Dear Friends and Family,

Is there life after a marathon? I guess so, because here I am: almost two weeks out and still kicking, and walking, and doing all those other good things that legs should normally do. I guess your first question would be, “How was it?” Well, the answer would depend quite a bit on when you asked it. If you asked me shortly after I stumbled wearily over the finish line, barely able to get out of the chute and lower myself into a prone position on the asphalt, I probably would not have had flowery descriptives for you. Even if you questioned me that evening, or the next day, I would still not have an uplifting or thrilling story to tell you. I am glad I waited a while to write this, because I very conveniently have forgotten the grueling physical and emotional pain and can happily tell you that it was a good experience. But in reality, I think that I needed to forget the physical agony of that 26.2 miles before being able to connect positive thoughts to the great accomplishment that it is supposed to be.

I think that the greatest accomplishment was not the 26.2 miles, but the 10 million dollars that we collectively, as runners in the Nike 26.2 race, raised for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am so proud that I was able to be a part of what this organization is doing. The stories of cancer survivors are so much more inspiring to me than stories of runners beating their bodies into submission so they can get a personal record, or win the race! (As one marathoner’s t-shirt put it, “Think running is hard? Try chemotherapy.”) What an honor you all bestowed upon me, in donating toward this cause to support me as I trained for a race that was meant to symbolize the determination that cancer survivors depend upon daily.

So what about the gritty details? Well, San Francisco was beautiful and we really enjoyed our entire trip. God granted us gorgeous weather, and my lungs were clear and felt good the whole run. I was able to finish the whole marathon in 5 hours, 17 minutes, and 9 seconds. That is a long time to run, and there were definite highs and lows. We made our way across the start in the pre-dawn chill and dark. As we ran up the first hill, (AKA the first mile) we were able to look out on the sun rising over the bay. We then ran along the coast, with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Fisherman’s Wharf. I ran pretty easily for the first 8-9 miles, and then the run turned up into the city for many more hills and much less scenery. I ran most of it alone, and I only saw my “personal cheer squad” twice in the whole run: at mile 6 and mile 21. That was a long time to go without that encouragement, and I had to fight against discouragement and loneliness. I wasn’t sure if I could finish without the energy bars that I had given Ken to pass off to me during the race. Unfortunately, due to parking and other problems, we weren’t able to meet up as often as we would have liked to.

Around mile 18, I think I really “hit my wall”. I had no physical energy left, since I hadn’t eaten in 12 miles, and I was running myself into the ground, one pathetic shuffle at a time. Finally seeing them at mile 21 was such a relief; I couldn’t even speak at that point. Ken ran a mile or two with me, and that really gave me the energy to finish. In the final miles, we were back out at the coast, this time in the full sun. As I neared mile 25, I couldn’t believe that I was almost done. My body was barely responding to my demands by now, disobediently stopping on its own and crying out that I remain stopped. But the finish line loomed by this time, and I increased my pace instead. This was when I was finally sure that I would finish. When I a half-mile out, my head coach appeared from the crowd–cowbell in hand–and ran me all the way to the finish line, ringing the bell and encouraging my weary legs to keep up with the gently increased pace that he pushed me to. And so I crossed the line. The little chip in my shoe was scanned and the machine enthusiastically chirped to announce my passage over the finish mat. I got my very own space blanket, which wasn’t really necessary, since it was very warm by the ocean, but I truly felt like a marathon finisher with that annoying, flapping sheet around my weary shoulders.

And so it goes, and so it goes. I finished, and who knows what the future holds. How many more finish lines will I cross? This experience taught me a lot about sacrificing my time and energy for a cause that is greater than my own personal records. On one hand, I felt almost ridiculous punishing my body for the simple reason of finishing the race. I wasn’t really racing, I was fighting myself and my desire to quit. Although I realize that there is a benefit to physical endurance training, I also believe strongly that there are things in life that matter more than whether or not you are able to run 26.2 miles, walk 13.1 miles, or crutch across the room. I have to agree that, “…bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” Fighting the desire to quit and holding onto hope are essential qualities for survivors. I pray that each and every cancer survivor I ran for knows and holds onto the hope that God holds out to us, no matter what the situation. He offers a promise of true life to us all, whether we are comfortably coasting along at the beginning of the “race”, fighting the battles in the middle, or painfully struggling to catch our breath near the end. How much more benefit there is in knowing the promise of life that is as real now as it will be when we finish our individual struggles!

Thank you, again, so much for your part in my race and fund-raising! What a great experience. I’m still recovering physically, but hopefully I will be able to get out there a bit this winter and get my legs under me again. This running thing is a bit addicting, you know?

Love,
Sarah

PS See photos of the big event over here.

Long-term illness. It won’t happen to me. Seasonal colds. Sure. Occasional headaches? That’s fine. Even a 2-3 week infection is not a problem. But when illness sticks around for long periods of time, you begin to get a little nervous: “This is kind of cramping my style. I mean, I do deserve to be mostly healthy, right? It’s not like I am fighting a deadly disease, so I really have no excuse to still be sick!”

Well, you may wonder what all this rambling has to do with my marathon. Since about two months ago (mind you, that�s a sixth of a year of my life) I have been plagued by lung congestion and a hacking cough. Various other symptoms have come and gone, but I still remain definitively sick. The course of my sickness has been so long and uninteresting that I will not bore you with the details. Suffice it to say that after three rounds of antibiotics and continuous herbals, I have not been able to shake whatever this is. This has obviously affected my marathon training. In fact, for most of the entire month of September, I did not train, as per my doctor, and tried very hard to rest and heal. Unfortunately, that didn�t work. Maybe I should have rested for longer, but I have never been known for my patience, and a month while I was supposed to be training was an eternity anyway. So for the past few weeks, I have begun to run again, in the hope that I can face those 26.2 miles in ten days with some sort of vague confidence.

Over the past few weeks, as I have dealt with this, I have become more and more frustrated that I haven’t healed. I have realized that most of us have this expectation that our bodies should be reasonably healthy, and reasonably easy to keep in that state. However, I know that there are quite a few people that deal with chronic illnesses on a daily basis, not to mention the people who have to battle deadly diseases (such as Leukemia and Lymphoma). These people do not take daily health for granted. I think I have learned a small amount about that as I have struggled to rid myself of this chronic bronchitis. I had gotten to the point where worry about whether I would heal enough in time for the marathon was consuming me. And then I decided to let go of it. I know I am running this marathon in the name of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and to raise money for that organization. That goal has been accomplished�thanks to all of you and your generosity! I also know that if I am physically unable to run the marathon, none of my family or friends will think less of me. So, I decided that I am going to San Francisco and I will enjoy myself, whether I am able to run the marathon or not. As much as I truly desire to run the marathon, I know that worry about my health will not help me. I will try to run it, and keep a close ear on how I feel. If I cannot finish, there will always be other marathons.

A huge part of my experience has been that I really feel as if I deserve to have a healthy body. I felt very betrayed (by God, I guess) that I have not been able to get back into good health in a “reasonable” amount of time. Part Most of this is my pride. I feel like I am somehow knocked lower because I am unable to get better, and that it reflects poorly on how people see me. I seem weak. So here I am, with wounded pride and physically ailing, whining to God about how He could let me stay sick for so long when I have a marathon to train for. As if God owes me anything! Each second of breath and life that He gives me is a gift of His mercy, plain and simple. So I began to pray that I would trust in Him more and myself less, and that I would be content with what He has planned for me. That has proven to be very challenging for me. Although I have been able to let go of most of the worry surrounding the marathon, it still creeps in. I�m more concerned about injuring myself seriously during the marathon than I am about not finishing it. I was never really aiming for a stellar time anyway.

So that�s my story

Ten days away from the marathon that I have been training for these past six months and I�m not positive that I will be able to run it. Despite it all, I am excited about the whole thing, and grateful for the experience of the training and the opportunity to try anyway. I know many of you will be praying for me and thinking of me as we head out there this coming week. Thank you for your support. I love you all and I look forward to posting info and photos no matter what happens!

Can you believe that I only have about two months of training to go for my marathon? I can hardly comprehend how quickly it is coming up! I am really getting excited about it! This letter is an update to let all of you know that I am still training, and I will make it to the marathon. Whether I actually make it through all 26.2 miles of the marathon itself is another question�

For the past four weeks, our coaches have been working us on hills during the week, and endurance on the weekends. We have been consistently increasing our mileage during the weekend runs from 3 miles the first week, to 14 miles this weekend. The long runs are fun to do with friends, so you can complain together about what part of your body aches the most at what mile.

I�ve also been learning a lot of fun things about running, hydration and nutrition. Let me just tell you, I am so sick of hydrating! Hydrate is the buzz word for runners in the summer. This was kind of difficult for me, as I have never really been an avid drinker. But they are very sneaky about it. They start you off slowly with instructions to drink sufficient fluids during longer runs. A few weeks later, they begin to talk about hydrating before a run; and I�m not talking about a few minutes or hours, I�m talking the day or two before! And if that�s not bad enough, then they throw in re-hydration after the runs! OK, I know fluids are important to maintain in your body, but sometimes I feel like I�m afloat with them. And you can�t hydrate for long without thinking about where the nearest bathroom is. Believe me, there really aren�t many in Central Park.

Enough about water�Recently, it has been more difficult to run regularly because I didn�t want to run on the streets here in Newark, where we have just moved. However, the park one block south of us has proved itself worthy (i.e. safe), and I have enjoyed running its perimeter. I also run after work while I am still in NYC, or drive to the suburbs.

The fundraising has been a challenge too. My deadline of October 1^st is approaching quickly. Thank you so much to those of you who have contributed and are still planning on sending a contribution. It is not too late to donate! Please know that your money is definitely well invested in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I firmly believe that every little bit counts. Just a few weeks ago, an event happened that served to remind me of why I am doing all this: I learned that a close family member has been diagnosed with cancer. It hits so hard and fast, doesn�t it?

I have a small collection of names that you have sent along with donations. On race day, I will write these names on my jersey to honor those loved ones that we know who have endured the struggle of living with cancer. If you have a name you would like to add, please send it to me. Also, if you know anyone who would like to support me in my marathon and donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, let me know and I will be more than happy to send them a letter. If you have time, please check out our website: www.kennsarah.net/26.2 where we will be posting some pictures of me in action and a progress bar for my fundraising.

By the way, did you ever wonder why the official distance of a marathon was exactly 26 miles, 385 yards (26.2 mi)? Well, previous to 1908, the marathon standard had actually been set at exactly 26 miles. However, at the Olympic marathon that year in London, it was decided that the royal family needed a better view of the finish line. Organizers of the race added an extra 385 yards to the race so the finish line would be in front of the royal box. It’s been that way ever since.

(If you would like to make a donation now, please visit the donations page. Thanks!)

Hello Everyone!

I guess it’s about time for an update on my running! Well, Saturday the 12th, I was able to run the NY Mini 10K. I’m not quite sure what the name of the race means, but it isn’t a miniature 10K race, it was the full 6.2 miles. I counted. I was able to run it with my good friend Alex Basko, who is also running for Team in Training. TnT builds optional races into our training schedule to allow us to train for a race, not just for a run. I didn’t really know what to expect from myself, but it turns out that I was more ready for it than I thought. We set a goal of running it in under an hour. Alex finished it in 59:59 and I finished it in 1:00:00 exactly Hooray!

The race itself was basically a lap of Central Park, and we could not have asked for more gorgeous weather. The moisture on my shirt in the pictures is mostly water…I dumped a few cups over my head for fun. The race was a great way to ease into the racing mentality. It is definitely different when you get out there and ask your body to hold a steady, hard (yes, 9:40 is pretty hard for me) pace for a long distance, and then you ask it to increase that pace in the last mile or so. That’s a pretty big difference from: “Well, lets go ahead and just jog for 30 minutes and enjoy the scenery.” You quickly discover that you have latent reserves of competitiveness. Or maybe that is just me…

But no worries, after the race, you can reward yourself with a bagel, bananna, bomb pop and gatorade. Everyone knows that the best time to eat a large meal is right after some heavy exercise, right? Seriously, I don’t get it yet. But the liquid was definitely much needed at that point. I know that the carbs (from the bagel) and potassium (from the bannana) are good to replenish after a race, and I did get pretty hungry around mile four, so I am learning.

It was a great first race to run. We paced oursleves well and were able to run the second half faster than the first. I think I could have pushed a little more, but it was more important for me to learn about how to race. Now I just have to work up to more than four times that length!

Fundraising is going well, and the money is slowly trickling in. I am so excited to be raising this money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The more personal stories I hear, the more important I realize their goal is. I already have names of several family members and friends of donors that have been diagnosed with cancer to wear proudly on my jersey the day of the marathon. If you would like me to do the same for someone you know, please contact me or send the name with a donation. Even small donations are so helpful and hopeful! Thank you so much for everyone who has already donated!

My workouts in general have been going well. I find great stress relief in my running time. And I enjoy the time with my mini iPod, too. However, my poor dog is quickly falling behind in the training. I know that pitbulls are supposed to have been bred for gameness (heart, loyalty, stamina, and determination) over the years, but I think Dina would just rather go home for a nap after the first 3-4 miles. I am also much more worried about heatstroke, dehydration and GI problems with her, so I may have to leave her at home more often now that the miles are extending. I can’t read her as well as I can read myself, and I would much rather be safe than sorry.

We are also moving to Newark in August, so I will be challenged to find a safe place to run off all these miles. I’m sure I will find something, but I just got used to the routes here

Now that the miles are adding up, the time on the road is too. That is a lot of time to think. Recently, I couldn’t help but think of all my friends who consider me crazy. They ask me what I could possibly enjoy so much about running. I think the answer is: because it feels so good when I stop!

It will especially feel good on Oct. 24th. And then I can eat some San Franciscan bagels!

This is going to be a very exciting, exhausting, challenging and exhilarating summer for me! I have given to various charities before, but I have never been as physically involved in the support process as I am going to be this time. This year, I have committed to raising support for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by running a 26.2-mile marathon in San Francisco on October 24th.

After watching my sister-in-law participate in a Team in Training (TnT) event last year, I wanted to see how I could help. TnT provides volunteers with training for athletic endurance events to raise support for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I have been inspired by the vision that the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has for curing cancer, and so I have taken the plunge into training for a marathon!

If you are not familiar with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, let me share a few quick facts about their mission and passion with you:

* The society is a national voluntary health agency dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improving the quality of life of patients and their families by funding research, patient services, and education
* An estimated 670,950 Americans currently have blood cancer
* Every nine minutes someone dies of blood cancer-an estimated 57,500 in 2004
* In 1960, the survival rate for children with leukemia was 4%, today, thanks to research supported by programs like Team in Training, the survival rate has increased to 85%

I am encouraged by the progress that has been made over the years towards finding a cure for these deadly diseases. I know that running a marathon is a small thing compared to the long struggle that cancer patients face, however, I hope that through it, I will better understand the courage that they show every day they choose to fight. I also hope that you will join me in supporting the research that enables that fight.

My goal is to raise $3,700 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society before October 1st. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference and saves lives. Team in Training is dedicated to ensuring that 75% of every dollar contributed goes towards their mission.

In order to help make this more personal, I have decided to run in honor of a close family friend that has recently been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Since that diagnosis in November, Joan has undergone radiation treatment. She is done with her treatments, and is officially in regression, but the road ahead of her is still a long one. I hope that the money we raise will bring us closer to making that road an easier one for those that travel it behind her. I will wear a bracelet in her honor while I train and on the day I race as a reminder of that goal.

I know that you have probably seen a friend or family member diagnosed with cancer. I would like to honor each one of those loved ones as well. If you like, please send me their name with your donation, and I will write each name on my jersey. On October 24^th, I will run for each one of those people to signify that we will continue to fight for the cure that, one day, God-willing, we will find.

Thank you in advance for your willingness to help out. Your contribution is greatly appreciated, and is 100% tax deductible.

I will keep you posted with updates as to how my training is going! If you’d like to keep up with updates on my training, I’ll be keeping a running log on the web. To visit the site, point your web browser at www.kennsarah.net/26.2.

If you would like to make a donation now, please visit the donations page.