Sarah Kelber's Team In Training Page
OORAH, Y'ALL!
When I was competing in my first half-marathon last June -- the Mayor's Midnight Sun in Anchorage, Alaska -- I thought about a lot of things.
I thought about the challenges my husband, Judah, must have been dealing with at Marine Corps boot camp at that very moment, even counting 20 steps for every person in his platoon to keep myself going at one point. And I thought a lot about my honored teammate, Kamryn, and all the obstacles she has faced so bravely in her fight against cancer.
So in April, when the opportunity rolled around to sign up for my third Team in Training event (and fourth season with the team), I found myself agreeing to do the Marine Corps Marathon this October. It feels impulsive, and it feels scary, but it also feels right. The first marathon I ever saw was 2002's Marine Corps Marathon, in which I cheered on my stepdad, Fred, in D.C. It was that day that I thought, despite being the furthest thing from an endurance athlete, "That could be awesome." And by doing this race -- which by the way, has an intense time limit that is outside my current pace and is a distance that's double what I've done before -- I can push myself further than what I think I am capable of, and do it in honor of some pretty amazing people.
To do it through Team in Training is just icing on the cake. Since my first event last June, I've been a mentor for the Howard County team, and it's been a great experience. The group is just fantastic, and the cause -- raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society -- is, too. TNT has raised more than $700 million for blood-cancer research, and that research has made a difference. The survival rates for many types of blood cancers have improved at astounding rates in the past couple of decades, especially among children. Seventy-five percent of every dollar given to TNT goes directly to research and patient services. While that is a superb percentage, should I surpass my fundraising minimum of $1,800, 100 percent of every dollar given will go to patient services and research.
So please support me in my goal to raise $4,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and to complete 26.2 miles (at a faster-than 14-minute-per-mile pace, ack!).
Thank you!
GO TEAM -- OORAH!
Sarah
