bigger than me.

i'm training to run the 2011 Austin Marathon for the LIVESTRONG foundation which "fights to improve the lives of people affected by cancer". so for the next four months i am embarking on a running-awareness-fundraising bonanza! 26.2 miles is daunting enough...but now i have people counting on me & i am determined to make this venture worthwhile. i'd be lying if i said i wasn't scared - what if i get injured? (that's right IT Band...i'm shaking my fist at YOU!), what if i don't raise enough money? what if people think i'm stupid for doing this? all of these doubts though are completely worth the risk because this is a cause i am willing to fight for. i will be keeping a blog of training, motivation, fundraising updates, etc. @ www.heycanceryoureajerk.blogspot.com - please follow along in my adventure! i plan to keep writing in this blog as well to keep up with the other random ramblings of my life :)

i am currently compiling a list of people i am running in honor and memory of (more info can be found on my blog) but the individuals who originally motivated me to pursue this are:
- my Grandpa Al (currently trying to get a pic)
-my Grandma N

-Matt (who fought - and beat the CRAP out of lymphoma in 2009)


i am excited for personal reasons too - this will be my fifth and final full marathon (at least for a very long while). i've always said i wanted to do 5 so this is it! also, i will be running the race one week before my 30th birthday and i will be returning to the very first marathon i ever ran and to the city where i fell in love with the sport.

Motivated Monday - Chicago Marathon

yesterday was the chicago marathon!

with unseasonably warm weather it was a tougher challenge than expected, i'm sure (because you know, 26.2 miles in comfortable weather is a complete walk in the park...)


regardless, i hope everyone had an amazing time and walked (ok, hobbled) away with a sense of pride in their accomplishment.

shout out to my friend, christy who ran this year!!! you ROCK!

i sumbled across this article with some pretty inspiring runners' essays. these people are so awesome. i'm sure you'll agree - the fact that they have achieved such great things through hardship and trials is incredibly motivating.