Supporting Children with Cancer - 2014-2015 - 2015 London Marathon
 

Hi All!

It's hard to believe just over a year ago, I committed to run the 2014 London Marathon for Children with Cancer UK. The support of colleagues, friends, family, and FTers was amazing (LINK) and I exceeded my fundraising goal by nearly 25%!.

London - Mile 25!
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...37&oe=54F31E37

The day after completing London, I found out I was accepted for the Chicago Marathon. I knew training would be different - partly due to lessons learned for London and largely because I would be in Kabul, Afghanistan (at 5k+ feet with terrible air quality) for the first two months of the "training cycle."

Upon returning from KBL, I ran a half in Dublin which was one of my worst races in the 18 months I've been actively running 10k's, half marathons, and now marathons. Following this, I was quite worried about how Chicago was going to go...slow time, my hands looked like Mickey Mouse's hands, just an overall mess.

While on a trip to HKG with my sister and brother-in-law, I got a phone call from a London # (picked up since I thought it was odd. It was Children with Cancer calling to ask if I'd run with them again for the 2015 London Marathon. Crazy or not, my automatic reply was, "Yes, of course." So there I was...a couple of weeks after the mess that was London, concerned about if/how I'd be able to finish Chicago, and had just agreed to run a third marathon and raise funds to support a cause I truly believe in.

Upon returning from HKG, I continued training towards Chicago. It was slow going for a variety of reasons. And then I fell about 2.5 weeks beforehand; nothing like some road rash and stickers but at least I was close to home. I ran a 10k the following weekend (yes, there are in fact some hills to be found in London and I ran up and down them several times) - my leg didn't like it but I survived and was glad it was time to look at tapering.

Over Columbus Day weekend, I headed to ORD. As with London, my sister came from SoCal and brought along my nephew since we were staying with friends. With my (not fit) sister traipsing all across Chicago, I completed the race on Oct. 12, 2014. A few more lessons learned, but it was a great day!!

Another Mile 25! (26 not far away....right!?)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...c0cd5d25f89276

And, now, I look towards London on April 26, 2015. While it seems really far away, I know it'll be here in what seems like an instant! As part of training, I've already booked the Austin Half Marathon in February and Cambridge (UK) Half in March.

I run in honor of two families I know - one family has a son who is about 2.5 years into 3 years of chemo treatment for leukemia and the other family lost their son (entered remission from leukemia in middle school, sucumbed to it their sophomore year of college).

Back of my TeamCwCUK tank:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...fb219e95ae2186

If you would like to contribute - LINK.

I really appreciate your consideration as I work towards this goal!!

As of today, I'm at £167.88 thanks to a combination of making Mexican food for my coworkers (NOT a cuisine easily or decently available in the UK) and eBay sales. :D

:)robin

Cancer bothers me...
 

Oct. 24, 2014

I know our shared purpose on FT is travel - points, in the air, where to sit, what to (or not to) eat, the best lounge, security, etc...the whole lot of it.

For whatever reason, cancer is on my mind today. In my family, we've been very fortunate as only one of my aunts has fought cancer; thankfully, she's been in remission quite a while. I'm one of six girls though and cannot help but wonder, "What if it happens to one of us?" Or what if it's one of my nieces or nephews?

Some have seen the hashtag #cancersucks - there's just no way around it. At the same time, the strength I see in the parents I know whose children fight this fight or the parents I see fighting this fight is absolutely amazing.

I wanted to share a blog post of a friend of a friend.
A real look at living with Stage 4 Breast Cancer

If the few GBP, USD, or whatever I earn helps a family, or better yet families, successfully fight cancer, it's worth.

Thanks FT for letting my air my thoughts...

Nov. 5, 2014 - Update
 

Hi all!

Firstly, thank you tcook052 for your support! :) I really appreciate it!

Training the past few weeks has consisted mostly of walking; in the coming weeks, strength training, more walking, and a little running...progressing back up the marathon training "hill!" A walkabout in Paris awaits this weekend!

I also wanted to say thank you to those who've supported me thus far!! It's still early, but I'm pleased to be approaching the £200 mark! The current total £197.84!! :)

As a DL frequent flyer, I thought it was cool to see DL President Ed Bastian run this past weekend's NYC Marathon and raise over $300k for a children's cancer charity - see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delta...-marathon.html!

I hope the start of everyone's November is great!

:)robin

Update - December 11, 2014
 

Hi All!

Well, as we head towards Christmas (already!?) and the New Year, I realized I had not updated this thread in a bit.

November proved to be a busy travel month with SoCal, Paris, Stuttgart, and Hong Kong in the mix! :) What's a few miscellaneous travels within a 12k mile span.

I did manage to get a relatively short run in while I was in Hong Kong...although the humidity and warmer temps were challenging!

Hazy Kowloon behind me:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...eebf69338f57ca

And, of course, I've had the chance to run in England. In the dark...even at 430pm. ;)
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...f936029196baaa

Fundraising is plugging along! :D

As of this week, I'm just over 20% of my goal - £327.57! :)

Thanks for following this craziness! Training begins in earnest in a few weeks!

Update - Dec. 23, 2014
 

Hi Everyone,

Well, the "official" training weeks for the 2015 London Marathon are about to begin! I've definitely asked myself, "How did that happen!?!" :D

Even better, we've passed the shortest day of the year and LIGHT will eventually return to my evening runs!

Had a great long run in London this past weekend at about 8 miles; it's the longest I've run (had longer walking days) since the Chicago Marathon in October. Pleased to say it felt really great! :)

Fundraising continues to plug along - £352.00 as of today! Another £24.62 from eBay sales is also due to credit...plugging toward my £1500 goal slowly!

My sincere thanks to those who've helped me along this journey and continue to follow my trials and tribulations, as well as successes! :D

A few minutes into my run Sunday morning:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...1be10b6a7110c5

About halfway (from the DoubleTree Westminster to Canary Wharf):
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...a7cca949c83449

With the City behind me:
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...d4&oe=553B6A95

Canary Wharf!
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...80&oe=55089FA2

2015?! Already?? 106 Days...
 

Hi All,

Well, training continues. Of course. It's a marathon...right? Someone recently asked me, "Isn't that like over 20 miles?" Yes, it is. ;)

I'm pleased to say I'm approaching the 1/3 mark as we begin 2015! :D £408.51 has been raised so far!

Ironically (or not), my Christmas Eve run was along the A4 which parallels LHR's runways! :D
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...f274a5b5021d93

Me heading out the other night:
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...e9&oe=552E2662

The only catch has been my back (maybe I'm not flying enough?) which has been touch-and-go. Pilates (!?) is helping and I was able to make it out last night. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery and limited injuries.

This weekend's long run will be in Lisbon! :D

The nice thing about running ... you can run about most anywhere! Not so easy with my bike.

But I'm in ... happy to support you again! You runners inspire me; I'd much rather stuggle thru 100 miles on my bike than trying to run 5 miles!

Kevin

Kevin,

Thank you (again!) - good luck as you prepare for your RIDE!

:)

100 days!?
 

Well, today is 100 days until I make (another) 26.2 mile trek through central London.

On a sad note, I got a message from friends here last night that a CT scan did not go well. I flipping HATE cancer. :mad:

With every step I walk, jog, or run and every penny or pence I raise, I will keep those fighting cancer on my mind. For me, the pain is temporary and I'll do whatever I can to help my friends who have been affected.

Update - Feb. 18, 2015 - £661.26 / £838.74 to go!
 

Hi All!

Can you believe March will be here sooner rather than later?!

In the month or so since my last update, things have been crazy...of course, when is life NOT crazy!? :)

Beginning in November, we'd planned an angel trip for a terminally ill family friend of someone I know. I wide variety of people put in to help Dondie and her husband see NYC and, most importantly, the Today Show (she watched it faitfully for 31 years) over MLK weekend in January. As my friend could not make the trip from HNL to NYC, I agreed to go. Unfortunately, we lost Dondie to cancer on Christmas Day. However, we had the privilege to take her photo with us in NYC:

At the Top of the Rock:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.n...d1e9d190b25303

Times Square:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...381f2884ec10fa

As January came to a close and we entered February, my first race of the year was a 10k in London benefiting Cancer Research. It was beautiful but COLD that day!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...90f1df7271e51d

This past weekend, a friend who returned to the USA from the UK last summer, my cousin and I completed the Austin Half Marathon. It was about 20F warmer than I'm used to, which was tough!

Before heading to the start:
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...63&oe=55864000

My cousin and I stayed together through the race. Just past 9 miles, we came across someone who needed help. We were able to help her tough out that last 4 miles despite some aches and pains!

Just after the full/half course split:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...db987b8c737adc

As I write this, I have about 9.5 weeks to go until London.

Just want to express my sincere thanks to my supporters!!

:)

Thank you!
 

Hi All,

Just a quick update as I make slow, but steady, progress! :)

I've now passed the halfway point am at £881.82 as I type this!

Thank you chiefkays for your very generous support!! I really appreciate it!

:)

March 11, 2015 - Update
 

Hi Everyone!

Well, training continues to progress, albeit slowly. :eek:

During an Insanity class two weeks ago, I tweaked something in my left leg which forced a bit of time off.

I did manage a short run in NYC and was able to complete the Cambridge (UK) Half Marathon this past Sunday. Cambridge was an "in the middle" time and I felt pretty good - thankfully!

It's hard to believe the 2015 London Marathon is a mere 6.5 weeks away and I'm almost to £1,000! Currently at £988.98 as of this morning! WHERE did the time go?!

Thanks for your support!!

In between NYC snow storms two weeks ago:
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...4c&oe=55BDDF84

Classic cheeseball grin this past Sunday:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...62f6ebc2aa2c34

Update - March 31, 2015
 

Hello fellow FTers,

First of all, THANK YOU Trojan Traveler for your very generous donation!

I've been away for the Navy over the past couple of weeks and am now catching up. :)

I'm VERY pleased to say I've reached £1,355.73 of my £1,500 goal! THANK YOU!

Training continues of course.

Running in rural Germany while I was away:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...6a45f5feb3fc7a

In Nuremberg before I headed back to Blighty:
https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...5e&oe=55A4DDAE

:)

Hard to believe there are only 26 days to go!

Best of luck! Thank you for all your hard work :) Your dedication into this cause is an inspiration :)

THANKS!
 

Thank you, SuperG1955!! :D