My Fundraising Page

Racing to Save Lives

UPDATE POST RACE

I want to write this down before I start to forget any of it. It was one of the most amazing, most humbling, most intensely proud weekends of my life.

I left for Disney at around 11:00 in the morning with my parents, Tripp and Jenny. We arrived at the hotel around 1:30 and checked in. After that, Tripp and I left Jenny with my parents so that we could go over to the Expo and grab my bib, chip, etc.

The Expo gave me the first glimpse of what this race was going to be like... so many people! But it was great to see that most of them didn't look like elite runners. In fact, most of them looked something like me. I got my bib, my chip, my goodie bag, and my race tee shirt. I also wandered around the expo and purchased a magnet for the car that says "13.1-Been there, run that".

After that, we headed back to the hotel for my team meeting at 4:30, where the coaches warned us itd be cold in the morning. Um, duh.

Around 5:45, we boarded buses to go to the Team in Training Inspiration Dinner. As we came up the red carpet to enter the dinner, we were greeted by wildly cheering Team in Training Coaches. This was the first time I cried during the weekend. John "The Penguin" Bingham ("The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.") was the emcee, and he gave us good and humorous advice. I'd brought these silly purple hair extensions, and I spent a bunch of time putting them into the kids' hair, and Leslie, Kim and I all decided to sport purple hair as well. My mom asked me for one, and then later came up and asked me for a second. She whispered in my ear, "I decided I need one for you and one for Jennifer" and that was the second time I cried the weekend. Finally, back to the hotel, where I laid out my clothes, and tried to go to sleep at 10, knowing the alarm was set for 3.

At 3, I texted Leslie and Kim to let them know I was awake, and then got dressed. Let's talk about that for a second. I had on, from bottom to top: Nike DriFit socks, Asics running shoes, Race Ready tights, Walmart sweatpants I intended to discard, Under Armour Cold Weather long sleeved shirt with hood, Team in Training tank top, DriFit long sleeved shirt, Walmart sweatshirt I intended to discard, Baseball cap, Under Armour ear covering headband thing... and a giant black garbage bag on top of everything. I went downstairs and met up with my team at 3:30, and after a pep talk and a couple of bathroom breaks, we loaded the last bus at 4:00.

When we arrived at the staging area, it was total mayhem. It was also SNOWING. In ORLANDO. WTF? You know, when we were training in August and September, and even December, and we would complain that it was hot, our coach Roy would promise it would be cooler on race day but this was ridiculous. We wandered around for a while, some people checking bags for later pickup, hitting the port-o-potties again, chattering nervously, and then we made the move to start to head to the corrals. The walk from the staging area to the start corrals took at least 20 minutes though the woods. At the corrals, we hit the potty one last time, and then we waited and waited and waited until the first wave went off at 5:40 with fireworks and fanfare. I admit, I was surprised when each wave went off with fireworks of their own after that, and in no time at all, we were walking towards the start line for our own fireworks. I turned around to wish Kim and Leslie good luck and hugged them both and told them I loved them. That was the third time I cried during the weekend. And then, before I knew it, we were off.

I dropped the garbage bag as soon as we started to go, and not more than 500 yards in, I went to the side of the course to remove my sweatpants. At some point, I ran by a guy wearing a McNabb jersey and we E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!-ed each other. Leslie came up behind me, tapped me on the shoulder, said "Hey Mary," and was gone. I never saw her or Kim again that day, but I did talk to both of them after we all finished. I saw a guy in a Team in Training jersey that said "Survivor" on the back and I bumped him and said "You rock" as I went by. And then I ran, and ran, and ran. Watching my Garmin, I knew my pace was good, and that I was on target for my goal, and maybe even a little fast. Despite the cold and the wet, everything felt really good. Miles 1, 2, 3 and 4 went by without incident. Somewhere in there, I tossed my sweatshirt, which I regretted on and off the rest of the race. Miles 5, 6 and 7 take you into, through and out of the Magic Kingdom. I took off my Dri-Fit here so that my Team in Training tank was clearly visible. As we came up into the backstage area at Magic Kingdom, I saw the spires of Cinderella's Castle and I just started to cry. (Yup, you got it. This was the fourth time I cried.) Jennifer loved Disney Land so much. I swear, she could go there again and again. And it didn't hit me until that moment, how much this race was about her. For the record, it's hard to run and cry, and yet somehow I did it... all the way up Main Street. People kept asking if I was okay, or if I was hurt, and I just kind of nodded, and then a Team in Training coach (Thank you, whoever you are) jumped the rope and ran with me for a while. He asked if I was okay, and I kind of mumbled "I just miss her so much" and he seemed to get it, and put his hand on my back, and by the time he peeled off and I headed into Tomorrowland, I was okay. Took a much needed bathroom stop in Tomorrowland, and then off through Cinderella's Castle where there were royal trumpeters heralding our progress. I may have teared up again in the Castle, but I don't think that counts. Things got boring for miles 8, 9, 10, and 11. There were high school bands and cheerleaders. Quirky signs from Sharpie. Captain Jack Sparrow. An accordion player - a guy running near me, upon hearing the accordion asked "Anybody want to polka?" I said I would, but just once, and we linked arms and spun around and then off we went. I ran with my coach, from about mile 10 to mile 11. I had some cramping in my legs from mile 11 to mile 12.

And then finally, it was the last mile. I saw a shirtless guy and decided he was crazy. I noticed how red the legs of people running in shorts were. I started to feel really cold. And then, before I knew it, I was crossing the finish line. Chip time 3:04:09. Garmin time 3:01:01. More or less right on target. I was thrilled. Shockingly, I didn't cry. Back there in the Magic Kingdom, THAT was the last time I cried all weekend.

By the time I found my family, I was starting to shiver. I stayed cold for more than 24 hours. Jenny kept telling me "I love you, Mommy" and later, when I asked her why, she said she was just really happy and proud of me.

I'm pretty happy and proud of me too. I can't wait to do it again!

Results:

12,985 out of 17,102 finishers overall

6,706 out of 9,676 female finishers

1,061 out of 1,480 female 40-44 finishers

Update 11-19-09

What Cancer Cannot Do

Author: Unknown

Cancer is so limited...

It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot eat away peace.

It cannot destroy confidence.

It cannot kill friendship.

It cannot shut out memories.

It cannot silence courage.

It cannot reduce eternal life.

It cannot quench the Spirit.

I've read that a million times. And it's right. Cancer didn't stop Jennifer from loving or being loved. It did not steal her sense of hope or faith, her peace and confidence. It never hurt our friendship, and indeed made our bond grow stronger. It illuminated her amazing courage. And it left me heavy and joyful with memories.

I'd give almost anything to have her back with me. I'd run a THOUSAND miles if it meant she'd come back.

This week, my fundraising tipped over $3,000. I am humbled and proud of you, my friends. If we can save even one family from having to learn what cancer cannot do, we've done good.

Miss you, Jennifer. Love you. Always have. Always will.

Update 10/12/09

I love running in Parkland! I know all the milestones, plus I get to drive by later and gloat about how far I ran.

Which was, for the record, EIGHT miles on Saturday.

Unbelievable.

Update 10/6/09

I have not been great at keeping up here. Between facebook and my other chat sites, I feel like I get the information out there, and sometimes forget about here.

We did seven miles strong two weeks ago, and last weekend marked the first time the marathoners and half-marathoners split up. Half-marathoners did 6 and full-marathoners did 8. I'm sure I am only doing the half, so I did 6.

But this weekend coming up is 8.

I can do this.

Right?

Update 9/21/09

I ran six miles yesterday!! Yes, you read that right. I ran SIX miles yesterday, in just about 1:15. That is further and faster than I have ever run in my life.

This weekend was Rosh Hashannah, the jewish new year. Our rabbi's sermon yesterday was about "lasts"... how some "lasts" you look forward to (like that last quarter mile!) and how some "lasts" you dread. How some "lasts" you know are "lasts" and how some catch you off guard.

It got me thinking to the last time I spoke with Jennifer. I didn't know it'd be the last... I had no idea. I expected to be with her when she died... it was something we'd both discussed and agreed on. So, I never knew that the phone call that afternoon while I was in Saks with my mother, the one I ended with "I'll call you back later" would be the last one I'd had with her. When Betsy called, maybe a week later, it was only then that I knew I'd had my last conversation with my best friend.

I still talk to her... but she doesn't answer me. At least, not often.

Update 8/29/09

Today we did 60 minutes along the beach. What a beautiful morning. All in all, I did just over 5 miles, in just over 60 minutes... for you locals, we went from Hillsboro Avenue (the Cove Shopping Center) to Palmetto Park Drive and back again. I'm kind of amazed at how much quicker I move on Saturday mornings than I do when I run on my own during the week.

Next week, we are having a form clinic which I am really looking forward to. I've never had anyone look at the way I run in a critical way, and I think this will be a big help. I went out today with new shoes AND new socks, and while I had the normal *new shoe* feeling, the socks were making me absolutely miserable.

I miss my best friend... but it's been nice to spend a little time with her every Saturday morning. I know she'll be there with me on race day, and I am so happy I can honor her this way. I constantly tell people that "love" is an action verb, and I still look for ways to make my love for Jennifer an action verb. TnT is heaven sent in that endevour. Love you, Jennifer.

Update 8/22/09

Just got back from my first training run with the team. We did 40 minutes up the beach in Deerfield. It was a beautiful run, felt really good, and it was fun to be out in our TnT running shirts. People keep cheering us on "C'mon TnT! You can do it!" Yes, we can. Yes, we can.

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

As many of you know, I lost my best friend, Jennifer Z. Carroll to Hodgkin's Disease almost 8 years ago. My involvement with Team in Training is in her memory.

I'm training to participate in the Disney Half Marathon (Orlando) in January 2010 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. Team In Training is raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking even one more life. I am training for this race in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers, and in memory of Jennifer. 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. I have no doubt that I will cross the finish line, but I need your help to really be able to make a difference. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!