Miscellaneous Memoirs

Hi people! I'm sure you are excited to know that I am really going to start blogging now! I just got a new computer and am motivated to learn how and share my exciting life events with everyone. More importantly than new technology, I just started training for a marathon with Team in Training, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's training/fundraising team. I will use my blog to update you on how training and fundraising are going. I have a feeling that fundraising will be easier for me than running 26.2 miles, but you never know. Maybe I can at least give you a good laugh telling you about the aches and pains and sense of accomplishment I feel from completing small steps! http://pages.teamintraining.org/ctx/cmc10/mmosleylmm Above is the link to my fundraising page (I tried to do some HTML stuff but apparantly I'm not quite ready to use those). I am really proud to be supporting and raising money for a cause that will help my uncle and milions of other people who are battling blood cancer. I hope to raise $6500.00 by February 2010, but have to raise a minimum of $3800.00 to participate in the event. I am really encouraged that LLS spends 73% of every dollar raised on it's mission to find a cure for blood cancers. Not only do they fund research, I was surprised to hear that among many other support services, patients can apply for reimbursement for hospital parking when they go get treatment. That may sound minor, but I know it can be like $20/day to park at M.D. Anderson, and it adds up. They also host support and informational meetings and much more I hope to share with you. So now that asking you for money is over.... I already know I need all the encouragement I can get. I started running on my own a few weeks ago (thought I'd get a head start before the team started training together) and yep, it's just as hard as I thought. I have been following a beginner's training schedule I found online and I ran 18 miles in my first week!! The longest distance I have run at once is 6 miles, and I thought I was going to die. Don't get me wrong, I had to stop and walk, and it got harder and harder everytime I stopped running, but I kept reminding myself that I did it, and that it will get easier if I keep it up. Running is hard people, and I am only starting, eek. I was out of town for the Team's launch and first two practices so I am attending my first team practice today after work. Its labeled "Hill Training" on the schedule. I am frightened by this label, but I am going to do my best and try hard not to complain. Oh, and I was out of town because I went to the beautiful Denver, CO for my homeboy BJ's wedding. Shoutout to Taryn, Katy B, Eli, Kenny, Dick and Hannah, and of course Congrats Beej and Becky. It was a blast and the weather was so beautiful and in the seventies everyday, barely needed a jacket. Great trip and great to see everyone I hadn't seen in months, or even a few years! No running happnened while I was there which probably was safer because the air is so thin and I was on vacation. Ok, this seems like a good start to me. I will try to update as much as I can. Welcome and thank you fo reading my first blog!