Debbi's Team In Training Page
A Quick Update. . .See Below
Well, I’m back from Arizona, a little sore and tired, but so very glad that I could participate in this awesome experience.
I want to especially thank my family. Not only did they put up with long hours of me off running, but they also helped me raise money. Dave, Amanda and Jackson were there to cheer me on at the beginning of the race, at mile 5, and near the finish line when I was feeling very tired! It was so great to see their encouraging faces! Thanks also to my mother, dad, and stepmother for helping out here at home with meals and watching the animals so my family could come with me.
I will hold many memories in my heart from this endeavor: Listening to a brave woman sharing about her treatments of chemotherapy, radiation, and stem-cell transplants. . . writing letters, then writing more letters. . . long hours spent on the towpath with the TNT coach and mentor keeping me company so I didn’t have to run alone. . . strangers coming up to me and thanking me for what I was doing and then sharing their survival story. . . baking and sewing up a storm to help raise money. . . trying hard to follow the running “plan”. . .actually waking up and feeling like a runner – I couldn’t wait to get out the door. . .enjoying the dry, warm desert air. . .meeting my favorite running author John Bingham. . .hearing “Go Debbi!” more times than I could count as I ran along the racecourse. . .running alongside 21,500 other runners. . .and most importantly, running with a purpose – running to save lives.
I tried to enjoy every mile of the race on Sunday – looking at the scenery, talking to the people, thanking as many of the volunteers and people who cheered for me as I could, cheering for the bands, and waving for the cameras. I wish I could package up the experience for all of you so you could partake of it with me.
Because of you and your support, all of this was possible. I’m sad to see this time end. I encourage you all to think about running to save lives also. . .until there is a cure.
Sincerely,
Debbi Majher
P.S. Results and pictures from the race are on the web at www.rnraz.com. Two other interesting things happened at the race: The world record for the half marathon was broken (59:55), and the record for the most participants in a combination race (total of 33,700 for the marathon and half marathon!).
