Why I am running 26.2 miles...

"Whether you believe you can or believe you can't, you're probably right." -Henry Ford

I have always wanted to run a marathon. It's been one of those things on my list that I assumed would happen someday but I had no plans of ever doing. I enjoyed running, but would usually only go out for 3-4 mile runs at most. This all changed last summer, when my friend Carrie suggested that we train for a half marathon together. I wasn't sure that I would ever be able to run 13.1 miles, and our first long run of 6 miles along the water felt brutal. But I stuck to the great Hal Higdon's training plan, and 2 short months later was crossing the finish line at the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Half Marathon in Albany, NY.

I felt so good after the half marathon that I started to look for more races to run. Carrie and I registered for the NYC Half Marathon lottery. I kept up with running, doing shorter weekday runs and a longer run on the weekends. In January, Carrie and I found out that we both won spots in the NYC Half, which was to take place in March. We began training immediately. This time, being confident that I could finish a half marathon, I wanted to see how fast I could finish. I also registered for the NYC Marathon lottery, thinking that maybe I was ready for a new challenge. I finished the NYC Half Marathon with a PR that was almost 20 minutes faster than my previous half marathon time.

I had been contemplating the marathon for awhile, and after speaking to my dad, decided that running it for charity was the best way to go. I began to research charities, and landed on Team in Training (TNT), which raises money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). LLS has invested more than $617 million in leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research, which has led to key advances in understanding blood cancers and has helped produce new treatments to enhance and prolong lives. Innovations in cancer treatment over the years have included radiation and chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation and new target therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal ones.

I attended an information session for TNT, and was moved to tears by the video that was shown. I didn't realize that an estimated 912,938 Americans are living with blood cancers. Every 4 minutes, someone new gets diagnosed with a blood cancer, and every 10 minutes, someone passes away from a blood cancer.

The best part about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is that the research that they fund leads to advances in understanding all kinds of cancer, not just blood cancers. Many of my family members have died of various forms of cancer - including my mom's mother, my dad's brother and sister, and my cousin Judy - so raising money for this cause is especially meaningful for me.

If you had asked me a year ago if I thought I could run 26.2 miles while raising $3,800, I would have said no, I can't. But if you were to ask me today, I would say yes, I can. And I will. Please follow me on my journey, and if you haven't already, please make a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through my website here: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nyc/nyc10/lecook

Thank you!