OPEN BAR @ Gravity on Nov 7th!

UPDATE: We raised over $2000 that will go DIRECTLY to patients and the LLS. THANK YOU.

Click here for the evite...you're invited!

It's a Friday night and you're going to party, so why not drink for an awesome cause at Gravity? Cover will be $10, and all proceeds until 11pm will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society via Team in Training.

In exchange for your $10 donation, we'll be having an OPEN BAR until 11pm, so arrive early! The bartenders will be serving all you can drink 42 Below Vodka, Dos Equis and delicious bubbly.

Please include first and last names in your response so you can chill in the private VIP area upstairs and avoid the crowds.

See you at Gravity!

Up'ing the pace

57 minutes
5.6 miles
10:10 min/mile

Washington and Embarcadero to Singles Safeway and back, past the Ferry building to the spider. Typically I run a 12 min/mile so this is lighting fast for me!

Now it's icing on the fundraising cake!

Because of my supporters, I have reached my fundraising minimum for the Honolulu Marathon that I plan on running in just 49 more days!!! On behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), THANK YOU AGAIN. I have raised $3,960.00 with more on it's way. 75 cents of each of those dollars goes directly towards patient services and cancer research.

Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested more than $600 million in blood cancer research. We fund more blood cancer research than all other voluntary agencies combined.

An LLS-funded researcher developed Gleevec, a pill for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). Now, more than 95 percent of newly diagnosed CML patients survive more than five years with a good quality of life. LLS was also instrumental in the development of Velcade, the first new treatment in more than a decade to be approved for patients with multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.

While much has been achieved, there is so much more that can and needs to be done.

I continue to fundraise and to training. Two weekends ago, I finished my first ever Half Marathon and loved every minute of it. The Nike Women's Marathon that I participated in is the single biggest fundraising event for LLS, raising $18 million for cancer research and patient services. This past weekend, I up'd the ante and ran my first ever 15 mile training run on Saturday then had a Pearls for Girls jewelry trunk show fundraising sale at my home yesterday.

Mark your calendar for November 7th, when I will be helping host a night at Gravity in SF where all door proceeds with go to the LLS. For just $20, you get FREE DRINKS from 9-11pm so get there early.

And, I'm thinking of celebrating with a post-race party @ Hukilau, date TBD. Even though my training season officially ends with the race, they will continue to collect donations a month after my event...so beer proceeds will again go towards the cause!

More to come as the weeks countdown towards December 13th!!!

Light Ladies Bruncheon and Pearl for Girls Party

Thanks to all who came on Sunday! I hope everyone enjoyed themselves and being bathed in freshwater pearls, even if only for a couple of hours :)

Couple random notes...Wonder Bread is not panini friendly, Bacon (and pearls) go with EVERYTHING, croutons fried in bacon grease are better than sliced (wonder) bread, Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate covered Pretzel Bites are like crack, Guava and bubbly is the popular choice over OJ and cheers to Johanna for bringing a bottle of Veuve!

You are cordially invited to a Ladies Light Bruncheon
(Yes, I just made up that word)

Sunday, October 26, 2008
10:30am-1:30pm

140 S. Van Ness #621, SF, CA 94103
(dial #248 at entrance key pad)

In honor of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,
Pearls for Girls will hosting a special Jewelry Trunk Show
25% of the proceeds will be donated to the LLS
toward their mission to curing blood cancer
and providing patient services
and much needed research.

Pearls for Girls offers quality freshwater
cultured pearl jewelry designs
from $14 to $200 and as we like to say,
"from Classy to Sassy."

We hope you can join us for this FUNdraising event.
Your company is all that is required.
If you buy something, that's just a bonus.
Look forward to see you Sunday.

(Just for fun...) Luncheon attire welcome!

Open invitation to you and your friends as well.
RSVP kindly requested by Friday, 10/24

15 miles down, 51 days and 11.2 more miles to go....

Middle School was an awkward time for me. I think I still had reminants of a perm my mother made me get from the 4th grade, I wore my my auntie's hand-me-down clothes and I lived across the street from school which justified staying in bed until 5 minutes before class started to get as much sleep as is possible before facing the world.


The above stream-of-conciousness thought above has little to do with today aside from the fact that we did our long run at Mill Valley Middle School today. My fingers just started typing the thoughts that poured out from the memories of middle school lol. Anyways, awkward though the times were I was a happy kid and turned out alright (I think). And now, I'm happy to report that I have successfully run for 3-HOURS-STRAIGHT or 15 miles.

Not knowing the north bay well at all, here's my attempt at describing the route. We started at Mill Valley Middle School, crossed the water bridge to a neighborhood bike path that ended up crossing the 101 to the McDonalds. Then you followed the bike bath behind McD through more residential and eventually we ended up on Strawberry Lane where we passed the Richardson Bay Autoban Society, soccor fields, Blackie's Pasture in Tiburon, a great bike/running path, down around some cove and back.

Turket Trot anyone? Deadline Nov 12th

Everyone overeats on Thanksgiving day. It's almost a given. Why not make a pre-emptive strike against the gorge and run on Turkey Day?

I've been daydreaming about actually waking up early on Thanksgiving morning to do this damn Turkey Trot for years, literally. Well since this seems to be my year of running, what better time than NOW?!

So I'm inviting any and all to join me. This event SELLS OUT every year. So if you want to join me, please SIGN UP NOW. The only way to register is online BEFORE the event. Cost is $27.

When you sign up, email me so we can meet up, maybe even run together!

Milestone Run: My 1st Half Marathon

In spite of their evils, I gotta give it to the corporate (wo)man: Nike.

• They may not have the best product, but they usually look good.
• Their marathon website sucked, but the race logistics were flawless (at least to a 1st time novice).
• Yes, they take advantage of global workers, but they also do some major philanthropy (I know, still in the name of marketing).
• And regrettably their hype was totally cheesy, but I ate...it...up. Dammit.

Sunday was supposedly just another training run. At least that is what I told myself. And for the most part it worked. I didn't really feel nervous or worry about my time. I was there to run and practice running in a race setting. What I didn't expect was to be...in awe.

20,000 runners is quite a spectacle, especially when the crowd envelopes all 4 sides of union square. Pre-race on Thursday and Friday, the square itself was transformed into an 'expotique' with mani/pedi station, sponsor booths, volunteers, and packet pickup stations for the runners. You were required to pick up your bib BEFORE race day.

As we stood on Geary, the buildings were still shrouded in darkness except for the lights brought in just for this event. They illuminated a sea of runners in every direction.

This event drew runners from across the nation. People flew here. So what, right? Well for a novice runner, the concept of flying anywhere for a race, a race, is still crazy. Now, it seems a little less crazy but still.... Groups from NY, from Oregon, from Florida, Georgia, ...everywhere. To put it in monetary terms, this event helped raise over $18 million to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. E-i-g-h-t-e-e-n-M-I-L-L-I-O-N-$-$-$-$.

Mabel and I had parked at AT&T Park, Lot A and taken a very shmancy leather seat Bauer Limo bus to the square. Runners were lined up in sections by time. We anticipated running an 11-12:59/minute mile. 'Elite Runners' went first, followed by the Nike Run Club, followed by the 8+/min, 9+/min, etc.

Each runner was given a timing chip to attach to their shoelaces. Your official time did not 'start' until you physically crossed the start line. For the half, there were timing check points at the 5K, 10K, half marathon (13.1 miles) finish.

Running beside the Transamerica building as the sun is rising is a tad surreal. Speaker blasted music as you ran through the financial district towards the Embarcadero.

We passed water stations, coat checks, porto-potties, people passing out Luna Moons, sliced oranges, free socks, gatorade, bananas, water, water and more water.

The course was awesome and challenging with two major inclines and a few other minor ups and downs.

Most memorable was the mom carrying her baby in a carrier on her back, RUNNING; the group of women who's shirts screamed 'Run Like a Girl' and 'I may be slow, but I beat Breast Cancer'; and the brave woman standing on the great highway holding a handmade sign like John Cusack in Say Anything that reads "Thank You From a Leukemia Survivor."

All things that make go, d-a-m-n.
All in all, I'm a proud finisher of my first half marathon and can say that is was quite an experience. I hear there are those that want to win the lottery to register for this race, just to win the goodies, namely the Tiffany necklace for the finishers. And sure, the necklace is great, but I could live with just the image alone -- handsome men, dressed in tuxedos holding silver platters of boxed jewelry. Even if that's not your fantasy, it sure is a sight to relish. So, amidst the cheers by spectators, giveaways by sponsor, honest-to-god Leukemia survivors beside you and thousands and thousands of other participants, I was the sucker and loved every minute of it.

Update: Race results: 2:37:35

Guest Bartending Gig @ Elixir!

UPDATE: We raised $325 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! Thank you everyone :)

Talk about getting thrown in...my girls did well for a) no bartending experience and b) not knowing where anything was located in the bar.

Amy, Mae and I got 10 minutes of "training"...."here are the bottled beers, here are the draft beers, this is the well, here are the cups...OK go!" Thankfully we didn't have to use the register at all, Ben told us how much everything was and we just fumbled out way through making drinks!!

We had the honor of volunteering our time and efforts to earn tips that would go towards our Team-In-Training fundraising efforts. By the end of the night, we had two pint glasses full of very large bills! I'm waiting with baited breath for the manager to inform us on how much we actually made.

All in all, Elixir was a great host and our friends did not disappoint!! The place was medium/steady until about 1am...on a WEDNESDAY! Thank goodness for hump day, yah?

Shout out to Georgette for actually reading my blog and saying so; Mapa and her (old) man for coming out after their anniversary dinner; Aimee for dragging her entire MBA class to the bar after their last class of the session; Mabel for being a super supportive teammate even tho I'm "old"; miss Asia for just being plain sexy-mama; and Julia, Jon and Caroline for doing shots on a 'skool nite'!

61 days to go: Little Triumphs

So in the beginning I told myself that I would continue with my indoor treadmill regimen if for no other reason that I needed to get used to the heat. With the extended runs outdoors, running inside at the gym happened less and less. Typically, at mile 1, I was already watching the (mileage) "clock" to see how close to done I was and at mile 1.5 I was ready to throw my hands up in defeat.


Just yesterday I ran 4 miles on the treadmill like it was cake. Well maybe that's exaggerating slightly but I felt at 4 miles what I normally feel like at 1! So I guess the training IS making a noticeable difference (even if I do weigh the same!).

63 Days To Go: A Great Weekend

7:10am Alarm goes off


8:00am Attempt to find parking near the Marina Green Monkey Bars with no success. We intend to run with the TNT group for the Saturday morning Mentor Run.


8:20am Finally park at Sports Basement and do our own run. 78 minutes and approximately 7 miles later (still need to map this out), we finish.


10:00am Go to Kara's Cupcakes on Scott between Chestnut and Lombard to pick up Naomi and Rich's rented Cake Tier.


10:30am Go home, shower, change, pack for the rest of the day/evening.


11:45am Pick up Clay and head to the Ferry Building to do our now weekly weekend Farmer's Market shopping trip. Meet Clay's former high school classmate Dina. We have reservations at Slanted Door but cannot believe it when the close the dining room for lunch due to plumbing problems. Settle for a rotisserie chicken "snack" before heading across the street....


2:00pm Check out FallFest. Little did we know that we should have ditched the chicken and headed straight here to wine and dine on fresh foods and wines from local restaurants and wineries. These $100 tickets were comp'ed by Scott, Dina's boyfriend. Sadly, we only had a half hour to scarf food and drink before having to leave to set up for Naomi's wedding.


3:00pm The time we are supposed to be at Kabuki Hotel setting up the cake stand. Instead we are quickly getting dressed, added the paper detail around the edges to the cake stand!


3:45pm Do a drive by. Clay lets me off at the Valet of Kabuki. I bring in the stands to the ballroom and he finds parking. I set up the table with the traditional Groom's cake on top, and Beard Papa's on the bottom two tiers.


4:30pm Wedding Ceremony begins with an exhuberating Taiko performance and calming ukelele processional. A reading and poem are done in front of the Japantown Peace Pagoda and Naomi and Rich exchange vows.


6:00pm Reception begins complete with Pikapika photobooth, Peking duck and Rich's dad doing an Elvis impersonation (my personal highlights).


10:30pm I am done. So pooped I can't even rally to party with Table 15.


11:00pm Passed out in bed...sleep for 10 hours s-o-l-i-d.


10:00am Pick up Cake Tier from Kabuki Hotel and return to Kara's Cupcakes.


11:00am Join the wedding party and friends for Brunch at da Hukilau. Shots ensue. It is Rich's birthday.


3:00pm Head to Crissy Field to watch the Blue Angels. Walk the beach. Shop at Sports Basement...get new running capris. (So excited to go running and try them out!)


7:00pm Head home for dinner with Julia and Jon and an evening of True Blood, Dexter and Grey's Anatomy.......

66 days to go: Back on Track

So after, I don't know so many weeks I lost count, of not going to the weekly track workout, I made it back last night! And it was good.

Broken up in little segments, it's not so bad and before you know it you've run 3 miles without noticing.

First we warmed up on the outer ring above the actual track, by going around twice. Then stretched.

Then ran 400m or one lap at what we thought was our "5K pace" or how fast we would be comfortble running 3.1 miles on race day. It was timed and we all failed but running TOO FAST. The lesson was to learn what your body feels like when running too fast.

So, the next exercise was running 1600m at our marathon pace...so much s-l-o-w-e-r. At every lap we were given our times so we knew what pace we were running.

To reinforce the whole enphasis on how your body feels and not what your watch says, we were asked to run 1000m or 2.5 laps at again our marathon pace. We were right on.

The last 600m was again at our 5K pace followed by a cool down of 800m at a slow jog and stretches.

Lesson learned: We should be able to feel if we are going the right pace and if we are going too fast on race day, we MUST slow down or we will regret it at the end. Must. slow. down.

Just Sharing: A Long story...about Multiple Sclerosis. Read Susan's Clever Poem

Dear FOM (Friends of Mark):

This is a very difficult letter for me to write for obvious reasons. I'm sending this to everyone I know. If you are in my address book, you're getting this email.

Thanks for taking the time to take a look at it. Having done that, you can do any of three things, I'll never know, unless you tell me. You may:

1. donate a couple bucks to my sister
2. hit delete
3. forward to this to someone you think may be interested

As many of you know, my mom had Multiple Sclerosis. Beginning at age 9, my brother and sister joined me and the rest of the kids on our block to do fund raising carnivals. Over the next seven years, 2 kids raised more than $50,000. Mom was our reluctant "Poster Girl". While my brother and I continued in our fund raising efforts over the years, my sister Susan remained even more committed. She, and now her husband and her three kids, have done the Bike MS event for many years; my mom, who passed away, still her Poster Girl.

Four years ago, the fund raising took a new twist. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis; now that I have joined my mom as "Poster Boy", I understand her discomfort, but we both get the need to put a face on the condition.This past year, it has taken an even more ironic twist. Susan was diagnosed with what may prove to be MS! The tests are inconclusive so far,but over the next year or so, they have indicated she should be prepared for anything.

Here's the thing. Four years after my diagnosis, I'm doing pretty well.I'm working, driving, traveling, writing. Everything I did before.Sometimes a bit more slowly. I know for a certainty that this is all true because of medications that are available to me. Medications that did not exist 5 years ago. And even better meds are going to hit the market in the next 2-3 years. The equipment and techniques they are using to diagnose my sister did not exist a few years ago.And both advances are due to the money raised by Carnivals we did as kids. And the miles she's pedaled for more than 20 years, in honor of my mom,then me, and now herself! And thanks to the ongoing generosity of people like you. Here is her website: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=251540&supid=1676401

Give a little. Give a lot. Or give it a toss. Thanks Much.

Mark Silverman
Producer, The Ronn Owens Program
KGO San Francisco

PS - my sister's letter is below. WARNING - BAD POEM AHEAD!!! BY Dr. SUE-ss Q!

===========

BEFORE YOU READ THIS, PLEASE KNOW THAT I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND IF YOUR CHARITABLE INTENTIONS LIE ELSEWHERE. I PROMISE NOT TO BE OFFENDED!

For those that don't know, I had a funky MRI last year that showed one spot that "could" be MS, or may not be. My brother has it, my Mom had it,and at the moment, I am perfectly symptom free and my doctor says that,despite the one spot, I DO NOT have MS. I decided this year to do the 60mile hill-filled ride in order to encourage all my friends, family,Scouters and Clients to donate even more than usual, because maybe one day it might be me, but even if it's not, someone else may have just started the daily shots that help keep the symptoms at bay (and even those shots are courtesy of the money we've raised for research!

A DOT IS A DOT, EXCEPT WHEN IT'S NOT
ESPECIALLY IF THE DOT IS A SPOT
ON THE MRI THAT I GOT

IT MIGHT BE A SPECK,
OR IT MIGHT BE MS
THE DOC SAYS RIGHT NOW IT'S ANYONE'S GUESS!

NOW I CONFESS, THAT EVEN A GUESS
THAT, LIKE MY BRO AND MY MOM, I MIGHT HAVE MS
HAS MADE ME MORE SERIOUS ABOUT RAISING MORE MONEY
EVEN IF THE WAY I DO IT IS SILLY AND FUNNY

HERE'S A DEAL THAT MIGHT HOLD SOME APPEAL,
I'LL RIDE 60 MILES - LOTTS A HILLS ON TWO WHEELS!

ALL I ASK OF YOU, IS TO DONATE ONLINE
OR SEND ME A CHECK, WHICH IS STILL QUITE FINE

THE SAD TRUTH IS, WHETHER I HAVE IT OR NOT
THAT SOMEONE ELSE GOT BAD NEWS
THAT THEIR "SPOT" IS NOW "SPOTS"

NOW THEY HAVE MS AND TAKE DAILY SHOTS
BUT RESEARCH CAN MAKE IT A PILL THEY CAN POP!

HOPEFULLY THIS EMAIL HAS GIVEN YOU A SMILE
I HOPE YOU SEND ME SOMETHING PER MILE!

A Quarter, a half, or even a dollar...$2 would be amazing and make me holler!

IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT, DON'T YOU FRET IT.
WE ALL HAVE OUR CAUSES - I REALLY DO GET IT!
RESEARCH HAS MADE PROGRESS AGAINST THE MS
WE'RE FIGHTING SO I'M GOING TO GO NOW AND PRACTICE MY RIDING!!!

{Susan Quigley}

Pieces Falling Into Place

Wow... okay so the team flight is predetermined, but we modified ours slightly a) to stay an extra day and b) to add Clayton! After some deliberation, there was no additional cost to change my flight (TNT covers up to a certain amount) and Clayton's ticket was reasonble even though it was booked through the travel agent. So at least for me, it's the best of both worlds...I get to travel with the team AND with Clay. YAY!

We are leaving Friday morning, December 12th and returning Tuesday evening on the 16th. While in Hawaii we will be at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the first 3 nights with TNT and likely with family the last night. I'm soooooo excited. And, now completely petrified about the race.

I must run (gulp).

Pleasure is a Serious Business

So I titled this post as such because we visited the Getty Villa and there was an exhibit on the "Society of the Dilettanti" whose motto was "Pleasure is a Serious Business."

Believe me, I did NOT find our workout this morning pleasurable...we ran a shorter version of the Manhattan Beach Strand and then did Sand Dune Hill.

This is the view from the Top of the hill.

This is the view from the Bottom. I'm not quite sure which is more daunting. Potentially this one because you actually have to go back up the damn thing.
Needless to say, I wussed out after going up and down this thing twice. Clay tackled it 4 times. Supposedly, this place is packed most weekends with Boot Camp type classes and people just getting their exercise in...and the Raiders used to use this Hill too, running up at a s-p-r-i-n-t. F'ing crazy if you ask me.

Anyways, more on the Getty. If you get a chance to visit the Villa in Malibu, make a reservation. You pay $10 for parking but admission is free. Even if you aren't into Ancient Greek and Roman Antiquities, the buildings are amazing, with incredible detail situated in a phenomenal oceanside setting. While here I ran into two friends who I hadn't seen in years! Hi Rito and Kat!! So random.

The Manhattan Beach Strand

This weekend I missed my group long run since we were visiting LA for the USC/Oregon college football game. (Sadly the Ducks lost but,) We did get to squeeze in a run each morning from Clay's buddy's place in Manhattan Beach. He lives just on the other side of Highland and 36th, almost at the ocean. (It looks something like this, but not exactly since I stole this pic.)

We started off down the hill towards the water and came to what locals know as "The Strand"... a stretch of dual sidewalks down the coast in each direction -- towards Marina Del Rey and Hermosa.

Initially we made the mistake of running on the "bike's only" path (pictured on the right) but soon figured it out and were on our way towards Hermosa Beach. We ran until the building pictured in the distance with the blue window awnings and turned around.

Went we reached the Manhattan Beach pier we ran to the end and back.
All in all a 4 mile run. Not bad for a Saturday morning while on 'vay-kay'.

10 weeks and 4 days to race day (or 74 more days)

This is random but I had the day off yesterday and was taking a break from my "To Do's" for the day (running, car wash, take out garbage/recycling, etc) and sat down and watched Oprah (because it was the only thing on TV). Much to my surprise, I became that person - sitting on my couch crying at 4pm on a Tuesday - as they did their annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month kick-off. The founder and sister of Susan G. Komen of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was on the show along with countless other survivors and current fighters of the disease all who had one common goal: AWARENESS.

They talked about how when Susan G. Komen was diagnosed with Breast Cancer over 30 years ago, uttering the word "breast" was not OK, there were no "800" numbers to call for patient support and the pink ribbon had no significance. Today, they have given over a billion dollars to cancer and patient research. One Billion.

Just 6 years after the founding of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society started Team in Training - a way for me and many others to learn and make a difference in the fight against another crippling type of cancer...blood cancers.

My hope is to do my little part...and keep spreading the awareness.

1) So in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, if you are woman (or man with women in his life who he cares about), please make sure you know or pass along this information about how to do a self-breast examination: http://www.komen.org/bse/, http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp

2) And, if you aren't familiar with Leukemia and Lymphoma, I've pasted a little information below, but do you part and learn what about this disease so you too can be part of the solution. And, get registered in the bone marrow registry.

3) And, as you know, I running the Honolulu Marathon December 14th. Thanks again for your donations...I am up to 11 miles and am excited to also be participating in the upcoming Nike Women's Half Marathon on October 19th!

Did you know? Leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes are cancers that originate in the bone marrow or lymphatic tissues. They are considered to be related cancers because they involve the uncontrolled growth of cells with similar functions and origins. The diseases result from an acquired genetic injury to the DNA of a single cell, which becomes abnormal (malignant) and multiplies continuously. The accumulation of malignant cells interferes with the body's production of healthy blood cells.

# of New Cases this year: An estimated 138,530 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2008. New cases of leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma account for 9.6 percent of the 1,437,180 new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States this year.

# Living with the disease: An estimated 894,543 Americans are currently living with leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes.

If we had a cure we could prevent: The deaths of an estimated 52,910 people in the United States this year. These blood cancers will account for nearly 9.4 percent of the deaths from cancer in 2008 based on the 565,650 total cancer-related deaths. Every ten minutes, another child or adult is expected to die from leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. This statistic represents nearly 145 people each day, or six people every hour. Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20.