this disease once and for all, he had years added onto his life.

My hope, and the purpose of my involvement with Team In Training, is to see more resources being poured into the research for the cure to blood cancers. I hope one day that the thought of one dying of a blood cancer is as ludicrous to our future selves as one dying of a cold is to us now. I hope to see families like mine spared the heart break of losing a loved one.

My stipulated fundraising goal is $1,500, but I would love to raise twice that much in honor of my uncle, who I loved dearly and miss sorely. Anything you can contribute would be much appreciated. I've figured if every one of my facebook friends donated $10 I would surpass that easily. And really, what's ten bucks in the grand scheme of things?

Thank you, thank you, thank you! And stay tuned for progress on my training!

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!

Please make 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 for your support!