Racing to Save Lives & to honor Baily Bennett

Welcome

to my Team In Training home page! I'm so stoked you're checking out my progress!

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ONE week and ONE day til Rock n Roll Seattle! I can't even explain how anxious and excited I am all at once. I've been lacking confidence lately because my runs just haven't felt very good and I've been doubting myself or having this sense of impending doom like I'll twist an ankle or fall and smash my face on race day. BUT, yesterday was a day of renewal.

I hopped of the ferry, dropped the kiddos in Aaron's lap and ran out the door. I didn't know where I was going, just that I needed to exercise as I was groggy and achy from the travel up to Victoria. I ran through some beautiful neighborhoods on windy roads lined with trees. I ended up on a dead end street atop a cliff that looked at over the San Juans and the lower coastal part of rural Victoria. It was breathtaking and I was empowered by the greatness of it all. I didn't stop, just ran in circles to take in the view and headed back. My ipod had no battery so I was left with my thoughts as I ran and I thought of sweet Baily the whole time.

Tomorrow, June 19th, would have been Baily's 5th Birthday. I can hardly stand the thought that he's not here to celebrate it with his family. As I bounce back and forth between sadness and anger for him, his mommy & daddy, his siblings, I have to try and use those emotions for good. Staying focused on my training this last week and focusing all of that energy on the fact that I'm doing this for him, will guide me to the finish line no doubt.

This Saturday especially, let's remember to wear our Baily t-shirts and bracelets, maybe eat some PBJs and goldfish for lunch, snack on a cupcake in his honor, and lift up the Bennett family in prayer as they spend their son's birthday for the first time without him.

So many of us miss and love you sweet Baily. Happy Birthday little angel.

Thank you for all your support and for following my progress.

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Let me fill you in a little about this marathon and about my purpose for running in it.

Many of you know that last year we lost a very dear little buddy to cancer. Baily Bennett (4 yrs) was diagnosed early in 2009 with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Despite amazing efforts by his family, the wonderful staff at Mary Bridge, and all the power of prayer our community could offer, cancer just wouldn't give up and 7 mos after diagnosis, Baily's small body could no longer battle the aggressive tumor in his chest. Baily passed away Tuesday November 17, 2009.

Baily's mommy asked me to join this marathon (The Seattle Rock n' Roll) training program with her and I immediately said yes. There was no way I would dream of telling her no since she is such a dear friend and since I admire the fact that she is being so motivated to continue to fight cancer.

That's not why I'm continuing to run though. I'm running because last year when I, along with many friends, rallied behind Baily I became a part of something...

In my heart I will always be a part of Baily's Team, a part of "Baily's Angels" as the Bennetts have named it. He is the motivation behind my every step and breath as I train for this marathon. He was incredibly strong and had amazing energy and happiness despite the cancer in his body. I will never forget him or the life lessons I learned from him and I want to run to honor his memory and save sweet children like him. I want to run for a cure so cancer stops taking lives.

The Leukemia and Lymphone Society's (LLS) Team in Training program is enabling me to do just that!

If you are able, please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

Visit my website often to see my progress. Thanks for your

support!

~Janna