I am building a fire, and everyday I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match. - Mia Hamm, American Soccer Player (2004 Summer Olympics)

As the Olympics are just underway in London, I am reminded of what exactly I am training for. You see these images of athletes that have truly climbed the ranks to be among the best in the world at their particular sport. But it's more than that...

One of my favorite sports commentators and radio personalities is Scott Van Pelt from ESPN. He can often be heard quoting the same line after major sports events and iconic sports imagery, "Sports are better than anything else...every...single...time". I was reminded of that line while watching the Opening Ceremonies last night with my friends. You see these countries come together and these athletes of different countries stand side-by-side next to each other. Many of these countries are at odds with each other; engaged in a long standing dispute or war; some countries are rebuilding after catastrophic and horrific events; some countries are embracing new-found freedom from oppression and struggling with all the problems that come along with getting a new nation off the ground. But one thing brings this melting pot of people together in one place at one time, regardless of their differences, and that is sport!

And that's when I started thinking of my own personal journey with Team In Training. I have been brought together with so many amazing people, with different stories and experiences, but one thing we share is sport. We are there to run our endurance event, whether it's a 1/2 marathon, full marathon, or cycling event (for our TNT cyclists). The beauty of Team In Training is this, not only are we there for sport, but we are brought together to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to fight blood cancers and try to find a cure. All these people selflessly give countless hours and so much of themselves to help people they might not even know. To help families better understand a disease a beloved family member has just been diagnosed with and how to deal with that long journey ahead. We are here to run our race, but more importantly, we are here to help each other. The beauty of it! "Sports are better than anything else, every single time".

And just as these Olympic athletes need sponsors to help get them to their games and compete in their event, I also need sponsors to help me raise these funds for LLS and ultimately get me to my event in Chicago on October 7th. Consider sponsoring me today by donating at least $25. You will help one athlete, but more importantly, all the countless people behind the scenes struggling with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma.

Thank you,

Jer

"Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up!" - Jim Valvano

One of the best parts of Team In Training is our Saturday group runs where we all get together as a Team and run our long distance run for the week together, as a group. Just before we head out on the run every Saturday morning, we share a "Mission Moment" where an honored teammate, cancer survivor, or Team In Training Alumni shares their story. I was asked to do our Mission Moment this morning, and I will share my story with you as well.

It was fate that brought me to Team In Training in January of 2011. On New Years, I made a New Year's resolution to run in my first endurance event. I had no idea when, or where, or how I was going to train for this event. As fate would have it, the very next day I received a flyer from Team In Training in the mail. This was the first time I had ever heard of Team In Training, and as I browsed through the flyer, I became a little more familiar with this wonderful organization. I soon followed up and went to an informational meeting where I heard two touching accounts of how blood cancer affected two separate families. The first person to talk that night was a father whose son was diagnosed with leukemia as a child. He shared with us the difficult journey that their family went through as their son battled cancer. The second person to talk that evening was a mother who, just after having another daughter, found out that she had a form of blood cancer. Her tearful account of her family's journey and the helped they received from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was all I needed to convince me this is what I needed to do. I immediately registered and was soon training for my first every 1/2 marathon. The training was difficult, as I experienced several leg injuries throughout the season, but it all paid off in the end! On June 5, 2011, I completed the San Diego 1/2 Marathon in 2 hours 6 minutes and 7 seconds. But more importantly, with the help of so many great people, I was able to raise $2,674.27 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and much needed research for blood cancer.

There's a certain void I felt after completing that event, and I found myself missing my teammates and our Saturday morning runs. Before I knew it, I was registering for my 2nd season with Team In Training, but this time around I was determined to hit the big milestone and run my first ever full marathon. On June 3, 2012, I completed the San Diego Marathon in 4 hours 14 minutes and 23 seconds. That season, again with the generosity and support of so many incredible people, I was able to raise $2,945.66 for LLS and their mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families (families like I met that first night before joining Team In Training).

I hadn't even returned to Albuquerque yet before I realized that I needed to keep going with Team In Training and LLS. In the lobby of our hotel in San Diego, I asked Aisha (our amazing Team In Training Campaign Manager) how I could stay with the Team and help. She brought up the possibility of becoming a pace captain for our Fall Season as they train for the 1/2 and full marathons in Denver and San Francisco. I jumped on the opportunity right away. In addition, I decided to join with the Team In Training National Flex Team and train for the Chicago Marathon on October 7, 2012.

The funny thing about my experience thus far is that I never had a personal connection to blood cancers prior to joining Team In Training. But after being a part of this Team for the past two years, I've met teammates who I now call friends. Teammates like Mink, Ted, and Michael who have all battled this disease and inspire me everytime I see them. So now it is personal. Now I raise money for them and so many other people I've met along the way. My goal for Chicago is to raise at least $2,000 for cancer research. Please help me reach this goal and donate to LLS.

Thank you all so very much, from the bottom of my heart. And please, don't give up...don't ever give up!

-Jer

"Life has no smooth road for any of us; and in the bracing atmosphere of a high aim the very roughness stimulates the climber to steadier steps, till the legend, over steep ways to the stars, fulfills itself." -W. C. Doane

I can't explain to you in one single thought why I'm back with Team In Training for my 3rd season. I can't begin to express what this organization means to me and what they've done for me (and trust me, they have done far more for me than I could ever do for them). I can't tell you where I got the courage to start this journey a little more than 2 years ago, or for that matter, what has kept me inspired to come back for the Summer Season not a week removed from the completion of the Fall Season and my first marathon.

What I can tell you is this...

I've witnessed first-hand the power of true courage, will and determination. I've witnessed a Hodgkin's survivor run his first marathon only a year removed from chemotherapy. I've experienced the support of coaches whom I had never before met, and yet they were willing to run with me in my times of greatest need. I've seen the power one small group can have on such a large scale. I've felt the true debt of gratitude repaid from a daughter so very thankful that her father is still with her. These first-hand accounts and experiences have helped to transform me into a better human being with such an appreciation for what's around me and the opportunities I've been given.

So really my choice to join Team In Training for another season wasn't so much for me, rather, it was a way for me to give something back. I've been so blessed and fortunate to be a part of this Team, and I couldn't just walk away. That's why I've decided to join with Team In Training for the 2012 Chicago Marathon. This will be my 2nd marathon in four months and I can't tell you how excited I am to do this!

We are so incredibly close to a cure for these horrible blood cancers that have affected so many! The night prior to my marathon in San Diego, I was able to attend the Inspiration Dinner for all of the Team In Training participants from across the nation. I was able to see what kind of leading-edge research and newly discovered medicines have been produced as a direct result of the money that we fundraise for. Survivor rates are going up at an incredible rate along with cases of prolonged and complete remission!!

That is why I'm asking for your help yet again! This disease is one that WE CAN BEAT!!! With your donation, we can get that much closer to this cure!! Let's finish this race! Your donation goes so far in this fight!!

Thank you all so much for your continued support and encouragement. It really means so much to me, you have no idea! Your support helps to keep me going and pushes me to run faster and fundraise more and more!

-Jer

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

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

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.