I Signed up to Run the St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon for the 5th Time

On December 3rd, I will again brave the cold and my nerves to run 13.1 miles through the streets of Memphis for the kids of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 

When I looked back at my past race medals and counted the ones from the St. Jude race, I surprised myself to learn this would be my 5th in Memphis and my 10th half marathon!

After all these years, I’m still not the biggest fan of running. Don’t get me wrong, I love running with people, competing and challenging my mind and body but I’ve not mastered the art of pacing myself, the science of breath or how to run without pain.

As the weight of what I've gotten myself into again hits me, I'm reminded of a list I made last year of the reasons I will always run the St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon:

• I run to see that childhood cancer is eradicated!
• I run so that no family will ever have to pay St. Jude for anything.
• I run so that I can tell people about the miracles that happen at this hospital.
• I run so that the parents of the children fighting cancer can concentrate on their child and not bills, transportation or housing.
• I run in hopes to encourage others to sign up as St. Jude Heroes.
• I run because running for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital makes me feel alive!

If you'd like to live vicariously through me and make a donation on my behalf to the children of St. Jude, please click here.

On Saturday, December 3rd, we will fight the weather, leg cramps and find inner strength to make it through our chosen 3.1, 13.1 or 26.2 miles. Most importantly we’ll help raise money for St. Jude to find a cure childhood cancer.

We’ll be running for their lives.