I’m Going the Distance

And I’m going for speed.

Call Me Crazy

I like a challenge. I like to prove that I can do what others cannot. I do not dream, I achieve. Thus it is not all that shocking that running a marathon has been on my checklist for a while now. Time, as no surprise, has been my nemesis. When the clock stopped ticking for my dad, Randy Doerr, I realized time, or lack there of, should never be an excuse.

Team in Training

One afternoon drive in February when my usual “Preschool Songs” weren’t blaring out  my eardrums and forcing a headache, I heard an advertisement for Team in Training (TNT). I decided to attend the informational meeting to find out more. After about 5 minutes I was hooked, paid my $50 registration fee, and was committed to training for a 26.2 mile run in San Diego on June 6th, 2010. The truth is, after my Dad died, I had looked into marathons in support of pancreatic cancer research, but had a difficult time finding any. TNT was an answer to a calling I was hearing.

The Mission of Team in Training

The mission of Team in Training is:

Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Team in Training raises millions and millions of dollars to help the treatment and research for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Unlike many victims of  cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkins disease, and myeloma are cancers that cannot be prevented based on certain life choices that result in increased cancer risk, such as smoking and alcohol abuse. A child who is perfectly healthy today, can wake up with a blood-related cancer tomorrow.  Adults are as much at risk of developing a blood cancer as a healthy child. My husband’s uncle, Paul Brueckner, has been fighting Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for several years now. This is a man who has led a very healthy and active life. He hasn’t let cancer stop him though as he can still be found spearfishing off the Florida coast whenever he gets the chance!

Reality Set In

Soon after the initial high settled down, I found myself crossing over into the Twilight Zone. A path that lead me to late night runs at the gym, early morning training sessions before sunrise, and the hardest part of all, asking people for money. As it turns out, the easiest element of my adventure thus far has been the fundraising. I have been completely humbled by the generosity of so many. The most challenging aspect of my training has been my own body. As one might expect from any high-intensity program, I have had my share of ailments along the way. Thankfully, TNT has provided me with a fantastic running coach, Mauri Capello, who has given me the mental strength to continue when I physically did not feel like my legs could do it. Her email signature says, “You think training for a marathon is hard? Try chemo!” I wish my dad were here to get his opinion on her quote!

Countless Miles Down, 1 Week to Go

I honestly have no idea how  many miles my shoes have endured over the last 4 months. Each run has been an accomplishment. Before I started training for this marathon, I thought I was a runner. Now, I know I’m a runner!

I’m eager to run in the memory of my dad, and in the honor of Paul Brueckner and our team’s honored hero, Jonathon Levasque. It’s for them, and for each person and family who has been affected by cancer, that will push me through to the finish line, one mile at a time.

Want to Donate?

If you would like to make a donation to support my participation with Team in Training as they work to help LLS find a cure, you can securely do so from my TNT fundraising page. All donations are tax deductible, and no amount is too small!

Related Links

• Team in Training
• The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• Rock N Roll San Diego
• Time/Distance/Pace Calculator
• Map My Run (Find out how far you really went) 

My dad, Randy Doerr, and Maddie enjoying life in Key Largo, Florida

Tagged as: baton rouge louisiana, Bo Manausa, cancer, Exercise, family, fit family, fit life, fitness, healthy family, healthy life, leukemia, LLS, lymphoma, Manausa, marathon, Nikky Manausa, pancreatic cancer, Randy Doerr, Rock N Roll San Diego, Team in Training