Welcome to my Team in Training home page!

My desire to run a marathon began during my last trimester of pregnancy with Katelyn in the summer of 2008. My OB-GYN was suggesting (not so subtlety) that I should work-out 4 or 5 times a week. He told me that labor is “like a marathon” and I need to “train for it”. I had abruptly stopped working out as soon as all-day sickness began in my first trimester and hadn’t set foot in the gym since then. I preferred sitting on the couch and giving into my pregnancy cravings over working up a sweat. But, being the good little patient I was, I dragged my big belly to the gym and worked out 4 or 5 times a week on the elliptical. My doctor was probably relieved that I was no longer gaining 5 pounds each week. :)

While ellipticalling away (is that a word?), I watched the runners in the row of treadmills in front of me. I really hadn’t had much of a desire to run since college but all of a sudden I became very envious of these fast, fit runners I was being forced to watch. Knowing that I physically could not run made the desire to run again very strong. I decided that as soon as my baby was born, I would start running.

It took 6 long months before I was able to run after Katelyn was born (post-partum recovery took me much longer than I had expected). But as soon as I felt fine, I started running 2 or 3 miles on the treadmill and slowly increased my pace each week. Jon and I ran the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure 5K that June, 2009 and had a blast running together.

Then in early July, I realized I was pregnant, again! The all-day sickness came back and I immediately stopped running. It took all the energy I had just to make it through the day taking care of a baby. Over the next 8 months, I gained 57 pounds (yes, I know, way too much :). After Nathan was born I was very excited to start running again and start losing the baby weight. It seemed so much harder the second time around and I had also gained so much more weight! Jon and I registered for the Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in June, 2011 and that gave us the incentive to train during the spring. We ran a few 5Ks and 10Ks in the months leading up to the half marathon to help us prepare for the longer race.

During my long Saturday morning runs, I would often run past a big group of people wearing white and purple. They seemed so happy and I could just sense their excitement and enthusiasm. I wondered who these people were and how I could join this fun group! I learned that these people were with Team In Training and they were all running for a much bigger cause – to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I wanted to run and fundraise with this team and have a bigger purpose for my running than just getting back into shape.

Before each practice, one of the coaches tells a story about someone who has been diagnosed with a blood cancer. I can’t help but feel incredibly humbled and blessed. I have two healthy children, an amazing husband and a very supportive family and friends. I am in a position where I can do something to help a great cause and I’m very excited to begin my fundraising.

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures. Every little bit counts and I greatly appreciate your efforts.

With gratitude,

Melanie