San Diego Rock 'N' Roll Marathon...

Nearly 6 hours in the sun.

26.2 miles run.

$2,500 raised.

All in the name of cancer.

The San Diego Rock 'N' Roll Marathon was one of the coolest things I've ever done. And although I had difficulty walking (and sitting on the toilet) for a few days afterward, it was absolutely worth all the pain. I may not have been fast... and I may or may not have thrown up in the bushes beforehand due to complete nervousness... but I finished a marathon. A marathon! And I'm counting down the months until I get to run my next event a The Happiest Place on Earth!

At the starting line with Kelly. Not even 6 a.m. and we are among the 30,000+ ready to run our first big race!

Some of my fellow TNTers. Let's get this party started!

Almost to the starting line... only 45 minutes after the Elites have taken off! (and yes... I DID put on make-up at 3 am. I just feel like I run better when my face feels pretty. Plus I'm hoping the makeup distracts people from the fact that I reeked like an old homeless man on a hot July day by the end of the race...).

I think we giggled and laughed throughout the entire first mile... We kept screaming, "We are running a marathon! We are running a stinking marathon!!!"

Sadly, this wasn't even the weirdest thing we saw all day...

Four miles down and I'm still alive... no pelvic pain from my fracture at this point... Praise God!

Yes, they ran the whole way in Batman underwear. Luckily I was able to finish ahead of them, the guy in the full walking boot, and the blind woman. Oh, and the couple that held hands the entire time. The ENTIRE time.

My hubby met me at the 13.1 mark with Snickers, a bottle of water, and a stick of Juicy Fruit. I was overjoyed to see him. He was my rock throughout the entire event, and kept me going with his encouraging text messages. I couldn't not have finished without him!

So... the picture stop here. After the 16 mile point I kind of lost it. It is true. You DO hit a wall. There was a point in which I looked around and wondered who the stinky person was that was following me so closely. I sped up... I slowed down... and still they followed. It was only a mile or two later that I realized the stinky smell was me. Yikes.

The finish line. I made it! I made it! I finished 26.2 miles!

At the after-party. More like the, "we are all in severe pain so spoon feed us mashed-potatoes and then let us pass out at the table by 7 pm party..."

Stay tuned for a ridiculously awesome drawing! I have some sweet prizes for those of you who donated to my Team in Training fundraising site!

A big thanks... and some goodies as well!

I am so overwhelmed by the outpouring of support I've already received towards my Team in Training fundraising. As of noon today, I am 17% of the way towards meeting my goal of raising $2,500 for LLS! I talked to my running coach at lunch today and she was thrilled when I told her how much support has come in. It is such an encouragement to have family and friends (and friends of family and friends!) willing to donate money to little 'ol me as I train and run and continue on this incredible journey.

There is nothing I can do or say to thank all of you for your kind and supportive words or your monetary donations. But I thought it would be fun to spice this fundraising thing up a bit by holding a little raffle for those of you who donate on various levels!

I'm pleased to announce that I will be supporting some "regular" people with my prizes. All three prizes I'm giving are made by amazing women whose blogs I enjoy reading on a regular basis. Each item I am giving away I would LOVE to win myself (and am therefore VERY jealous of whoever wins them!).

Each time you donate at a certain level, your name will be put into a bowl and I'll announce my winners on April 2nd (so get all your donations in by April 1st!).

For anyone donating $26.20 (a buck a mile!): Your name will go into a hat to win a fabulous custom print by one Molly June from her Etsy shop, Tank and Tink.

Photo courtsey of Tank and Tink

For anyone donating $100: You will be eligible for prize #1, and your name will also go into a hat to win darling wallet made by one miss Kerri at Your Wishcake.

For anyone donating $250 or more: You will be eligible for prizes #1 and #2, and your name will also go into a hat to win the amazingly awesome cookbook written by Ree Drummond of The Pioneer Woman.

Photo courtesy of The Pioneer Woman

I know that these prizes in no way match the awesomeness of each of you donating to this cause... but they do add a little fun to the whole fundraising journey. I'd like to think that the true prize is the knowledge that each of you can take away with you, knowing that you have done so much towards funding research that will one day save the lives of so many battling leukemia, lymphoma, and meyloma.

(Oh, and because I know these gifts are oh-so-girly, don't worry gents. You may swap any prize you recieve for an iTunes gift card. Or just give your prize to some lucky lady. She'll adore you forever, I promise you!). :)

Every day inspirations...

There are so many people that inspire me on this journey to run a marathon... I have family and friends cheering me on, the memory of loved ones gone after losing their battles with cancers, and the faces of so many who are struggling with cancer today.

But one of the most amazing people I've met on this journey is Mickie Luvisi.

Mickie and team mate Paula on the way to the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in 2009

Mickie's story breaks my heart every time I hear it. At the same time, it encourages me unlike any other I've ever heard.

Mickie's daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia in October of 2007. Devastated but knowing that she had to accept the news, she asked herself, "How can I support her?" At the age of 69, Mickie joined Team in Training. A bit apprehensive but with her daughter on her mind, Mickie competed in her first half-marathon in 2008. She completed her second half-marathon the next year at the age of 70.

Mickie and Paula running the course

Mickie's daughter is still fighting this terrible disease. She has been on medication now for a couple of years-- first on Gleevec (which had horrible side effects) and now on Tasigna which had similarly bad effects. Her doctor recently put her on disability for 6 weeks to (hopefully) give her body time to adjust. Mickie's daughter is a school teacher with two children, ages 16 and 13. She fights every day while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy for her family and her students.

Bakersfield's oldest and youngest TNT participants ever: Mickie (71) and Melissa (17)

Mickie has seen first hand how the money she has raised for TNT has directly helped her daughter. Every drug and trial she has been on has been discovered through funding provided by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The road to finding a successful drug is expensive-- thus the reason Mickie continues to run. This year, at the age of 71, she will compete in her first full marathon.

Mickie receiving her award for winning her age category in the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon in 2009. She is pictured with our manager, Jane, running coach, Michelle, and local honoree Bryna.

Every ache in my bones, every day I just don't feel motivated to run, every time I feel frustrated at how slow and turtle-like I'm running... I think of Mickie. Mickie, who at the age of 69 started her running career. And that is just one person who daily inspires me on this journey.

Every bit helps...

Public Service Announcement: Please read this yesterday's post first... then come back up here and take a gander. Thanks!

Thank you for each and every one of you who read this Monday's post about my participation with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training... thank you for those who have already lifted me up in thought and prayer... thank you even more for those who have already given money towards this amazing cause. Every single dollar that you give is precious, and I appreciate anything and everything you are able to do to support me on this journey.

For those of you who have visited my TNT fundraising site may have seen that the first donation of $50 was made by me. That is how much I believe in this program. Not only did I want to be the first to donate to my current fundraising campaign, I plan on donating more as soon as I am able.

I'll be honest... I've worried a lot about asking people for money. I didn't want my blog to turn into a place where people feel threatened or annoyed, a place where I stand on a soapbox and rant and rave and then beg for a handout. But I know this cause is important... and I know there are so many of you who have been affected by cancer over the years. Some of you have shared in just the past few months how cancer has tragically affected your family. I hope you know that each and every one of you are in my thoughts as I train and fundraise for this event. And as I continue updating my blog with my progress on fundraising and training, I'll be asking each of you to share with me about those close to you who have recovered, who are currently fighting, or who have past away from cancer.

I know that $2,500 seems like so much money. I know how hard times are right now for so many families. I know that even a couple of dollars is hard to spare for some. And that's okay! There have been many times when Popeye and myself haven't been able to give like we've wanted. More than anything, I'd just love your prayer and support and words of encouragement!

When I thought about the total money I had to raise, it was daunting. But then I began to break it down....

If 100 of you each gave $26.20 (a buck a mile!), I'd more than reach my goal.

If 50 of you each gave $50, I'd reach my goal.

If just 25 of you gave $100, I'd reach my goal.

Amazing. Simply amazing what the power of a few people can do in helping the lives of others.

I know some of you may be interested in knowing where this fundraising money goes exactly. Sometimes it provides basic needs such as gas money for patients and their families to travel to appointments (there is no local place for children especially to receive treatments, so they travel several hours north or south... several times a week). It may go toward food money, costs of experimental treatments, or counseling for children suffering and surviving cancer. There is so much that goes into supporting a child or family struggling with cancer. Fundraising money helps them tremendously. Dollar for dollar, here are a few ways the money could be used:

$25 - Provides patients and their families with free booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and helps them make informed decisions about their treatment

$50 - Makes possible a Family Support Group with a trained professional where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members

$100 - Mailers to family and patients per month and helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.

$500 - Financial aid per family for one fiscal year

$1,000 - Makes possible on-on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team.

$1,500 - An educational program with food, speakers, materials, etc.

$50,000 - Research fellowships- per year for 3 years

$60,000 - Clinical fellowships - per year for 3 years

$110,000 - Scholar Awards and fellowships - per year for 5 years

I have heard countless stories from parents who have been on their knees praying for help... for a way to take their child for their treatments or to make their stays in the hospital more comfortable. Time and time again, the money TNT has raised is used by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to give these families a helping hand.

I will be continuing to blog the rest of the week about the people who have inspired me to train for this marathon and raise money through Team in Training. Some are still living... others have passed on. But they live on in my heart and give me the strength to continue the fight they tragically lost. I also hope to hear the stories that many of you have to share, about your loved ones who have struggled with cancer in the past and may be still struggling today.

On a brighter note, I also have a very special post coming up tomorrow... complete with details on how you can win some INCREDIBLE prizes just for donating to my cause. So please make sure to continue checking in with me this week, as well checking in for updates on my training and fundraising site! For your convenience, I've made a cute little button that can be clicked to easily access my fundraising site as well. :)

And lastly, a super duper HUGE THANK YOU to my amazing cousin Christine who made the 1st donation to my cause. Thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I about peed my pants when I got the email notifying me of your donation today (and that would have been rather embarassing, seeing as I was in a classroom full of 4th graders!).

26.2 miles... and kicking cancer's butt every step of the way!

A few weeks ago I posted about my new obsession with running, and shared with you how much it has changed my life in just a short amount of time. I'm happier, I'm healthier, and more importantly, I just plain enjoy doing it. My initial goal in beginning to run was to be able to run a half-marathon at some point this year. But the more I ran, the more I realized just how much I truly loved getting out on the pavement and working out. I looked forward more and more to my runs, and I was thrilled with the progress I was making on my weekly mileage. As the days and weeks went by and I became more physically, mentally, and emotionally healthier, I began to mull over the idea of using my love of running for something other than just personal growth and gain. With every stride, every block, every mile I conquered, I contemplated how I could use my new found hobby to help others around me. And then it hit me...

I can run to combat cancer.

There are so many people in my life... in my friends' and families' lives... that have battled some form or another of this deadly disease. Some have come out victorious, while others have lost their fights. Some of been in remission for 5, 10, even 20 years. Others lived for only a short time after being diagnosed, and spent those sweet last moments surrounded by loving family and friends. And through every experience, time and time again, each has longed, begged, and prayed for a solution. For a hope. For a cure. And while I may not be able to provide that cure for them, I can do my part to provide them a bit of hope for their futures.

But I won’t be doing this alone! I’ve joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training (TNT). TNT provides an endurance training program and a fundraising program that readies participants to run a marathon. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, you heard me right, a marathon. On Sunday, June 6^th, I will be running 26.2 miles in the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. And I will be doing it all for the benefit of local men, women, and children battling leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma cancers.

The statistics of leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma cancers are staggering. Currently, more than 900,000 Americans are hoping each and every day for cures for these cancers. Every 5 minutes, a new patient is diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma. Every 10 minutes, one will lose the fight. Tragically, leukemia causes more deaths among children and young adults under twenty than any other type of cancer. But there is hope! To date, LLS has invested more than $680 million dollars in medical research. This funding has contributed to rising cure rates and many of the new treatments that are giving hope to families everywhere.

These treatments give hope to people like Aimee, Ian, and Bryna. Aimee was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2004 at the age of 32. She continues her fight today, searching and hoping for new treatments, drugs, and trials that will help her to battle this “smoldering disease.” So far, her two rounds of radiation, one bone marrow transplant, and several rounds of trial drugs have not cured her of her disease. Her daily prayer is that God will give her strength and help her doctors to find a cure that will make it possible for be healthy enough to remain at home with her husband and young son, Michael. Ian was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2007 at the age of three. At the age of five, he continues chemotherapy but is now in remission. Bryna, a TNT honoree for over five years, was diagnosed with a rare form Leukemia at the age of two. Six years, 100’s of needle pricks, 25 spinal taps, 15 bone marrow aspirates, and one successful bone marrow transplant later, Bryna is happy and healthy and enjoying life as a normal 3^rd grader.

Aimee and Bryna

Ian and Bryna

Bryna and me at our first official Team in Training meeting

As a member of Team in Training, I have made a commitment not only to train to run in the marathon, but also to raise $2,500 for LLS. For every dollar raised, at least 75% will directly fund research, education, and patient support programs. It will go to patients like Aimee, Ian, and Bryna who are still fighting and still surviving today due to the donations of people like you and me. Even though I will be the one running every step of those 26.2 miles, I cannot do it alone. It will only be possible with the help and support of family and friends.

I am hoping to reach my fundraising goal by April 1st. Every donation is appreciated (and tax deductible!). I'd ask that each of you, weather you are able to donate or not, stop by my fundraising website. Click on the button below to be directly linked to my TNT fundraising site. On it I'll post regular updates to my status, as well as pictures of practices and TNT events!

I know not all of you will be able to donate at this time. But I ask that even if you are unable to give financially at this time, that you would be generous in your support, well-wishes, and prayers for me as I venture on this exciting and challenging journey. Your encouraging words will keep me motivated through the aches and pains and miles of pavement I'll cover from now until the race in June. Even though you may not be with me on race day, you'll be with me in spirit as I cross that finish line.

Words cannot express how emotional being a member of Team in Training has been for me. I've cried both tears of joy and sorrow as I've met our honorees, heard their stories and those of my teammates, and shared with others about my love of running and this organization. I am thrilled to share my journey with you here on my blog, and thank you in advance for partnering with me along this wild ride!

*Stay tuned for many more updates, including information on prizes for donations and inspirational stories from our team!