At First It Was About the Running

I have to admit, at first my marathon effort was about the running. It was my newest addiction with fabulous health benefits, social networking benefits and a huge contributing factor to my new love affair with how good my legs look. Sure, I was open to the fundraising effort, but it wasn’t my driving force.
I’ve never been one to participate in charity work. I have avoided being involved when it comes to illness, suffering and need, whether it be cancer, the economy or otherwise. I’ve always felt so powerless. What can I do? What can I say? I’m just little me and those things are so big. So, I’ve avoided them. Avoided talking about them. Learning about them or getting involved in any way with them.

Something amazing has happened with my marathon training. It’s like I just woke up one day and it wasn’t about the running anymore. It was about the niece battling leukemia of an unknown girl at the bar who strong armed the patrons, to GIVE something, anything to this cause, as I was only gently requesting donations. I saw firsthand how it mattered to her. It was about a little boy that asked his mom why she could go home and he had to stay at the hospital. I know it matters to him. It was about a freshman at college who is determined to make his grades and continue on even with debilitating pain and no promise of an end in sight. I can see that this makes a difference in his life. Something broke through for me and I wept for these children, families, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers that are faced with their own mortality or potential loss of loved ones, without fairness, without explanation.

I have found myself inspired to reach out and to speak up, not for me, but for them!

Running has given me personal physical strength. It has given me emotional strength. It has challenged me to go further than I could go, faster than I thought I could and to carry on when I have wanted to quit. Running has helped given me courage to face challenges in my own life and helped me find my own power to make real and lasting changes in my personal circumstances.

That personal power has transformed into something bigger. This marathon is giving me the opportunity to place one foot in front of the other and help someone else in need. It helped me realize my own strength and commitment matter. It helped me realize, even though I cannot make it go away, I am not completely powerless to things like cancer. I realized that my footsteps can make a difference and that my voice counts. I know now that I may be small, but not insignificant. I am so very grateful that I am able to contribute even if it is only at a small level.

Sure, I am looking forward to crossing that finish line for the personal accomplishment. But it really isn’t about the running anymore. I don’t think I have the personal desire to actually complete 26.2 miles for me. I have nothing to prove and I am adverse to pain. I would have bailed on this event by now, but I won’t. I can’t. It is no longer for me. Your donation counts and if you aren’t able to contribute to this cause or even another, please take time to pray for those in need, as THAT IS powerful too.

So You Think You Can Wing It!

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Downtown Johnny's Hall of Fame

6PM-9PM

Join us for a night of fun-raising as our valiant contestants Wing it On in honor of our Team in Training teammates Zach and Nick, 2 boys both battling leukemia Local athletes, celebrities and community members are participating in a wing eating contest where the ultimate winner will be chosen by YOU!, the voting public.

Purchase an optional $5.00 wristband for drink specials with the funds going directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Mark your calendar! Invite your friends! I'm looking forward to seeing you there.

More details to follow soon!

My Children Are Hungry!

I've spent the afternoon touching base with family and friends, contacting venues for a possible upcoming event and researching ideas for a successful fundraiser for the LLS. So at 5PM, braindead and tired I realized I hadn't run today, hadn't prepared supper and didn't feel much further in my efforts than when I started. So I posted Please Help! My Children Are Hungry and the following video to facebook. I asked my network to buy a virtual piece of pizza for my children. Each slice reducing my time for fundraising, which keeps my kids fed and ULTIMATELY contributes to the children, adults and families facing Leukemia, Lymphoma or other life threatening blood cancers. What an amazing response. Two very generous donations totaling $600 arrived with in the next hour. One from my brother, who was recently laid off but refused to see the young ones hungry and the other from a new friend who has a strong personal connection to a family with a 9 year old boy currently battling leukemia. I give thanks everyday for my children's good health as I cannot bear to imagine the emotional and physical challenges patients and their loved ones endure. Everyday I pray for the healing of others and hope that the steps I take in this marathon can each be a step to support those who need it most. Thank you for your donations. It may be your dollar that finds the cure!

Back to the Gym

Gotten pretty off track with training. I'm a wimp when it comes to running in the cold and in the dark. I had a day where my knee felt like it was going to explode too, so all things combined I feel like I might as well be starting from day 1 of training.

I relented and put my gym membership back in place so I can utilize the treadmill, swimming, biking and stay on track with my core exercises, keeping all of me fit and hopefully taking some of the strain off the running muscles. Also, now I don't have any good excuse not run, because I can go inside.

When I ran on the treadmill the other day I could tell how my average pace was way down. I think I had slowed down and was getting comfortable at the easier pace since I wasn't utilizing anything to track my speed and keep me accountable and pushing a little harder.

If you haven't yet, I hope you'll consider clicking the link at the top right of my page to make a donation to LLS. Thanks!! Jen

FUN-Raising

Fundraising should be dubbed FUN-raising. My partners in crime, Nicole and Carrie, and I dressed up in cute running gear last Wednesday evening and did our own version of beggars night. We frequented several popular drinking establishments with our TNT trick or treat donation buckets and I must say people were very supportive to the cause. Our partner Robb was the designated driver keeping us safe as we had a drink or two and had a lot of fun with the idea. It's the first time I've ever worn a short skirt or knee socks and I must say all the running has done good things for my legs. I'll be looking for excuses to wear them again. lol.

Thanks everyone for your support!!