Memorial Day

Day 2 of the Guinness World Record attempt is in the history books.

Mike = 2.

Cancer = 0.

Today is also Memorial Day. In my heart, I am very grateful for those that serve our country. In watching the GWR events today, I couldn’t help but smile, as I feel my granddad would have loved today. He was a WWII combat cameraman and a cancer fighter. (You can read about my blog post on him here.) I know he would have appreciated the “young lad” Kerry who is documenting Mike’s world record journey. I know he would have been proud of my own battle to fight cancer, the disease that stole him from me and my family.

Take a few minutes today to thank the heroes in your life. Thank those in your lives that are protecting our freedom. And, hug a cancer fighter to encourage them in their own battle against the enemy of Cancer.

To those that fight…to those that will not give up…and to those that have gone before us...THANK YOU

Mike, I am grateful for your service to our country and your service now in helping the world fight cancer. (For those of you that don’t know, Mike served with the 1/75 Rangers.) I also want to send a huge thank you to everyone that came out and showed him support today from TNT, Abbott Labs, friends-of-friends and coworkers-of-coworkers.

Do me a favor, and in honor of Memorial Day, check out two blog posts today:

1. My blog about Lt. Col. Dan McGovern (my granddad) from Dec 09: Click here.

2. Mike’s blog today about the heroes in his life: Click here.

If you'd like to see photos from the GWR Journey, go online to the Cures Rock! Picassa web album and look in any of the GWR albums: http://picasaweb.google.com/curesrock (You can also view photos from the Cures Rock! Tour there, too.)

Pictured:

1. (From L to R) Kerry, Mike & Deborah running along Mission Bay Park on Memorial Day.

Guinness World Record Attempt - Day 1

I will probably sound like a broken record this week (pun intended) as I blog about another crazy adventure! :)

Many of you remember Mike Sheehy, the ultrarunner who ran the Cures Rock! Tour in January to help me raise funds for LLS and raise awareness about blood cancers. And, he's been an amazing friend through my own personal battle with cancer over the past few years. Well...the next adventure is finally here...

Mike is going to attempt (and will) to break the Guinness Book of World Records (GWR) for most amount of miles run in 7 days. The goal? To raise another $30,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society AND kick cancer's bootie.

Today was Day 1 of the GWR. It was so great to see so many folks out there, from the GWR Team, Team in Training and Abbott Labs. I admit it...my stomache had butterflies. I was excited for Mike and this attempt...but I was also secretly nervous. At the end of the day, folks, Mike is my friend. I worry for his safety and health. (He'd make fun of me for writing this, but hey...he's running right now, so I know he's not reading my blog...). After the Cures Rock! Tour in January, I know how fun and how tough these events are for Mike and the support crew. But, I have zero doubts that he'll pull this off. He will break this record. And I have no doubts that someday we'll find a cure for cancer.

These dollars save lives. Today, I was so happy to see Ligaya out there with us. She's a fellow young adult blood cancer survivor, like me...and we both share the same re-birthday date of 9-9-09! She met up with our team during the Cures Rock! Tour...and came out today for the kick-off to cheer on Mike. We're both alive because of the services of LLS and funds to help find better therapies. Thank you to all of you that have donated or spread awareness about this extreme event!

My worry started to disappear as the day went on because every time I saw Mike, he was smiling, cracking jokes...and well, being his usual sarcastic self. And, I just knew the day was ultra-amazing when Michellie Jones (yes,THE Michellie Jones) showed up to surprise Mike and ran a leg as an official course witness. It's the first time in a loonnngggg time anyone has seen him speechless, I think. ;) Thank you, Michellie, for making this day so special for Mike and the GWR Run event for LLS!

Also, many thanks to the sponsors, the Running Centers, DJO/Compex and ElliptiGo for supporting LLS & this event! It was great to see you out there today!

Records can be broken. Cancer can be cured.

Please follow his blog and donate on the GWR website: http://www.gwr7dayrun.com/. You can track his progress each day there, read the nightly blog posts, etc. You can also follow the Cures Rock! Fan page on Facebook (http://www.Facebook.com/Curesrock) and Twitter (http://www.Twitter.com/Curesrock).

Pics:

1. GWR Banner on the official ElliptiGo bike.

2. Ligaya and Julie at Mission Bay GWR Tent

A Moment of Silence

Today was "final prep"for our Team in Training Marathon Team....which means, our races are next weekend! It's hard to imagine that four months ago, most of this team had never run more than a few mile and now they are prepped and ready to run their first 13.1 or 26.2 mile race. The whole team has been training as an effort to raise funds to fight cancer. San Diego's total raised to date so far.... a whopping $700,000!!! (My team has raised $275,000, with a goal to hit $350,000 by the end of season.) Go ahead...say it...that's FREAKISHLY AWESOME!

There was something very special about today's run. The Team added a half-mile run in silence in honor of Memorial Day and all those that have served our country. We also ran in memory of all those that have gone before us in this fight against cancer. Very powerful. Please consider doing something similar in your runs and rides this weekend -- and pass it on. Just take 5 mins to sit/ride/run/walk in silence in and remember those we honor for Memorial Day.

Tomorrow...the adventure continues, as our crazy San Diego crew is up to more extreme stunts to raise funds to find a cure for cancer (what?! You didn't really think we'd stop after the Cures Rock! Tour run to PHX, did you?). Mike Sheehy begins his amazing attempt to beat the current Guinness World Record for most amount of miles run in one week by an individual. The goal? To beat the $3o,000 we raised in January! If you're in San Diego, join us for the starting kick-off tomorrow at the Hilton Mission Bay. Meet us near the boardwalk at the TNT/GWR tent by 11:30am. Also, head to the web site to read the blog or donate at: http://www.gwr7dayrun.com/.

Kick-Off Party for Guiness World Record Run Attempt!!

Cures Rock! & so does this GWR kick-off party that you won't want to miss! (I mean...how often do you get to cheer someone on to break a record AND send Cancer running for the hills?!?!)

You don't want to miss this event!! This Friday is the Kick-off Party for the Guinness World Record Run Attempt!!

Here's the scoop!
Hennessey's Tavern
Carlsbad, CA
6pm-10pm!
$20 at door (Benefits LLS!)!
*** Bring extra cash-ola for awesome auction items, raffles, etc. ***

Meet Mike (attempting to break the GWR Record), the GWR team, Cures Rock! Founder / Julie, and local cancer-fighters. Say "slainte' & raise a pint of Guinness to send Mike off on his run!

***(PLEASE RSVP to ...the Evite by clicking here!)***

Cure-Cancer-Palooza!

Rockin' out to some great tunes AND kicking Cancer's @$s? Sounds like another Friday night for the Cures Rock! campaign!!

Come on out to Brooks Theatre in Oceanside, CA for some great music supporting a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!! (Check out the Facebook invite by clicking here.)

Here's the scoop:

It's a music event to benefit LLS:

Cure-Cancer-Palooza

Friday, May 21st, 7pm - 10pm

Brooks Theatre in Oceanside, CA

Tickets: $15 cash at the door

Bands: Jeff Diamond, The Kevin McCarty Concept, and
Shrewd Lucy

For those that have been asking...yes, I will be hosting a Cures Rock! concert & benefit later this summer or early fall with some fav bands of mine (if we can get 'em to come)! This should tide you over if you're itching to tap your feet to some tunage, meet great folks in San Diego...and, of course, open your heart (and that wallet) to support a charity that just ROCKS.

CURES ROCK! So come on out, meet the TNT runner (M. Buxton) that's the work-horse behind this even, and let's prove it!! See you there!

One of "those days"...

We've all had 'em. I can empathize. I thought I'd share a quote that stuck with me:

"It's just a matter of looking chaos in the eye and telling it to f*** off..."
(The Ugly Truth, the movie)

It's one of "those days," for me today, but I know I cannot let it get to me. Life is waaayyyy to short to waste a minute on "those days" (or "those mind states") vs. living in beautiful states of mind and sharing our light with the world.

I admit. I have my moments, but overcoming them is amazing. All you cancer survivors and patients out there better be cheering right now. Go look chaos in the eye and give it the 'finger.' :)

CURES ROCK! LIVESTRONG.

'Night, ya'll.

(Pic: Picture courtesy of the Hubble site. Check it out. Love it. Oh, and wish Hubble a happy birthday while you're there...)

San Diego CW6 News Segment on Guiness Record Attempt

If you thought the Cures Rock! Tour was crazy -- just wait 'til you see what Cures Rock!, Mike Sheehy and the LLS team are up to next!

The Guiness World Record Attempt (for most amount of miles run in one week by an individual) is coming up this month, and San Diego CW6 News covered it in their morning "San Diego Living" segment this morning (Thank you, SD CW6!!). Click here to follow the link to the story and video of the segment.

This event is as much about fundraising as it is to raise awareness about blood cancer and the LLS programs! Please spread the word, and I'll keep ya'll posted throughout the event!!

CURES ROCK!

Dr. Larry Kwak: TIME Mag's Top 100 Most Influential People

It's great to see Dr. Larry Kwak getting the recognition he deserves. Larry Kwak, M.D., Ph.D., is a researcher funded by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Dr. Kwak was recently named one of TIME Magazine's "100 Most Influential People," for his role in advancing custom-made vaccines for patients with lymphoma.

(...and congrats, Eric Shanteau, on your contribution article to Time's Top 100 list!)

Click here to read: Douglas Schwartzentruber and Larry Kwak

The Magic In The Marathon | PowerBar ProPace Boston Marathon and BAA 5k ...

TNT Train Run (18 miles)

Today was the famous Team in Training (TNT) "Train Run" for the San Diego Marathon team. It's true. Teams all over the world hear about how our team takes the train 18 miles up the coast to Oceanside, CA -- and then run all the way back to Solana Beach, CA....you know, where Pizza Port and the beer is located....

We call it a "commitment run." So often in life it's easy to come up with excuses or to not follow through....but on a run like this?? You have no choice. You walk off the train, the train conductor wishes you "good luck, runners" as the mass of runners shivering in the dawn hours nervously walk off the train --- and there is just one way back to your car. RUN TO IT.

It's my favorite run of every season. Due to my recent Boston Marathon (woot!), I ran 12 miles today, instead of the 18 miles. I felt like a slug for the first 6 miles. It's been a long week for a variety of reasons, and my heart wasn't quite in it yet. Then the adrenaline started pumping...my heart settled into the run....auto-pilot came on...and the last 6 miles rocked. My running buddy, Erin, and I had a great time. Seeing the ocean, talking about how lucky we are to be alive, listening to the birds and cracking jokes helped us both enjoy the day.

The first six miles, a runner in front of us kept running super fast (with a full pack on...huh?) and then stopping to walk. There was no "jog" or slower pace...it was his "super-fast pace" or "stop." Two switches. Even in the beginning of my run, I took those first 6 miles out too fast and pushed too hard (which makes no sense for a training, long run). So, I guess I was right there with him. It became an analogy for so much in my life....

BALANCE. So often, it's a perspective we miss. In fighting cancer, it's also very needed. Even with facing potential tough outcomes, you can't go full throttle and force things in life. Balance in running, as in life and so many other things, is the key. I can't say I practice what I preach. I'm one of the folks that just might take pliers to pull the flowers open on a budding rose. But, I know it's needed. Today, when we slowed our pace just a touch, took time to breathe in the scenery and find our balance, we had a great run.

And yes, that run ended at Pizza Port with beer (or water or cola or whatever). I'd like to say it was all in the spirit of finding that balance -- working really hard for that end goal, but also knowing when to *chill* with friends, old and new, and celebrate a mini-victory in our training.

The San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and the Guiness World Record event are a month away. Wish us luck -- and best of luck to all of you training for it!!! I had an amazing day hearing your stories about why you are running for charity, and I'm truly touched.

Pic:

1. Running buddies, Julie & Erin M., on the train heading to Oceanside, CA.

2. The TNT marathon team crew at Pizza Port celebrating raising over $200K in fundraising for LLS and a great 18 mile run.

3. New friend (Michael B.), Julie Westcott & old friend (Mike Sheehy of the GWR attempt) *chilling* at Pizza Port with a pint to celebrate another infamous Train Run.