Pictured here just before running the "Silver Strand" half marathon with my team - "Team In Training". Without these awesome people I don't think I would ever have made it this far. Their support & encouragement helped me to appreciate why we do what we do. GO TEAM!!!

I ran in honor of these people & they are the ones that give me the courage & strength to continue to run. What a privilege!

Yippeee! I can't believe I survived my first half marathon. As part of training to run a full marathon, we ran in the "Silver Strand" half marathon event on November 19th, 2006.

9/16/2006 My first uphill run & was that hard!!

Our team started at the Von's shopping center in El Camino Real for our warm up & we started running by El Camino Real shopping center parking lot & we headed towards Jefferson where we went uphill. Pam my mentor at that day helped me a lot & kept me in focus. She also continue to remind me the proper way of running uphill (run slow & look up a little) & boy!! did that help. We ran 5 miles, & this time I ran for 6 minutes & brisk walk for 2 minutes. It was a lot of fun & a lot of body aches :-)

9/20/2006 Our first training w/ Coach Bill

Our team met at CSUSM at the track & field & for the first time we had to undergo a rigorous warm up like marching w/ our knees way up, jumping & sliding on our sides like we are dribbling a basketball & much more. After the warm up we were instructed to divide into 3 groups & did a relay running as fast as you can where you can't talk anymore. We did this for about 10 laps & coach said this exercise will help us in our breathing & build endurance. I got home very sore didn't even shower & literally fell asleep in our couch because I was extremely tired. There you go for endurance training!!

Yeah! today is very emotional for me I ran w/ our TNT group by Moonlight beach in Encinitas & believe it or not I finished another 4 miles but this time it is running for 5 minutes & fast walk for only 1 minute. I couldn't believe I did that! The last time I did the 4 mile run it was on a track and I ran for 3 minutes & walked for 2 minutes & it was a slow walk too.

Meet my running buddies ! They are great inspiration to me. Believe it or not I was able to finish 4 miles today because of them. They run track and they are fast! (And as you can see, not spring chickens either :-)

My second TNT 2 mile run. Go TEAM.

There are some things that you need to know about my mother. One, she's very compassionate. Two, she just turned 50. And three, she is crazy, and I completely respect her for it.

You see, my mom has combined the first two things that I mentioned in making her decision to run and walk a marathon to help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Being a recovering cancer survivor, she felt that at this milestone in her life, she should do something to help others.

So, without further ado, I'd like to request your support. For more information, please go to my mom's other website, here.

Also, keep checking back at this blog! I'll make sure that she keeps everyone updated in regards to her progress.

- Kelsey, Second Daughter