While training for my first marathon, I would often find my mind wandering to memories of family members no longer around to tell me how proud they were of me or post a "Way to Go! Keep Running!!" comment on my facebook page. During my long Sunday 20-mile runs and Thursday track workouts, when my legs, body & spirit were almost depleted of energy, it was those memories that helped me reach the end of some grueling runs. It was during these moments, with tears in my eyes, that I decided to run for a charitable cause in my next marathon that would honor them, what they meant to me, and most importantly what they meant to their families. I ran my first marathon, ING Hartford, in a time of 3 hours and 8 minutes, finishing 85th out of 2,200. Most runners set their goal at just finishing their first marathon. I’m not like most runners. My goal was to run under 3:10 and qualify to run the Boston Marathon in 2013. I truly believe that my loved ones who’ve passed on and are watching over me helped carry me the distance on race day to a B.Q. time.

My Bubbie, Cele 'Ceepa' Herman, lived a long life in which she always told me how proud she was of me and my accomplishments. My cousin, Hal Rosenberg, was only 47 years old when his four month battle with brain cancer ended. Both will be greatly missed by many, many family and friends. I hope those same memories that made my first marathon so successful will drive me even harder towards my second 26.2 on my birthday weekend, Sunday May 6th in New Jersey, the day after I turn 37, and I am so proud to be running in their memory. Half of the funds that I raise will go directly to the Hebrew Home and Health Care where my Bubbie lived out the last months of her life and the other half to the National Hospice Foundation. All of the money that I raise will benefit numerous families dealing with the same difficult losses we have all experienced.