My Fundraising Page

Racing to Save Lives

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!