Join Me. Change Lives, Starting with Yours.

After telling myself and supporters that I would not do another marathon after completing the Honolulu Marathon last December, I have come full circle and joined the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for Summer Season 2009 and yes, another marathon!

2008 TNT recap:

• went to an information meeting mid-July and signed up to merely try it out for a $100.
• season kick off Aug 2nd -- I met the other mentees in my group and all participant bay area wide.
• before kick-off I ran 2 miles on the treadmill, m-a-y-b-e once a month.
• first training session on August 9th, ran 3 miles outside with the team.
• by Sept 9th, first 8 mile run ever!
• by Oct 26th, I had run my first ever Half Marathon and raised my fundraising minimum!
• by Nov 8th, up to 17 miles.
• Dec 14th, completed 26.2 miles on marathon day!
• the most common question about my training was, "how long did it take for you to recover?" I think I was tired for a couple weeks, but my muscles were no longer sore after about a week and by Dec 25th, after opening presents Christmas morning, Clay and I went for our first post-race run!
• after raising $5000+ for LLS, running 216 miles and enduring 134 days of training...the rest is history!!!
  

I so enjoyed Fall Season 2008 that I wanted to do more...the chance to again be part of something bigger -- to spread the word on the cause, the training and the social connection. In a time of such hard financial times, I figure if I can't donate money, I can at least donate time, energy and enthusiasm!

This season I am not going to ask you for money (though donations are always encouraged), rather I am inviting you to JOIN ME.

This year, WE could help make the LLS a one BILLION dollar fundraising organization, of which 75% of all funds raised goes towards finding a cure to blood cancer and improving the lives of patient and their families. The SF team alone, which you could be a part of, has the potential to raise $1,000,000 for the LLS, but we need all the help we can get (ahem, that means you).

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

1. Be my "guest" at any of the initial training sessions. See what all the "fuss" is about.
2. If you like what you see, you can sign up for 6 weeks of training -- think of it as a deposit for your own set of personal trainers and support team -- for just a $100. 24 Hour Fitness charges $129 for just 3 sessions. Makes TNT look like a really good deal. (If after this you decide not to continue, you have that option, but I would bet otherwise.)
   
3. You may surprise yourself by not only getting the personal training you couldn't buy for less, but actually connecting to the cause -- in your training you will meet honorees, those who are battling blood cancer or have survived it -- and you know what that warm-fuzzy feeling of doing something for a good cause really feels like.
   
4. You may be so inspired by how you feel once you make that connection to the cause they you will start to talk to and inspire others. Before you know it, people will offer -- without you even having to ask -- to donate to LLS. When you really try to fundraise you will be blown away at how fast and easy it is to raise the money (especially with all the tools offered by TNT).
   
5. After your 6 weeks of training, you will be asked to re-commit. To say without a doubt that you WILL raise a minimum amount.
6. Run the race of your life and with any endurance event, be changed ever after.

Incentives (beyond the obvious). Not only would you be part of the mission -- finding a cure to blood cancer and improving the lives of patients and their families, but you would get the opportunity to:

1. Train with world-class athletes. The head coach this season has been named one of Runner's World Top 10 Coaches. Last season, my coach had won the most Olympic trials of any female runner. They pretty much kick ass. And they are girls.
   
2. Gain entry to races already sold out to the general public! You could run the Nike Women's Half or Full Marathon this October. This race is sold out year after year because of the coveted participant gifts and goodies, the spectacular course and Expotique amenities. Read more on my write up from last year's race here. Or you can experience Kauai's inaugural Half Marathon. It's hawaii, need I say more? Or better yet, come with me to the Portland Marathon, for what Runner's World calls "one of the friendliest, best-organized, most family-oriented running and walking events in the country" and "one of the ten Greenest races."
   
3. Create lasting relationships. These days that seems so cliche, but as I get older, I think more and more how hard it is to really meet new people and sustain those acquaintances long enough to really become enduring friendships. I know I am not alone in this thought. It is candidly so much easier to fall back on what is comfortable, the friends and family you already have, than to reach out and bring new people into your life. When you meet people, run with them for 5 months straight, experience struggle and triumph during your training, you will share something unique and that will endure long past the end of your training season.

If you've read this far, something I've shared has peaked your interest. Won't you join me???