3 Thousand and Beyond... every dollar does count!!

Happy New Year 2009!!! The $3,600 required minimum to run in Miami is now closer than ever!! I did even better than reaching the 3,000 mark, I surpassed it as I went into the new year!! Actually, I should change all the "I"s in the first sentence, and say "We did it!" I've been running, but all of you've been supporting me with cheers and fundraising help, so it's definitely been a Team effort since the beginning!!

Thanks to all my family and friends who have helped me... We're getting closer to finding a cure for Crohn's & Colitis and 2009 will be a great year starting on Jan 25 in Miami when I cross that finish line with all of your support and the Virtual Runners with me. This is such a great experience, to raise awareness for CCFA and help such a great organization.

Plus I have found a new hobby - running is really great! Whether it's a run @ lunchtime around the Washington memorials or a run with a friend on a new found trail.... it's really great to turn something negative into something as positive as this has been.

It almost sounds like I'm writing my last post.... but I'm not!! There's still a few weeks before Jan 25th... so even if it's a dollar, it all adds up to help CCFA and we'll cross the finish line in Miami!! You can still help... click here.

Change really does make a difference!

I'm not referring to Obama's campaign slogan... I saved 2 Jack Daniel's bottles with change and that turned into $269.35!!  I couldn't wait to get home and enter the amount into my fundraiser page and to top it all off with some help from friends' donations today... 

I hit the 75% mark!!  Thanks EVERYONE that helped me reach 75% !!!

The last few days have been great for me - Running my first 10K, saving over $200 with spare change, and hitting the 75% mark!!  I'm almost there.... thanks for everyone's support and cheers!  It's a lot of fun when you know friends & family care about something that means so much to you.  Colitis isn't the most fun disease to have, but it's given me the opportunity to help raise awareness to people, raise money for a great organization CCFA, and truly feel great running with others who suffer the same disease as me or know someone who does.  Turning something negative into positive is what it's all about! :-)

Crossing the finish line in Miami is all about finding a cure for a really horrible disease that so many children and people shouldn't have to live with.  I probably should have done it earlier, but here's a link to CCFA that provides information about the diseases - Crohn's and Colitis.

Yesterday 3 and Today 4... Become my Virtual Running Partner!

Yesterday I got a surprise invite to run with a friend from the Team Challenge, Chris, who is an avid runner and she's running in the ING Half Marathon for CCFA, too. I thought it was funny and actually very impressive when she told me that this is first Half Marathon.... but she's ran a Marathon before!! So when she asked me to run last nite, I was really excited and even more excited that we have arranged a Happy Hour @ Crystal City Sports Pub on November 20.

So yesterday we ran a 3 mile loop through Arlington and on the Mt. Vernon Trail. The trail is where I ride my bike to work... this was the first time I ran on the trail and might give it another try this wkend. It really is a great place to run & bike or walk!

Today, I met Jeremy to run @ lunchtime and he and I agreed on running just to and around the Washington Monument.... but when we got to the backside of the Monument, Jeremy kept running along the path but toward the Lincoln Memorial. I asked where he was going... he said we're running to Lincoln. So today was a surprise 4 mile run. I felt much better than I thought I would having just ran last nite... but glad Jeremy was there to encourage me to run a little more today.

Thanks again for everyone's support and contributions to CCFA for me so I can run. I'm almost at the 50% mark, so getting more and more excited! I have to meet this $3,600 minimum goal to be able to run... so you're literally helping me cross the finish line when you donate!!

I'll do all the running... just become my virtual running partner by contributing to my run :-)
(Click Here to be my Virtual Running Partner!!)

You're part of the Team & My Fundraising Update

I found a fellow Team Member's fundraising page and she says something that really puts all of this Training & Fundraising into perspective for me and I thought it was a great point to share with my Blog Readers!

Be a part of Team Challenge with me... No, you don't have to run... I'll do it on your behalf with your donation & support.

This is a good way to let my supporters know that even a donation of $13 (a dollar per mile) is appreciated!

Thanks for everyone's support & donations!  All your support and help means a lot for me to be able to cross the Finish Line in Jan 2009.  Thanks to you, I'm 39% of achieving the required fundraising  - this is exciting!

13.1 miles is far, but finding a cure for Chron's & Colitis is getting closer for us!

Just keep going...

I woke up bright and early this morning... checked my Support Page and was still feeling good w/ all the donations I have received so far. Thank you!! So I was even more inspired to go for a run after a quick breakfast. 

I ran about 30 mins and can definitely tell the difference in running outside from on an elliptical machine or even riding my bike - I'm talking about the physical difference on the body  of course.  The endurance aspect isn't a problem it seems... just feels different on the body. So I'm really glad I signed up for this Challenge... and excited about training!

After my run this morning, I thought of a quote... that I believe is appropriate for this Challenge supporting the CCFA and not just for the obvious reason. There's reference to "guts" and that would be a play on words with large intestine/stomach and all that stuff in your belly in this Challenge race. lol I'm reminded when I think of this quote that there are people training for this race not to win it, but just to beat these horrible diseases!  Guts to cross the finish line to help your guts lol

"Most people run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts."

-Steve Prefontaine (aka Pre)

I realized also this morning that running is just a matter of pushing yourself to keep going... when I feel like I could stop or slow down, I think just keep going to the bench... to the pole... to the ugly blue car ahead... to the mailbox with the pretty red flowers on it... to just keep going and it will only get better. I can't wait! This is so exciting to be part of such a great Challenge!

Ready, Set, Go!

Thanks for visiting my training blog for the Miami ING Half Marathon. I'm completing the race through the CCFA Team Challenge. I'm a member of the Greater Washington DC Chapter and each one of us has committed to raising at least $3,600 and running the Miami ING Half Marathon.

More than 80% of the donations goes toward medical research toward a cure and mission-critical programs. CCFA consistently meets the standards of organizations that monitor charities, including Better Business Bureau's Wising Giving Alliance (give.org) and American Institute for Philanthropy (charitywatch.org).

Although this is a Team Challenge, it's also a personal challenge for me. About 10 years ago I was diagnosed with Colitis, but have been in remission for 3+ years now thanks to new medicines from CCFA research. Besides the personal connection to the organization, I am also using this great opportunity to challenge myself to complete a half marathon.

I'll record my progress and training here for the Miami ING Half Marathon. Feel free to leave comments and notes of encouragement. Also, check out my Team Challenge Support Page.