42 Years and 13.1 Miles

On Saturday afternoon, my birthday celebration got off to an unusual start at Sobe in Arlington. We were there not for their seafood, but for the kickoff of the winter training season for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. There were presents involved — I walked out with bag of goodies that included a t-shirt, a $10 gift card to Potomac River Running and other sundries. Our coaches and mentors introduced themselves and encouraged us. But the real gift was hearing from a blood cancer survivor how the funds we raise help provide supportive programs. The man who spoke shared about finding a brochure from LLS in the hospital and being grateful that he could finally make sense of all the things doctors had been trying to explain, and even more grateful that LLS could connect him with a survivor willing to talk about the experience. Most importantly, the treatment that saved his life was discovered through research funded by LLS.

As you can read on my fundraising page, I attended an informational meeting to support Roberto and had no intention of participating in a half-marathon or anything else. I filled out the application because everyone was so enthusiastic, but I figured I’d back out in a few days once I came up with a really good reason. One of the fun coincidences is that the winter training season started on my birthday and will end on Roberto’s birthday, but that wasn’t what convinced me. LLS is a great cause, however it was the opportunity to be part of a team really that interested me since I work alone at my desk quite a bit. Also, I have become a couch potato since we got a car. Several other good reasons turned out to be in the “Just Do It” column so here I am, walking twenty minutes a day as we prepare for our first training session on Saturday. My goal is simply to finish; I’ll be walking the whole way and enjoying the sights of Walt Disney World on my very first trip to Orlando. I’m excited, and a bit terrified since I’ve never succeeded at anything athletic.

You can help by donating, praying, and encouraging me. I promise to let you know how it goes…