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.

These diseases have touched virtually everyones lives. I am sure we have all seen a family member or freind battle one of these diseases and 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 am offering a prize drawing for a weekend in San Francisco...

Club Quarters has graciously donated a certificate for a Fri/Sat night in the hotel across the street from the Embarcadero! (Thanks Dave! You ROCK!) The certificate is good for one year, you call to arrange your weekend... how awesome is that?

Each $25 donation will in March will be entered into this drawing which will take place on April 1st.

If you wish to donate but do not want to be entered into the raffle, just add that in the comment section of the donation page and we will make a note of that, too.

Enter soon and enter often and most importantly help me support the fight against these terrible diseases.

Congrats to Missie who was drawn for the 3 nights in Lake ahoe!

(Izabela was drawn first, but she lives across the US and graciously asked that we redraw... Thanks Izabela!)

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01/31/10 UPDATE

I started the weekend off with the TNT shoe fitting. Who knew there was so much involved in buying running shoes? Took the shoes out for an inaugural two mile run on Saturday. Wow, all the strength and aerobic training I've been doing for the last week didn't feel like it made a bit of difference (no offense Jillian Michaels).

On Sunday, I hit the pavement earlier, against a strong protest from my muscles. I felt a lot better over the course of the two mile trek. I hope I see this much improvement every day! : )

I have my training schedule all set for this week, with my goal being a four mile run on Saturday.

I will keep you posted and thanks for checking up on my progress!

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02/14/10 UPDATE

Still training! Spent last weekend at Disneyland and jog/brisk walked 2-4 miles each day - even on vacation!

Yesterday was a team run of 6 miles. I was really apprehensive about being able to run 6 miles... lost sleep over it even! To my surprise, I did it! All 6 miles! My goal is not a certain time, just to finish... this really helps me to keep going during the runs. Even though I am last, I don't care... I just want to finish!

At the water station yestreday (at the 2 mile mark) there was a picture of a child who is fighting Leukemia or Lymphoma. I found this picture very encouraging and to give more meaning to why I am doing this!

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02/27/10 Update

Ran my first race today! (Last week's 5k was cancelled.)

It was an 8k in Ripon at the Almond Blossom Festival. 8k = 4.97 miles. Ran about a mile and half warm up with the team before the race... learning that a warm-up pace is a slow pace to warm up the muscles without tiring out. I finished with a 1:05:something seconds time which is jsut over a 13 minute mile... BIG improvement over my 15 minute miles 2 weeks ago! :O)

As I ran today I relfected upon a few things I learned:

* Finishing the race is winning in my book!

* Improving my personal best is progress!

* The names on the wristbands I wore today are significant. They inspire me! When I am tired and want to walk to rest, I think about their fight and know that they can't/couldn't rest from their fight against blood cancers.

* These races are going to be emotional for me... there are many firsts for me (first races, first time at a longre distance, first time with a faster pace, etc.), but as I run I feel I am honoring the individuals I am running for.... and I appreciate the opportunity to do just that!

* The individuals I carried with me in my heart today:

Paulina Scarlet Antemate (age 11 - lost her battle last month)

John Durgon (currently battling)

Tim Morton (currently in remission)

Ival Letsinger ( I didn't have a wristband for him, but I still carried

him in my heart! He lost his battle years ago, but his memory

lives on!)

Thank you to all that have donated so far! My ticker isn't showing all of the money rec'd so far... checks have been mailed in, but I am at 32%! WooHoo!

One more day until we close the ticket sales for the Weekend in Tahoe - $25 donation equals one entry! Drawing will be held on Monday!

Thank you to LLS for the opportrunity to get my body in shape, to help a VERY worthy cause and to be a part of such an awesome team! I am loving this decision! :O)

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03/07/2010

I don't know which is more exciting... the fact that once all of my mailed in donations are posted I'll be at 42% of my fundraising goal or the fact that I ran (not jog/walked, but RAN) all 8.5 miles of team training yesterday.... and yep, I am still here to tell about it!

I blew myself away that I didn't need to walk... well, it would have been nice, but I keep reminding myself that those fighting these terrible blood cancers don't get the chance to stop and rest... so why should I?

My knees were screaming at me by about noon, yesterday, and I hurt so bad that I was nauseous by bedtime (which was 8pm... LOL!) , but I could not have been more excited that I DID IT!

Next week is a 10-mile team training and I am actually excited... I look forward to pushing myself and training with the team... such an awesome group of people! ...and you know who else are awesome? Each and every one of you that has helped me to get to almost half of my fundraising goal for LLS! THANK YOU to each of you! You are all truly lifesavers! Together we can win against blood cancers!

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Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your

support!