Saturday, January 26, 2013

You Totally Rock!

Hi Friends,

I love this ... "Ya got air coming through ya' nose! You got a heartbeat, that means it's time to go do something!" 
You will love it too when you get to the video at the end of this post.

I know I have some of the best friends and family in the World, but this week you even made me more proud of who you are and what you do. I was going thru my emails and see that your donations for the last week were $225.00! I am just blown away by your goodness. Don't you just love the word goodness?

I can't begin to tell you how great that is, but here goes.

Team Townsend ... Your donation was amazing and beautiful. It will make a big difference in the life of someone that has Leukemia or Lymphoma.

Marcus Carlson ... Wow, it was so great to see you had made a donation to my Team in Training this week. How cool and thoughtful are you to want to reach out and help people you (and I) don't even know that have blood cancer and suffer from it's effects. Just too cool!

There were others that made donations, but they have indicated that they didn't want their names listed in the donors list or in this blog. I just want them to know that I and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society appreciate their generosity. You are special and what you have done is making a difference.

I wanted to offer something to all the donors and those that are following my journey that will bring you a smile or offer some encouragement to you this week. I love this little video and hope it motivates you to create something "amazing" this week.

Thanks again to all that visited and donated this week. I will be putting a thank you note in the mail soon, but in the mean time remember, "Boring is easy, everybody can be boring. But your gooder than that."

Don


Saturday, January 12, 2013

IPad Mini Raffle!

Hi Friends,

I am still running and training for the Eugene Marathon in April. And I am still raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society so that they can find a cure for blood cancer and support those that suffer from it. It has been a blast so far learning about this great organization and all that they do.

I have a great new way for you to help out and maybe win at the same time. You can enter my raffle to win a brand new iPad Mini in the color of your choice just by making a donation to my Team in Training. Here is how this will work.

First this is not a huge raffle that really offers you no chance to win. This raffle is mine and I will award  a brand new iPad mini to the winner from just the donors on my Team in Training page in April. You have a great chance of winning and the more entries you make the better your chances. There really is a great chance that you will win if you donate.

Here are the basics....

You will get 1 entry for every $20.00 you donate from today until Friday April 5th.

If you donate $100.00 you will get 10 entries in the raffle!

On April 5th, I will write all your names down on pieces of paper and throw them into a hat (one for each $20.00 donation or 10 entries for a $100.00). Then I will shake them up real good and draw the winner. It is that easy.

So will you help me make a difference in the lives of others? It is easy and won't cost much and the money will go directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society so they can get busy finding cures and making lives better.

So go make a donation and help me help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Thank you so much!!

Don




Monday, January 7, 2013

Just 16 Weeks to Go Before Eugene!

Hi Friends,

So I am really studying and concentrating on my training for the Eugene Marathon. I can't believe it is just 16 weeks away. Mostly I am working on staying injury free and starting to increase the distance of my long runs. By the time April 28th arrives, the distance will be no problem at all.

I am totally enjoying the journey so far as well as the challenges it throws my way. This adventure is really helping me get past some walls that I have built in life. Things that really needed to be dealt with. Chief among them is my habit of giving up when things get a bit tough. By the time this journey is finished, I will have taken a chunk out of that bad habit.

You can still help me with one of my other challenges. A donation of any amount will help me meet my goal of raising $1500.00 to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fight blood cancer and make those that suffer with it live a better life. Just click the donate widget to the right if you can help out.

Training and Loving it,

Don

Thursday, January 3, 2013

What An I Running For?

Hi Friends,

You may have been wondering just why I am running for Team in Training and why I am asking you for donations. Maybe this will help answer some of your questions.

If it makes sense to you, why not donate a couple bucks to help today? Just click the Donate Now button to the right.

Thanks again!

Don

Why Give to LLS?

Invest in the Best

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the largest voluntary cancer research agency specifically focused on finding cures and better treatments for blood cancer patients. With the scope and scale to fund many projects at the same time, LLS supports hundreds of cancer scientists around the world.

Research Depends on You

Unlike commercial enterprises that consider blood cancers as “orphan diseases” with small markets and limited profit potential, LLS funds research based on medical need without regard to commercial return or market size. Every dollar invested comes from charitable support from concerned donors.

Extend Your Reach

LLS funds hundreds of promising researchers at leading cancer centers and universities worldwide. And since LLS has no campus or laboratories to maintain, your investment funds more research and less overhead than a donation made elsewhere.

Why Invest Now?

Many scientists, clinicians and clinical trial participants have developed and improved current standards of care over time. It takes about eight years to develop a successful new drug. The time to invest in new therapies is now.

What Will My Donation Do?

  • Encourage scientists to pursue blood cancer research. Grants to young scientists help grow research talent even as federal research funding becomes increasingly limited.
  • Develop “targeted therapies” that kill cancer cells selectively. By hitting specific molecular targets, these treatments don’t harm patients’ healthy cells, resulting in fewer dangerous side effects.
  • Test immunotherapies. Immunotherapies strengthen a patient’s own immune system so it can better fight infections and attack cancer cells, reducing the need for damaging chemotherapy.
  • Improve the safety of today’s cures. LLS funds research to predict, manage and prevent complications in patients most at risk for long-term and late effects of treatment.
  • Help patients and their families make informed decisions. LLS supplies information and counseling to help guide patients through their cancer journey and access current treatment and clinical trial options.
  • Provide financial aid and co-pay assistance. A cancer diagnosis is hard enough without having to deal with its financial burden. We provide programs to help relieve the economic strain of a blood cancer diagnosis.
  • Offer community services. Among the wide array of programs LLS provides are those that link newly diagnosed patients with trained volunteers and that help young cancer patients return to school after an absence resulting from treatment.
  • Encourage our state and federal legislators to support blood cancer issues. With your help, LLS brings to the attention of lawmakers the urgent need for increased government funding and support of research and patient access to affordable treatment and quality care.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Thanks For Donating

Hi Friends,

Wow, thank you for donating $25.00 already to help fight blood cancer. You are all so cool.

What can I do for you in return for your donation? If you have an idea of a way I can thank you for your generous donations, drop me a note and let's make it happen.

Hit the donate now button on the right side of this page.

Thanks again

Don

First Run of the Year, Longest Run Ever

Hi Friends,

I finished the longest run I have ever attempted on New Years Day. It was the 23.5 mile McLoop around Reno and Sparks on McCarran Blvd.  What a wonderful way to start the year!

I had been planning to run the loop for a couple months. Actually I had told myself that I was going to run this route a couple months back, but talked myself out of it.  So I was determined to overcome my ability to talk myself out of things and make it this time. To say I was excited about this run was an understatement. I had gone thru a mental checklist of all the things I thought I would need on race day. I even had my clothes laid out the night before just so I would not run off and forget anything.  I even got a fuel belt and some power gels to get me recharged during the run.

When I got up on Tuesday it was really cold, near zero and there was still snow and ice in our yard at home. I got dressed, laced up my shoes and headed to Shelly Park in Sparks to see just how much run I had in me. I was sure in my mind that I could complete the whole 23.5 miles but needed to prove that I could follow through and actually finish.  Just as at home the sidewalks and sides of the road were still covered with some snow and ice. I started the day by starting my Garmin and falling flat on my left leg and hand. Way to go Don! I got up, considered just going home and decided to dust myself off and head out.

The miles seemed to really fly by and I was able to take in the first sunrise of the new year as I neared the university campus. What a sight and it encouraged me to continue to the hills in Northwest Reno. As far as the hills go, they slowed me down some but did not kick my butt as I expected they might. Actually they went quickly and I felt great as I came out of the hills near lakeside Drive. I had made it past the biggest challenge I thought I would have to tackle.  From here it was mostly flat and relatively clear sailing.

My next challenge was the long flat straight stretch after about mile 18. It was really monotonous and seemed to just drag on.  I learned that I need to have something in my mental toolbox to help get me through these times. Maybe it will be music on an iPod or it could be something that I tell myself like a mantra or positive self talk. I am sure I will figure it out by the next long run. I was able to get past this section by reminding myself that I do this run everyday and it was easy, just another 6 miles ... just another 4 miles ... just like you do every day.

I finished at Shelly Park in 5 hours and 13 minutes. It was great to finish and then receive my medal for finishing. I also got a coolio sticker for the truck so everyone will know that I ran all 23.5 miles. I really appreciated the folks from Reno Running and Fitness for letting me run with them. They were an amazing group of people and so much fun to run with. Actually, I was worried that I would be so much slower than they were that I left 30 minutes early so I could finish with them. As it turned out they were just having fun and I probably could have run with them anyway.

So I have already checked off my first goal of the new year and what a way to start. next on my big goals is the Eugene Marathon in April. I learned a lot from this run that I can use to do better in Eugene. For one thing I found out it is better not to fall on your ass before you even begin. As I write this I have really no soreness from the run except for the damage I did when I fell. I do have soreness in my left heel, but will be able to eliminate that by working on my running form.

Now, on towards the Eugene Marathon!

As you know I am running to help fight blood cancer in the Eugene Marathon this year. Why not help me out with a small contribution? Anything helps research, so a donation of $5.00 will make a big difference. Donate more if you can, too much is better than not enough. Thanks a bunch!

Special thanks go to my amazing wife Brenda. Her support was super and helped me keep going.

Don