Perseverance

My Mom's group discussed the very relevant topic of perseverance this week. It really caused me to reflect on the things I have persevered for in my life and it seemed especially pertinent this month. This May marks my 5th Mother's day. I persevered through infertility to become a mother and I have persevered through 5 of the toughest years of motherhood to get to this point in life (we're talking sleeplessness and toddlers!). This May also marks my 10th wedding anniversary. Let's be real, marriage takes perseverance! Ian and I recently ran through each of our 10 years of marriage and counted the blessing and the stressings...it made me all the more proud that we have reached this important milestone in our marriage. I'm so blessed to be in such a strong union.

We talked in our Mom's group about life being like a race and how we persevere in a race. It was all a bit literal for me as I am actually training for the (physical) race of my life. Yes, this is about my half marathon. I'm in my 5th month of training and now I am really seeing where perseverance has to take over. My body has not happily complied with my new lifestyle. I've already used all my chiropractic visits for the year and my weary back still would prefer rest over running. I am certain that if not for Team in Training I would have given up somewhere along month 2. What has caused me to persevere through the pain, the early mornings, the time away from my family? The stories I keep hearing about families stricken by Lymphoma or Leukemia. The most recent? Ashtyn's favorite babysitter lost her (19 year old) best friend to Leukemia last week. I did not know Karina but was so touched by the outpouring of support from our community and those who did know and love her. It is for the losses of people like Karina, my friend Niki's dad, Steve and my cousin's son Russ that I run, even when it hurts. It is for the friends and relatives who are still fighting their battle like my Uncle Alf, my high school friend Colin and my Mom's friend Jeff that I continue to push my body past it's limits. I believe wholeheartedly in what I am doing. If I didn't I would quit. To me this is worth it. My race is coming up on June 26th. It's going to be physically and mentally challenging but these are the people who are going to push me to the finish line; Karina Robertson, Alf Andres, Steve Breeser, Jeff Ward, Colin Cahill, Russ Langeman.

You can push me too. I'm only $185 away from my fundraising goal. The money I raise goes towards research for a cure and help for a family freshly diagnosed. Help me give hope to those facing this battle. I will write every donor's name on the back of my jersey so you will be there pushing me to the finish line. It's very easy to donate, just visit my personal page where you can securely give with your debit or credit card or mail me a check made out to: LLS (my address is 7214 54th Ave NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335).This was taken before my 7.5 mile training race (Bloomsday) last Sunday...a little more than half of what I'll run in June...with my brother in law, Greg, my sis Courtney and Greg's sis Maureen