Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

Thank you so much for your support! I completed the Marine Corps Marathon along wih many Team In Training participants from around the country.

An injury had hampered my training so I started the Marathon very unsure if I could complete it. It took longer than I had hoped but I limped across the finish line and received the Marine Corps Marathon medal.

Actually the training and the marathon illustrated a great life lesson. Life doesn't always go as planned. An injury presented me with a significant running challenge. For my mom and Ruth it was a medical diagnosis that presented a much larger challenge.

We are constantly having to make adjustments just as Ruth is now doing. But , like Ruth, we don't quit. We keep moving forward toward the finish line.

May you press on toward the finish line...NEVER GIVE UP!

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I'm training to run the Marine Corps Marathon this October 25th. I will run 26.2 miles in honor of two heroes. Let me tell you about these two incredible young women.

The first is my mom. At the young age of 48 she was diagnosed with diffuse histiocytic lymphoma. My mom fought courageously but her life was cut short in 1979 within two years of beginning chemotherapy. My mom was my best friend and I'm running to honor her as I mark the 30 year anniversary of losing a hero.

My second hero is Ruth Buchanan who is pictured above. She lives right here where I do in Lexington, South Carolina. At the young age of 5 she was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic lymphoma. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment for two and half years. She is now 12 years old and is currently in REMISSION! Yea for Ruth!

Would you please think about this for a moment? Two and a half years! Most of us don't like going to the doctor for a 30 minute visit with a bad cold. Ruth spent two and a half years undergoing intense treatments. Ruth is my hero!

She inspires me to run to raise money so that leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and myeloma can be conquered. That is the goal of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS). Since 1949 the LLS has raised more than $600 million to fund blood cancer research.

Survival rates have skyrocketed for many forms of blood cancer. But more research is needed to completely defeat these diseases and prevent them from robbing us of our heroes.

That's where you can help. Would you please consider making a donation (tax deductible) to the LLS to help further research. My goal is to raise $3500.

EVERY dollar counts! Any amount, even if it's $1, will help me reach my goal, and really help researchers find cures. There are two ways you can make a donation:

1. Click "donate now!" The button is on the right.

OR

2. Send a donation via check. Make your check payable to "The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society" or "LLS."., payable to "The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society" or "LLS."

Mail to:

Steve Tuggle

604 Carola Lane

Lexington, SC 29072

Remember, make the check payable to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or simply LLS.

I appreciate any help you can offer. I'll put some updates here on my training, and you can always check back to see how everything is going!

One more favor. Would you also consider helping me spread the word. If possible I would appreciate you using e-mail, facebook, digg, twitter or anything you can think of to send people to this page.

Thanks so much,

Steve Tuggle

TRAINING LOG:

6-3-09

Last night our team ran 4 miles at Riverfront Park in downtown Columbia. Last week my long run was 8 miles. I'm also doing some cross-training to help build up the aerobic endurance required to complete a marathon.

6-7-09 Sun. 20 Weeks Until MCM

Yesterday I ran 6.5 miles. I'm 1/4 of the way there! On Friday I swam 400 meters as part of my cross-training. Today I had a slow and relaxed 3 mile run. I really appreciate everyone's support and words of encouragement.

6-8-09

Today was a heavy croos-training today. At lunch I swam 450 meters. After work I took a spinning class and then worked out with weights.

6-9-09

Today I swam 300 meters. I had an interesting experience at the pool. I was wearing my Team In Training t-shirt and it was noticed by one of the lifeguards. He asked me if there was a cure for leukemia. I told him there had been many advances but there was still a need for further research. He then told me he knew someone with leukemia. Most of us know someone with a blood cancer. I appreciate your support in helping find cures for these devastating diseases.

6-10-09

Today I swam 350 meters at lunch. This evening we had a TNT meeting at Fleet Feet Sports near Columbiana Mall. We learned about running gear: clothing, shoes, etc. The people at Fleet Feet are very knowledgeable and helpful. If you need anything related to running I would highly recommend them.

6-11-09

Today was all weight training; no cardio.

6-12-09

Today I swam 350 meters at lunch. My goal for tomorrw is to run 7.5 miles. I don't expect to set any speed records but I will try to run at a good pace for me. Check back to see if I make it!

6-13-09

7.5 mile run

6-14-09

Rest.

6-15-09

300 meter swim

50 minute bike

weight training

6-16-09

300 meter swim

6-17-09

a.m. 4 mile run

noon 350 meter swim

p.m. weight training

6-18-09

450 meter swim

6-19-09

a.m. 3 mile run

noon 300 meter swim

p.m. weight training

6-22-09

300 meter swim

weight training

6-23-09

300 meter swim

3 mile run

6-24-09

300 meter swim

weight training

6-25-09

300 meter swim

3 mile run

6-26-09

450 meter swim

weight training

6-27-09

9 mile run

6-28-09 17 Weeks Until MCM

50 minute bike

weight training

6-29-09

250 meter swim

weight training

6-30-09

300 meter swim

3 mile run (hills)

7-1-09

350 meter swim

weight training

7-2-09

350 meter swim

3 mile run

7-3-09

weight training

7-4-09

6 mile trail run with Cliff and Stavros. This was a new and awesome experience. It was a real stretch for me and I look forward to doing more of my running on the trail at Harbison Forest.

7-5-09 16 Weeks Until MCM

3 mile walk

7-6-09

a.m. weight training

noon 300 meter swim

p.m. 6 mile trail run with Cliff and Stavros.

7-10-09

2 mile run

7-13-09

weight training

7-14-09

noon 300 meter swim

4.5 mile run

7-15-09

550 meter swim

weight training

7-16-09

500 meter swim

6 mile trail run with Cliff and Stavros

7-17-09

400 meter swim

weight training

7-18-09

10 mile trail run with Cliff and Stavros

7-19-09 14 Weeks Until MCM

6.5 mile run

7-20-09

500 meter swim

50 mins. cycle

weight training

7-21-09

400 meter swim

4 mile trail run with Stavros

7-22-09

weight training

7-24-09

650 meter swim

weight training

7-27-09

350 meter swim

weight training

7-28-09

350 meter swim

7-29-09

weight training

7-30-09

400 meter swim

7-31-09

weight training

11 mile trail run with Stavros

8-1-09

bike 12 miles

8-2-09

3 mile run

8-3-09

300 meter swim

50 minute cycle

weight training

8-4-09

7 mile run

8-5-09

250 meter swim

bike 11 miles

8-6-09

weight training

bike 13 miles

8-8-09

bike 50 miles with Stavros

4 mile run

8-15-09

7 mile run

8-16-09

5 mile run

bike 20 miles

8-17-09

250 meter swim

weight training

8-19-09

300 meter swim

weight training

8-20-09

250 meter swim

8-21-09

7 mile run

8-22-09

bike 25miles

8-23-09

Caleb is born!

8-24-09

4 mile run

weight training

8-25-09

250 meter swim

8-26-09

weight training

8-27-09

6 mile trail run with Cliff

8-28-09

400 meter swim

weight training

8-29-09

10 mile run

8-31-09

400 meter swim

40 minutes cycle

weight training

9-2-09

weight training

9-4-09

300 meter swim

9-5-09

5 mile run

9-6-09

6 mile run

9-8-09

300 meter swim

weight training

9-9-09

400 meter swim

9-10-09

weight training

9-15-09

300 meter swim

weight training

9-16-09

300 meter swim

weight training

9-18-09

weight training

9-19-09

10 mile run