Saturday, October 6, 2012

"Running for more"

I run for more meaningful miles

Miles are inherently meaningful.  To run, just like so many other things in life, it takes drive, dedication, and commitment.  That goes for anything, not just marathons.

This means running marathons have a few more steps than those laid out by Barney Stinson (see excerpt from the How I Met Your Mother episode, "Lucky Penny")


One phrase commonly used when talking about DetermiNation is: "Make your miles more meaningful."  This alliteration doesn't only roll off the tongue, it really sums up the experience.  DetermiNation hasn't made running, my miles, meaningful; it's added more to what was already there.

I've been thinking about how to really sum up how DetermiNation does this for quite some time now.  It really is a lot of things that come together to provide the extra meaningfulness.  I knew there would be a way to sum it up, but I couldn't figure out how to say it.

And then the past few days happened.

With the countdown shrinking I'd been talking to more people about the marathon, about running with DetermiNation.  And from those I spoke to, I heard stories.  A story about a child who beat the odds and became a cancer survivor at such a young age.  Stories about woman and her life that make it as though I can feel her presence.  Stories about those who recently lost their battle.

Tomorrow the thought of these stories will make the marathon more than a marathon, will make the marathon more meaningful.  Stories I remember, stories I've been told, stories currently happening...they provide reasons to stay strong, reasons to keep going, reasons to run.


I run for more birthdays!

You may have seen some of the ads where the American Cancer Society refers to themselves as the "official sponsor of birthdays."  What a lovely thing to promote, birthdays.  And it's really accurate.

The ACS works to help people stay well, get well, find cures, and fight back.  I've described some of the specifics of each of these initiatives in my other posts.  All of them allow for more birthdays.  
...More birthdays for those who undergo screening and catch cancer early.  
...More birthdays for someone receiving a new cancer treatment that will cure their disease.  
...More birthdays for those who commit to a healthy lifestyle and put more life in their years.

Not only is the ACS working hard to make more birthdays possible.  They're having some fun with it.  Check out morebirthdays.com for new ways to wish a happy birthday and sing to your friends and family.

If you'd like to support the ACS's mission with a donation, you can do so via my personal fundraising page.


Thank You!

Thank you for reading my blog.  It has been incredible to share why I run and allowed me to reflect and stay energized in preparation for the Twin Cities Marathon.  I'm excited for tomorrow!  I can't wait to toe the line with the thought of so many people, and so many stories, that give me such a meaningful reason to run in the fight against cancer.  I can't begin to express how much I appreciate the encouragement, support, and love that have gotten me here - ready for race day.  Here we go!

October 7, 2012 - Twin Cities Marathon - I run for hope... I run for life