National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Hi Peeps: Did you know September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month?

25 years ago yesterday my older brother died at the age of 12, just one month shy of his 13th birthday, of Leukemia. Young people shouldn’t have to go through this tragic way of life. In memory of Kevin, I am running to raise $2010.00 in 2010. I will do whatever I can to help find a cure for cancer. What will you do?

I Love You Kevin.

Day 109: A very very wet 4 miles

Last Saturday’s 9 mile run helped me realize the 13.1 is right around the corner. No slacking off now. It’s the final stretch; 33 days left until the big one.

Today, those of us who call Stumptown home were gifted with a large dose of signature rain. I’m not talking pissy drizzle. I’m talking Bob Dylan, Buckets of Rain. The sidewalks were flooded, the street corners were little ponds, and my 4 mile run was a very, very wet one. This is what it looked like through a car. It was about the same through my coke bottle lenses.

Photo Courtesy of T. Ramirez Photography.

Okay enough being drenched head to toe. I’ve stretched, rolled, iced, and now it’s time to take a nice warm, oh I so wish it could be hot, shower.

Day 105: Weekly message from the coach.

I love my weekly messages from the coach. They are always very inspiring, and also very long, so I will break down some key points of the message for you.

“Hey Team,

…It’s, “Crunch Time” y’all. Always remember the reason. People have donated kindly towards our mission and it’s our commitment to them and to the cause that we show up on event weekend as best prepared as possible. …we can just give up. The folks that we are here for have no choice. When they feel like they can’t endure no more, they can’t give up. This is why I won’t give up and this is why we won’t give up…

If your body feels a little bit like crap after your longest run ever, that’s about as normal as seeing sand in the desert…

Trust me, all of these aches and pains, and obstacles, along with the love and support that you have received from friends and family during training is what is going to make crossing the finish line that much sweeter.

Thanks for all you do,
Coach Karl
GO TEAM !!!
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”
- Henry Ford”

Thank You ALL for your support!!

Day 103: I need your help.

It’s the final stretch in my training for the Portland Half Marathon. So far I have run nearly 150 miles in preparation for the 13.1 miles I will run on 10.10.10.
Thank you all who have already donated generously on my behalf. For those of you who haven’t — now is the time. If you have been waiting for the last minute — this is that last minute.

I only have until September 24th to hit $1,500. I am nearly there. I know you can help me raise the $250 that I need to reach my goal.

Here is a quick recap on why I am running. As a promise to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I am raising money for their organization and they are training me to run. A Win-Win. Cancer impacts us all in some way and Leukemia in particular hits way to close to home for me. I am running in honor of my big brother- Kevin who lost his life to Leukemia 25 years ago this September 16th; a month shy of his 13th birthday.

I need your help to make a real difference. Please make a donation on my behalf before September 23rd. Please don’t make me do the running and the donating. To donate: Go to
http://pages.teamintraining.org/oswim/portland10/kstrong
and donate any amount you can afford. $1, $5, $10, whatever amount you can give.

Together… let’s give hope and support to those who have already been diagnosed. Let’s give hope and support to their loved ones. Let’s help prevent any further Kevin’s from being taken from this world prematurely.

Day 101: Memories come from all over

Last Thursday night I went to the Portland Timbers game. That would be a soccer game for all those who are not from Portland. In front of me sat 3 boys, all about the age of 12. Throughout the entire game they were laughing and shouting and having a fabulous time. I couldn’t help but gaze at them and think of Kevin. 12 years old is exactly how old Kevin was when Leukemia took his life. I couldn’t imagine those boys, who sat in front of me, not continuing to grow older. Play soccer themselves. Go to games looking at boys who are 12 and think “that used to be me”.

Kevin should have been next to me at that game. I doubt he would have been though. He was never really into sports. He was more the artsy type. He loved music, and dancing and fashion. He loved Boy George.

Boy George also reminds me of Kevin. Boy George and band-aids. Band-Aids?

It’s funny how the sense of smell lingers longer than anything. Anytime I smell a band-aid I smell hospitals, and Kevin. And the sterile life we had to live when he was sick. The smell of band-aids should not be how anyone remembers someone they love. Boy George is alright though.

DAY 95: Counting cars to pass the time

It’s suppose to be a hot 90+ day here in the Pacific NorthWest, so I decided to hit the pavement early.

Alarm clock kicked off at 5am. Dressed, ate, stretched, puffed on inhaler, strapped on shoes and was out the door around 5:40. (it takes me awhile to become alert so early)

It was dark when I began, so I attached my bike brake light to my water bottle. Good idea eh?

My 3 mile run this morning was fairly quiet and listening to my MP3 in the dark seemed a little unsafe, so instead I counted the passersby.

In my journey I passed 52 cars, 14 bicycles, 4 runners, and 5 walkers. Oh and a cat I accidentally scared when steeping out the door.

All said it wasn’t such a bad way to start my day.

DAY 94: Help save a life…

If you knew you could help save someone’s life today would you?

You can. Go to http://pages.teamintraining.org/oswim/portland10/kstrong and make a donation today.

“Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.”  ~Author Unknown