Birthdays and Classes

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said: Many people die with their music still in them. Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.

So, you guessed it. Today was the day where I officially aged an entire year. yes, I did. That said, I didn't eat well today. I mean, I had a ton of calcium (chocolate) and a whole bunch of energy (carbs). And some chicken. That's about it. But it's totally okay because I ran about four miles. Well, I have a confession.
I didn't want to.
You would think that, since I signed up to do a marathon, I would LOVE running and want to do it constantly. Well, you would be believing a lie. I enjoy running once I get out there- most of the time- but today I did not want to get out there. It was a tiny bit cold outside (lower 60s- hey, I live in the South, that's chilly) so I went to the gym here on campus. All the machines were taken. But I was already in workout apparel. One thing I have learned- once you're in the clothes, it is really hard on your conscience to NOT do something athletic. Or at least for me it is. So I called my dear friend Emile, who was on her way to run, and went with her. Once I started, I was good to go.
It was tough to start, but once you jump in the water's great, right?

"The courage of life is a magnificent mixture of triumph and tragedy. A man does what he must, in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures. And that is the basis of all morality." -John F. Kennedy

Racing a four month old.

I ran today. App 4 or 4.5 miles. I normally run about a nine min mile or so, but I had to stop b/c of my knee... wah... which slowed me down, and then I was fine. I tried to make up my time by stepping it up a notch. My last mile was about an 8 min mile... which is great. But allow me to tell you the real reason why it was faster. I happened to glance around behind me when I was about a mile out, and I saw this man running behind me. He wasn't just any man... He reminded me a whole ton of Vin Diesel in the Pacifier. He was ripped, about thirty years old, and looked as if he could run an ultrathon in about twelve hours and be fine. BUT, not only was he in amazing shape, he was pushing a baby stroller. I was not about to let a thirty year old man with a baby stroller pass me. I don't care if he did have the amazing ability of running a 2:00 marathon- he was running with a baby. I could hear his breathing and the wheels rolling right behind me the whole rest of the way. (Then again, I was running by a highway, so maybe it was just cars?) Fortunately, my stop was before his, and I ended up a ways ahead of him. But steadily he tread on... That is most definitely dedication.

I am completely new to this whole "blogging" thing, so please bear with me. I'm training to run in the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team in Training. I actually went to my first group run this past Saturday [at 6:30 in the morning... yes, there are two 6:30s a day, and the sun wasn't even up yet for this one.] I ran 7 miles, which is my LRE (longest run ever) [- I learned that term on Saturday!]
All of us participating in Team in Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. After my introductory courses in biology and chemistry (I don't wanna talk about it...) I believe that once we find a cure for one type of cancer we will not be far from finding a cure for all cancers. That said, the two people I am running this race in memory of did have cancer, just not blood cancer. Pawpaw (aka Bill Pittman, my mom's dad) passed away this past August from lung cancer- not developed from smoking. He was one of my closest friends, and I love him more than anything. He was so supportive of everything I did, and I miss him dearly. This Christmas was really hard without him. Every family get together was difficult knowing that there was one member who was not physically there with us and should have been. But I'm sure most of us know exactly what that feels like, so I won't dwell on it anymore. The other person I am running for is Ronnie Jones. He was my foster dad a long time ago, and he died this past spring from a brain tumor. I was living only an hour away from him in the months preceding his death, but I couldn't bring myself to visit him while he was in so much pain. I never regret anything, as everything is a learning experience, but that is the one thing I do regret-- not spending time with him. I did, however, learn from that mistake. But since I can't alter the past, I will do everything in my reasonable power to change the future. I don't want anyone else to have to go through what he and his family went through. There is a cure out there for cancer, and I want to help find it.
When I stop and think of what Pawpaw and Uncle Ron and their families- those nearest to them at the time- went through, it makes running 26.2 miles not seem like so much. Every time I slip on my tennis shoes I know that I can't complain. What I am doing in training is nothing compared to everything that they went through- and both stayed strong right up until the finish. And so will I. Running is the easy part. Raising money to find a cure for cancer- that takes serious dedication. I want to be able to share as much of this experience with you as I can.
If you've made it this far, thank you! Please visit my TNT homepage, even if just to look. If you have the ability to give- that is great! If not, prayer is the most powerful thing in the world. I would ask that you at least remember this cause in your prayers, if you are a praying person. Thank you!