Greetings from a man who ran a half-marathon!

Yep, that is right, greetings from your friend - the half-marathon runner!
I've got a medal and t-shirt that says it - that proves it - right?!
To be honest I did finish it but I did not run 100% of the time.

But I gotta tell you - it was a big time amazing-emotional-thrilling experience.

I ran a freakin half-marathon...that phrase rattled through my head starting at about the 12 mile mark and all the way across the finish line. I had a lump in my throat and big alligator tears in my eyes...I was thrilled and amazed. There I was in the middle of a football field with hundreds of other folks who also had just finished this amaazing experience. Every face told a story - some were experienced athletes who just chaulked up another run, while many of the rest of us were first timers..some were crying - others laughing, some holding tight to friends and family, while others simply sat on the turf, wrapped in those space age/aluminum foil looking blankets. Many of the runners were fueled that day by the memory of a loved one lost to leukemia, while others were running - like me - trying to help raise money to fight this damn disease!

Along the path there were leukemia survivors holding simple home made signs expressing their gratitude for the efforts of the runners and the millions this group was raising for research. Matter of fact through the efforts of the runners at the Alaska race alone - 4.5 million dollars had been raised!

There are so many stories it will take me a couple of postings to get them out.
Please know how grateful I am for your gift to the Leukemia society that made my participation in this event possible! I has been life changing! Anybody want to meet this Saturday at Whiterock lake for a combo run/walk? 6:30? let me know?

In 6 hours I leave for Alaska!

I can not believe it - but the day has come for me to head up to Alaska. The big run is Saturday at 9:00 am Anchorage time! Between now and then my adventures will take me to the towns of Seattle, Washington; Anchorage, Palmer and Seward, Alaska.

Thank you for all your prayers and donations - together we raised over $6500.00 for Leukemia research! wow!

I hope to take all sorts of pictures - including one of me in the race - argh!

I have been blessed with all sorts of new friends via participating with the Leukemia society Team in Training - they are good people.