Inspiration and Attitude--This is a Sugary Sweet One!

Who am I running for? Wow! Now that is a loaded question. I started this Half Marathon with my own condition in mind. I am realizing that this condition is so much greater than my stinkin' colon. I am also running for my friend, Jean who has Crohn's disease. She had to have surgery to remove part of her colon. She's got the same doctor as me...I think you guys realize that I love this guy! Whooooo Hooooo Dr. Khanna! As I went around Templeton Middle School to collect money for CCF, I heard so many stories! Wow! Moms and fathers, brothers and sisters, daughters and sons. I am running for the families of everyone who shared your story with me. I am overwhelmed to know that so many suffer in silence. I am overwhelmed to know that so many people were willing to share their stories. Please know that each story has a special place in my heart--it's this place that helped me run this week.

Yup...I was Rocky this week. I made it past the albatross of 3 miles! I ran 4 miles on Thursday and felt great. I loved the honking horns and high fives from each passersby. Every high five gave me the energy to keep going. When I was feeling done, the song "It's a Beautiful Day" came on my ipod! I started to sing outloud and throw my hands in the air. Yup! It was a beautiful day...and now today I exceeded my goals again.

Trainer Tim seriously has a smile that lights up even the brightest morning. My goal was 4 laps and 4 times up the stairs today. That's 4 miles with Lake Bistro stairs. His smile and the lovely conversation from Mary really was motivating. Found a dog person who likes to talk--gotta love it! Mary's son is suffering from Crohn's disease. He is so young and has so much life ahead of him. Really feeling blessed to help him find a cure. Mary's mother also suffers from Crohn's. Mary's motivation motivates me.! Couldn't even feel that it was only 43 degrees being surrounded by such a great team--Go Team Challenge!

Now to the really sappy part...I am crying just trying to type this up. Thank you to everyone for contributing what you have from the 13 cents in your desk to the $250 donation. I appreciate EVERY penny more than any one of you will ever know. I also enjoyed watching my colleagues delve through their desks for change. I collected over $300 in change. Some of it was sticky and I had some lint and old rubber bands to pick through, but seriously, can you believe we have that many pennies, nickels and dimes sitting in our desks? The family support feels fabulous! I have said this before, but my family really ROCKS! Thank you for not just the donations, but also the wonderful inspirational notes.

Next Saturday I will be running with a group of phenomenal women in Madison for Crazy Legs. Get to check off another goal--5 miles! Pray for a beautiful Spring day.

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