A Cure For Leukemia!

• I'm training to participate in the San Antonio Rock N Roll Marathon (my first!!) as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training program.
• I am completing this event in honor of my husband's uncle who is currently battling Leukemia.
• LLS's mission is to fund research to find a cure, while also providing free financial and emotional support programs to those affected by blood cancers.
• OUR VISION: In 2015, the majority of patients with blood cancer are either cured or able to manage their condition with good quality of life. In some cases, diseases may be prevented.
• With your help, we can make this goal a reality!
• DID YOU KNOW? During the past 4 years, cancer research funding has fallen by greater than 10% in real dollars, forcing reductions in research grants and critical studies and trials. If LLS is to meet the goal for 2015, we need your support more than ever!
• Please check back often for pictures and updates of my training.
• Thank you for your support!

UPDATES:

• GREAT news - Wayne's uncle (Jerry) has come out of his coma, is talking, and will be able to undergo chemo treatments!
• Unfortunately, Jerry has had a small setback. Apparently a previous chemo treatment damaged his organs, including his heart, and they are putting the chemo treatments on hold for now. Not sure what next steps are. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
• Jerry has been able to start chemo treatments again...please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks.

TRAINING UPDATES:

• Well, I'm half way through my first training week, and so far I've had to endure nothing more painful than a coach whose "inspiring" speech actually bored me to tears (only that first time, coach!!)...but the upside is I have a few teammates who share my sense of humor, so we made it through. I'll try to get a picture of me actually running...but I'm so fast it's going to be difficult to do (HA!). Thanks to all who are supporting me in so many ways.
• Today's (5/31) 5 mile training run exhausted me...I'm hoping it was just an off day. I just kept reminding myself to be grateful to be able to run, even if I was trailing the pack. Dead last. :-)
• After 2 weekends of 6 mile runs I'm no longer at the back of the pack, I'm in the middle! And no, the fact that many of "the pack" are actually walkers doesn't bother me a bit! :-) (The picture is me after the 6 mile run - and I'm still smiling! It's amazing they managed to get a picture of me, considering how fast I run....lol)
• As of 6/28 we are up to 8 mile runs, and 7/5 will be a 10 miler! Very hard to believe that this time last year I couldn't run one mile without stopping.
• Today I ran my first 10-miler. If you want to check it out, here's the link to my Nike+ page that shows the run. The big dip in the middle is where I forgot to pause the workout while stopping at a water station. :-) Dawn's 10-Miler
• This weekend (7/20) is our 25K, El Scorcho. I'm actually looking forward to it, so that's a good indicator of how badly the heat is affecting my judgment.
• El Scorcho lived up to its name...but I got the finisher's medal. That's all that counts.
• We're a little over half way through the training season. Here is where the real test of my determination begins. It's getting hard...but I'm too stubborn to quit. :-)
• THANKS to all of you who helped me SURPASS my goal!! I am so grateful and blessed!
• I'm working through a minor back injury right now, but hope to get back on track with my training soon!
• Hurricane Ike disrupted my training for two weeks, so I'm a little worried that I won't be properly trained for the marathon. We have an 18 mile run this Saturday (9/27) that ought to give me a better idea of where I'm at. Cross your fingers. :)
• Well, I finished 18 miles, but injured my hip in the process. It's ok, though. I'm resting it and the coaches say I'll still be ready for the big day!
• Unfortunately, the heel pain I've been having since the 18-miler is Plantar Fasciitis. I've decided I need to drop from the full marathon to the half marathon. I've been told I can't run again until it heals so I'm just not going to be ready for the full marathon. I'd rather wait longer to do a marathon than risk permanent injury. The good thing is the YMCA has a heated pool and weight belts, so I can continue running (in water) and stay fit without aggravating the injury.
• Well, this Sunday is the big day! I'm feeling well and I'm ready for the challenge of running a half-marathon. Thank you to everyone who made this such a blessing to me.
• I DID IT!! I finished the half-marathon in 3:14:34! :-)