WE DID IT!!!!!! Thanks to all of you, who have offered up not only encouraging words and inspiring stories, but also your hard earned dollars - we have reached and surpassed my initial fundraising goal for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! I am so honored to share this experience with you, and to run the miles for your loved ones.

Last night we gathered together for our "Send Off Dinner," two groups of half and full marathoners, setting out to enjoy our rewards - the Nike Marathon Weekend in San Francisco and the Marine Corps Marathon next weekend in DC. Our awesome team captain, Michelle, presented each of us with a personalized "passport," complete with a luggage tag, inspirational note and a small keepsake.

We have a small team from Florida travelling to DC, so we have been "adopted" by the National/Virtual team. Our fearless leaders, Margo and Sue, have been sending us updated information and schedules for race weekend, complete with info for navigating the city via metro, a pre-race jog through the city, and a celebratory dinner the evening of the marathon. I am oh-so-excited for this race - mostly, I must confess, for the opportunity to run in a climate that is not 98 degrees with 110% humidity.

Please stay tuned! I will have another update here and via email before race day, and, as always, a lengthy post-race re-cap :)

The folks at LLS are keeping our fundraising pages open for 30 days following the event - IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO DONATE! The more money we raise, the closer we get to a cure. Maybe you skip Starbucks one day, and you feel like being a hero - swing by my page and donate the $3. It is not too little, and I truly appreciate every single cent that comes through. It is because of your generosity that others will have the same opportunity I had been so fortunate to have - a second chance at life.

Happy, happy Tuesday!

Love

Megan

As I flipped through my calendar, something jumped to my attention: October 15th - I have the date circled in yellow on every calendar I own. Two weeks left to raise $1500 to get me to Marine Corps with Team In Training.

This past weekend, I had my next to last long run!!!! I got a late start, but not so late that I missed out on the coolness that swept over Florida. It was in the low 70s saturday morning - HEAVEN, I tell you!!!! After months of sweltering heat and humidity, the miles were more enjoyable than most days. I plugged in one of my headphones, and set out to tackle my 20 miles. Since I was a bit late, I actually cut 3 miles off and finished with 17 total miles - I didn't want the coaches to have to wait around for me, and I was starving and ready to go to breakfast. Funny - not so long ago, I'd have panicked and thought "I am not ready for the marathon. I have to finish those miles."

This time, I feel ready - mentally and physically. I may not hit my original time goal, but as is always the case with TEAM events, my own personal goals have taken a backseat to my mission - to raise the funds that will fuel the research that WILL, one day, FIND A CURE for cancer!

Please join our journey and make a dontation today. Every single dollar makes a difference in the lives of millions. Not all heroes wear capes :)

Love

Megan

17 miles - done! One more long run until the marathon taper!

Since I spend most of my time either asking for donations or telling everyone in earshot about running, I wanted to take a moment to do both - as well as tell you all about what we're doing as a TEAM to raise funds for LLS!

First - Thank you all so much for your never ending support and generosity. Because of you, I am able to spend my hours with the most awesome people I know, making a difference simply by placing one foot in front of the other. Because of you, we are ONE STEP CLOSER to finding a cure!

Second - running has actually been pretty rough for me lately. I've been struggling with some tightness in my right leg, and it makes the distances (even the shorter ones) a bit more challenging. Regardless of the uncomfortableness, I still love to get out there and run the miles. Spending a Saturday morning honoring those fighting cancer is inspiring, and a fantastic way to keep life in perspective.

Third - we have some AWESOME fundraisers going on down here on the Suncoast! Our team captain, Luis, has arranged for us to trade our time for dollars by selling concessions at the USF and Bucs football games! It is a lot of work, and who knew standing on your feet for 10 hours a day would be so taxing? I mean - we are marathoners! We had a blast selling Pirate Dogs (hot dogs loaded up with pulled pork, hot cheddar cheese and banana peppers) and beer, and last weekend we made $2,000 for LLS! I tell you this simply because I want you to know that we know that we ask a lot of our friends and family, and we are taking measures to "practice what we preach" and lead by example.

Fourth - THANK YOU, again. Your support means the world to us, and we wouldn't be out there time and time again without each and everyone of you.

Love

Megan

Saturday afternoon I saw this photo:

Yep - less than 50 days until I head to DC for what will be my SIXTH marathon! I am really, really looking forward to this event. I have heard nothing but rave reviews of the marathon, and the opportunity to support both LLS and the Marines is an honor.

In order to GET to the starting line, I need YOUR HELP! I am almost 50% to my fundraising goal of $3500. Please consider donating - every dollar makes a difference in the fight to find a cure for cancer.

This weekend, I did something that I haven't done in awhile - I offered up the mission moment before Saturday's group run, telling my friends about Brianne and my cousin Tim, both who were recently diagnosed with lymphomas. They are fighting different battles, but they are fighting, nonetheless. It is easy to go out and run a few uncomfrotable miles, or to donate a few dollars. What is not easy is sitting through chemo and radiation, or the toll cancer takes on famlies and friends and co-workers.

Saturday we ran 17 miles. The first 10 were nice - Bob and I were enjoying the cooler temperatures, and the trail was packed with runners of all kinds, all smiling and waving and shouting "have a great run" and "Go, TEAM!" The next 7 were more unpleasant, mostly to our old friend, The Sun, breaking through the clouds and shining down on us in full force. We kept going, because that's what runners do. Quitting is never an option.

Upon completing our long run, we were welcomed back by our half-marathoners, coaches and honored teammates with hoots, hollers, and loud clapping. All that was missing were the cowbells :)

Also waiting for us was Nestor, an 8 year old boy currently battling thyroid cancer. Coach Lyle signed up as a fundraising participant upon meeting Nestor - this shows you that as a TEAM, we practice what we preach. We don't just run. We run to make a difference.

It was awesome to see Nestor splashing about in the water park with his siblings. To many, he may be an 8 year old with cancer. And, to a point, that cannot be forgotten. But to me, all I saw was an 8 year old boy, running amuck and sort of driving his parents crazy with his energy. It's a beautiful thing, to see a family underging so much hardship, smiling and enjoying a beautiful day and watching their children be children. We couldn't let the kids have all the fun:

As I embark on another week of training and fundraising, I ask that you take a moment to donate, and to pass this page along to others who would like to donate as well - it never hurts to ask, as you never know what battle someone is fighting.

Thank you all so much for your encouragement, support and generosity. Stay tuned for next week's update - 18 miles of bridge work in Clearwater, FL!

Love

Megan

Summer has come to its' official close with the passing of Labor Day . . . here in Florida, that means very little. It's still really hot and humid, it still rains a lot, and everyone still wears white :)

As we bid adieu to the summer of '13, let's take a moment and give snaps to Helen & Tom Rapp, the winners of the August raffle - a $50 Visa gift card!

*************** NEW FOR SEPTEMBER ***************

SEPTEMBER Raffle - For every $5 donated, a raffle ticket will be entered in your name to win one of FIVE $25 gift cards!

SEPTEMBER BONUS - for every person donating $25 or more, a teddy bear will be purchased and given to a child battling cancer at All Children's Hospital here in St. Pete, FL.

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Last weekend I had a 16 mile run on my training plan. I made sure to prepare my nutrition, breakfast, coffee mug and gym bag on Friday night so that morning would be easy. I went to bed early and set two alarms. 4:45am arrived, and I was up in a flash, getting ready for my day. I arrived to meet my group with plenty of time to spare, and we laughed as we realized that Coach Lyle was, perhaps, the only one who had consumed an entire pot of coffee (he doesn't drink coffee). We shared fundraising opportunities and mission moments, and with a resounding "GO, TEAM," we were off. Christa and I were the only marathoners, so we stuck together, which worked out fantastically. We kept each other going when we each wanted to stop. We joked that Christa was the legs and I was the brains . . . we had about 3 miles left, and Lyle said to us "so, do we want to take bets on whether we will get wet?"

I didn't even notice the dark, stormy raincouds overhead. Ever the optimist, I said "oh, we'll be back before it rains." Yeah . . . . not so much. It stared with a few fat raindrops, and ended with an all out downpour. Christa and I were a mile short when we returned to the "end," so we opted to run around a small circular section of the trail to get our full 16 miles completed. The awesome coaches that they are, Teresa and Lyle ran that last mile with us. We were soaked. It felt wonderful! The rain had really cooled the air, and I had a glimpse of what I am hoping the weather will feel like in DC next month.

I am looking forward to Marine Corps immensely. I have some fundraisers scheduled for this month, but I still need YOUR help getting to the start line! Every single dollar makes a difference - please consider donating, and share this link with your friends, families, and co-workers (pretty please, with a cherry on top!)

Let's do this - let's stand up to cancer, let's find a cure!!!!

Next up, you ask? 18 glorious miles on Bayshore this Saturday. I'll do the running if you do the donating!

Love

Megan