In 1999, I ran the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon with Team In Training for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  The training took over my life but I knew wanted to run a marathon before I turned 30 and doing it for charity was a fantastic motivator.

New York Chapter 1999
Image by: http://dtrick.org/

My marathon race day was awful.  I was so physically sick during the race that my coach asked me if I thought it wise to go on because at mile 6, I looked very green.  I remember having friends and family come to see me along the course and not only did I feel sick, I was dejected.  I trained for 5 months, ran numerous races and wound up walking (and not running) for 20 of 26.2 miles.

I finished memorably.  My finish line vomit fest was completed with a wheelchair trip to the medical tent (after which I felt better and wanted to run).  My finish time was 5:20:15 and while my friends, family and team mates said they were proud, I was disappointed.

Turn the hair brown and this was close to what I looked like post-race.
Image by: gwenboul

Fast forward to today, 12/12/12, the day I decided to something epic.   Today I signed up for the 2013 San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon.  14 years later I will exact my revenge on that evil course (half the distance, twice the fun?) and finish strong.  In addition, I am determined that I will not have to pull out of my 4th half marathon in as many years (due to injury).

The sponsor of the race is still the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  I may not be raising money for cancer this time around but it is still my motivation.  My experience with the Ride For Jon inspired me to do more.  I am doing this race not only to prove to myself that I can but for all of the people that I know that have had cancer touch their lives.  I’m doing what I can to help the fight and win the war.

For Michele, Cyndi, Danny, Jon, Helena and the so many others that have fought or continue to fight.
Image by: Keep-Calm-O-Matic

#13in2013