FALL 2009-39.3???

Dear Friends and Family,

It is hard to top a full marathon, but I think I can do it! This season I will be running a ½ marathon a month, September (PDR 13.1 miles), October the NIKE Womens ½ marathon (13.1 miles), and November Philadelphia ½ marathon (13.1 miles) as part of the Team in Training program. YEP, that is 39.3 miles of racing this fall-you know I always shoot for the moon!

Team in Training benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by raising funds to find new treatments and cures for Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and Myeloma. In fact, 75% of funds raised by Team in Training will go directly towards the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission to cure these life-threatening cancers.

I am running the races in honor of four courageous people. Whenever I am training and feel like I can’t muster the strength to go another mile, I think of their strength and feel a renewed sense of commitment to the reason why I am doing this in the first place.

Lori Ann Schneider, a Bala Cynwyd mom who was diagnosed with Mantle Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of 44. She spent many months completing aggressive chemotherapy and is currently in remission! YEAH LORI

Christian, the 14 year old son of my high school friend Greg. Christian started treatment for lymphoma the day before Easter this year. He faces every challenge head on with courage and grace that puts life into perspective for all.

Avi, the son of one of my favorite people at work, Sharon. Avi is 31 and has been battling leukemia over the last year and now is hoping his bone marrow transplant is successful! Avi always deals with the bad and celebrates the good in everything!

Last but definitely not least, for Ed Dougherty. I ran last season for Ed as he fought lymphoma. The day after my last race last fall, Ed died suddenly, leaving behind his wonderful wife Carol and their two fabulous 11 year old girls. Ed prayed “everyday for me and the team to run strong and be healthy and for LLS to help find a cure.”

Their positive attitudes and determination, serves as a symbol of hope and inspiration for all of us.

I hope you will consider a 100% tax deductible donation to support me and this worthy cause. Please complete the attached sponsorship form and enclose a check, made payable to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, to me at the address above. You can also visit my website at
http://pages.teamintraining.org/epa/nikesf09/mgrugan

to make a secure online donation by credit card. Donations must be received no later than September 15th in order to be counted towards my fundraising goal.

Check out my blog for marathon updates and for links to more information:
http://meggruganmarathonmom.blogspot.com

Thank you for helping to support both my personal mission and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission. Together, we are helping to find a cure.

If you have any questions, please contact me at megan.grugan@comcast.net.


Love,

Meg Grugan

P.S. If your company or organization has a matching gift program, please send the paperwork to me at the address above.

Weddings and Friend Raising

We went to my cousin's wedding this weekend in RI. It could NOT have been a nicer day, a nicer place, better food or better company! The couple is very happy, they radiate when they are together! The kids and John had fun as well. I got to see cousins that I have not seen in 20+ years and meet their beautiful babies (you know I love babies!). I learned about blueberries and MAY-o-NAISE---LOL. We stayed at the Providence Biltmore-where in the wee hours we ran down 15 flights of stairs with 4 frightened children as the fire alarm bellowed. It was awesome! We went to the Mystic Aquarium-which was very fun! All in all, WONDERFUL weekend. Thanks guys!

So, just a quick running update: I ran the PDR with Team in Training (half marathon in Phila) in June. It was not my day, I did 10 minute miles-wanted to do 9. I have not been fundraising, but have been serving as a mentor for the team-friend raising. It is funa nI have gotten to meet some great people, yet again. Several of my team mates and I ran in honor of my friend Ed, who is doing well-which is what really matters.

The girls and I have been meeting to do some long runs on the w/e but I have to admit-I hate to run in the humidity. I will do the philly half in about a month-which means I have to get my big old butt out of bed and put in some miles if I am going to break 10-thank goodness it is getting colder.

I will be a mentor again for TNT so if you want to donate, let me know!

sad news

So yesterday our beloved Maddy the pup died. She started having seizures at about 7am. We rushed her to VHUP where they stopped the seizures-but she had been having them for about an hour or more. She was not able to come home and she would never be the same again. We said goodbye to our sweet Maddy-the Nana of our children, our first baby, last daughter of Lancelot, our dear, dear friend at 1030 am. We are crushed.

HOPE

5 days after I finished the marathon in Long Branch, I saw my friend Ed. He has been included in all of my mailings and emails, but I have not seen or heard from him very much over the last year. He pulled me aside and said "I keep meaning to respond to your marathon mom updates but I have been really busy with a lot of stuff. I want you to know that I prayed for you every day during your training. I am so glad everything went well." I talked with him for a few minutes about the positive energy I got and Lori got from the community and how that meant more to both of us than the monetary donations (which sure meant and mean a lot!!)

Tonight Ed told me he was diagnosed with Lymphoma. He starts treatment tomorrow.

Please keep Ed in your thoughts and prayers as he takes this next step toward recovery.

This fall I am a volunteer with Team in Training. I am serving as a mentor-which means I will not be fund raising, but I will help others to fund raise and will basically be a cheerleader for a group of runners.

I will also be training and running my second 1/2 marathon (PDR in SEPT)and second full marathon (Philly in NOV).

I would be happy to forward information to donate to my teammates (mentees) in honor of Ed. Please contact me if you are interested megan.grugan@comcast.net

This next season is for you Ed.

Meg

I choose hope.

I CHOSE HOPE

Well, it is about time old marathon mom resurfaces!!!

On May 4, 2008 at 07:39 the gun went off and I started my first marathon. I trained with Team in Training for 5 months. I raised almost $6000 for cancer research. I talked my training crew into running in skirts!!! I hoped to finish in under 5 hours.

I started the same way...up early, coffee, 2 packets of cinnamon apple oatmeal and I big glass of water. The kids and John put on their skirt chaser tshirts, grabbed their signs and boarded the bus with me.

The weather the day before was cold and windy and wet. The forecast when we left Bala called for ran and below 50. I dressed for winter-my gangsta hat and all! I hoped the weather would change.

I kept the girls and Kevin in my sight all the way to the start. I ran to the porta potty one last time and I lost them in the crowd of almost 9000 runners. UGH! I hoped I would find them.

I tried to squeeze into the crowd at the 5 hour pace group, but I could not get into the gate. I spotted Rebecca, a member of TNT that is friends with our beloved Dee and Sasha. A kind man pushed me through the crowd so I could run with her. Rebecca and I ran together for the first half, but then she finished...she only ran the half marathon. She is a lovely person and was the perfect person to start with. We kept an even pace of 10:30 per mile. I hoped I could keep it up.

One more lap to go...this one solo...still no sign of the girls and Kevin.

The weather warmed up, I was able to ditch the layers (but forgot about the hat).

As I came up to the boardwalk for the final time, I looked at John's smiling face right by the clock which was still sub 5 hours-I had done it! I cannot explain the emotion. I was overwhelmed with happiness! I started to cry so hard that I could hardly breath.

After the race John and the kids ran in to great me with hugs and kisses! It was amazing!

I waited for my girls and Kevin and ran them to the finish. IT was great to see their faces as they came up the boardwalk! It was everything I hoped for.

As we walked back to the shuttle, Maggie and I held hands. She was very vocal about how her legs and feet were KILLING HER! Very funny and cute!

She asked me why I only got a medal and not a trophy. I explained that the faster runners are the ones that win the trophies because they come in first second third..."but mom, all you have to do is keep up with them!" I hope to some day Mags...

I ran by myself, but I was never alone. I kept the names of all the heroes and all the people that have supported me in the pocket on my shoe. I kept the names of my heroes pinned to my team shirt. Thank you for your support! You have helped me reach my goal of completing this marathon....I hope we can reach the goal of finding a cure for blood cancers.

I CHOOSE HOPE.

6 days to go!

I have said it before-this has been life changing for me! I have always believed that people are inherently good. What I have seen in the last few months has really shown me just how generous people can be. 2 weeks ago I asked you to dig deeper, and many of you-without hesitation did! Colleen is nearly at her minimum goal, Kevin is not far behind. I find myself weeping when I see the names of my friends, and Lori's friends scrolling on their sites! You are amazing!!! I am a truly blessed person to know you!

I will send you an update after the race-I may not (won't) be the first person to cross the finish line, but I am definitely the winner.

Thank you to all who have donated their time and energy and money.

$5000+ Thank you!!!

WOW! Less than three weeks to go to the race!

This weekend I ran my 22 miles. It was hot and humid with overcast skies that never quite opened up on us and basically a yucky day to run (after all the sub 20's in Jan I have some nerve complaining about this!!). At mile 19 there was a water stop. As we approached the stop I saw Christopher-Lori's son. Then POP there was Lori at the stop waiting for me! WOW it was great! Talk about making my day! There was my hero standing and smiling and willing to take a stinky sweaty hug! (after 19 miles I am definitely ripe!) Thanks Lori!!!!

I run with 6 other people each week. We are (well 6 of us) all wearing skirts during the race! Really because it is funny to think of running a marathon in a skirt. We keep trying to get Kevin to wear one, but for some reason he is resistant...

I knew Shera from work-she is awesome. Kat, Val and Colleen L and I have been running together for months. What a great influence they are! They are all about 13 or 14 years younger than I am (surprised I am sure but it is true!)-they are all very bright, funny women with wonderful perspective and great stories-especially the cat poop one! It is quite fun and inspiring to run with them! We all support each other and make sure that no one is left behind.

Wait that is only 4 people!

The last two that make up the group are Colleen Jones and Kevin Kirkpatrick. They are about to be married (can you imagine planing a wedding while training for a marathon?) Colleen is finishing her student teaching 5 days after the marathon. She started running last year when Kevin was deployed to one of the hot zones in Iraq- to help keep keep herself from worrying. She did this at the suggestion of her step father Bill. She ran this same marathon with team in training last year-because it was easier to run with a group and she felt it was a worthy cause. This year Colleen and Kevin decided to run together to celebrate Kevin's safe return to the US.

In February they learned that Bill was diagnosed with non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Something had to give-it was fundraising! Now they are facing a large bill because they have not met their minimum fundraising goal and will have to make it up out of pocket. They are great people with such positive attitudes.

If you can open your hearts and wallets once more and give a dollar or even 5 dollars to Colleen Jones www.active.com/donate/tntepa/tntepaCJones2
and/or www.active.com/donate/tntepa/tntepaKKirkpa
It would mean the world to us as a team, to the people fighting blood cancer and it will help them reach their minimum.

If you can't donate money, please say a prayer for Bill. It worked for Lori-let's throw some positive energy to Bill!

You have all given to me-financially and spiritually. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You made this so easy for me. I have passed my minimum fundraising goal by over 100%. Together we are working for a cure!

Much love!
Meg