Mexican Fiesta Charity Event 19 Aug 10

Thank you to everyone who came out and made this a successful event! Together we raised $160 for LLS!

Come on out to Abuelo's at Greenbrier Mall on 19 Aug 10 between 11 am and 10 pm and take part in a worthwhile cause! Just present this flyer at time of purchase and 20% of your bill will go towards my fundraising efforts in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. There will also be raffle and Bondiband/Tupperware sale. Hope to see you there!!

Team Training

22 May 2010 - Right Around The Corner

I can hardly believe that San Diego is almost here! I have found that April and I run amazing together and her determination motivates me. We scaled it down to 12 miles. It's funny how 12 miles has now become an easy day. I never thought I would be here and I cannot wait for June 6th!!

15 May 2010 - Just When I Thought I Couldn't Do It

My greatest challenge to date - the dreaded 20. I don't think anything describes it better than the word OUCH!!!

8 May 2010 - I Did It!

18 miles and a Tri clinic at Final Kick afterwards. Lesson of the day - don't burn yourself out in the beginning of a long run. Slow and steady finishes the race with ease.

1 May 2010 - Coaches Know Best!

So I'm one of those people who either has nothing to do or way too much to do. I like to overwhelm myself and get in way over my head because for some reason I think that I work best that way. Doesn't make much sense, but that's who I am. So when I started out on my 16 miles, I figured what the heck, I'll do 18. After all, I was running with Chris, a new teammate from the DC Chapter who was down in VA for a wedding, and he had 18 on his agenda. I certainly didn't want to go all that way and have to run back alone. Oh yeah, my headphones died at mile 2 so company was a must! Now coaches are there for a reason and they've been doing what they do for a very long time, way longer than I've been running. The whole time I was saying I got it, I got it and they were saying don't push it, increase mileage gradually. Well in the end my body agreed with them and 16 it was. The coaches are always right!

3 April 2010 - New Beginnings

I remember my first training session, since after all it wasn't that long ago, and how inspired I was just to be out there with such amazing people for an amazing cause. But there's nothing like seeing someone else experience that for the first time!

13 March 2010 - Run Happy!!

With only 4 miles on the schedule, I decided that I would do 8 and then ended up doing 10! I have to say that the Saturday morning runs are my favorite part of the week - this is my happy place!

6 March 2010 - Silent Mile

What amazing motivation and a reminder why we are all here! A truly special tribute to those who have lost their battles with blood cancers as well as a celebration to those who have kicked cancer's butt!! People are amazing!

27 February 2010 - Long Run

So I set out with my new running partner to do my recommended 9 miles and ended up doing 14 instead! Talk about going that extra mile...or about 5!!

20 February 2010 - It's just the beginning!

Team training this week started in its usual spot at Final Kick in VA Beach and was outstanding! There's nothing like meeting up with some awesome ladies on a chilly Saturday morning and charging out for an 8 mile run including social hour ... what an awesome group! Loving this!!

Martinis and Gems - A Ladies Night Fundraiser to Benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society 24 March 2010

All kinds of greatness when Ladies Night at 45 Degrees Martini Lounge featured an April Fish Jewelry show and silent auction! An amazing night which raised $350 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - thank you to everyone who came out and made it such a great night!

Eat Wings, Raise Funds at Buffalo Wild Wings 15 March 2010

An overall success!! With food purchases and a few personal donations, we raised $90 for LLS. Thank you to everyone who came out and a special thank you to USS BAINBRIDGE Duty Section 2, who even though had to work, still managed to participate in this worthwhile event! Thank you Brandon for the opportunity and for all of your assistance and coordination - you rock!!

IHOP National Pancake Day 23 February 2010

What a day! Thank you to everyone who came out to support The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through IHOP's generous offering of National Pancake Day! I went out for lunch with my most awesome division from work and we had an absolute blast. Later that night, I was at the Fordham Dr location in VA Beach from 5-10pm where people came out of the woodwork to enjoy free pancakes and to support a great cause. The enthusiasm of people wanting to participate and find out more information on how they coould help was inspiring. This night yielded a whopping $411 for my fundraising efforts.

Just The Beginning

Virginia is For Lovers 14k - 13 February 2010

Today I set off to run the farthest distance in the history of my existence! When I signed up for this race, it was before I had even heard of Team in Training and it was to be my greatest challenge....until now that is (with 26.2 miles in the back of my mind). The morning started out cold and snowy and turned out to be one of the best days ever!

Just before 8 am, I met up with two awesome Navy women whom I would be running with. In addition, I had an opportunity to meet Suzanne, an intern at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, who I have been corresponding with over the past week. I was so excited to meet her as all of the people in the program have just turned out to be some of the best I have met in my life. Like I said - Awesome People. So here we go....the national anthem, my father's favorite part of anything. As it played, the snow came down and it couldn't be any more beautiful. I was loving it and I knew he was too!

For my first race, I didn't do too shabby if I do say so myself. I came in 926th out of 3,000 runners with a final time of 1:25:17! When they announced my name as I crossed the finish line I couldn't help but think about how truly awesome it was going to sound when I heard my name being announced at that same moment on June 6th in San Diego! For those of you who don't know, that is also my father's birthday. I had a picture of my father with me as he carried me through the race and across that finish line. It was truly an amazing feeling.

So now when I think about running my first marathon and how far 26.2 miles really is, I'm not so intimidated about the large number because I know that I have one heck of a man rooting for me! I love today!