Running with a purpose

Most runners like myself are goal oriented. Having the ability to run for 3-4 hours without stopping and covering 26.2 miles does not come without setting goals and executing on a daily and weekly plan to condition the body for race day.

As I’ve documented on my blog, qualifying for the Boston Marathon has been a long time goal of mine that has finally been realized. Surviving training without injury (knock on wood) and running the Boston Marathon is now the goal I'm tracking through my spreadsheet log and Daily Mile website. Running the marathon itself has brought on additional meaning as I’ve added another goal to raise $4,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society along with the Boston Chapter of Team in Training.

For those not familiar with Leukemia, an
estimated 912,938 people in the United States are living with, or are in remission from, leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or myeloma. Every four minutes, someone new is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every 10 minutes, someone dies. Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children under the age of 20. Lymphomas are the most common blood cancers and incidence increases with age. The survival rate for myeloma is only 37.1 percent.

Learning about this disease definitely puts things into perspective as I feel fortunate to be healthy enough to go through the rigorous training regimen and be able to enjoy the highs of a good run or race. As I’ve begun the fund raising portion of Boston, I have got some great feedback on the cause including;

(Kathleen from Denver) “I'm hoping your brother does well in the race- it isnt't an easy one, I did donate in his name- 2 reasons- first and most important- my cousin died from leukemia, second I'm from just north of Boston,,,,,,,,,best wishes to your brother- it is not easy to qualify, and more important....to try for others is incredible..... thank him for me and many others!”

(Nick from Dallas) “Great cause! My grandfather (my 2nd dad) fought and lost to Leukemia. Good luck in the fundraising and in your quest for the Boston Marathon!...I'm impressed (and a bit jealous) of your determine and accomplishments. Congrats and good luck!”

Wow!...that is extra motivation.

I will continue to blog and tweet on my fund raising efforts and training as I am a mere three months away from Boston. It’s good to have goals and even better to achieve them.


Please pass this blog along or go to my contribution page (below) to help this worthy cause.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ma/boston10/tgodwin

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