Saving Lives One Mile at a Time

Welcome everyone to my Team In Training home page.

Approximately 15 months ago, on December 26, 2008 I was diagnosed with a primary testicular lymphoma, which is a rare form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. My treatment regimen lasted from January to July of this year and consisted of 6 rounds of IV chemotherapy, 4 rounds of spinal tap chemotherapy and 24 rounds of radiation therapy. It was and continues to be a long tough road, but I am now in remission and my last follow-up scans and blood work, just weeks ago, came back clean and clear.

There have been many medical breakthroughs when it comes to treating blood cancers and without the research that the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is able to support through fundraising efforts like Team In Training, I would not be here today. Because of the dedication of Team In Training employees, volunteers and participants, I was able to receive up-to-date state of the art treatment needed to battle lymphoma, I was able to receive financial assistance for prescription medications needed during my chemotherapy treatments, and I was provided with mental, emotional, and physical support by the entire Team In Training family.

Cancer treatments will probably be the most difficult thing I will ever have to endure in life. I have had chemicals pumped through my body, I have spent time in the hospital, lived out of my bed, I have had needles inserted into my lower back and chemicals injected into my spinal fluid, I have had blood drawn and doctor visits, paralyzing headaches, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. But I still wake up every day. I wake up with a beautiful life ahead of me and I have many to thank for that, my wife, my family, my friends and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Team In Training.

This summer season I was fortunate enough to train with Team In Training as a patient honoree. I was able to complete the Rock N Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon just two months after my last radiation treatment with my wife and sister by my side. This spring season it's time to give back to others just like me and my family. I have decided to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society while training for my first ever marathon, the Shamrock Full Marathon in Virginia Beach on March 21, 2010.

All of us who volunteer and participate with Team In Training are raising funds to help stop Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin's Disease and Myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing the Shamrock Marathon in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers along with their families and friends. I am also honoring all those who have lost their lives to blood cancer. These people are the real heroes on our team. These people are the true definition of courage and endurance. We need your support to find a cure!

Please make a donation to help support my goal to live the mission of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

I hope you will visit my web site often and please tell all your family and friends. Our chances of finding a cure increase with the more people who know about this website and the mission of Team In Training and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Make sure to check back frequently to keep track of my progress.

Thank you for all of your support!

-Josh

Cancer Survivor since 12/26/2008

Week of 1/3/2010

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with family and friends! I am so very thankful for all of my family and friends and the support and love they have given Shannon and I throughout the past year. It has only made us stronger in every way imaginable. That support carries me through every day and through every training run that I make. This week is the beginning of uncharted territory for me. I have never run more than 13.1 miles and this Sunday I will be going for 14! I feel better than ever and most days feel like I could go on forever.

Steve Prefontaine once said -- "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."

One thing this past year has taught me is to do exactly that, give your best in all aspects of your life. Prior to cancer I was just existing, life was passing me by and I wasn't making any effort to LIVE, I was sacrificing the gift I was given. No more! I will be giving my best and then some every single day. So I encourage you to follow my lead. Do not sacrifice the gift you have been given. Give your best and live!

1/13/2010

The 14 miles on Sunday went great! Shannon was by my side on her bike and ended up riding the second half of the total distance with a flat tire! She got her workout too. She was my assist vehicle with water and snacks along the way. It was quite cold too but I was still out there in my shorts! If you know me that's not anything new. I'm not going for a specific time but I did notice that I ran 14 miles 24 minutes faster than my half marathon that I completed this summer! I have come a long way since then and my training has really improved my running and I'm feeling great. This week I should be putting in about 30 miles with a long run of 16 miles this Sunday. I will keep you posted on how it goes....there's rumor of a warm up in the Virginia Beach area so who knows I just might be in short sleeves along with my shorts this weekend!

1/19/2010

Last week and this weekend's training didn't quite go as planned. And that's okay. Back spasms were the culprit during the week so I didn't get my mileage in. Bad weather over the weekend kept me indoors so my long run didn't get complete. No worries though...just a little change to the training schedule and I'm back on track. I completed 4 miles today. Tomorrow will be 5, Thursday 7, Friday rest, Saturday 4 and Sunday 16. That's right 16!

Thank you to everyone that has donated thus far. I just passed the $3,000 mark last night!!!! Only $1,950 left to reach my goal of $5,000. Please pass along my story and website to all that you know. Any donation will help, small or large, they all add up and it all makes a difference. Thank you everyone for your support!!

1/26/2010

I was able to get my long run in this Sunday. I was on the schedule for 16 miles but ended up doing 18! What happened was I made it halfway to 8 miles and was very thirsty, I knew there was a water fountain and bathroom only 1 mile away so I went for it. The only choice I had was to turn around after 9 miles and do it all over again. I had a little IT band issue and a little cramping but other than that everything went great! I've never ran more than 14 miles before this weekend. I can't believe I did it. My goal is within reach....I'm still only $1,950 away from reaching my fundraising goal! Thank you everyone!

2/8/2010

Only six weeks until the big day. Things are going well. Some bumps and bruises but other than that everything is on schedule. The weather never seems to cooperate for my long runs. It's either raining, sleeting, or snowing on Saturday and Sunday.....it's only stopped me once and that was an 8 inch snowfall!! This should be a big week. It's the first time I'll have a 10 miler during the week. Wish me luck!! Thanks to all for your support!!!! Check back at the end of the week for my update on this week's mileage!!

2/21/2010

Well, it's been awhile since I've updated. This week was a very good week. I had a follow up with my oncologist. All my scans came back clean and clear -- Remission is still accomplised! The doctor is so confident I'm doing well that he has changed my scans from every three months to every six months. That news along with some good training runs on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday made for a very good week. Today (Sunday) was the best run of the week. I had 10 miles (this week my schedule allowed me to back off a little on the mileage which is good for my IT band and plantar fascia) to get in today. I felt absolutely awesome! I managed to keep a 9:46 pace for the 10 miles, which for me is insane. I never in a million years would have thought I could run even a couple miles and now I'm doing 10 with no problem. Thank you so much to everyone that continues to support me and the cause. If you know anyone who would consider or like to donate please let them know about my webpage. I'm 67% to my goal which is incredible! Thank you to all who have donated!

3/2/2010

Happy March to everyone! What a great way to start a new month...I completed my first ever 20 mile run this past Sunday! It was a beautiful sunny day and it couldn't have gone better. In fact I wish that was the day I had to go 26.2 because I would have done it with no problem. I felt great the entire way. I was beginning to let a little (okay a lot) of doubt enter my head for the past couple of weeks. I wasn't so sure that I was cut out to do a marathon. I wasn't completely sure that my body could hold up to the wear and tear. But this past weekend was a turning point for all of that. Mentally and physically I am 100% positive that I can finish this marathon. No more doubt physically, no more doubt mentally. I WILL FINISH STRONG!

3/18/2010

I wanted to take this opportunity today to send out a special thank you to everyone that has supported me through my journey to my first marathon and especially through my journey of the past 15 months since I was diagnosed with lymphoma. Today I met my own personal goal of raising more than $5,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and it's all because of the generous outpouring of support from family and friends around the globe. I am blessed and humbled by the generosity of every single one of you and could not be more proud.

I also wanted to share a news piece about my story that was done yesterday by WAVY TV 10 news. It aired yesterday during the 5pm news and is now posted on their website. Check out the story and my progress by clicking on the link below to watch the video and read the story. I am so thankful that I'm able to share my story with so many people with the ultimate goal of giving back and supporting others who have and who are going through what I have.

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/health_news/man-with-cancer-runs-for-the-cure

Every single day I wake up I am thankful for each and every one of you. It's because of people like you that I have life today. I can never thank you enough...but I sure will try every chance I get.

The marathon is only 3 days away! I'm more ready to run than I ever have been.

As Stephanie said in the news piece - For weeks I couldn't move and now I can't stop! And I have you all to thank!!

THANK YOU!

Josh

3/20/2010

THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me throughout the last 15 months. Tomorrow is finally race day. I will have every single one of you in my thoughts. You are amazing people and your selfless devotion to the mission of LLS is inspiring! Cancer couldn't stop me and neither can a marathon! Look out 26.2 here I come!!

3/21/2010

Well, I DID IT! I finished the Shamrock Marathon yesterday in 5 hours and 15 minutes! This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire life and to think it was all set in motion by Cancer. My family and friends have been so important to me and essential during my fight and during my training. I cannot thank you enough for sticking by me and supporting me like you have. Thank you to everyone that donated to the cause. I have a few more donations to submit and after that the grand total of donations will be over $6,500!!! That money will without a doubt help find a cure for cancer someday, I believe it with all my heart. Crossing that finish line was one of the greatest feelings in my life....and an even better feeling is I know this finish line is just the beginning to something bigger and I can't wait!!!

Thank you to EVERYONE!! I Love You ALL!