Running regularly, blogging sporadically

Running the past two weeks has gone really well. I'm running a minimum of three times a week and have begun holding a 5.0-5.2 mph pace during my 3 mile runs, including my walking breaks. My "official" training program starts in one week. I've noticed that running is much easier than it was just a few weeks ago. My shoes, ipod & distance watch are helping tremendously. Just last weekend I ran 3.5 miles without a real route planned - just letting my feet take me wherever they wanted and my watch keeping track of the distance.

We spent the past week at Ocean City and I am proud to say that I ran 3 times, despite some unhealthy eating and drinking. Running along the boardwalk was nice and I felt proud of myself knowing that this was the first vacation I've ever taken where I continued a solid exercise program. Not to mention I've started fooling other runners into thinking I'm one of them as we politely wave to each other in passing. I feel like I've infiltrated their secret club.

This week I have continued 3-4 mile runs planned, hoping to get in at least three runs, as I wrap up my last week of unofficial training. We'll be keeping busy at the Duggan house, as Andrew goes back to school on Tuesday and Leah & I head back to Memphis for another checkup. Autumn is officially underway as the leaves have started to fall in our front yard, football is on all weekend long, the kids are fascinated with all the Halloween costume catalogues coming in the mail, and I will soon be back to spending  my mornings only chasing after one child instead of two.

On the fundraising front, I am making lots of progress and have reached $1360.  So thank you to my generous friends and family. Your support of our family, this amazing cause, and my run have blown me away.

Mike & I have also started speaking at local St. Jude events. It is going well, but I have a hard time telling our story without tears. Somedays I just can't believe this happened to our baby. I know our story moves people and I'm sure the tears are understood. As hard as it is for us, we have agreed to help the hospital in any way we can, as we will forever be in debt to them. On that note, in addition to the half-marathon we are running in Memphis we will also be doing a 5k walk (yes, walk.. that means you can join us, no training needed!) at Potomac Mills Mall in November. We are hoping to have as many Team Leah members there. While we won't be fundraising as hard for that event, we would still love to have as many participants with us.

So here is some information on Team Leah for our 5k:
https://waystohelp.stjude.org/sjVPortal/public/displayUserPage.do?programId=601&userId=647963&eventId=176284
This link will take you to our page where you can click a blue button that says "join our team"

And here is Mike's half-marathon fundraising page:
https://waystohelp.stjude.org/sjVPortal/public/displayUserPage.do?userId=649887&programId=401&eventId=166948
He is only $9 towards his goal of $750. While I like to be pretty competitive, even (or especially) with my husband, I know it is important for him to raise money in Leah's name as well. If you are thinking about donating, please consider his page. It is all going to the same wonderful cause.

On one last note, September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. In order to further awareness, I want to pass along some information:

Pediatric cancer is a non-discriminating, life-threatening disease that affects millions of children and their families on a daily basis. In an age where medical breakthroughs occur with great frequency, very few advancements have been made in the fight against pediatric cancer over the last 30 years. Since 1990, only one new drug has been approved to combat pediatric cancer, a period that has seen 50 medications approved to fight adult cancer. As a society, we are capable of addressing this destructive disease that affects the world's most precious assets… our children. Despite this ability, research for a cure has been limited by a lack of funding.

When I took a tour of St. Jude they put it much more simply: there is no money in the drug business for children's cancers. Drug companies are not motiviated to spend millions in research knowing that it won't bring them their big pay day. Thankfully, we have St. Jude. St Jude's big pay day comes when they can say that no child will die in the dawn of their life.