I am an endurance runner.

We're into our 7th (or is it the 8th?) week of endurance training with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. It's hard to believe that in a couple months, I will be running another marathon! Who me?! I shocked and amazed myself when I crossed the finish line of my first marathon...and now I'm on to a 2nd (Carlsbad Marathon), AND I am planning my 3rd (San Diego Rock N Roll) and 4th (either Seattle Rock N Roll or Alaska Marathon). I've even started to look into adding cycling and swimming to my training, as I consider the possibility of a future triathlon. What?! This week, I looked at my wall calendar at work, and amidst notes on seminars, vacation time and work off-sites, was circled dates for Half Marathons (like the Silver Strand Half in Nov.) and marathons. When did I become this person?

I am finding that my endurance running continually reminds me how fragile life is and how each day may be our last. There is something in overcoming the "wall" runners hit that teaches me how to persevere. I am not running for myself. Now that I no longer have leukemia, I am running for all of those patients that cannot run, to help raise money for a cure. I know folks are always worried about "if" they'll be able to fund-raise, or "if" they'll be able to actually run 26.2 miles. All I can say is that you'll never know unless you put down those potato chips, get off the couch, start running and start asking your friends and family to donate to fight blood cancers. "Team in Training" has made endurance running a team sport of sorts, and they'll help you every step of the way. If I can finish chemo and train with them to run a marathon...anyone can! What are you waiting for?!

Please consider donating to support my fundraising efforts to stamp out blood cancers (and all cancers) for good! We raised over $10,000 last season, and I'm still raising money! Click here to donate. Also, if you'd like to join Team in Training, click here for more info.

Vote Yellow!

Vote Yellow (vōt • yel-ō)
1. n. An expression of choice made by 12 million cancer survivors and their loved ones. 2. v. To declare one's opinion that our leaders should make cancer a national priority. 3. n. A philosophy believing it unacceptable to lose 560,000 Americans to cancer each year. 4. n. LIVESTRONG™

With the Presidential debates tonight, I urge you to VOTE YELLOW. http://www.livestrong.org/site/c.khLXK1PxHmF/b.4486705/

1 in 2 men... 1 in 3 women...will hear the words "you have cancer" in their lifetime. Keep cancer in mind for all of us when you vote in November. Vote yellow.

TNT Fundraising Event - La Jolla Brew House

It's back by popular demand! The San Diego Chapter's Team in Training "YBSNGL?" Fundraiser!!! I am one of the co-hosts of this event and selling tickets, so if you live in San Diego, and you'd like to attend, please email me at curesrock@gmail.com. This fundraiser benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and is part of my TNT marathon fundraising! So, please support if you're local, as I am still short of my fundraising goals. (Yes, we have "taken" stickers for those that are coming as couples! ) Also, if you cannot make it, but would LOVE to donate to my TNT "Cures Rock!" fundraising campaing as I train for my 2nd marathon in Carlsbad, CA, click on the Cures Rock logo on the right side of this web page or click here.

Details: La Jolla Brewhouse, Sun. Oct 12th @ 7pm!

Tickets: $10 pre-sale / $15 at door

Ask Medicare Web Site Launch

For those of you that help friends and family on Medicare...you have a new resource coming your way. Yesterday, Medicare launched a website just for you (caregivers), called "Ask Medicare." I think this is a good effort to show that it is finally being recognized that those surrounding and caring for the person that is sick also need some support. So, look at this as a one-stop-shopping-spree...ok, not really...but hey, it's a start to find resources you may need to help as a caregiver.

Happy Birthday, Lance!

Today is Lance Armstrong's 37th birthday! According to the "twitter" from Doug Ulman (CEO), Lance received a call from President Clinton during dinner. Cracked me up. I mean...I'm lucky that my own family remembers to call me (j/k, they wouldn't forget)...but the Clinton? Hmm...maybe next year... The LiveStrong blog mentioned, "He is 37 today, which in a weird twist of fate means he was born in the same year that President Nixon declared war on cancer." And here we are, now declaring a NEW war on cancer!

Happy Birthday, Lance from all your fans in San Diego, California! When I turn 37 in four more years...I wil be celebrating my 5 year remission "rebirthday"...I just celebrated my first, but I'm planning on the 5th! 37 sounds like a vintage year to me!!

LIVESTRONG going global? Awesome.

I am sure many of you have heard the news that Lance Armstrong is returning to pro cycling in 2009. The last time he raced, I watched out of sheer amazement at his level of training and achievement....and now, as a recent cancer survivor myself, I will watch with support and to cheer him on in his international cancer campaign. Why is he doing this you might be asking yourself? The Lance Armstrong Foundation plans on launching an international cancer strategy.

Did you know we lose over 8 million people around the world with this disease? That is more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis COMBINED. Wow. It's time we unite, and join forces to stomp out this disease and increase survivorship once and for all. More details will be coming...stay tuned on September 24th at the Clinton Global Initiative in NYC where Lance will announce more details. ALSO, we just "might" (hint, hint) be launching our LIVESTRONG Army San Diego on that date. So now you REALLY have to stay tuned. CURES ROCK. (Cancer does not.) Please join us in this international campaign to kick cancer to the curb for good.

(Picture was taken by me at the LIVESTRONG Summit 2008)

DARE TO LIVESTRONG

"Light a candle instead of cursing the darkness." It was the last quote of the LIVESTRONG Summit this past July--- and tonight, an amazing individual in my life also quoted it. It seemed like serendipity. With the news of Lance Armstrong going "Pro" (YAY!), I am touched and thrilled for the awareness he'll continue to bring to the campaign against cancer. I cannot wait to watch the upcoming 2009 Tour! Part of his recent grassroots efforts was a "Dare to" contest, and I submitted an entry. You can view it on the YouTube "Dare To LIVESTRONG.com" page or on my CuresRock channel. Here's the link ...it's similar to what you've seen before...with a slight dare for all of you to "break up with your couch", just like I had to do when I started training for my first marathon....and again recently as I started training for my 2nd. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPGSiakZFOo (2 mins long). Dare to LIVESTRONG. Dare to make a difference in someone's life. I dare you!

TNT Nike Team: My "Rebirthday" Celebration

The TNT Nike Team recently celebrated my 1 year Remission "Re-birthday" with me. (I am not running in the Nike Marathon, but I am the team's Honored Teammate Survivor so I visit their practices!) Here are some pics from my fun time with the team....such a happy bunch. They have so many amazing stories to share (family & friends with cancer, or they are survivors themselves), and it reminds me how cancer has touched so many of us. It's also incredible that there are so many people willing to come out and support the LLS Mission, even with no direct connection to cancer. Chief Howley (in bottom pic) is a big supporter of the TNT Nike Team in San Diego. Unless he has duty that Saturday, he comes out to support the team in whatever fashion they need. His wife, Teresa, who is part of this team, was recently stationed out-of-state with the Navy, yet he was still out there running an Aid station. I find this ultra-amazing. I have such a soft spot in my heart for this team and all it's members. For those that aren't already aware, SEPTEMBER IS LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA AWARENESS MONTH. I encourage you to support the cause, and it doesn't have to be financial. Go online to http://www.lls.org/ and learn about blood cancer. Drop me an email, and I'd be happy to provide you with a survivor's perspective. There are many ways to support the LLS Mission...just ask me how to do it!

FUNDRAISING MARATHON TODAY!

IT'S HERE! This weekend, my TNT team is trying to raise as much money as possible for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! We're currently doing a telethon and online fundraiser this weekend. Please donate to my campaign and help fight blood cancer. Use the "Cures Rock!" Campaign link with the star on this page, or click here.

Stand Up 2 Cancer!

Wanna be a part of history?! Watch the "Stand up 2 Cancer" special on TV tonight (8pm on NBC, CBS and ABC). It's the first ever, COMMERCIAL-FREE, 1 hour fundraising special to raise funds to fight cancer. http://su2c.standup2cancer.org/the_show.php Which...just plain ROCKS! Please take the time to watch this star-studded event...hopefully it'll be educational and inspiring. Now, this is a different organization than the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which I obviously support due to my own past cancer. I totally believe in all cancer organizations uniting for a cure! So, I also want to write about a fundraiser I'm participating in tomorrow. On Saturday (tomorrow), our Team in Training group is hosting a "Fundraising Marathon" from 2pm-5pm. "What?!" , you ask? Yup. We decided that if in January we're all going to run for 3 hours, we should do a fundraising marathon and raise funds for the Society for at least 3 hours. So, I'm asking that you watch the SU2C special tonight, and then please visit my TNT donation page to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Mission. Why that instead of the SU2C organization? I honestly have no good answer for that, since I think they are both awesome organizations. Truly, you'll have to let your heart guide you on your philanthropy. But, if you'd like to join my CURES ROCK! Campaign to fight against cancer, click here for my TNT CURES ROCK! Donation link: I am about $700 short of my goal, and think we can reach it tomorrow if you help me spread the word!!! So, please tune in to my blog, Facebook, phone calls, etc. tomorrow from 2pm-5pm PST, and join me in our TNT Fundraising MARATHON!