Alex's story

Each morning before practice we do a mission moment. This allows us to reflect on WHY we are training and raising money.
This is this weeks mission moment
"Hello, my name is Alex. When I was twelve years old I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I went through numerous tests and scans, and after a biopsy I was diagnosed with stage 2B. I had to undergo chemotherapy for one to two years and radiation for 6 months.
Going through that is very hard at any age. But if you hold on, and don’t give up you will make it through. There were many times during my treatment where I didn't think I could do it anymore, but I didn't give up because I thought about what would happen if I did, and what it would be like when it was all over. Let me just say that thinking of what it will be like when it’s over, is a lot better than thinking about giving up. With my family by my side, my friends, and stories from other successful victims of this terrible disease, I made it through.
I am 15 now and I have been in remission for 3 years. I am glad I didn't give up, because now I can act and most importantly feel like a normal child. I also have bright hopes for my future. After going through something like this you feel like you can accomplish anything, and if you put your mind to it and want it bad enough, you can.
When I am older I hope to be an Anesthesiologist. Also when I turn 16, I would like to race my jet-ski to raise money that can be donated to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Just remember that if you think of the outcome and don’t give up, you will make it through. Also, think of all the people like me that HAVE made it through and were successful in fighting off this terrible disease. "

disappointed in myself

I have not been running like I should have been. My legs were in so much pain till monday because my trainer kicked my butt. It hurt so bad that I woke up every time I had to move in my sleep. On that note, I went running and did cardio at the gym on Monday. Tuesday I had class and Wednesday, today I had meeting after work. But as I write this now, i am getting ready for bed! I will be up at 6am do do some running then meeting with my trainer. This weekend is an optional run, but you bet my ass I will be there! and I have lots to do this weekend, but am making time ti get my cardio/running every day!! I am finally getting my school schedule and training and work on track!

For the month of June, if you donate over $5.00 you can get to pick a song I can run to during my race!! Please people, do not make it anything ridiculous!!! Anything over $15.00, you can chose at what mile I listen to that song!!

Sleepy thoughts and happy running tomorrow,

Genna

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sun/diswine10/ghimelfarb

Friday!!

Yay, It's Friday!!!! Last night was the season finale of Greys, and that meant a girls night at Samantha's, which also meant not going to bed before midnight. As we already know, I am NOT a morning person!!! Luckily, I signed up for a personal training session before I was invited to girls night so I had a reason to be up at 6:30am. My trainer kicked my butt to say the least. It was very painful to walk up he stairs on my 3rd floor apartment this morning to get ready for work. I was dreading my session because this week has taken a toll on me and I am just exhausted. It's 1:15 now and I am beat, but not as tired as I was this morning.
Tomorros is team training but I will not be able to make it since I already planned a weekend at Disney with my Little. I would have loved to be at the training since our honored teammates are going to be there and we would also be meeting all the other athletes from the surrounding counties for the suncoast chapter. Hopefully I will get my errands done quickly, finish my homework for the week then head to bed at a decent hour so I can possibly get a run in in the morning. let's not kid ourselves. I will NOT be setting an alarm to go running, but to wake up and head to Orlando!
I hope everyone has a happy and safe weekend!!

Also, I would like to thank everyone who has helped in my fundraising campaign, especually my parents and their friends who have donated. It has not gone unnocticed

XoXo,
Genna

Look what your doantions are doing:)

Well, I went running yesterday, and did a whole 30 minutes. Which for me, is an accomplishment then did some strength training. But that isn't really what I wanted to talk about today. I wanted to share with you all an e-mail I received a few days ago.

Dear Friend of LLS:


I am pleased to share exciting news about Larry Kwak, M.D., Ph.D., a researcher funded by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Dr. Kwak was recently named one of TIME Magazine's "100 Most Influential People," for his role in advancing custom-made vaccines for patients with lymphoma.

Dr. Kwak, professor and chair of the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, has focused his work on harnessing the power of the immune system of patients with follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma to fight their cancer. The vaccines are developed by taking proteins from the patient's own tumor, training them to find and kill lymphoma cells and then injecting them back into the patient. Currently in late stage clinical trials, the vaccines have been shown to extend disease-free survival for more than a year.

In 2007, LLS awarded Dr. Kwak a five-year, $6.25 million Specialized Center of Research grant, our most prestigious research award. These grants are distinctive in that they encourage at least three laboratories at the same or different institutions to work together. In addition to continuing his work on the personalized lymphoma vaccines, this grant is enabling Dr. Kwak to expand his research to develop immunotherapies for patients with leukemia and myeloma as well.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Kwak has been on the cutting edge of researching and developing novel immunotherapies that are already showing a clear benefit for patients with cancer. We are proud of Dr. Kwak's well-deserved recognition and are honored to have played a role in helping to advance this life-saving work.

To read more about Dr. Kwak's inclusion in the "2010 Time 100" please visit Time Magazine's website, and to learn more about our Research programs visit www.LLS.org. Please join us in taking pride in Dr. Kwak's achievements.

Sincerely,



John E. Walter
President & CEO



Look what your donations are doing!!

Back to the daily grind

The weekened has come and gone, quikly as usual! Classes start this week so it is going to be a lot more difficult traiing with a new schedule, but I am going to make it work.. I think I am going to have to start running in the mornings. For all of you who know me, I am NOT a morning person, nor an I an evening person. I love my sleep way too much!
Anyways, here is what my weekend looked like!
I was certainly sleeping around 10:30pm on friday night, and was up by 5:40 am on friday for our group runs. We were surprised with a 4 miler, not too bad surprisinly. I finished in a decent time for myself. I am slowly working my way up with miles. In no time I will be at 13 miles, that is a very scary thought. I never thought I would want to or be able to run that long!!
Saturday night a bunch of the girls went to Macdintons to see a friend, Lindsey, who moved away last year, and there I fundraised!!! I walked around with a little bucket asking people for donation, by me, I really mean Jenna!! Thanks!!! I raided a few dollars, so I am halfway to my goal! I thank all of you who already donated, and can't wait for the rest of you too!!! THis is such an exciting project!!!
Sunday was cross training day so I did an 11 mile bike ride on my new bike, which was later returned because my butt was in so much pain. I wanted to walk my bike to the end of the loop it hurt so bad. Luckily my legs are not hurting so hopefully I should get in a little run after work and then I can have tomorrow as my rest day since it's the first day of my classes. Wish me luck!!

Have you donated yet?
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sun/diswine10/ghimelfarb

Happy Running,

Genna

Hello Frday!!

Hello everyone,
It's FRIDAY!!!! which means it's sushi day for me:) and I am craving Chinese. I was able to get some running in yesterday. I had to push past my calved killing and my legs chaffing (Cara loves me complaining about that). I also got about a half hour of cardio in. That's about it, I was too hungry to stay at the gym! Today is my rest day, thankfully, I need it!!! There is so much I need to get done around my apartment and town today before classes begin as well as the weekend. I have a good friend coming into town this weekend! I am excited to see her, it has been almost a year since we saw each other last. How time flies, and life goes by.
I have started a new book in which I am loving so far, Secrets of a Jewish Mother, by Jill Zarin. It explains my life completely!!

Tomorrow is group training, hopefully I can keep up tomorrow! I am really going to push myself. Or so I say that now!
Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Have you donated? My dad just did!!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sun/diswine10/ghimelfarb

To do today...

Since I slacked off yesterday, I NEED to get my butt to the gym today for some running and cross training since Friday's are my "off/rest" days. I thought it was necessary to go to dinner and drinks ( I didn't get any drinks, being a good girl). I did eat very healthy, grilled chicken and a side of broccoli. It was all downhill when I got home though, oops. It will be better tonight!!!
I am hoping my calves manage to make it through my run tonight since they have been in pain since I started running. I hope I just need to keep up with it.
Does anyone have any solutions??

I'm off to finish some work, eat lunch, more work then gym time.. NO DISTRACTIONS TODAY. I really just need to schedule myself time and say screw it to anyone who wants to do something, but that is no fun:)

Week One, Soreness!!!

This post is a little late due to the fact that I just started this, but let me tell you about week one!!
-Practice starts at 7:00am at Ballast point which is not very close to me, and I am NOT a morning person let me remind you. Therefore, I was up by 5:45. On the way I had to go to the bathroom, but there were no bathrooms and the one's at the park were closed, that was a real FUN run all right!! thankfully they were open when we finished. I am not an expert runner by any means, but thought I would do OK... I nearly died!!! I trailed behind everyone for the whole 3 miles, but I made it!!! and that was only day one I Remind you!!! I am definitely going to have a lot of hard work in front of me. Being the slowpoke of the group inspired me to get a lot of work during the week. But man was a so sore!!!! My calved nearly killed anytime I did some kind of cardio movement, and No, for all those who know me, I was not just making up any excuse in the book.
The Sunday after the run my whole body was sore so I decided to rest since my mom was in town. Monday, I was back to the gym doing cardio classes, running, etc! But I really could not get through a normal routine. I was devastated and disappointed...But it was fun none the less!!

Now that the week is over, were on to week two which I hope will treat me much better!!

Intro to by bloging ability

First off, I am not a writer by any means. You will see misspelled words throughout, and I am sure sentences that make NO sense what so ever, but this is so everyone can share in my journey with me. I am going to be able to complete this Half Marathon because of you. I am not a good story teller by any means, sometimes you will not get enough detail and sometimes, maybe too much...Oops! I hope you all enjoy this blog! Feel free to leave motivating comments, and even a donation of two.
For donations, the link is posted below. If anyone has great fundraising ideas, please feel free to share!! I will be having fun promotional "events" to help with my funding!!
Thanks,
Genna

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sun/diswine10/ghimelfarb


Now off to running