WE DID IT!

On January 8th and 9th, I successfully completed the Goofy Challenge - the Disney Half Marathon on Saturday, and the full marathon on Sunday. I had the time of my life and felt great after 39.3 miles in just over 24 hours. I ran the race side-by-side with several teammates and crossed the finish line together - it was truly a team effort. More importantly, thanks to your assistance, I personally raised nearly $3,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the 1100 other runners from TNT collectively raised nearly $4 Million to support cancer research and treatment. Thank you! You really made a difference!

I know, I know... I said no more marathons. Well, I decided that I had one more in me after all. I'm excited that next January, I'll be running the Disney Marathon as a member of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training (TNT). In fact, I'm going all-out and am running the Goofy Challenge: the Disney Half-Marathon on one day, and the full Disney Marathon the next. That's 39 miles in just over 24 hours. I've run several marathons now, but nothing quite like this. Its going to be a lot of work, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

I'm honored to be running again to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in its efforts to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood cancers from taking more lives. Over the past few years, I've been an active member and mentor for Team in Training, and I'm continuously inspired by the great work they do. Through Team in Training, I've come to meet many of their "honored patients" - children and adults stricken with leukemia and lymphoma. In addition, every year, I volunteer time to support Dancing in the Woods, a fundraiser for Albany Medical Center Hospital's Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, and have met many of their patients - often some of the youngest and most fragile children struggling with this disease. And unfortunately, over this past year, I've seen several friends and colleagues stricken with cancers. These are the people I run for.

Because this is such an important cause, I've taken on an ambitious goal, and have pledged to raise $2,400. Please join me on this marathon and consider making a tax-deductible donation to help the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in its fight against cancer. Your generous support will help fund research, advocacy, and patient-related services for all blood cancers. Donations can be made right here, or by mailing a check, made payable to "The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society", to my home address: 5 Arlene Avenue, Albany, New York 12203.

I invite you to check back here periodically to see my progress in training. With your help, both the LLS and I will reach our finish line. Thank you for your support!

Gotta run,

Rob

7/17: The training is off to a good start - I ran a 5-K race yesterday and took third place for my age group! In addition, earlier this week, I was profiled in the local paper's "runners' blog". You can see the article at http://blog.timesunion.com/running/frunner-meet-rob-rausch/2496/

8/1: I'm not officially on the training schedule yet, but am working hard to maintain a comfortable base of miles. Two weeks ago, I returned to my high school for a race and took third place in my age group once again. This past weekend, I enjoyed some long and scenic runs along the "Shining Sea" bikepath on Cape Cod.

8/11: Tonight is the official "kick-off" run for Team Disney, so I'm looking forward to meeting the new teammates for this marathon. Meanwhile, another goal this year has been to run 1000 miles. Last night, I hit mile 600, so that goal is still within reach.

8/18: In between distance runs, I'm doing some speed work as well, and it seems to be paying off. Yesterday, I ran a 5K race and set a personal record at 21:45 - taking almost 30 seconds off my prior best. Hopefully, this will translate into a faster time in the marathon.

8/31: My long run this weekend put me up over 100 miles for the month. Every month for the next four months, I'll be logging that much each month. Running shoes really only last for 300-500 miles, so before long, I'll have to break in the new pair that will take me across the finish line.

9/11: Two runs today - a 6-mile run with the group, and then a 5-K race. Along the way, I passed 700 miles for the year! Thanks to everyone who has donated and pushed me up over the $1,000 mark. I'm one-third of the way to the goal!

9/26: Thank you to everyone who helped take me to 75% of my fundraising goal! Since the last update, I've hit 750 miles for the year, and I've also had a few more races, including the ridiculous Warrior Dash - on obstacle course involving walls, tunnels, fire, and mud. Everything else upcoming is more serious. Next up - the Hudson Mohawk Half Marathon in two weeks.

10/4: Thank you! We hit 100% of the fundraising goal and have now surpassed that! I'm honored to have such compassionate and generous friends and family. You're all helping the LLS closer to its finish line of finding a cure!

10/11: I entered the Hudson Mohawk Half Marathon determined to shave one minute off my prior best time, but got moving along, and ended up taking off four minutes, for a new personal record of 1:39:46, at a blistering pace of 7:36 per mile. I definitely can't maintain that pace for a full marathon, but it does tell me that the training is paying off. Less than 100 days until the marathon!

11/7: 2 months until the Goofy Challenge! Training is really picking up, and now I'll have at least a 10-miler every weekend until I taper. Meanwhile, I'm at 112% of my fundraising goal, and still going strong!

11/28: As temperatures drop, the mileage is climbing. Last week was the 16-miler; in the next few weeks, I have the 18 and the 20. I'm beginning to do back-to-back long runs to simulate Goofy. Meanwhile, I'm closing in on my other goal of 1,000 miles for the year, and should hit that in about two weeks!

12/11: Earlier today, on a cold and blustery Saturday morning, I hit my 1000 mile mark for the year, as I wrapped up a group run with friends. I couldn't have planned it better. Next week is the 20-miler, and then I begin to taper for Disney!

12/18: The 20-mile training run is done, and I felt better after this than after any 20 I've done before. Hopefully, I can bottle that up and bring it to Disney with me. Now that the really long run is done, I get to taper!

1/1/11: I started off the year right, with a first run of the year, and the last long training run for Disney. I'm officially trained and ready for the race. Thank you to all of you who have supported and encouraged me. You'll all be in my thoughts on race day!