On Sunday, September 16, 2012, I completed my first half marathon in memory of my dad, Charlie Miller. The entire journey was so inspiring!!

My loyal training partner and sweet husband, Joe, decided the week of the race to run with me. He's been so supportive and it meant so much to me that he was by my side the entire race.

My TNT bibs

I was so honored and surprised at the Inspiration Dinner to see my sweet dad's picture during the slideshow!

Diana was the #1 fundraiser and I was the #3 fundraiser for the Philly Half Marathon and received recognition at the inspiration dinner. Go Team Gulf Coast!

Texas Gulf Coast Team in Training teammates pre-race. What an awesome group of ladies and travel companions!

If you would like to read more about the Philadelphia journey and see more fabulous TNT and Philly pictures, please go to my personal blog -

PHILADELPHIA HALF MARATHON PICTURES

Training has been an amazing personal journey. When I think about the progess that I have made during training, it amazes me. For some pictures of my training with my loyal training partner (hubby Joe), please go to our website: amandaandjoe.com.

Here is a picture of me with one of my TNT coaches for the summer, Robert. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture yet with my other coach, Jason. Both were awesome in helping me accomplish my goal to get ready for my first half marathon in Philadelphia.

Part of the journey leading up to running for Team in Training has been losing weight and getting to the point where I could physically even consider training for a half marathon - or any kind of race for that matter. On June 6, 2011, I had gastric sleeve surgery and, in the past 15 months, I have lost 132 pounds. I am so extremely proud of what I have accomplished and the possibilties that have opened up for me because of the weight loss. Below are my before and after pictures which were taking on the day of my surgery on the way to the hospital and the morning of my one-year post-surgery anniversary. And - I have lost more weight and inches since then which is super exciting!

Teams are made up of individuals. Without them, there is no team.

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

On Sunday, September 16, 2012, I am walking/jogging the Philadephia Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in honor of my dad, Charlie Miller, who died from acute myelogenous leukemia on August 29, 1988. Then to further honor my dad, on Sunday, January 13, 2013, I am walking/jogging the half marathon in the Chevron Houston Marathon.

Since my father died, it has been on my bucket list to run a marathon or half marathon in his honor but, with my weight struggles, I could not physically do it. Every year I would research the Team In Training website. Every year I would dream of fundraising in my dad's name. Every year I would watch as the deadlines to sign up came and went. Not this year! Since June 6, 2011, I have lost 128 pounds and 77 inches. This year I am training for the half marathon because I can. And I am! My dad was one of the kindest, sweetest, most loving, supportive and encouraging people I have ever met. I am truly blessed that he was my father. In November, I will turn 45 and this summer is the 24th anniversary of my dad's death at the age of 45 (24 is my favorite number and has been since I was a child). So, now is the time! I am proud of myself for losing the weight and I know my dad would be beaming with pride.

My sweet daddy lost his fight with leukemia but I have a mission: to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in a sports endurance event as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training. Like the other members of TNT, I will be raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I’m improving the quality of my life by participating and with your support, I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well.

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures.