Dearest Family and Friends:

Mark your calendars. Sunday, November 5th, I will finish 26.2 miles, completing my very first ING New York City Marathon! One of my life goals has been to run in the NYC Marathon. I will soon be crossing this "to-do" off my list, as I was finally accepted into the marathon this year. I whole-heartedly committed to this grueling challenge and have been training for nearly 6 months. It's not the daunting task of running in the marathon that is challenging, it's about telling everyone you are running in the marathon! My strategy was TELL EVERYONE of my acceptance nearly 4 months ago. Since I have told all of you I am doing it, now I must FINISH!

To help me along the way, I began thinking of motivators, and inspirations. It isn't the 3 mile training runs that get me thinking so much as the 10-15 mile training runs - as there is much more time to think! I realized that when I am running, however, I am mostly thinking about all of you. Interestingly, I will share with you that I pray during these long runs. I "offer" them up for people, causes and needs in my life. Each mile represents another family member, or friend, or need, etc. During one of my early long training runs (which back then was about 8 miles) I had a revelation. I was encouraged to run for something greater than physical fitness and weight loss (which was a lot of weight after 3 sons in under 3.5 years!). Why not run for a cause? I had received a few charity run brochures over the year, and although these particular causes are important, I decided to join with the Boomer Esiason Foundation's Team Boomer. Team Boomer is designed to promote exercise and help raise funds for the Exercise for Life scholarship program for people with CF, which helps them pursue their academic dreams. As an administrator for cysticfibrosis.com we are partners with the BEF, and they are dear to me. Jerry Cahill, the founder of "Exercise For Life" has Cystic Fibrosis and Jerry celebrated his 50th Birthday this past June. He is also a marathoner. Jerry attributes his success to daily exercise, and proves that he can breathe.

I have enclosed Team Boomer's, "Exercise For Life" and Donor information for your review. I kindly ask that you reflect upon me. I ask that you pray for me on Sunday, November 5, 2006. I expect to finish the race, and I expect to finish in approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes, anything less is a BONUS! I will keep you in my "mile breath prayers" upon which I will reflect on you. I also have collected a list of those who are afflicted with Cystic Fibrosis through our cysticfibrosis.com site who have signed up for my reflection as I am running. I will treasure all of you at this time. You have encouraged me and motivated me to finish. Thank you for you support.

God Bless You.

Love -
Sarah

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Administrator
CysticFibrosis.com

Edited: 10/05/2006 at 04:12 PM by SarahK

Sarah!! Good luck with the NYC Marathon. If I could be there rooting you on, I would. I did a podcast with Jerry in June (I think) and we talked about running and he really inspired me to start. So 3 weeks ago after being discharged from the hospital I started training for a 10K. The race is Thanksgiving morning here in Detroit. I can definately relate to you when you mentioned the training run...especially the 2 miles when I know I will be running 6.2. It gives me so much time to think about what the race will be like.
I walked the race 2 or 3 years ago and finished in 1.5 hours. This year I am hoping to finish just over an hour. My runs are starting to get longer and my lungs are getting stronger so I think I will reach my goal.
Thank you so much for doing this for us with CF. I am going to check out your Team Boomer page now.
I believe that exercise is definately a big part in what keeps me healthy. Today I did blew the highest PFT's I have had in about 5 or more years..this is because I have been running.
Good luck and I will be thinking of you on November 5th!!!
Rock CF,
Em

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Emily 27 pwcf Founder of the Rock CF Foundation. The Rock CF Foundation is dedicated to increasing the quality of life for people with Cystic Fibrosis. With the help of a core group of volunteers, the Foundation utilizes the arts, entertainment, fashion and fitness to support research initiatives and heighten public awareness in the fight against cystic fibrosis. www.letsrockcf.org "Keep on rockin' till we find a cure"

Emily -
That is SO Wonderful!
I am so proud of you - a 10K - that is a small feat in itself! Especially on Thanksgiving! You GO GIRL! There's nothing like crossing the finish line! Whether it's 1 mile, 6.2miles or 26.2miles - it is all relative. You just get into the zone and do your body good! I will be thinking of you too!

Thanks for your nice comments - and yes, Jerry does the podcasts and he is such a promoter of the Exercise For Life.

Be Well -
Sarah

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Administrator
CysticFibrosis.com