I did it. I signed up and PAID to run. How crazy, right?
I've been thinking about doing a half marathon for a few years now. I would have done it before this year, but I had a few things get in the way. The biggest was this little thing I had happen about 2 years ago. Remember this? Then I recovered from that, only to announce this.
So after all the events of the past two years, I am finally in a place to train and prepare for the 13.1 mile journey of a half marathon. I hope one day to do a full, but my goal is to get this under my belt and then look at something longer
I chose to do the St. Jude Memphis Marathon for a lot of reasons: 1. It is exactly 10 days before my 30th birthday. I couldn't think of a better way to ring in a new century than to show I can run an insane distance, be in shape and be healthy. I really hope to be an inspiration to a lot of people, especially my little lamb - I want her to grow up and see a healthy mom. They truly walk in our footsteps - I'd love for her to one day run with me in a race like this one. Wouldn't that be neat?
2. Obviously I have the best nephew ever who is a St. Jude patient.

After being diagnosed with Leukemia when he was a mere three months old, he spent the better part of his first two years of his precious life at St. Jude receiving treatments and waiting for a bone marrow transplant. Thankfully he was able to receive the transplant and was on his way to remission. Now he's 13 years old and doing wonderful. You would never guess he had been sick or battled for his own life at just 6 months old. (he was so stinkin' cute! and still is)

So I signed up not only to participate, but to be a St. Jude Hero. I have agreed to raise at least $500 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. $500 - a mere dent in the expenses that accumulate while being a patient at the hospital. What many people do not realize is that not one single child will be turned away from the hospital for their inability to pay. I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she had to pay for Tre's expenses. I remember that St Jud did send her bills periodically on what she would have had to pay - I know the totals were ridiculous, with some of the bills being over $20,000 EACH.
So in the grand scheme of things, $500 is a drop in the bucket. Nothing.
I will be posting my fundraising website information very soon to start receiving donations. I have a goal: not only to complete the race, but to make my fundraising goal before November 1st. I know I will make it.

Thank you all for your support ahead of time.
It will be a great event: my mom is participating in the race as well, running the 5K with my nephews Tre' and Bronson.