9 half marathons completed. #10 in sight!

#1 Disneyland Half Marathon 09.04.11

In just a few days I will make my way to the start line of my 10th half marathon.
You read that correct, 10!

In a span of less than 2 years I have ran across 9 half marathon start and finish lines. And I can't wait to make my way to number 10.

What started as a journey to cross something off my life list, to do something in memory of my dad, and to take part in something far bigger than myself-- has turned into something indescribable.

#2 Nike Women's Half Marathon 10.15.11

My journey to these races is one that I can't fully describe, but what I can say, is that it's a journey that has changed my life.

#3 Tinkerbell Half Marathon 01.29.12

I couldn't have made my way through all of this training and races  without the support and love from my family and friends.
The people that have been there before this new passion for running came about. The people that have been there all my life. The people that were there by my side through my dad's battle with cancer. TEAM CELERA. They continue to support me, my brother, and my sister, through our events. Whether its through donations to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, encouraging words, or by cheering at events. I know that they are our biggest supporters. Thank you Team Celera. Thank you for keeping my dad's memory alive and sharing in my journey.

#4 Pasadena Rock n' Roll 02.19.12

My mom has been our biggest cheerleader, through this whole journey. She is there at finish lines holding sweaters, flip flops, and signs of encouragement. She has been there this whole time and even went with me to my very first Team in Training Kick Off event. And from that moment, I think we both knew how incredible it would be to be part of such an inspiring group. So, thanks mom, for being there on the start of this crazy journey, and continually supporting us through every event,
every start line, every finish line, and every moment in between.

Of course I can't forget my 2nd family. The people that have shared the trails with me. The people I have ran miles upon miles with. The people I have sweat with, shed tears with, laughed with.. my Team in Training family. Thanks Team, for getting me to places I never thought possible. Thank you Coaches, Support Staff, TNT Staff,  Mentors, Captains, Mentees, and Fellow Teammates. You have made all my races absolutely incredible, even ones not signed up with the Team, we still come together as ONE. You have made the journey and the training so incredibly worthwhile. And you have helped me keep the focus and mission alive-- everyday. I would never have imagined I would be running my 10th half marathon. But it is here. And I thank you for being by my side through the many painful and most joyful miles. You have enriched my life and have made me a better person!

Here is to Half Marathon #10. In DC! Surrounded by my fellow purple people. Here is to a Cure for a Cancer. Here is to a race run, in memory of my dad. Here is to his spirit, his smile, and his love.

Team Celera Kicking Cancer's Ass.

3 siblings.
3 Cancer Killers.
3 endurance athletes.
Hundreds of miles.
Early morning trainings. 

Start lines and finish lines.

$14,125 raised for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
All in memory of our dad, Diogenes Celera.

We are TEAM CELERA.

When my dad was diagnosed with Cancer in August of 2010, I felt I needed to do something. I immediately had bracelets made, with T.C.K.C.A on one side (Team Celera Kicking Cancer's Ass) and TEAM CELERA on the other. It was something uniting all of us during my dad's battle. A way to show our support in my dad's fight. To show that his battle was not his alone, and we we're fighting it with him, every step of the way.

 

A rewarding day as a spectator.

We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by. -Will Rogers

I have done a couple races this past year. And I always appreciate the spectators on the side lines, cheering like no other, on those early mornings. I always remember the hilarious and motivational signs they hold up-- especially at those moments when the legs are getting tired and the going gets tough. Sometimes all you need is a little cheer from someone, whether it be someone you know or a complete stranger to get you moving and help you make your way to the finish line.

This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to cheer on participants at the Disneyland half marathon. My foot and back had been hurting me, so I declined the opportunity to run the race, and instead decided it would be the perfect race to cheer at. 

I knew it would be a good time, for many reasons.
1. I would be spending time with support staff cheering on our TNTers. 
2. I get to cheer and scream, and root people on all morning. What's not to like about that?! 
3. I get to cheer on strangers and hopefully bring a smile to their face! 
4. I get to see my teammates, who have trained for months, run their race
5. I get to see a swarm of people, running a race, many in crazy costumes.
... and the list goes on and on.
But something I was really looking forward to was seeing the smiles on my teammates faces as they pass us, give us high fives, and make their way to the finish line of 13.1 miles. 13.1 they would have accomplished, for such an incredible cause.

So I met up with support staff at 6am, and we headed to around mile 5 to cheer on participants, and once all our participants passed us, we would walk to mile 11, to catch our TNTers once again, for more cheering! It was definitely an eventful morning. What a joy seeing teammates running with all their might! It is always exciting seeing TNTers, but that moment you see a TNTer from your team, the energy rises, arms are stretched out, and we cheer our hearts out. 

It was a rewarding experience, being on the sidelines. It was especially inspiring standing in the midst of our honored teammate Virginia, as she held up her sign "Thank you TNT from a Leukemia Survivor", for all to see. The looks on participants faces as they saw her standing there was priceless. She got hugs galore. From participants, as well as from other marathoners. We had people coming up saying they were survivors as well, or people saying their loved ones are survivors.  
What we are doing, taking an active role with Team in Training, is truly impacting lives. We are saving the lives of those cancer, with the life saving dollars we raise, but we are also changing ourselves in the process. We are becoming endurance athletes and Cancer Killers in the process.

Like I said before, it was a rewarding day as a spectator. I cheered, screamed, yelled "GO TEAM" hundreds of times, sang some songs, and just had a blast! I came away from the race, with a new found appreciation for spectators. As well as a lost voice. But it was totally worth it! 

Here is to more races. To more cheering. To more smiles on the faces of others. To more finish lines

GO TEAM!

A big STEP taken. My MISSION MOMENT shared.

 

"It is a wonderful act of generosity when someone shares their own personal connection with the rest of us" -Sarah Clark


At the start of every practice we have a moment moment.
A moment in which someone opens up a part of themselves and shares their story with us. 
Their connection to the cause. 
Their experience with team in training. 
Their journey involving cancer. 
We hear of loss, we hear of pain, we hear of overcoming obstacles, we hear of hope, we hear of remission, we hear of  cancer fighters, we hear of cancer killers, we hear of lives saved.
Every mission moment is different.
But every mission moment is SOMEONE'S story.
With every mission moment I hear, I take something from it.
I hear not only a story. But a journey. A journey that I can many times relate to.
Having been with the team for 3 seasons now, I greatly admire and appreciate every individual that gets up in front of us, and shares their connection with us.
It is not something easy to do, but week after week, an incredible individual will share something with us, leaving us with a reminder of WHY what we are doing is so incredible, and why it needs to be done. We need that cure for cancer.

As I mentioned this is my 3rd season with team in training, and it is my second season as a mentor. When we started this season I knew I wanted to share my mission moment. My connection to cancer. My reason for joining team in training. My reason for continuing on and fighting for a cure. 
So a month and a half ago I started writing my mission moment. A process that was far more difficult than I thought it would be. Every week I would set aside a few hours to write, to process my thoughts, to bring back the pain and loss of my dads cancer battle, to write of my journey, and to form it in a way that could get my message across: that the journey of cancer is difficult, that it affects everyone it encounters, that with loss it is hard but it is something that we can get through, that finding team in training has forever changed my life, that we as participants are forever impacting the lives of others whether we know it or not, and we are part of the fight for a cure.
So for weeks, I wrote and wrote, and had every word I wanted to say written out.
Every word, my journey.

Last Saturday, I shared my mission moment. 
A story difficult to write, but a story I wanted to share. 
A 3 page long mission moment.
3 days, 3 life changing moments, experiences that changed my life that brought me to that moment standing on "the rock" sharing my story-- encompassed on 3 pieces of paper.
Getting in front of the team was nerve wrecking. As you know, I am not shy or the quietest of people, but to share of my story brought a rush of emotions.
I stood on "the rock", looked out at my teammates faces as they were ready to listen to my story, took a deep breath, held my papers tightly, looked at them one more time-- and all I saw were cancer killers among me, my nerves at ease, my heart filled with TNT love,and I knew I could get through my mission moment.

Sharing my mission moment was a big step for me. It was a release of my journey. It was a release of emotions I had held onto. 
It was my story, and the story of so many others.
As I said during my mission moment, on the rock, "This mission moment is not mine alone. It is the story of so many others. With every connection to cancer, with every battle fought, with every life affected, with every battle lost. It is all of our story. With every run, with every practice, with every race. We carry every fighter in our hearts. Their fight is our fight. They are the reason why we run."

Standing up, sharing my story, I think I made my dad proud. 
I will continue to fight in his memory.
I will continue to hold him tight and keep his memory alive in me.
I will continue to fight, and carry every mission moment I have heard and hear with me.
I will continue spreading the team in training love.
I will continue on, everyday, fighting for a cure.

To those that heard my story and to those that read it, thank you for your TNT love, support,and kind words.

I was thinking of posting my mission moment here, but I think I will hold off for a bit. But if you would like to read it I would gladly email it to you, just let me know.

Let's keep fighting for that cure to be found!

Forever relentless,
Sam

24. You were quite a year.

"I run because long after my footprints fade away, maybe I will have inspired a few to reject the easy path, hit the trails, put one foot in front of the other, and come to the same conclusion I did: I run because it always takes me where I want to go.”
― Dean Karnazes

 

During my year as a 24 year old, I accomplished things I never thought I would. 

I completed not one but FOUR half marathons. The Disneyland half marathon in September, Nike Women's half marathon in October, the Tinkerbell half marathon in January, and the Pasadena Rock n Roll in February. That is 52.4 miles. 52.4 miles, I never would have been able to complete, had it not been for Team in Training. 

I found PASSION.
I found DRIVE.
I found MYSELF.
I found a POET.
I found FRIENDS.
I found FAMILY. 
I found CANCER KILLERS.
I found my TEAM.
I found a FUEL, a FIRE, and a FIGHT within. 
I found a BETTER me. 

I found ups and downs in training. I found joy in crossing finish lines and the hugs and high fives that come with it. I found many tears down cheeks as events were completed. I found accomplishment. I found belief in myself.

I also found the pain in not finishing an event. I found disappointment. I found injury. I found frustration. I found being upset beyond belief. I found myself sitting on a curb 12 miles into the LA Marathon, with tears down my face, pain in my leg, unable to move on. I found comfort from my team. I found a marathon, not completed.

But the training continued on. And I have taken on another challenge. I am here with my revenge on 26.2 

25 is my year to complete 26.2. Nike Women's Marathon, I am here to conquer you in October! And get that Tiffany necklace around my neck. 

I am already registered for a few races, and I can't wait to cross those finish lines. 25, is going to be my year. Get ready!

If you want to make my 25th year great, consider making a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/nikesf12/sceleraMany thanks, many hugs.

Be happy. Be extraordinary. Be you.
Sam

Another Father's Day without my dad is approaching.

In two days it will be Father's Day.

It will mark the second Father's day without my dad, and my heart aches thinking about it. If I think about it long enough, I always end up in tears.


I still wake up sometimes thinking my dad is off at work and will come home later, but that moment never comes.


I miss my dad with every fiber in me. And wish I could have just one more day with him. 
I wish I could just have another hug. 
Another round at the golf course. 
Another beer shared. 
Another song sung on karaoke.
Another lunch at In-n-out.
Another laugh.
Another morning having his gourmet fried rice (which none of us were ever able to master).
Another ride in the convertible together.
Another family vacation.
Another holiday together.
Another smile.
Another trip to home depot.
Another Father's day together.
Another memory made.


I often find myself in shock that he is no longer here. And I become angry. Angry that Cancer took him from us. Angry that there is no cure. Angry that I can't share another moment with him.


I always imagined myself one day walking with him down the aisle when I got married. And that day will never come. I will never get to wear that wedding dress with my arm intertwined in his, as he gives me away. My heart aches.


I cherish the days we spent together. But I miss the moments that we can no longer share.


I continue fighting for a cure for cancer on his behalf. And I will not stop until one is found. I will keep running. Keep raising awareness. Keep fundraising. Keep sharing his story. Keep the passion for a cure alive. Keep his memory alive. Keep staying as positive as possible. Keep the fight going.
I do this for my dad. I do this for all those we have lost. And for all those fighting. For the fathers, the mothers, the daughters, the sons, the grandmothers, the grandfathers, the uncles, the aunts, the sisters, the brothers, the nieces, the nephews, the friends, the family. I do it for them all. I do it for the memories to be had. I do it so that no one has to bury someone they love. I do it for a cure. I do it for more days spent together.

I miss you dad, with everything I have in me. I am grateful to have had such an amazing father. And I carry you with me always.

A new TNT season has arrived.

Well, here we go. A new Team in Training season is here, and I couldn't be more EXCITED. It's been about a month and a half since Spring Season ended, and I have had TNT withdrawals ever since! So I am EXTREMELY excited for the new season to start!! 

I am coming back again as a mentor and I couldn't be happier. This season, I am fundraising, and can't wait to see what those Cancer Killing dollars can do (Please make a donation if you can)



I can't wait to see my teammates, the alumni, as well as new participants.
I can't wait to watch this TNT family form. 
I can't wait to be inspired.
I can't wait to save lives.
I can't wait to spread the JOY of TNT.
I can't wait to see the Passion in all.
I can't wait to run (yes, I said it!)
I can't wait to be at the Rose Bowl.
I can't wait to COMPLETE my first full marathon at NIKE WOMEN'S MARATHON!
I can't wait to stock up on fuels.
I can't wait to share the TNT love.
I can't wait to run for those we love.
I can't wait to see the Cancer Killing dollars raised.
I can't wait to get new running shoes!
I can't wait to wake up early on Saturday's to spend time with TNT.
I can't wait to continue fighting for a cure.
I can't wait to write new songs/poems for the team!
I can't wait to cherish the memories.
I can't wait to make a difference.
I can't wait to punch cancer in the face.
I can't wait for Saturday to come.
I could seriously go on forever, but instead I shall just say, "I can't wait..."


It is crazy to think that ONE year ago, I signed up to be a part of Team in Training. One year ago, I started training for my first half marathons. One year ago, my life changed forever and for the better. And I am forever grateful. Upon joining Team in Training I knew it would be a great experience, but I never imagined it to be life changing. I am forever changed, forever inspired, forever motivated, forever a Cancer Killer. 

I can't imagine my life now, without Team in Training. I have found family. I have found life long friends. I have found unbreakable bonds. I have found heroes. I have found fighters. I have found love for one another. I have found selfless hearts. I have found giving spirits. I have found love and support beyond measure. I have found a home.

I am forever blessed, and I can't wait to continue this journey with incredibly inspiring people.  

GO TEAM!

Our first GO TEAM of the fall season!