My Fundraising Page

Racing to Save Lives

***Thank you so much to everyone who donated! I have finally reached my goal with about 2 months to spare! Please feel free to continue to make donations!***

Welcome to my Team in Training homepage! Yes, I have FINALLY decided to take the plunge and train for the Marine Corps Marathon on October 25, 2009. In the past few years, I have run/competed in so many wonderful events going towards great causes, and now I decided to run for my own cause.

Throughout my past two years of working for an outreach organization, so many beautiful people have touched my life, sharing their stories of battling cancer and other life threatening illnesses. These people live from day to day with barely anything to help them through besides their faith and hope, and they still can have a smile on their face at the end of the day. Although some have lost their battle, they will continue to live on in my heart and inspire me through their courage and spirit, and I will be thinking of them when I run. Not only will I run for those people who I personally know, but for all your friends and family who may have fought the battle against Leukemia and Lymphoma.

As a member of the Team in Training, I will be raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. As I run, not only will I be thinking of the the special people who have come into my life, but 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; even a small donation will help us in this fight to find a cure. You can also check out my Facebook page and become a member of my group and follow my Twitter on my progress!

Thank you so much for your support, and please check back to see updates on my fundraising goal and my progress with training!

Sincerely,

Katy

If you would like to donate by check please make them out to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and mail to me at:

Katy Gerloff

1520 Island Overlook

Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

***I would love for anyone to share your personal stories with me about relatives and friends who have battled Leukemia and other blood cancers. I will write the names of all these individuals on my shirt on race day so I can remember how close this cause really is to people who I know so well and love. A few people have already reached out to me when they find out I am running with Team in Training, and it has truly touched me to hear these stories, as well as motivated and inspired me.

Progress Reports!!!! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

September 26-Completed 22.87 miles with the help of two of my wonderful teammates, Kristen and Kimi! The run actually was not that bad and I wasn't completelely drained at the end, which gives me hope that I would be able to 3.5 more miles!

September 20- Finished 2nd in my age group at the Kiawah Island Triathlon and 13th out of the women! Dropped 15 minutes in my time from last year. This was an amazing race (minus the portion of the run on the beach at EXTREME high tide!) and makes me even more excited for the marathon!

August 16- Finished 4th in my age group for Sprint Tri #4 and 21 out of 121 women! Great race, minus the numb toes during the bike portion :) Can't wait for Kiawah!

August 9- 16 miles was a KILLER especially after a night out on the town with visiting college friends! I somehow made it through with the encouragement from the team, and we all rain to Coach Barbara's to have a pool party after we were done! SO fun! Now time to gear up for Sprint Tri this weekend, SO NERVOUS!

August 8- Nice little bike to Park West pool for a swim...ended up seeing an old high school swim team friend at the pool!

August 3- Signed up for Kiawah half marathon in December! And made up 13 miles by myself, AH!

August 1- 20 mile bike followed by 45 minutes on the Greenway

July 25- 20 mile bike followed by a much needed surf session!

July 19- 14 miles- longest run ever! Lots of records this weekend...

July 18- 40 miles bike ride with the Tri team, and second ride ever on the new (well, old) road bike- broke my record from last weekend! This was followed by a 30 minute run (3.5 miles!) and afterwards, I surprisingly felt wonderful!

July 12- 12 miles for the 12th of July! And then a much deserved massage at Urban....DELIGHTFUL!

July 11- 7 a.m. bike ride- 32.3 miles! WOW my longest ride ever! My training partner did not show up, so I went out on my own but ended up finding a nice old man to bike with and then a whole group of cyclists! Rode back by myself because I couldn't keep up on my hybrid :( Great morning.

July 7- Started a bike ride, but it began to rain :( Hopped off the bike, and did a 6 mile run in the rain!

June 28- Almost 11 miles, very fun and felt great after!

June 27- 15 mile bike with tri's. Very fun!

June 24- Went to Master's practice at the pool, felt like such a wimp, barely did 3000! Went to bike with Tri Team in the evening; tried to use the road bike but it was stuck in one gear. Still did a few laps up the bridge!

June 21-10 miles in the a.m. with the Team, and since Comcast decided to turn off my cable/internet all weekend, did some weight training in the afternoon as well!

June 20- Open water swim with Tri Team in I'On lake...so fun! Luckily did not get eaten my crocs! Short 3 mile run after, kinda got lost in the maze of the neighborhood!

June 18-Ran to MLK pool downtown today for swimming with the triathlon Team in Training...nice light swim to compliment the run! Looking forward to lake swim in I'on on Saturday!

June 17- Second training session with the team. Had to miss the normal long Sunday run because I was at a college reunion in the VA foothills. We did a lot of conditioning work, which kicked my little bottom, literally! Felt good though! Excited for group bridge run on Friday!

June 15- On the last 1/4 mile of my 8 mile run today, I ran by an RV in my neighborhood- it seemed like a sign from God...although this man's journey is over. Check it out!

June 9- Went to my first Team in Training meeting at MUSC. Learned a lot about nutrition as far as marthoners-in-training are concerned. Need to remember to take my vitamins daily and drink more water! After the meeting went on my first run with the team (5-ish miles) and learned so much about our coach, Barbara Halpern; she has run 31 marathons!