Dearest Daniel,

Today is a sad day. I look at this point in my life and try to figure out how on Earth amazing people like you are taken so quickly and so unfairly from our presence. Cancer doesn't discriminate... I want to feel like I am doing something about it.

On your birthday, I feel a sense of responsibility... to run harder, train harder, try harder, live and love to the fullest. The last two being the most important. You lived an loved more than most. Your smile, humor, and laughter is truly missed by so many.

I hope you look down to see how many of your friends and family are pushing to change the world. Joing marrow registries and wearing your name on our bibs as we run for hope and run for a cure. I hope you are proud of us.

Thank you for watching over us. We miss you.

Track last week was dedicated to TNT summer marathoner Bob Hargrove. Just 2 weeks ago at track, Partner's Mortgage group came out to tell us that Bob had been diagnosed with brain cancer, that he had a tumor the size of a lemon in his brain, and he was fighting it. He had already said he was coming back for another season and he wanted his colleagues by his side. Last week, Bob lost his fight. His colleagues came to track with stories and appreciation for all the support and love the TNT family had given.

We might be training and raising money for a cure for blood cancers... but what a lot people don't know, is that drugs they are developing for blood cancer can also aid other cancers. 5 drugs that have been developed for blood cancer have also been used to treat organ cancers. There are advances being made and we are a part of it.

I ran my first mile with Vanessa (see picture). She is one of our honorees. She had leukemia and a tumor around her heart. Doctors wouldn't touch the tumor, too risky. She joined a clinical trial that was fully funded by the Northern California Leaukemia & Lymphoma Society. Due to that clinical trial, she had the surgery that was imperitive to save her life and she is now cancer free. She also has a paralyzed lung... but here she is, running with me and keeping me on pace, training for a half marathon and a full! Needless to say, she felt very indebted. She and her husband are very involved now with LLS, and I get to see the very product of what I am raising money for.

More info on my training... I finally got in some hills! Team Jenn (the company I work for who has also sponsored me) took the company on a retreat this weekend. We went to Santa Margherita and it was beautiful. I decided to run the hiking trails on Saturday morning. I posted a couple pictures of the views I had. I didn't get in much distance... I had the opportunity to walk with one of my coworkers after the first 2 miles, so we took turns pushing his baby up the super steep hill and walked around the property for awhile. Boy are my legs sore. I definitely need to find more hills... I know mile 6 at Nike is going to be rough if I don't get in more practice.

As for fundraising, I broke past 50%! Thank you to everyone who has donated! 1 more person to donate before I have to ante up $25 of my own! The challenges in my last post are still going until the 21st! I appreciate all of your support - whether it be via donation or emotional, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am lucky to have friends and family like you!

It's been quite the week. I finally passed the $1,000 mark for fundraising! I have a new challenge for you all... for every 6 people that donate $25 or more, I will donate an additional $25 to myself.

Also... I am on a baking spree... so $50+ donations get delivery of homemade brownies! Mailed right to your door (or hand delivered if you are close enough)!

I have been sick and wasn't able to train last week, but I am jumping back in the groove of things this week. Thank heavens...

I did try to stay active last week. I got in a couple miles during a scavenger hunt and then walked part of a 10k. It wasn't fun not being able to run when I wanted to. I even walked by a fellow Team in Training person in the streets of Santa Monica and he called out our TNT not-so-secret cheer just loud enough for me to hear.

It's crazy how my perspective has changed since I started training and spending time with TNT people. Even though I was bummed because I couldn't breathe or talk without coughing and wheezing last week, my perseverance has skyrocketed. I am doing this for a greater cause, for something bigger than myself. I am doing this in memory of Daniel, and in hopes that every dollar I raise promotes a future with less cancer, cancer that can not only be treated but beaten every time. There is a cure coming, and I want to be part of the push that gets us there.

Training is coming along. I never thought I could do something like this. When I want to stop running, I remember this is for something bigger than a race. This is something I get to accomplish while helping others and obtain an experience that so many never will. I am more and more proud each day to be part of Team in Training. Thank you so much for your support and for contributing to the fight against cancer!

Whew! Officially made it through my first week of training! This is an amazing experience. It's amazing what you can push yourself to do when you have the right motivation. I ran with Jo on Saturday, the honoree captain. She ran her last marathon with 35 names on her shirt. It gave me an array of emotions. I will have 1 name on mine. It's perspective of how prevelant blood cancer really is.

We had a really awesome mission moment last week. One of our running coaches (Nicole) told us about her uncle. He is in remission right now but still can't work. According to his employers (he used to drive big rigs), it is too much of a liability to have him drive because he still gets treatments, even if he is in remission. At the beginning of his diagnosis, she had just moved to the area. So she joined TNT to run in honor of her uncle. Since the first run she has done, he rides his stationary bike while she runs to be with her in spirit.

I'm getting to know my running team and it all motivates me more and affirms my want and need to be a part of this. Thank you for helping me raise funds for LLS. Thank you for your support!