Out to Beernuts and Back

So Saturday was my first day of training with TNT. We met at the Normal Amtrack station that sits on the Constitution Trail and with everybody there we maybe had a group of 30 people.

What a change from the AIDS Marathon program in DC!!!!

In DC, the program had hundreds of participants for just ONE marathon. Here we had less than fifty for five or six marathon options.

We introduced ourselves and said what event we were running and then we were off - off for the Beernuts factory and back. Pretty funny if you ask me.

Along the way, I met a fellow named John whose father passed away from Lymphoma and whose brother was just diagnosed with it. It was very sobering listening to his story and reminded me just how lucky I am to be able to lace up my shoes and get a 4 mile run in before the day really begins.

John and I have similar time goals (he's also running Chicago), so I'm hoping I'll be able to run with him regularly. And NO, he's happily married so don't be thinking I might get to DATE him or some radical idea like that. Nope . . . this one-horse town appears to be a no-boy town for me. At least for now.

My love life aside, I am happy to be back in training and have a goal in mind. I guess I'll be seeing that Beernuts Factory a lot as I log the miles.

SIGH.

In DC it was the monuments, the Potomac, and the National Mall.

This might be a LONG summer.

Oops! I Did It Again!

No, this has nothing to do with Brittany or K-Fed . . . I have signed up for another marathon!

Yup, I'm off and running again . . . in earnest. I've joined up with Team in Training this time and am running the Chicago Marathon in October. I'm really excited but honestly wonder why I am a glutton for punishment.

I suppose I did it for three reasons: first, to have a goal so I might actually get off my butt and train. Second, to meet some new friends in this one-horse town. And third, to once again raise money for a cause that deserves my time.

Team in Training raises money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Society's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgikin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. The Society has dedicated itself to being one the top-rated voluntary health agencies in terms of dollars that directly fund the mission - over 75% of their funds goes into research, patient and community service, and public health and professional education.

As a participant, I am dedicated to raising $3,000 and in return the program will help me train.

I'm excited to begin! Next Saturday marks our kick-off and I am eager to get going.

Of course, Zoe has been helping me get ready with some shorter runs around my neighborhood and on the Constitution Trail. My teammates and I will be running on the trail every Saturday until race day October 7, 2007 (notice the sevens in my 7th marathon? cool, huh?).

And naturally, I will be keeping track of my training and fundraising here for you to follow along.

I hope, of course, you'll join me by making a contribution on my behalf here.

Until next time, run happy!