On Sunday, June 1, 2008, at 6:30 AM, 17,828 runners at the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon, in 70° weather, ran 26.2 miles with an average time of 5:01:08 and raised $12.5 million for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I was one of the 17,828 runners at the San Diego Rock n' Roll Marathon. It was a beautiful day for a run, and I was thrilled to be a part of the event and be surrounded by people with a common interest. I was a little speck in the sea of purple, which is Team In Training's signature color. "Running-Girl" was printed on my running number. Bystanders yelled out, "Go team!" and "Go Running-Girl!" They even called out my real name, which was printed on my singlet in white letters, to show their support. Having strangers cheer me on was very encouraging, touching, and emotional.

Earlier on in the race, I found myself behind a man sporting a t-shirt with the verse: "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). It was the perfect prelude to my run. I meditated on that verse. For a moment, the cheer of the crowd was muffled by the intensity of my thoughts. As I entered into a world of my own, all I could hear was the cadence of my foot striking the asphalt. All I felt was my chest rising and falling with every breath. All I could taste was the saltiness of my perspiration rolling to the corners of my lips. And all I could smell was the freshness of the open air. I was beside myself. All my focus was on the quietness of the moment with my time with God. Each step was a thanksgiving with Christ, my Savior.

I thanked God for my health and for my ability to run 26.2 miles, especially during a milestone in my life. I declared my run in San Diego as a rite of passage as I entered into my 40^th year of life. Not coincidentally, San Diego is my birthplace.

I absorbed the beauty that San Diego had to offer. On my run, I enjoyed the sites as I passed by the Seaport Village, Petco Park, Downtown San Diego, Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo, Fashion Valley Center, Fiesta Island/Mission Bay, and Sea World.

Running 26.2 miles doesn't come easy, but I cannot complain. There is someone wishing they could be in my shoes going through the challenges I am faced with on my run, rather than suffering through the emotional struggles of cancer and the physical pain of chemotherapy.

Mile 21 was the toughest for me. That's when I thought about my personal honoree, Minnie, and the strength and courage she had shown over the 4 years battling cancer. One of my team honoree, Gregg, once told me, "Cancer survivors and runners have one thing in common. They both have to find the inner strength to continue on, no matter what the circumstances."

At mile 23, my inner strength grew weary. Then, at the right moment, God sent me a messenger on foot. I approached another runner wearing a shirt with a message, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Yes, the same message I read at the beginning of the race. I knew God was with me.

My finishing time was 4 hours, 26 minutes, and 43 seconds-a personal record for me. The fascinating thing about running is that it's really a race against oneself. Each runner has their own agenda. One runner said it best, "There can be tens of thousands of marathoners sharing the same course, experiencing the same weather, covering the same mileage, but no one runs the same race."

In a place where life began for me 40 years ago, I felt as if my life has only just begun. Running 26.2 miles reminded me that I am capable of doing anything. My run is a celebration of life. Through Team-In Training, I got to fulfill my personal goal and be able to give a part of myself to make a difference in this world. I raised a total of $7810 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with the help of family and friends. My run is not just for personal glory, but also for the fight against cancer so that others may celebrate life year after year.

The rewards for running a race through Team In Training are priceless. I've gained new friendships, helped raise money for cancer research, fulfilled my desire to mentor young runners, experienced the thrill of crossing the finish line, and gained a heightened respect for runners and the sport of running.

Now that my marathon is over, I can truly say that I had a great run. But the race isn't over yet. There is still research to be done. Until there is a cure for cancer, I will continue to run.

Happy Running!

Running-girl signing off....

To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit my fundraising page . Every penny counts. Thank you for making a difference!

Being sick sucks! My head hurts, my body aches, and my legs feel weak. What can I do to keep training for my marathon? Nothing. If I were to train with my team mates when I'm feeling "a little better," that would only set me back even further. What am I to do?

I got it! I decided to get some fresh air and join my team mates on their run at Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay. It's a beautiful coastal run with gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean. Only this time, I will not be running. But being out with my fellow runners will at least make me feel like I'm doing something. I decided to help with the water stops and provide refreshments and support for the Team In Training (TNT) runners.

When I woke up in the wee hours on a Saturday morning, my first thought was, "I must be crazy." Then I got to my assigned area along the running path by the beach. The weather was overcast, cold and windy. The cold penetrated my sweatshirt and jacket. My scarf barely kept me warm. My second thought of the morning was, "I AM CRAZY." There was no one around-- no one crazy enough to be out in the cold. The only one running at this early morning was my nose!

Who is crazy enough to wake up early on a Saturday and stand out here in the cold? Apparently, I wasn't the only one manning these aid stations. Standing on the side of the path for 2 hours, I learned that the people manning these water stations for our runners are special people--- volunteers. These volunteers were, at one point in their life, TNT participants themselves. Some of them knew people who were past participants and some were people who are battling Leukemia or Lymphoma (our honorees). All of them made a choice to volunteer their time to say, "thank you," to the runners for helping to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

As the runners came by, we cheered them on. I could see that when they heard our cheers and saw our aid station, their faces lit up. That was worth seeing. The more runners came by, the more worthwhile it was for me to be standing in the cold feeling a bit under the weather myself. It reminded me how much I took these aid stations and the people that set up these stations for granted. As a runner, I love having the TNT aid stations around on my long runs. It's like a mini party to make my runs more enjoyable. The aid stations were complete with water, Gatorade, pretzels, gummy bears, energy gels, and good cheer. I often forget about the people behind these aid stations. I forget that there are people who get up earlier than I do on a weekend when they don't have to to make my runs a pleasant experience. Without these volunteers, there would be no water and no snacks to fuel me. There would also be no cheers to pick me up when I need a little encouragement on my runs. So thank you to all the TNT volunteers! (Signed: Running Nose Girl)