Well, I thought I was done training, but Hurricane Sandy had other ideas...

I opted to not run the NYC marathon as I had planned, but I still want to honor mom and everyone who has been so generous in their support of my efforts to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. So, I'm headed to Hawaii on December 9 to run the Honolulu Marathon!

For a high-desert girl, the thought of running in the heat and humidity is a little intimidating, but I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to participate in a Team in Training event and make a difference for patients and families affected by blood cancers. I'll ramp up my training again over the next month, and if all goes well I'll soon be running along the beach!

A quick housekeeping note: If you have donated to my NYC fund, be assured that those funds will transfer right over to this event and will go directly to LLS as before. They may not show up on this fundraising page for a week or so, but all is well.

Many, many thanks to all of you have supported my efforts thus far--we're making a difference in the lives of patients and families, and I'm so grateful for your generosity.

Yep. I'm still running.

This summer of training has presented a new challenge. It's the first summer I've spent running entirely on my own. It has been tough at times to stay motivated: getting up at o'dark-thirty to pound out the miles is hard enough--getting yourself out the door when there's nobody waiting to share the road is harder. Still, it never takes all that long to shake off the woe-is-me when I focus on the reason I'm lacing up my shoes in the first place: families and patients affected by blood cancers. It's hard to hold onto the grudge against my running shoes when I think how many patients out there would love to feel well enough to be taking a morning jog, or how many families would love the quiet time in the early morning to exercise and clear their minds for the day ahead. And so, I push myself out the door and down the road, realizing, as I do, that I'm really not alone at all. I'm running with and for all of the people who will benefit from the work I and so many others are doing on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and with all of those who have already donated to my effort and have offered such kind support.

I still have money to raise and miles to run, but I'm getting much closer to my goal and to my race in New York City in November. If you haven't yet made a donation, please consider supporting my efforts to help advance the research for a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma. With your support, I hope to make a difference for patients and families diagnosed with blood cancers.

With Memorial Day weekend in the rearview mirror, summer is officially underway--and so is marathon training. I've always loved early-morning runs this time of year, taking advantage of longer days and warmer temperatures to head out the door in the still-dim light, loving the smells that fill the cool, quiet air--the sage and wet grass, cottonwood and lilac--and the quiet of the streets and trails. But sometimes even the beautiful high-desert mornings aren't enough to keep me from pushing snooze and rolling over. On those days, I need a little extra incentive, and that's when I push through the morning fog to remember that I'm running for more than my health and the joy it brings me--I'm running for mom.

When I focus on my gratitude for mom's remission and for the treatment she received, and on the many other families who have faced a blood cancer diagnosis, a few extra minutes of sleep seem pretty insignificant. Propelled by those thoughts, I generally don't linger much longer. And once on the trails, hearing again the meditative pounding of my feet, I'm happy to be running for a reason.

I'll be spending most early mornings putting in the miles this summer, and in November I'll be I’ll be running the NYC Marathon as a member of Team In Training, raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma. With your support, I hope to make a difference for patients and families diagnosed with blood cancers.

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

So the big run in NYC is still SIX MONTHS AWAY, and with the official training still a month or so off, I'm spending far too much time obsessing about potential injuries, researching running shoes, reading running blogs, and remembering the pain of the ice bath. But the great thing, this time around, is that whenever I find myself feeling a little stressed about the 26.2 in my future, I focus on the reason for the season: Mom.

This week, especially, I'm filled with gratitude, as Mom will celebrate her 70th birthday on Sunday. In honor of her birthday, she agreed to a quick interview about what it means to reach this day in light of her cancer diagnosis and the journey she has taken since. So read on for a little insight into the inspiration behind this run and into the experience of one grateful survivor. Happy Birthday, Mom!

Me: How do you feel about turning 70?

Mom: I am so incredibly grateful and happy.

Me: Did you ever wonder, when you were diagnosed, if you would make it to 70?

Mom: Yes. Definitely. The first doctor I saw was not very encouraging. But I feel so fortunate that I was directed to Dr. Kipps and for the treatment and care I received, and I feel so lucky for this time that I've had with my family--the years I've had with the boys, especially.

Me: How do you feel about raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society?

Mom: This is an incredible organization, and I have benefitted personally from the work they do. The research and support services they offer are so important.

Thanks, Mom!

Welcome to my Team In Training home page!

As most of you know, I spend my working days thinking and writing about cancer. You'd think, in my own time, I'd want a break from cancerland. But the fact is, like so many of you, I have a personal connection to the disease, and I'm not ready to give it a rest.

Mom was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2003. She underwent chemotherapy treatments and has been in remission since 2007. We are incredibly grateful for the care she received and for the years we've had as a family since her diagnosis. Life is good.

Still, for all the families like ours who are fortunate enough to describe stories of remission and good health, there are many, many others who are facing treatment and all the challenges that a blood cancer diagnosis brings. It's for all of those families, and in gratitude for mom's continued good health, that I've decided to lace up my running shoes and raise more funds for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

I’ll be running the NYC Marathon on November 4, 2012 as a member of Team In Training, raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma. With your support, I hope to make a difference for patients and families diagnosed with blood cancers.

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