Mark Blackwell's TNT Updates

AM I A FIREMAN YET?

2011-10-31T15:42:00.000-07:00

My Team in Training teammate, Melissa posted this on Facebook, and I thought it was worth sharing:

In Phoenix , Arizona , a 26 year-old mother stared down at her 6 year-old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia..
... Although her heart was filled with sadness, She also had a strong feeling of determination.
Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now, that was no longer possible..

The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream to come true..

She took her son' s hand and asked, 'Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?'

Mommy, 'I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.'

Mom smiled back and said, 'Let's see if we can make your wish come true.'

Later that day she went to her local fire Department in Phoenix , Arizona , where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix !

She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.

Fireman Bob said, 'Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards!

And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy -- one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots.'

'They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix , so we can get them fast.'

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck.

Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven.

There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls.

He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedic's' van, And even the fire chief's car.

He was also videotaped for the Local news program.

Having his dream come true, With all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy, that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept - that no one should die alone - began to call the family members to the hospital.

Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and
Asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.

The chief replied, 'We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor?

When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire?'

'It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?'

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window--------
16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room.

With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they LOVED him.
With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said,

'Chief, am I really a fireman now?'

'Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand,' the chief said.

With those words, Billy smiled and said, 'I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and
The angels have been singing.'

He closed his eyes one last time.

My instructions were to send this to at least four people that I wanted God to bless and I picked you.

Alaska Bound & Looking Back Over the Last Couple Week...

2011-06-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

A couple days away from flying to Anchorage with a dozen or so teammates from Team in Training. Then, this Saturday I run my 14th marathon on my 50th birthday! 8 or 9 miles of the run will be along rocky trails. Hopefully I'll catch a glimpse of some wildlife. I may even slow down long enough to take some pictures. I hear there are bald eagles, moose, and a few years ago there was a "bear scare" (a bear was spotted sitting up in a tree) - one of the many race spectators!

Looking back to the previous weekend, I got to hang out with all my teammates, who I spent the last 5 month with, most of whom were training this season for the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon/Half-Marathon. Pictured below is my coach, Ronnie, decked out as a cross between Rick James and Stevie Wonder, at the Inspiration Pasta Dinner. My training schedule for Alaska called for me to run 12 miles that weekend, so I signed up and ran the Rock & Roll Half Marathon (13.1 miles).

Words To Run By...

2011-05-30T17:00:00.001-07:00

Isaiah 40:31: But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Getting ready for Alaska...

2011-05-30T17:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday was our longest training run for the Anchorage Marathon. We ran 20 miles, a mix of streets and rocky trails. Our Team in Training coach, Bill, set up this run to simulate the conditions of the Alaska Marathon. I have to say that it was a fun 20 miles. This was the 2nd 20-miler that I had done in the past 2 weeks. I went ahead and ran the 20-mile training run with my team that's doing the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon next weekend. In fact I signed up for the half-marathon as sort of a warmup run for Alaska. Plus it gives me a chance to run with the rest of my team that I have spent the last 5 months with. I plan on running the 13.1 miles next Sunday, then backtracking to run in some of my teammates who are experiencing their very first endurance run. I still remember my first time, and the feeling of crossing the finish line, but I also remember the coaches and captains who ran alongside me during the big run. This year was my first time as a Team In Training Captain, and I'll always remember the great times I had this season.

Roller Skating For a Cure 4/28/11

2011-04-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

Last night's roller skating party was a blast! a HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to support me. It means a lot. I hope to have a 2nd Annual Skating Party this time next year.

Good Morning!

2011-04-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

After last week's 17-mile hilly run in the heat, we enjoyed a back-down week today. It was flat, cool, and only 11 miles. We started our run at the Hilton Bayfront, near the Convention Center, headed down along the harbor, around Harbor Island and back again.

A couple years ago, Runner's World magazine did a survey where they asked runners if they acknowledge other runners with a friendly gesture or a "good morning". A majority of those surveyed said they avoided making eye contact or recognizing runners that passed by them. Today, I saw it firsthand. There were two other big running groups training in the area. Many of them passed by without even looking up. I don't always expect a verbal greeting, because let's face it, sometimes people are running too hard to even get a word out between breathes, but a simple nod or wave is good enough.

I told a couple of my teammates about the magazine survey, and we started noticing what they said was true. For the rest of our run, we went out of our way to say "good morning" or at least wave or a nod. I think we broke the ice and our informal survey fared better than the magazine, with more than half of the runners passing us returning the greeting. Give it try the next time you're out there.

Back to the Beginning...

2011-04-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my TNT Green Team met at Movin' Shoes in La Mesa. This is always one of my favorite training runs, because it includes Lake Murray, the place where I "learned" how to run. Back then, I could only run about 2 miles around the lake, then I would stop and walk back. A friend of mine kept pushing me to go farther, until one day I was able to do the 6 miles out and back along the lake. The rest is history, as I train now for my 14th marathon.

Anyway, This wasn't everyone's favorite run on Saturday. The 17-mile course was 2 loops down Lake Murray Boulevard, along Lake Murray, then out around the very hilly streets of San Carlos, and to make it interesting, temperatures were in the mid-80's with lots of sun. Despite that, the entire team pushed through it, and will be that much more ready for the San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon (or Anchorage) in June.

Be Prepared...

2011-04-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

It's not just for the Boy Scout anymore.

It should be every runner's motto. We all have busy lives, and finding time to train for a marathon can be a challenge. The easy part for me is meeting with my team on Saturday mornings for our long training sessions. Outside of that, I have a job, a family, and other stuff to do during the week, so I'm always looking for times to squeeze in an extra run or two.

Yesterday, I had to take my daughter to the dentist. Then I had to drop her back off at school for a Girl Scout meeting. Wait! That gives me almost 2 hours before I pick the kids up...time for a run! Doh...where are my running clothes? I was wearing my new running shoes that day, trying to break them in. I found an old t-shirt and hat in my truck, I could roll down my long white socks, but what about shorts! The nearest store was a Burlington Coat Factory.

I ran in, grabbed a pair of $8 workout shorts (more like boxing shorts, than running shorts) off the rack and was on my way to Mission Bay. I headed out from the "runner's bathrooms" - the place with the rack of running event flyers. I wasn't on the Blackwell best-dressed list for runners, but I was able to run 6-miles. Next time- I'll be carrying emergency running clothes with me, so I will be prepared!

The Calm After the Storm...

2011-04-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

This morning, I arrived around 6am at Shelter Island and it was pouring down rain. I came prepared with a heavy rain jacket to wear before the run, and one of those clear plastic rain ponchos to run in. As we gather our team together to go over the map for our 15 mile run and stretch out, the rain stopped and a double-rainbow appeared. By the time we hit the streets, the clouds gave way to blue skies.

Catching Up

2011-03-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

I'm finally getting around to posting what's been happening for the past 2 weeks in running. 2 weeks ago, we had our Honored Teammate Picnic. After running 10 miles, we headed back to Paradise Point for a picnic with both of our teams, plus some special guests - our honored teammates. These people are blood cancer survivors, or they're still in the process of fighting the battle. They shared their stories and continue to motivate and inspire us to train.

The youngest of our honored teammates is Angel. He's only 2 1/2 years old and he's undergoing chemotherapy for ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). Angel's parents and friends Mark and Kyle on part of Team in Training, and make up the team, Angel Jr.'s Soldiers, who are running in Angel's honor.

Then, this past Saturday we took part in an annual Team in Training tradition, called the World Famous Trolley Run. We hop on the trolley near USD, rode it to the downtown train station, then ran a 14-mile route back to the trolley station. On Sunday, I headed to Big Bear with my family for a day of skiing. Then, yesterday I went for a run with my friend and teammate, Amanda, at Santee Lakes. Whew! Time to take a break from exercise for a few days.

Train, Endure, Achieve, Matter

2011-03-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

Train, Endure, Achieve, Matter...it may sound a little corny, but it's a good reminder why I spend my Saturday mornings with Team in Training. I get questions like "isn't it hard asking people for money?" or "why do you do it?". Those are fair questions. I don't have a close family member affected by blood cancer, but I lost a co-worker to lymphoma years ago and it impacted me for a long time.

O.J Lawrence was the afternoon DJ on KyXy for a long time. He worked until a few days before he lost his battle with blood cancer. He kept a positive attitude and a smile right up until the end.

Around that time, I started running marathons with a few friends and I saw the "purple people" out on the race course, and all of their supporters. I kept thinking "I want some of that"! A few years later I was asked to join Team in Training, a fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and talk about my experiences on the radio. That first season changed my life, I felt "called" to do this, and I became a believer in the cause...to help people, including a lot of kids, with leukemia and lymphoma. I met these people face-to-face at the beginning of our Saturday runs. And I ran alongside people who had battled blood cancer, and parents who were running for their kids with blood cancer.

Last year, my friend Barbara, who has supported me since my first season with TNT, found out her husband John had lymphoma. He went through 7 rounds of chemotherapy and spent a lot of time in the hospital. He's doing well, but has to wait 8 years before his doctor will give him a clean bill of health.

This year, I received a donation from my old teammate Adrienne, whose 3-year old niece Hannah has been fighting leukemia. Fortunately, she has about a 90-percent chance of beating it. Most of us already have, or will have a connection with blood cancer. There are a lot of new drugs that have been developed to treat leukemia & lymphoma, some right here at Scripps in La Jolla, but not a cure..yet.

I run because I'm thankful for my health and the health of my family. So when I'm asking for donations, it not for me - it's for those families that aren't so lucky, that need help going through treatment and hopefully beating their cancer, and eventually finding a cure.

Running 26.2 miles may sound like a long run to some people, but it's a heck of a lot easier than going through cancer treatment, and the side affect for me is that I've never been in better condition. I'm in good shape, have lots of energy (which I sometimes need to keep up with my kids), and this year I turn 50! I don't feel like 50. As far as I'm concerned, as long as I'm running marathons, 50 is the new 35!!!

This year is my 8th season with TNT, this will be my 14th marathon, and I'll be running it in Anchorage, Alaska, on June 18th -- ON MY 50TH BIRTHDAY! I'll be celebrating my 50 years of good health, and I'll be doing my small part to help others make it to their 50th. Please help me make this one count.

The La Jolla of East County...

2011-03-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm talking about Santee! I think I read the "La Jolla" reference in a Chamber of Commerce article.

Anyway, starting this Monday (3/21), I'll be leading a run, along with Team in Training teammate & mentor, Amanda at Santee Lakes. We'll meet at the ticket booth (pictured) at 5:15pm. To avoid paying the $3.00 to park, you can park on Camino Del Lago (off Fanita Parkway) and walk across the street to the lake. You'll see a silver bridge leading down to the ticket booth (pictured ). You don't need to be part of Team in Training to join our run. Everyone is welcome. There's a 2-mile and 3-mile loop, and it can be stretched out to 4 miles. If you've never been to Santee Lakes, it's a nice peaceful area. They have great fishing, playgrounds for the kids, places to picnic, a "Sprayground" (see picture), a campground, and coming next month, floating cabins that you can rent overnight (pictured). Directions: take the Mast Boulevard exit off Highway 52. Go east on Mast, right on Fanita Parkway. Santee Lakes is on the right.

It Was a Jungle Out There!

2011-03-14T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I ran the 1st annual Safari Park (aka Wild Animal Park) Half Marathon. Most of the challenges didn't happen during the race. Heavy traffic and parking was a big challenge, and honestly there's probably not a good answer. When you're trying to funnel thousands of people down narrow back roads in the dark all at once, things are bound to get crazy. Once I got off the freeway, I sat in traffic for 45 minutes, and it was worse if you didn't take the 6:45am deadline seriously!

There were a lot of people who didn't make it by the time the roads closed down for the run, so they had to park several miles away and walk to the start line. Once parked and at the start line, things were very smooth. The course had a lot more hills than I realized, but I took the uphills and downhills slow so I wouldn't burn out my legs. I ended up finishing at 2:05, which was the same time I had for the Disneyland Half Marathon in September (which was completely flat), so I was satisfied with my time. The race organizer promised a lot of animal sightings along the way, and the announcer even told us not to bother listening to our iPods, because we would hear animal noises throughout the race. The only thing I saw were some cows along the road (outside the Safari Park), and a couple of hippos near the finish line. Of course, we were allowed to stay in the park after the run.

Week #7 - Warming Up for the Safari Park Half Marathon

2011-03-12T17:21:00.000-08:00

Today's run started at Henry's Marketplace in Pacific Beach. They set up a tent in their parking lot, gave us a brief talk about nutrition before our run, then they set up some food & coffee for us for after the run. I was supposed to do 12 miles today, but I'm running the Safari Park Half Marathon tomorrow, so today I only ran 6 miles. I took my time doing it too. I was able to run alongside a lot of people I haven't run with very much, and it was a blast. I'm looking forward to running through the Wild Animal Park tomorrow. I hope the animals are well fed!

Alaska Baby!

2011-03-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

I continue to train for my next marathon through Team in Training, which is part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I'm doing this to make a difference in the lives of blood cancer patients and their families.

This year is a little different - I TURN 50! --and you can help me celebrate my birthday and help others at the same time. I'm training for the Anchorage Marathon on June 18th, which happens to fall exactly on my 50th birthday!

I'm thinking that instead of having a big birthday party, where everyone reminds me of how OLD I am, showering me with gifts of Ex-Lax and Depends, I can be running 26.2 miles through the Alaskan wilderness!

I CAN ONLY DO IT WITH YOUR HELP. Your generous donations can help me celebrate my 50th in a big way. Please consider a donation to this very worthwhile cause. Cancer affects everyone. You are not giving the money to me - you're giving a gift to people who are fighting for their lives.

Week #6 - Running to the Finish Line

2011-03-06T07:44:00.000-08:00

It was nice running in the warm sunshine that we come to expect in San Diego any time of the year. Especially after running in the rain the past 2 weeks.

Yesterday, we ran 11 miles, heading along parts of last year's Rock & Roll Marathon course. We started near the boat ramp between Fiesta Island and Sea World (which was last year's finish line), then finished our run, heading down the bike path leading back to the boat ramp/finish line. The only thing missing was the hundreds of cheering spectators!

Week #5 - Team in tRaining

2011-02-26T20:46:00.000-08:00

The weather channel was predicting that today would pour, and we'd have record cold temperatures. I don't know if it was that bad, but it sure didn't stop the more than 40 athletes from the TNT Green Team from meeting at UCSD for our 8-mile run. Hey, once you're wet, you don't even notice it much! Here's a pic of 2 of my mentees, Sherry & Ana at the end of our run. Not even the rain could wash the smiles off their faces.

Wednesday Night Happy Hour

2011-02-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

Besides our long Saturday runs with Team in Training, there's always one weekday run I can count on...Wednesdays @ 6pm in Balboa Park.

We meet in front of the Kate Session Statue, near 6th & Laurel. On any given Wednesday (rain or shine) you will always see a group of people waiting there to run (or walk).

Last night was a great turnout - 37 people show up, which meant that everyone had somebody to run with that was their speed.

I had an interesting moment just before the run started. A lady who I thought was there for our run, came up to me and I greeted her as if she were part of our group. She asked me what the name of our running group was. When I told her "Team in Training" - she had never heard of us. I went on to explain that we raise money to fight leukemia and lymphoma. It turns out that she works in a lab that does leukemia research. We can't assume that everyone know what were about. She wanted to know more, so I gave her our website address. Hopefully, she'll get more involved, and who knows - maybe she'll be running with us next Wednesday!

Week #4 - Never Give Up Hope!

2011-02-21T13:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I headed to the team's Saturday run at Spanish Landing expecting to face strong winds and heavy rain. We had a similar run this time last year, where we had rain blowing at us sideways. I was glad to see that most of our team showed up, and even better that the "storm" turned out to be a few drops here and there. By the time I had reached 10 miles, the sky had cleared (I stopped near the end of the run to take this picture). The sky looked a lot different than when I first arrived at 6:30am.

Before our run, We had Dr. Chad Wells there to talk about injury prevention. I didn't have a lot of faith in chiropractors until I went to Dr. Chad to help straighten out a couple of running injuries. He has worked on more local runners than anyone else.You can find our more about him at The League Chiropractic website.

We also had a chance to hear from our honored teammate, Caleb, who has been battling Leukemia on and off for over 10 years. One of those times, the doctor had sent him home, telling him there was nothing else they could do for him. Caleb's message is to "NEVER GIVE UP HOPE". Now, Caleb and his family have joined Team in Training. He is a constant reminder and inspiration for us as we train for our long runs. You can read more about him HERE.

Running Quote of the Month...

2011-02-18T11:24:00.000-08:00

I got this from my friend Mary's Facebook page...

Running has given me the courage to start, the determination to keep trying, and the childlike spirit to have fun along the way. Run often and run long, but never outrun your joy of running. ~~ Julie Isphording, Marathon winner

Week #3 - Running with the Big Dogs

2011-02-16T15:42:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we ran at Doyle Park in La Jolla. We met near the dog park and had a form clinic with Coach Ronnie, to learn how to stand, how to breathe, and proper running form. Then we headed out for a 7-8 mile run to practice good running form. One of the rewarding parts of being a captain/mentor is helping new runners. This run had a nice long gradual hill near the end of our run. I remember the course from last year, and how a lot of runners dragged up that hill, so this year I spent some time running up the hill with people, running back down, then doing it again. It turned out to be a great workout for me!

Week #2 - Road Runner

2011-02-07T14:14:00.000-08:00

This Saturday's run started at Roadrunner Sports. We had both our Green & Purple Teams together again, so we had close to 300 runners & walkers stretching out in the parking lot. I ran 7.2 miles and had a chance to talk to a lot of new teammates along the way. Then the day finished with a "shoe clinic" back at the store. Roadrunner Sports gives a discount to TNT members on their shoes and other gear.

Hey, we're only 2 weeks into our training, so if you still want to join, "just do it" (thanks, Nike)! Info meetings are still going on this week. Check them out HERE.

This afternoon at 4:30, I'll be out at Lake Murray to help lead a weekly run (with the help of mentors Jessica & J-9). Everyone's welcome. We'll move the run to Mission Trails in Santee once the time changes.

Week #1Plus Some - Kickoff and Training

2011-02-04T12:59:00.000-08:00

It started with Kickoff on Thursday of last week. Several hundred TNTers converging on the Hilton Bayfront Hotel. I had the honor of emceeing the evening, and after a couple minutes of nerves from looking onto the large crowd, things went well. It was an exciting night, and it was great to see all the new athletes joining the team. Next came last Saturday's session. Me met at Paradise Point. It was our first training run, and a time to get to know everyone. Then, on Wednesday, I joined about 20 TNTers at Balboa Park for a nighttime run (complete with freezing cold wind). Nobody complained. We just did it. Next stop, tomorrow's training session at Roadrunner Sports. We'll be running, then having a "show clinic" so everyone can get the perfect running shoes.

Then, starting this Monday night, I'll help lead a group of runners in Santee (my neighborhood). I'm excited about this one, because it's one of the few East County weekday runs we've offered in a long time. Come join us. We'll be meeting @6pm at the entrance of Santee Lakes, off Fanita Parkway.

Team in Training Video From Last Season...

2011-01-23T08:14:00.000-08:00

Here's an excerpt from a video produced by Team in Training Coach Kerry Garnett. It's from last summer, when I trained for the Disneyland Half Marathon. It'll give you a taste of what our Saturday training sessions were like, as well as race day.

I'm Getting Ready for a New TNT Season - As a Captain!

2011-01-21T20:15:00.000-08:00

I had already sign on as a mentor, then this week I was asked to become a captain. I feel honored, and I'm more than happy to step it up a notch this season. It's a great feeling to help out new runners, and share what I've learned during the past 7 seasons.

It's not too late to join. I'll be at 3 information meetings over the next week. The first one is tomorrow at 10am @ the La Mesa Fire Station (see details in previous post).

I'll also be at Roadrunner Sports this Monday@ 6pm.

Then I'll be at the big TNT Kickoff event at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront next Thursday night (1/27) at 5:30pm. I have also been asked to be M-C at the kickoff, so look for me up on the stage. I'm very excited to be involved so much with Team in Training this time around. Come join the fun. Get fit, meet new friends, and help raise money for a great cause.

Together we train to beat cancer!

Where's The Fire?

2011-01-18T20:51:00.000-08:00

No fire here...just people ready to sign you up for your first marathon or half-marathon! Join me this Saturday (1/22) @ 10am at the La Mesa Fire Station on Dallas Street. This information meeting will answer all of your questions of about Team in Training.

Come on down and find how how you can be transformed into an athlete, and help people battling blood cancer at the same time.

I'm starting my 8th season with Team in Training. I'd love to meet you and tell you what it's all about. We'll also have coaches on hand to tell you about the running & walking (yes - walking) program, or you can sign up to train for a triathlon or cycling event.

Running to Save Lives...

2010-12-29T13:47:00.000-08:00

I've signed on again with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, to do the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon (26.2 miles).

I do this for several reasons. To stay in shape. And I'm hooked on running (especially long runs), and it's for a great cause...to help find a cure of blood cancer.

Wanna help? You can join the team and run a marathon, or half marathon. I'm mentoring this season, which means I'll be helping new athletes getting "up and running"...or walking (yes, you CAN walk a marathon).

Or you can help from the comfort of your own couch, and donate to my fundraising. Just click the HERE.

Track Yourself

2010-10-31T08:20:00.000-07:00

I've been saving my race numbers from the past 11 years or so, and put them up in my garage.
You can keep track of your events even easier than that. If you're a runner, walker, trathlete or cyclist, you can get a list of the events that you've done from Athlinks.

It doesn't find all of the 5K's and it misses a few older events, but it's the most complete list that I've found. Here's a link to my event list. You can go there and sign up for a free account get a list of your events, There's also a feature that let's you claim "lost races" that Athlinks didn't automatically put on your list.

Disneyland - The 13 Mile Fun Run

2010-09-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

This weekend was my 2nd Team in Training event this year. The Disneyland Half Marathon was by far the most fun I have had at a running event. It was me and about 14,000 other runners. Disney knows how to do it right! It started at 4:30 Sunday morning. I began the 10-15 minute walk from my hotel room to the Disneyland Hotel to meet my team. The walkway to Disney was brightly lit with upbeat music playing. The same thing at the start line, which featured a giant video screen. The 13.1 mile run took us through both Disneyland parks. We were greeted by Disney characters and cheerful employees. A lot of runners stopped for photo ops with the characters. I tried to stay focused, but there was a lot to see along the way. I could have probably cut a few minutes off my time, but I would have missed out on some of the experience. I stopped to take a few photos with my Blackberry, and even responded to one of my teammates on Facebook after the first 5 miles. Once we hit the streets of Anaheim, we were greeted by high school marching bands, cheerleaders, Mariachis and Hawaiian dancers. Then we ran through Angels Stadium. WOW! The energy level in that stadium was right up there with Disneyland. I just had to stop and take a couple pictures. There were people in the stands cheering us on as we ran around the outer edge of the field. There was an announcer calling out runners' names, and a camera pointed at us, displaying us on the Jumbo-tron as we made our way down the field. Then there was the lady with the "cancer survivor" sign high-fiveing as many as she could as we left the stadium. She's the reason a lot of us were out there. Among the dozen or so groups raising funds for cancer, Team in Training had about 250 or so runners out there, 29 of us from San Diego! And there was the cool Mickey Mouse medal at the finish line. My finishing time was nearly identical to my time at the AFC Half Marathon 3 weeks ago (2:03). The half marathon was just the start of my day. I spent the next 10 hours at Disneyland with my family. I expected it to be overcrowded during Labor Day weekend, but we made it on a lot of rides, and I saw many runners proudly wearing their medals at Disneyland that day. Not me - that's one heavy medal! If you're looking for a run that's more fun than work, this is the one.

Disneyland - The Happiest Race on Earth!

2010-08-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was my final training run before Disneyland Half Marathon weekend. We'll be running through Disneyland, along the streets of Anaheim, through Angels stadium, then back through Disneyland at the end. I've trained as much as I can, and now I just kick back this week and let any sore muscles heal.

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me through donations to Team in Training and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this season!

It's been a good season, with a lot of great people. Many of them are still training for the Nike Marathon & Half Marathon in October, so their long training runs are still ahead of them. My event is this Sunday at 6am, so I should be done around 8am, followed by a day at Disneyland with my family. I'll post an update after Sunday's run.

Run Like a Girl...

2010-08-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

With the half-marathon triple crown (finishing the Carlsbad, La Jolla & AFC in the same year), these half-marathons sell out fast. I ran the Carlsbad in January, I skipped Jolla because I don't like the course, and I just couldn't decide if I wanted to run the America's Finest City Half Marathon. I waited so long that it sold out. Then my TNT coach, Cheryl, had some entries available. Still I waited. Then, last Thursday night I decided that I wanted to run The AFC (which was today). I put out a couple messages on Facebook, scoured the ads on Craigslist, then it happened.

One of my TNT teammates had a friends who is in the military and was out at sea this weekend. Her first response was "there may be a problem - the entry belongs to a female". My response was "no problem, the race numbers all look the same". So, today I ran as a 38-year old woman! This wasn't the first time I had run as somebody else. Because of my procrastination, I have now run as somebody else 4 times! Next year, I'll just do the right thing and sign up.

Today it was perfect running weather. Not the usual hot, humid day that usually plagues the AFC half. I finished in in 2:02. Not a PR for me, but I'll take it!

The Trolley Run

2010-07-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was our famous TNT Trolley run. The only thing we didn't plan for was the onslaught of Comic-Con freaks & geeks. Who would have thought that we had to compete with hundreds of them boarding the trolley at 7am (well it actually not a big surprise to some of us).

Our plan was to board the trolley at the Morena Boulevard station, then ride to the Old Town, then transfer to another trolley that could drop us off at the train station downtown.

Because of the large crowds we found ourselves leaving half of our team behind along the way, but finally we made it downtown. After a quick stretch, we were on our way for a "tour of San Diego". We ran out of downtown, toward Mission Hills (the word "hills" being the operative word).
Then it was a downhill run into Old Town, back to the trolley station where it all began. But wait there's more...for those of us wanted to do more than 5 or 6 miles, we headed over to Mission Bay, running a couple miles past the Visitor's Center, then back to the trolley station. I ran it with one of our coaches, Samantha, who's a speed demon, but she took it easy on me. We did a little over 13 miles (a half-marathon), which was good training for my Disneyland Half-Marathon. This Saturday, we head to Solana Beach for a 10-12 mile run.

It's Official...I'm Going to Disneyland!

2010-07-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

This is not a Mickey Mouse operation. We'll be having fun, and raising a ton of money to find a cure for blood cancer, and helping those who are fighting battle right now!

I got my registration info today for the Disneyland Half Marathon on September 5th. I'll be making a family day of it. The run starts at 6am, and I should be done around 8am. We get to run through Disneyland, out to the streets, through Angel Stadium and back again.Then, it's time to meet up with my family for a fun-filled day at Disneyland!

The "Runner's Bathroom"

2010-07-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

This week has been the most productive running I've done in months. Saturday, it was 8 miles in the heat. Sunday, I did a 7 mile hill run in the heat up Fanita Drive in Santee to Grossmont College (one of my favorites). Then, tonight I did 6 miles after work from the runner's bathroom @ Mission Bay. If you don't know where it is, it's just south of the Visitor's Center. The blue rack in the picture is filled with entry forms for just about every run/walk/cycle or tri event coming up. I ran from there to Sea World and back (the last stretch of the Rock & Roll Marathon, minus the dreaded Fiesta Island portion). I'm looking forward to this Saturday's run. It's called the Trolley Run. We catch the trolley down the hill from USD, take it downtown, then take a "tour of San Diego" for 13 miles back to where we first caught the trolley.

Hot, Hot, Hot!

2010-07-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend's run started at Henry's Marketplace in PB, and they gave us the VIP treatment. We had water waiting for us at the start, and they had a drawing for $10 gift cards (I won one).

Of course, the run itself was a little on the hot side. This was the first weekend that really felt like summer. I did 8 miles with my mentor. Melissa.

After the run, we were treated by Henry's again, with a goody bag and a breakfast at the finish line. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday!

Honored Teammate Picnic

2010-07-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend's run was nice 9-mile flat course along the water. We started at Vacation Isle, headed over to the boardwalk at Pacific Beach and back again. When we returned, we had a picnic to recognize our honored teammates. These are the people who we're running for...they've battled blood cancer, or are continuing to fight the fight.

Happy Trails

2010-07-05T18:39:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, we didn't have a scheduled Team in Training run. The TNT first-timers signed up for one of the Coronado runs on Sunday, so they could get the experience of doing an organized running event.

Since I've done my share of those, I met up with some friends on Saturday for a trail run through Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. The two times that Team in Training scheduled a run there, it was rained out.
It was a scenic 6-miler to the waterfall and back, with plenty of hills along the way. I would definitely add this to my list of favorite runs.

Photo Finish...

2010-06-10T15:04:00.000-07:00

As I ran to the top of the hill on Highway 163 on Sunday, the clouds disappeared and there it was - the dreaded sun! I had been following the weather forecast all week, and they were starting to predict cooler temperature than previously reported. The weather people also mentioned that there would be cloud cover all morning along the coast - wrong! Sometimes I think the weather forecasters spin a wheel, and whatever "weather word" it lands on, they report it.

Even though I fought my way through part of the last half of the marathon, I always look forward to the final stretch. As soon as I can hear the announcer's voice and I can see the big banner across the finish line, I like to give it all I have left.

There's nothing like that sprint into the finish line, giving up that final burst of energy...and hoping that the photographers don't get caught off guard and miss taking your finish line photo. That's happened to me before, but this time they caught me in action.

Marathon #13 Complete...Next Stop - Disneyland!

2010-06-07T14:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon was amazing! 4000 TNT members for across the US & Canada were there, and we raised $12-million dollars for leukemia & lymphoma!

I completed my 13th marathon, but as I told one of the coaches, it was the stuff that preceded the marathon that I remember the most. It was my first time as a TNT Mentor, my chance to help new runners on the team and I made a lot of new friends, and had a great time training with them, then seeing them again on the marathon course, crossing the finish line.

But the adventure (and the fundraising to find a cure for blood cancer) continues! I have joined the Nike/Disneyland TNT team. Now, I'll be training for the Disneyland Half Marathon on September 5th!

Words to Run By...

2010-06-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. - Isaiah 40:31

Week #18 Final Prep

2010-05-31T08:16:00.000-07:00

This was our final weekend to train together as a team. We met at Kellogg Park (La Jolla Shores) with both of our central teams and our walk team. The day started with an 8 mile run, then we came back and found a place on the grass so our coaches could take us through ever aspect of race day. I have heard this many times before, but there's always something you forget about. This day also gave me a chance to congratulate my teammates one last time. Although we do have a huge pasta dinner this Saturday before the marathon, it gets pretty busy at the dinner, since we'll be joined by thousands of Team in Training members from around the United States.

Now it's just a week of taking it easy. There's really nothing else to do to get in shape for the marathon. The training is over. Time to put it to the test!

If you'd like to track me or any other runner on Sunday, just go to competitorwireless.com

Week #17 - To Sea World and Beyond

2010-05-22T12:48:00.000-07:00

Only 2 weeks before the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon. We've done our longest training run (mine was 21 miles), and today was our "back-down" run, where we taper off our miles. I did 12-miles this morning, but after Monday's run, it seemed pretty easy. We started at Vacation Isle, ran past Sea World (the finish line for the RnR Marathon) and down the bike path along Mission Bay to De Anza Cove, then back again. It was great seeing some old running friends out there this morning who used to run with TNT.

Meanwhile, my next team that's training for the Nike Marathon & Disney Half, met this morning for their 2nd run ever. I'll be joining them on Saturdays as soon as this marathon is done. I can't wait to do it all over again!

21-Mile Run 4 Beer!

2010-05-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, after spending the first half of the day working in my daughter's classroom, I decided to squeeze in my 20-mile training run that I missed doing on Saturday. It's important to do an extra long run about 3 weeks out from a marathon. It not only prepares you mentally & physically for the full 26.2 mile marathon, but you find out where your weaknesses are (blisters, muscle problems, injuries) so you can hopefully work out the kinks before race day. I chose kind of a hilly course from Santee, up to and around Grossmont College to Lake Murray, around the Lake, then down Baltimore & Jackson Drives (both hilly streets, before making my way over to Mission Gorge Road to the San Diego Brewing Company - my carrot at the end of the stick. It's nice to have something to look forward to at the end of a long run. A large ice-cold Old Town Nut Brown did the trick (I guess I lived up to my run4beer email address). And my 20-miler actually turned into 21 miles!

Week #16 - Crown Point Double Duty

2010-05-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, we met at Crown Point. It was a big day that started at 5:45am. We had 4 teams in one place. Two Rock & Roll run teams, a Nike/Disney run team and a Nike/Disney walk team. For the Rock & Roller, it was a 20 mile run that day. For the Nike/Disney teams, it was their first week of training. I had the pleasure of being mentor for two teams at once that day. We're coming to the end of our season for the Rock & Roll Marathon, just 3 weeks away so this was our longest run. It was supposed to be my 20 miler, but I was also there as a mentor to greet brand new runners training for the Nike Marathon and the Disneyland Half-Marathon. It brought back memories of my first time running with TNT, unsure what was ahead, but 7 seasons later, I keep coming back for more. Here's a picture of Coach Jim with the purple Spirit Sombrero, complete with mouse ears, which is awarded each week to the team member with the most spirit.

I was able to squeeze in a 10 miler, so I still owe myself a 20-mile run, to get my body & mind ready for the 26.2 on June 6th.

Week #15 - Backdown under the Bridge

2010-05-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

OK, so we didn't run across the Coronado Bridge last weekend, but we did run under it and down the Silver Strand. Last Saturday was an easy, flat 11-mile run, intended to give us a break from the 18-mile train run the week before, and to let us catch our breath before the 20-mile run through Crown Point this weekend. This is gonna be fun for me. I'm a mentor for the San Diego Rock & Roll team AND the fall team that starts training this weekend for the Nike Marathon in San Francisco and the Disneyland Half-Marathon. Both of my TNT teams will be training together, so I'll probably run the 8 miler with the Nike team, then catch up with the Rock & Roll team for another 12 miles. Whew! That's the plan anyway.

And the Winner of the TNT Quilt is...

2010-05-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Stephanie Estrada! She won the Mother's Day drawing.

For every $30 you donate, your name was put in the running for the beautiful quilt, made by a former Team in Training member. It's a large quilt measuring 72" x 82" (you can click on the photo to see a larger/more detailed view). There is a lot of work and detail in this quilt. The blue backing is stitched in the shape of hearts.

Spring Cleaning

2010-05-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

Today was spring cleaning day at work. You never know what you're gonna find. Stacked up in our conference room along with the beaten up office chairs, old music CDs and assorted broken down computers was this photo of O.J. Lawrance. He worked as our afternoon DJ at KyXy until 1999, which was also the year of my first marathon. O.J. was one of the most upbeat, positive guys around, and he kept that spirit going throughout his battle with lymphoma. He lost his battle with blood cancer that year. He kept his positive attitude and smile throughout that time, and he worked on the radio until about a week before his death. I never forgot that, and it wasn't until years later that I was able to honor him in a small way by joining Team in Training. It makes those marathon mean more than just another long run. Anytime you do a spring cleaning, you always find something good in all that junk. Finding O.J's photo will give me something extra to take on the run with me tomorrow.

Week #14- Team in "Train"-ing!

2010-05-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

Today we did out "world famous" train run. We boarded the train in Solana Beach, got off in Oceanside, then ran back. This is always a great run with a view of the ocean most of the way, and we run through 3 or 4 beach cities along the way. We had all 3 of out TNT groups there (we probably had a couple hundred people running this one). The half-marathoners did almost 12 miles. The full-marathoners did 18. The weather got a little hot, but it was probably the closest to the weather conditions we'll have for the Rock & Roll Marathon next month.

After doing the 18 miler (well I actually did 17, because I hadn't run all week), I headed back home, got cleaned up, then went to Skate World to go roller skating with my wife & kids for 3 hours. I turned out to be a great way to stretch out my legs after the long run. That, followed by a short nap made for a great day.

Week #13 - Running, Bootcamp, Fundraising, Meeting New Athletes...

2010-04-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we met up at Torrey Pines State Beach for an 11 mile run. It was a little smaller group than normal, because quite a few teammates did the La Jolla Half Marathon the next day, and I'm sure their training paid off for them on that hilly course. It's been an all-TNT kind of week for me.After Saturday's run, I met with my new Nike/Disney fall season coaches & mentors for a boot camp. I have also been doing a big fundraising push for TNT - Nike. Thanks to everyone who stepped up this past week to donate! Last night, I attended one of the Team in Training info meetings at the La Mesa Fire Station. We had around 20 people learning about the program and signing up to do marathons, half-marathon, hikes, triathlons and 100-mile cycling events. This was just one of a ton of info meetings going on during the next few weeks. The only thing I didn't do this week was run! With the rain and other commitments, I have become a "weekend warrior" for the last several weeks. This Saturday is our famous 18-mile Train Run. We'll catch the train in Solana Beach, get off at Oceanside, then run back to Solana Beach.

Week #12 - Back To Spanish Landing

2010-04-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

This week, we returned to Spanish Landing, only this time we're back into double-digit miles. This one was a 16-miler. Nice & flat, view of the harbor and an inspirational run through Cancer Survivors Park. We've really gelled as a team, and talking to everyone during the run makes the time fly.

We're only about a month-and-a-half away from marathon day! Then for me, I hit the ground running after that to train for my next marathon in San Francisco.

Week #11 - Movin through Lake Murray

2010-04-11T14:06:00.000-07:00

Our run this weekend Started at Movin' Shoes in La Mesa and made its way over to Lake Murray. We did 2 loops of our run to make it around 15 miles. As I mentioned before, Lake Murray was where I got my start running about 11 or 12 years ago. It's still my favorite place to run.

This week, it was my turn to be "sweeper". My job was to make sure that every runner came back safely, and I had to stay on the course until the last person finished (which took about 4 hours). For me, the easiest way to do it was to find the last couple runners and stay with them until the finish line. The two runners in the picture below made me promised not to tell anyone that they were the last ones in the course. It turns out that they weren't.

I've been having some good runs this week. The kind where you feel like you can run forever and not get tired. I hope it keeps going that way. I have missed doing some mid-week runs and was concerned that I was falling behind, but I'm injury-free, so I'm happy where I'm at right now.

I'm now about a month away from transitioning as mentor of the fall team for the Nike Marathon & Disneyland Half-Marathon. I'll actually be mentor on both teams for several weeks, until the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon is over. I think I convinced a couple teammates to follow me over to the Nike Marathon team after Rock & Roll is over. They liked the idea of getting Ghiradelli Chocolates along the way, and a Tiffany necklace served to them by firefighters in tuxedos. More about that later.

Week #10 - A Stretch Around UCSD

2010-04-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

We're now halfway through our training for the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon. In case you haven't heard, the Marathon, the half-marathon, and the relay are all sold out! You can still join the Team in Training relay team, and get in on the action for the Rock & Roll Marathon.

This weekend, we met at UCSD for a 10-mile run. This was a back-down week, which means we're headed for some longer runs to prepare us for the marathon.

Then yesterday, I did my cross-training in Big Bear, attempting to ski after about 9 years. It went pretty good. I guess it's like riding a bike...
I came back injury-free (although I only skied the bunny slopes). The hardest part was skiing with 30 mile-an-hour winds blowing snow and hail at us all day. It was a taste of winter (in spring) for someone who's spoiled with San Diego weather. My kids learned how to ski after a 2-hour lesson. I seem to remember it taking me a little longer than that.

Back on the subject of running, on May 15th I'll be meeting up with my next TNT team to start training for the Nike Marathon and the Disneyland Half Marathon. I'll be a mentor for that one too! Signups are going on right now.

Week #9 - Move It on Over

2010-03-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

This weekend's run was from Movin Shoes in PB. I did 13.1 miles (a half marathon) through Crown Point & Pacific Beach, with teammates Nitza, Jackie & Becca. We couldn't have asked for a nicer day to run, a nice change from all of the rainy runs. And we followed up our run with a nutrition clinic. It was also re-commitment day,
where we made our commitment to moving ahead with our training and fundraising, ordered our raceday shirts and filled out our entry forms for the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon!

Mentoring x 2...Whoo Hoo!

2010-03-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

Just got word today that I'm officially a Team in Training mentor for the upcoming Disneyland/Nike marathon season! Are you ready to sign up for a run?

The San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon season is in full swing, with the marathon on June 6th, then it's on to the Disneyland Half-Marathon & the Nike Women's Marathon season.

I have the honor of mentoring both seasons, plus I get to run 2 full marathons in the same year again!

Please consider supporting me with a donation to help fight blood cancer. Remember, for every $30 you donate, I'll put your name in a drawing for the amazing quilt (shown below),
I'll be giving the quilt away sometime in May.

Week #8 - The Trolley Run

2010-03-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

This is a run that was created last year. We board the trolley at Friars Road & Napa Street, get off downtown, then run back. Unfortunately, I was out sick for this one. Oh well, there's always next year for this run (yeah I said next year).

The St. Patrick's Day Shuffle...

2010-03-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Allison Milow who won this green iPod shuffle on St. Patrick's Day, For every $30 you donated, your name was put in the drawing.

If you have already donated, THANK YOU! Your name is in the drawing for a handmade quilt. You can still make additional donations to get more chances to win the quilt.
Thank you again for all of your support!

Week #7 - Honored Teammate Picnic

2010-03-13T12:08:00.001-08:00

This morning, three of our teams converged on Paradise Point, and I ran 11.3 miles, followed by our annual Honored Teammate Picnic. This is a time for us to meet people affected by blood cancer. It really reminds us why we're out here training when our family is still in bed. The toughest part is hearing from parents of children with blood cancer.
We met 2 of them this morning, and it's heartbreaking, but also reminds me how thankful I am to have healthy kids, and why we need to continue fundraising until there cures for these diseases. We also heard from a doctor with a rare form of lymphoma who is about to undergo stem cell replacement to help him fight his cancer. If you give blood, you can also ask to be registered as a possible steam cell or bone marrow match, and all it takes is a swab of your cheek.

I Just Doubled my Marathon Fun!

2010-03-11T16:45:00.000-08:00

Well, just like last year I wasn't satisfied with doing just one marathon in a year, so I just signed onto another season with Team in Training.

You can probably guess from the picture where I'm going....San Francisco baby! I have applied to be a TNT Mentor again, and I'm doing the Nike "Women's" Marathon (yes guys can do it too)! So, it'll be 52.4 miles of marathon fun this year, and all for a great cause...finding a cure for blood cancer! I have surpassed my fundraising minimum for the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon, and have just set up a brand new fundraising page for the Nike Marathon. It's sitting there lonely, with zero dollars, just waiting for it's first donation. I know times are tight, but please consider a donation big or small. Just click on the DONATE NOW button on the right side of this page.

Week #6 - Race For Literacy

2010-03-08T10:55:00.000-08:00

This weekend, instead of having our regular Saturday training session, all of our TNT teams met up at the Race For Literacy 8K in Balboa Park. This was our 3rd weekend of running in rainy weather, and yesterday it came down pretty hard. As you can see from the photo, I was decked out in my fashionable see-through rain poncho, which kept me dry and warm throughout the run. Here we are waiting under the shelter of the Hall of Champions (thanks to my fellow teammate, Kelly for the pic).

TNT on KNSD...

2010-03-05T08:59:00.000-08:00

Some of my Team in Training teammates got some face time on KNSD to talk about our training program and the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon.

Week #5 - Gimme Shelter

2010-03-02T05:46:00.000-08:00

If it's Saturday, it must be rain...and this weekend it included lots of wind & rain, but we had a tough group. After you're soaked, it doesn't matter if it's raining or not. We started out at Liberty Station and headed around Shelter Island. I ran about 9 miles, including a wrong turn that sent me 2 miles in the opposite direction, and I even had another runner follow me! Oh well, as soon as I figured it out we turned around, then adjusted our turnaround to get back on track.

And when I got back, our fellow mentor, David Gong, affectionately known as "The Gonger" had hot chocolate waiting for us. This coming weekend, our run will be on Sunday. We've signed up for the Race for Literacy, a fast 8K. This a chance for the new runners to get their feet wet at an organized race. And their feet will get wet....it's supposed the rain on Sunday!

Thank you!!

2010-02-22T09:47:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Jamie, Jen, and everyone who came out to my Pizza Port fundraiser yesterday. I was there for about 3 hours at lunchtime, and the place was packed. I wish I could take credit for all of it...Sundays are supposed to their slow day. A special thanks to the Team in Training Cycling team from West Los Angeles. When I was walking toward Pizza Port, there was a big crowd of cyclists. I was wearing my stylish TNT purple and green jacket. Then I heard the words "Go Team!" They told me they had just biked from Anaheim to Solana Beach, stopping for lunch at Pizza Port, then heading back on the train. When I told them I was doing a fundraiser, they ask me for some flyers so they could help me out. I probably won't know for a week or two how much money I raised. I did notice that the people working the registers didn't seem too sure what they should do with the fundraising flyers, so I'll be curious how much I get credit for. Oh well, it was a good excuse to go to Pizza Port for the afternoon.

New San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon Course...

2010-02-21T06:17:00.000-08:00

For the first 12 years, the San Diego Rock & Roll Marathon always ended at MCRD. Then, last year they announced that we could no longer finish there, because they're building new barracks in the area where we ended the run. After months of anticipation, the new course for this year has been unveiled. They've added a 4.7 mile loop around Fiesta Island, and the finish line will be at Sea World. I was kinda hoping they'd add a stretch along the ocean.

You can see a detailed map HERE.

Week #4 - Bring On the Rain

2010-02-20T19:09:00.000-08:00

We have a pretty tough group of runners this season. It was pouring this morning at 6:30, but by 7am the sky started to clear and the sun came out, and stayed that way for most of the 10 miles. We started our morning with a talk by Dr. Chad Wells (in the picture on the left), a chiropractor who specializes in working on runners. He has helped people like Ryan Hall and a number of Olympic athletes. I was never a believer in chiropractors until I went to this guy for some running injuries. He got me straigthened out and running again, and he's a big supporter of TNT.

My mentor job this morning was finding two friends that would work aid stations for our team, and even the rain didn't stop Norm & Adrienne...thanks for helping out! I was also the "sweeper" today, which means that I had to stay out on the course and make sure every runner made it back to the finish line.

Tomorrow, I head over to Pizza Port, Solana beach for my TNT fundraiser. Come on out and support the team, and have some great pizza & beer. Make sure you download the flyer here and bring it with you to make sure I get credit. Pizza Port will donate 20-percent of your order to help find a cure for blood cancer.

Totally Baldacious!

2010-02-19T13:21:00.001-08:00

Pretty scary, huh! This going bald thing at least gives me a preview of what I may look like someday. For now, I'm hanging on to what little hair I have left. For now I'm going "viturally bald" for a great cause.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has launched a "Totally Baldacious" campaign.

Show your love and solidarity with cancer patients. Use the Be Baldacious widget or Facebook Application to share your support of this campaign with your friends. Update your profile image and spread the word about the importance of funding life-saving cancer research.

Party at the Port!

2010-02-16T21:00:00.000-08:00

First there was Super Bowl weekend, then Valentine's weekend, then...there's Pizza Port Weekend!

It's time for my 2nd annual Pizza Port Fundraiser.

It'll be going on all day THIS SUNDAY, February 21st. Download the flyer here. Print it out, bring it in, order your food & drinks and don't forget to present the flyer at the register when you pay your bill. Pizza Port will donate 20-percent of your food & drink tab to Team in Training! Bring your friends, bring your kids (they have video games at the back of the restaurant).

Week #3 - Going to the Dogs

2010-02-16T20:32:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday started at Doyle Park in La Jolla...a dog park, but at least we were staring at them from the other side of the fence. And we had some fun celebrating Coach Ronni's birthday, a good sport on and off the running course!

For my "C" group, it was an 8-mile run. The first half was mostly all downhill to Santa Fe Road by Carl Strauss, along Highway 5. Of course with all downhills. come the uphills
most of the way back. Hill runs are great for building strength.

Next Saturday, it's down to the bay, to Spanish Landing...a nice flat run.

Week #2 - Shoe Clinic

2010-02-08T10:47:00.001-08:00

Saturday, we met at Roadrunner Sports for what we thought was going to be a rain soaked run. As you can see, I was prepared with my rain poncho, but it only rained for the last stretch of my 5-mile run.

Then we stuck around after the run for a shoe clinic, and some shopping for running gear.

Yo Quiero Taco Bell...um..Water!

2010-02-03T09:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the day off to run some errands. I had some free time, so it was a perfect day for a run! I went to Lake Murray for a relaxing 6-miler. Lake Murray is where I first started running about a decade ago, back when I could only jog 2 miles, then I had to stop and walk back to my car. It has always been one of my favorite running spots.

Sometimes in the course of running, you come across weird situations. Last summer, it was my run along Fiesta Island, where I encountered a half-dozen people riding horses! I had to dodge piles of horse poop the entire way. Yesterday was also one of those times. I was more than halfway through my run, was out of water and decided to stop at the drinking fountain at the Little League fields. When I got there, I found myself standing behind a woman who had her TWO CHIHUHUAS STANDING IN THE DRINKING FOUNTAIN taking a drink...and licking the end of the spigot! She paid no attention to me, even though I was standing there dripping with sweat, holding an empty water bottle. After nearly 2 minutes of patiently waiting, I cleared my throat, she turned around and said "oh, do you need some water"? I wish I had my camera with me! Oh well, you get the idea from my crude sketch.

Week #1 - Off and Running!

2010-01-30T14:22:00.001-08:00

This morning was out first Team in Training session. We had both of our central teams there, so there were a couple hundred of us. I did my first 6-miles of the season. We're off to a great start. I'm mentoring this season, so I have 9 people that I'm helping out. the 6 this showed up this morning finished strong. You can still join the team. Next week, we're meeting @ 8am at Roadrunner Sports (located at Highway 52 & Convoy). Come out and give a try. Meet new friends and do it for a great cause!

Gotta Run!

2010-01-28T12:51:00.000-08:00

The Carlsbad Half Marathon was fun! Nice course, lots of ocean view, and a good way to warm up for the start of Team in Training!

Our first training session is this Saturday @ 8am, at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Office, 9150 Chesapeake Drive in Kearny Mesa. This is my first time as a mentor, and so far I have 9 mentees to help with training and fundraising. We have a great team shaping up this year.

If you're reading this, and you haven't joined the team yet, you can take us for a "test run" this Saturday. Just show up around 7:30am, ask for me, and I'll point you in the right direction.

A Pre-Training Run...

2010-01-23T10:34:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow's the Carlsbad Marathon and half-marathon. I'll be doing the half, since I haven't been putting in the necessary training for the full. The rain has cleared, so it should be clear & cool. I hope to do the triple-crown this year (3 half-marathons: Carlsbad, La Jolla & AFC). I ran 12 miles of the 13.1 mile course a few weeks ago. It starts with an uphill climb, which also means it ends with a downhill, so it all works out...and there's a nice view of the ocean along the way.

Sound the Alarm!

2010-01-15T14:22:00.000-08:00

This Thursday 6pm, I'll be hanging out at the La Mesa Fire Station at 8844 Dallas Street.

It's a free Team in Training meeting, where you can ask questions, and decide if you want to get in shape for a marathon, half-marathon, or maybe hike the Grand Canyon, do a cycling event, or a trialthlon.

The coaches for these events, along with me and other mentors in the program will be there.

Come up and say hi, and I'll give you a Team in Training bracelet just for showing up (while supply lasts)!

Join the "Green Team"....

2010-01-11T13:33:00.000-08:00

Team in Training has 4 San Diego area marathon teams: the North County Team, the Walking Team, the Purple Team, and the one that I'm on...the Green Team.

To go along with being "green", I'm giving away a green iPod!

For every $30 you donate, your name will be put in a drawing for a green 1 GB iPod shuffle. This is the same kind of iPod that I take running, which can hold up to 240 songs. If you already donated, your name is already in the drawing, which will be held on March 17th (St. Patrick's Day).

Just click here, or click on the DONATE NOW BUTTON in the upper right corner of the page.

Meet & Greet

2010-01-08T11:05:00.000-08:00

I went to my first mentor meeting last night. I'm getting excited about starting training. Until then, I'll be hanging out at some Team in Training info meetings. If you've been thinking about getting in shape, there's nothing like a marathon or half-marathon to do that. And you can run or walk it! I'll be at these meetings with TNT coaches and other mentors to answer your questions, and to sign you up. This is where I'll be during the next 3 weeks:

Kearny Mesa: Wed., Jan. 13, 6:00p.m., LLS, 9150 Chesapeake Drive, Suite 100
La Mesa: Thus., Jan. 21, 6:00 p.m., Fire Station 12, 8844 Dallas Street
KICK OFF: Tues., January 26, 5:30 p.m., Four Points Sheraton, 8110 Aero Drive

Who's With Me?

2009-12-29T19:22:00.001-08:00

Sign-ups for Team in Training have begun! What's on your list of things to do in 2010? You can be among the 1-percent of the population who has done a marathon. Find out more by clicking here. You can also download an application. If you've done TNT before, here's the Alumni form.

An Honored Teammate...

2009-12-13T08:00:00.001-08:00

You never know who or when blood cancer will strike.
This weekend, I heard from a friend who received my fundraising email, letting me know that her husband is going through his 5th round of chemo for lymphoma. You can read his story HERE.

The funds we raise not only help find a cure, but also help people who are going through treatment. I'll be putting his name on my racing jersey, as an honored teammate... another reminder of why I'm out there. I didn't coin this phrase, but it's worth repeating: "You think running a marathon is tough? Try chemotherapy!"

If you'd like to help. please click the DONATE NOW button on this page.

Coming Soon....

2009-12-08T16:56:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to be back with Team in Training. I'm going for marathon #13!

This time I'm coming back as a Mentor, so I can get more involved with Team in Training and pass along some of my experiences to first-timers.

I have already been sending out email for donations to the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society. I know the economy is pretty bad right now, but I'm hoping that people will still respond to the fight to beat blood cancers. My goal is to reach my minimum fundraising target by the time I start my first Saturday training session in mid-January.