Hello again!

I apologize for not posting sooner. So, I last told you about how a doctor wanted me to go under the knife, I respectfully refused. After that, I took it easy for about 2 weeks and then got my feet back onto the pavement for an almost 2 hour run. Although it took forever and was a struggle, I completed it without any pain! hooray!

I have been trying to get into the gym as much as possible around my work schedule and feel like my endurance is getting stronger! This is great news...now I just need to be on the fast track to weight loss, that would be the icing on the cake. "did someone say cake?" haha. kidding.

So, Uncle John is recovering still after his bone marrow transplant. Although the actual procedure is just like a chemo treatment, the recovery is insane. The people at city of hope are taking good care of him and with much prayer, I hope he will be in good shape soon and back with my Aunt Kathy in Nevada. Keep praying - its working.

As for our team hero, Mason - he had his "end of recovery Nerf party" last week. So sweet! I love hearing stories of success.

As I creep closer to the race day, so does my funding deadline. I am very anxious about this and just have to trust that it will all fall into place as it should. If you are interested in donating, please visit http://pages.teamintraining.org/rm/rnr10/bcortesy

I do have to say that training for this race sure does allow me to take in all of the beauty of Colorado..its mmm mmm good!

I hope that you are all doing well!
Miles closer!

Brittney

Doctor visit #1

alrighty...so, after 2 weeks of constant pain, I bit the bullet and went to the doc. He took some x-rays and came to the conclusion that I am suffering (that word seems awfully dramatic) from plica syndrome. He told me he could feel a palpable shelf on my patella. So, I am taking some celebrex and on my way I go. Tomorrow I have an hour and a half run on concrete so, hopefully it goes well!

I have about 10% of my total raised and need about $1000 more this month to continue. Pray for funds!!

xoxo

miles (slowly) closer to a cure!

B

toilets

So, just an observation...

every time I go to put a toilet seat cover on, I place it gently on the toilet, turn around to take down my pants and the mysterious wind picks up and whoosh...there goes the cover in the toilet. It usually takes me 2 or 3 tries before I can get it right.

Just wanted to share that...no application to life, no relevance to the cause..just a thought.

:)

B

woop woop

After a week of pain & 3 days of missed training, I decided to suck it up and go for my group run today. Although some of you could have walked faster than I ran, I DID IT! I actually ran for an hour and fifteen minutes. Can't say that I am walking with grace right now, but mission accomplished. This week, the training schedule gets bumped up, so I am going to have to do some major cross-training; swim, bike, eliptical...just to make sure to get my heart pumping.

Please pray for Kate in Ohio, she is fighting through her relapse right now.

Off to work I go!

miles closer!

B

I get so weak in the knees, I can hardle speak...

aaah....the fine poetry of SWV

I don't know what it is that you've done to me...
but it's caused me to act in such a crazy way.
Whatever it is that you do when you do what you're doing...
it's a feeling I don't understand

'Cause my heart starts beating triple time,
with thoughts of loving you on my mind.
I can't figure out just what to do,
when the cause and cure is you.

{Chorus}

I get so weak in the knees I can hardly speak.
I lose all control and something takes over me.
In a daze you look so amazing,
it's not a phase, I want you to stay with me
by my side, I swallow my pride
your love is so sweet.
It knocks me right off of my feet....
I can't explain why your loving makes me weak.

Time after time after time I've tried to fight it.
But your love is strong it keeps on holding on.
Resistance is down when you're around, prides fading.
In my condition I don't want to be alone.

'Cause my heart starts beating triple time,
with thoughts of loving you on my mind.
I can't figure out just what to do,
when the cause and cure is you.

{Chorus}

I try hard to fight it.
No way can I deny it.
Your love's so sweet.
knocks me off my feet.

{Chorus}

{Bridge}

I get so weak...
Blood starts racing through my veins
I get so weak...
Boy it's something I can't explain.
I get so weak...
Something 'bout the way you do
the things you do ooh ooh, it...
knocks me right off of my feet,
off of my feet.
Can't explain why your loving makes me weak.

**FROM BRITT:
I thought this to be an appropriate song lyric to post, love me some sistas with voices. This past week has been pretty rough! I have two bad knees to begin with but, life goes on so, I have been running and not really thinking anything of it. Well, after a 3 mile run on Tuesday, I woke up the next morning to find that it was difficult to walk. I feel very defeated! I have committed to this race in honor of my Uncle and would hate for anything to stand in my way of reaching the set goal - funds or training. This is day 3 of limping and of pain in every step I take. Tomorrow we have a team training that I will attend and just wobble through..no matter what, I WILL cross that finish line!

Lots happening in March; 3 siblings birthdays, a Vegas trip to celebrate, a move and one more month closer to 'the big day'.

miles closer to a cure!!!

Week 3 - ipizzle fo shizzle

So, I wussed out and didn't attend the team training this past Saturday morning. I know that those are only for my best however, it was 20 degrees and snowing. Those are the moments where I forget that its not about me, but about the cause! During my runs, after about 10 straight minutes, I want to stop and die so..being that 10 minutes wont even get me to a mile, let alone 13, I have to think of other things other than my shortness of breath and aching body! To remedy the situation, I just bought an ipod shuffle, probably the best $50 spent as of yet! I uploaded Scott's itunes and then on Sunday, off to the gym I went. I started off slow (because that's how I roll) and then eased my way into my long run...I noticed after a while of spacing out that I was much more energized when I had the real dirty rap/hip-hop blasting in my ears. I had to laugh at myself because here I was on the treadmill dancing, completely unaware of the fact that others were in the room. In fact, I forgot that I was even on a treadmill..running at my set pace, I somehow slipped into la-la land and thought I was at a dance club! ha! So, thanks to my sweet boyfriend and his naughty itunes, I successfully completed my long run for the week.
Please pray that the weather is bearable for next Saturday, they are only going to get more difficult and I need to be on my game! Now that I have some sweet running tights, new shoes and I'm 3 pounds lighter..that should help! Until next time...

week 2

Hello again! Last Saturday was our first timed run, we ran 5 kilometers in the cold and I'll be honest, it was pretty rough on my body. The morning started off with me getting lost and having to wake a friend to tell me where to go! Then during the 5 minute warm-up, I thought my lungs were going to collapse. All of this cold weather altitude training should benefit for me in San Diego I suppose. I am running at approximately a 12 minute per mile pace...I am S L O W. Ideally, I would like to bump that up to 11 minute mile for my marathon pace but, let's face it, I'm not trying to break any records here, I'm just trying to cross the finish line. ;)

John's status update - praise report

I received the following from my Aunt today:

John had his transplant this afternoon. All went well so far. He is still feeling pretty bad from all the chemo but there is light at the end of the tunnel now. Thanks for all the prayers everyone. They are working. Will keep you updated as he gets stronger..
Love,

Kathy

City of Hope, another amazing organization found a bone marrow match for my Uncle John...so exciting!
**Please, if you are not a bone marrow donor, please contact http://www.marrow.org/**

Training week 1

I am walking like a deer who just learned that they had legs. I wonder if they would let me roller blade to the finish line. :)
I wrote my coach an email explaining my schedule in hopes of receiving a bit of a revised schedule and nutrition plan. I informed him that most days, I work from 6am - about 11pm and that during my night job, we are unable to eat so, I have granola bars. After writing that email, I read it back and realized what an absolute nut I am...I guarantee that he looked at that email and just simply laughed. I received a mass email back explaining running dos and donts as well as some encouragement for our hard work. I'll take it as it is and just do my best with what I have.

Every Saturday we will meet up as a team and run together, since it is 'team in training.' Saturday is our first group run and we will be having a timed 5K run. holy smokes...not to sound like a wuss, but I am so...holy smokes. I know that the distance isn't long but as a general rule, I don't usually run unless I'm being chased. Stair master - YES, stationary bike - absolutely, treadmill - only if all other machines are taken. :) I'll keep you posted on what happens. Maybe I'll volunteer to run behind everyone to protect them from the possible grizzly bear attack, you never know! hee hee. ;)

The outpouring of support for this small mission is overwhelming. I have had many notes of encouragement, offers to be a running buddy, financial donations and it gets me so pumped. I love to hear that people are getting involved and are interested in the cause. It is tremendous!!

Until next time...

**please pray for Jordan Rounds; he is a local guy fighting against his Melanoma that has returned**
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jordanrounds

Life according to the lifeless

As I said in a previous post, I am at a point in my life where I need purpose, direction, and meaning. I refuse to sit and watch life pass by with illness, poverty and lost souls roaming the earth. For the first time in a long time, I am excited for something, something a whole lot bigger than myself and it is bringing life back (figured I'd try this since I failed at bringing sexy back) hahaha.

Last night I had the pleasure of living life. I had a couple of very close and just straight amazing friends in town and we met at a local pub to drink the finest beer and eat the finest grilled cheese in town. :) At the table there was a teacher, doctor, nurse, social worker, charter school grant-getter (ha!), and myself. I posed the question, "what is our purpose?" I received the response, "this right here, building lasting and meaningful relationships." Fighting back the tears, I knew that no matter how hard we work, how many bills we pay, our fondest memories will be of those spent with the people we most love in this world and those who love you back. In all of my exhaustion and anxiety about what tomorrow will bring, I will never forget the many conversations and laughter that bring purpose.

As a friend once said and I have adopted, "we enter the world penniless, we will leave penniless; it is our character and relationships built throughout life that matter."

WOW!

So, yesterday was the official summer Team In Training (TNT) kick off event, we met our coaches, mentors, staff, and team heroes. All I can say is WOW! I almost cried about 17 times. haha. I have to say that these days I have been wondering what my purpose is here, I feel like all I do is work, (which is true). I was debating whether or not this marathon training would even be possible, given the time and financial commitment I am making. Well, after yesterday's event, there was no question. I know this will be difficult but so rewarding in the end.

Although I am running this race in honor of my Uncle John, who was diagnosed with AML in August, each team is assigned a team hero for inspiration. I would like to tell you a quick little bit about Mason. Mason is 7 years old and was diagnosed with ALL at the age of two. This little kid is so stinking cute, it took everything inside of me to not go up to him and squeeze his precious cheeks. :) His Mother went to the podium, thanked all of us for our commitment to finding a cure and shared with us that Mason is nearing the end of his treatment after a relapse in 2008. Hooray!!! Thanks to all of the researchers, patient services that were provided, and all of the support from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), Mason will have a end of treatment Nerf party on March 2.

...And so the training begins. I have two coaches and a team of about 8 people to train with; we have a set training schedule, and then meet for group runs every Saturday morning. I told them that I most likely would be taking up the rear and perhaps, serving water at the beverage stations! :)

Pray for endurance and energy. I will keep you posted on how it is going. :)

woop woop!
http://pages.teamintraining.org/rm/rnr10/bcortesy

The Cause

Hello Hello Hello! Welcome to my first official blog. I hope that you enjoy traveling alongside this journey with me. I have created this blog to keep you updated on my day to day training and fundraising. I hope you enjoy!

In August, I received the awful news that my Uncle John went to the doctor for some flu-like symptoms he was having. He was admitted immediately, and then the cement block was dropped, “You have Leukemia.” Can you imagine those 3 words being told to your parent, spouse, child, sibling, friend, or you? The awful beast that has taken over and ruined so many lives has come after my loved one.
After the shock, I needed to know how I could help. So, I am raising funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as a participant in their Team In Training program. The LLS prides itself in providing education, research, and patient financial aid to those who are living with Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma. Among the health organizations that provide research and patient services, the LLS is ranked number one in giving the largest percentage of donations directly to the cause.
Please use the link in this email to donate online quickly and securely plus learn more about my progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation. Please know that no amount of money is too large or small. http://pages.teamintraining.org/rm/rnr10/bcortesy
Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. More than 823,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers. I am hoping that my participation in Team In Training will help bring them hope and support. On June 6, I will have the pleasure of taking over 26,000 steps; I know it will be a struggle, but I also know that with your help, we will one day have a cure, with that in mind, I will take as many steps as necessary!
On behalf of all that are fighting this ugly disease today, thank you very much for your support. Your encouragement, prayers, and generosity are greatly appreciated.
Thank you!