Weekly Update

Whose idea was it to train for a winter marathon in Kansas? The same person who decided five years ago to train for a mountain bicycle ride in Kansas? Nothing like those steep climbs up to the overpasses over the interstate.
The only thing I can say after the ice that fell in Topeka last weekend is thank goodness for the elliptical trainer my wife decided to buy a few years back. Because that is where I have spent the past week or so, indoors in my basement, with my legs spinning round and round, for hours and hours and hours.
It’s not exactly how I had planned to spend the final few weeks of my training, but I think it is working for me. On Sunday morning, I spent more than three hours, covering what I would equate to about twenty miles minus the pounding that running puts on your legs, knees and hips. So far this week, I have put in about thirty miles and I am planning for a twenty miler on Saturday to put me over the fifty mile mark for the week. I am a firm believer in running time over distance and there is great benefit to being able to keep your legs moving for four hours plus. You’ll know if my strategy worked when I make my final report on the marathon. The elliptical trainer mimics the leg and hip motion of running without the pounding and it greatly reduces the risk of injury.
With two weeks to go to my minimum fundraising deadline, I am happy to report that I am just $644 short of my minimum fundraising goal of $3250. But I don’t intend to stop at the minimum. Each dollar raised brings us that much closer to finding a cure for blood cancers. I intend to do my part, both running and fundraising, for that cure.
Thank you to those of you who have contributed. I hope I have earned the gracious support you have shown to this effort. Many of you have written back and said that you plan to support me. We all need a friendly reminder from time to time, I’m no different. So think of this as just that, a friendly reminder. There are also some of you who I know won’t contribute and that is okay. Part of my goal is to also raise awareness for blood cancers.
If you wish to make a financial contribution to my campaign, please visit http://www.active.com/donate/tntks/tntksGHill or mail you donation to:
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
C/O Greg Hill
3460 SW Jardine Terrace
Topeka, KS 66611
-or-
and Lymphoma Society
C/O Greg Hill
555 N. Woodlawn
Building 1, Suite 113
Wichita, KS 67208

Or, if you just want to send along your words of encouragement, I am accepting those as well. For those of you who have run marathons in the past, you know what happens somewhere about twenty two miles. For those who don’t know what I am talking about, just think pain - excruciating pain.
With the end of the year quickly approaching, I want to wish all of you a wonderful Holiday Season, a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I am looking forward to breaking in 2008 with the accomplishment of the goal of completing my second marathon.
Thank you for your support and encouragement. Remember, you can always track my training efforts at http://greghilltnt.blogspot.com.
Sincerely,
Greg Hill