HO FIRE SALE!

HO FIRE SALE!
ATTENTION!
HO FIRE SALE!
ONE WEEK ONLY!

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ONE WEEK ONLY --

FROM 2/20 UNTIL 2/28 THE HO WILL BE ON FIRESALE FOR THE LOW COST DONATION OF $150.

YES YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST - $150 WILL GET YOU RIGHTS TO THE HO FOR ONE OF THE TWO RACES (your choice of the National Marathon or the Nashville Country Music Half) --

NOWHERE ELSE WILL YOU FIND A HO THAT CHEAP AND FOR SUCH A GOOD CAUSE!

DONATE HERE AND BE SURE TO MENTION THAT YOU ARE PURCHASING THE HO!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nca/cmc09/sperry

For those of you that are not aware, 10 years ago, I had a blood clot in my right leg, almost killed me (they brought in a preist -- no joke), and in the ICU for 10 days... They said I would never swim, or run again... OBVIOUSLY I have proved them wrong.

One of the main reasons why I so proud to be a part of TNT is because they helped me overcome one of the things that I was told I would NEVER be able to accomplish -- running a marathon. Because of this, I do have very little circulation in my right leg and wear a support ho (hose is pural, therefor, it is my ho) to help with circulation.

What I am doing is auctioning off rights to the HO on marathon day. You will be allowed to write and decorate whatever you want on the ho for the day of the marathon (within reason). After the race, I will then present you with your HO, as a special token of your donation.

I mean, who doesn't want one of my HO's?

ONE WEEK ONLY - $150 GETS YOU RIGHTS TO THE HO FOR ONE OF THE TWO RACES! ACT NOW - THIS HO IS BOUND TO GO FAST!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nca/cmc09/sperry

WIN SAM WIN

This week was a BIG week that was culminated by a BIG day. We had our 18 miler yesterday out in Reston and before even BEGINNING to talk about the run, I have to give a HUGE shout out to Kristina, for whom I would not have finished without. She was AMAZING not only ALL week, but also through out the whole run. ALSO-  a big shout out to CINDY for giving me the love and reading my blog! :) 

Now for the rest of the story. For those that have read through the whole blog, including last year's marathon story, you will know and understand the significance of the "Win Sam Win" shirt. In addition, for those that know what I have been through in my personal life over the past year, understand and know that one of the (many) things that I did not keep after Tom dumped me was the shirt- - and the only, ONLY, ONLLLYY (can I express this again) thing that I have want(ed) back was my shirt.

It was a VERY emotional decision for me, but as my time with TNT this season progressed, it became more and more clear to me that the accomplishment of finishing the marathon was not something that could, should or WOULD be taken away from me by Tom.  Through the break up, one of the things that hurt the most that was that I felt that the accomplishment of the marathon was taken away from me... that "I wouldn't have been able to finish the marathon without him" Well - one thing I will not disregard is the amount of support and devotion that he showed to me. BUT in that same breath, I was the one running. I was the one at the trainings. And I was the one that crossed the finish line. It was ME. I RAN. Not him. And although it has taken me a long time and a lot of good friends, I know that it was my accomplishment, not his and even though he may have given me that shirt, I was the one that did it.

So, as I started out this week, I asked Aubrey to help get the shirt back. I was nervous to have it back and as I held it in my hands for the first time, I wanted to throw up. I really didn't know what to do... But, we had a Rocky I and Rocky II viewing on Friday before the run and as I looked around at Mickey, Kristina, Kristin, Charlie, Jedi, Lindsay and Robert -- and watching the movies and sharing with them MY inspiration -- and realizing that these people were my team, my friends, my family -- and that this shirt didn't represent our relationship and him giving it to me - but it represented ME and what I CAN (and will) accomplish. He may have given me the shirt, but he doesn't OWN the significance of it. 

On Saturday morning, I put the shirt on, again with the feeling of barfing, but as I got to the run -- about 10 miles in, at the second or third water stop, I realized, with the help of Kristina, that I own the shirt. It is mine. 

I won't go into the details of all the miles -- although we did see a butt crack from a biker, do some dancing, see Jason Taylor and a few other things...Anyway...

Last year, when I finished my 20 miler,  Tom was waiting at the end. This 18 miler, which sucked WAYYY more than the 20 miler last year, I had Mickey waiting at the end and Kristina by my side - both which meant the world to me. Mickey knew what I was feeling (and Kristina was feeling it with me, argggg). Mickey had been finished FOREVER -- but knowing that there was someone who GOT it -- someone who felt just as crappy as we did at that point at the end helped us get to that DAMN stop sign.  And he was there because he WANTED to be - not because there was an obligation to be. There is a HUGE difference between WANT and NEED.

So - with all this said- I guess the lesson learned is that I will WIN. I can WIN. And NOBODY, will EVER be able to take this season, or ANY season away from me. This season has taught me the value of friendship and the value of believing in yourself and the value of a team. There is nothing better than running and feeling like death and having someone run by and say - Come on Sam - you can DO It. GO TEAM! 

I know we are out there to save lives -- but I never thought that doing Team in Training would actually be the thing to save me... so thank you to TNT for bringing me back. 

WIN, SAM, WIN. 

Keep on Movin' on...

I think that "Keep on moving on" is a good theme for my life and what is going on with it. With each obstacle that I find myself up against, I just keep on moving on. And in that same breath, with each Saturday and each run, I just keep on movin' on... and the miles keep on going up.

In the last week, I have closed on a house, packed up my old place (sort of), moved, finally found closure in something that changed my life (pat on the back for that), finished the last week of JANUARY at work - and continued my training. Although I have been stressed out (who wouldn't be!?), the one thing that is not stressing me out is Team in Training.

Training for this marathon is a totally different than last year. I am having such a good time with the AMAZING friends that I have made and I know what to expect from my body and I have learned how to take care of myself and train. I have more support than I ever would have expected and I have made friends that I know will last a lifetime.

On the note of support, I had a great crew of people who helped me through the marathon last year and I can not, by any means, take away from what they contributed or how much they helped me in crossing the finish. However, this year, it is totally different. Nobody is supporting me through this out of obligation. They are supporting me because they WANT to -- they are people who have a common interest -- finishing the marathon and raising money for LLS... and they have quickly become amazing, fun and great friends. Before starting TNT, I was in a massive funk - -everyone knew that. But through this experience this year, I have found myself again and I finally feel like the old Sam... Fun Sam. :)

Soooo with all that said, a HUGE thank you to Kristina, for helping me run and finish all those miles this weekend and keeping me smiling, laughing and (sadly) singing. You are AMAZING and I am SOOOOOOOOOO thankful for you. And Mickey - even though you didn't bring me a milkshake, you are amazing and I am so happy you are my bff. :)