And so it begins...

Monday, July 5 - I'm out for a low-key morning run in Glendale, around the block, coming up Albion Lane: a thought - "Chicago - Manda wants to do a college visit to University of Chicago - hey, maybe we could run the marathon and schedule a college visit this fall!"

I run home and forget all about it, until....

Two days later, Amanda's in her room and I'm thinking "in a year we'll be prepping her for college and.... Oh yeah, what about the Chicago Marathon idea?" And I hurry to explain the concept. Manda's eyes shine, "Yeah, let's DO IT!"

Eager for info, we get online. Registration is closed. Boo.
Unless.... you run for a charity.

Manda's eyes light up again, "Yeah! We'll raise money for cancer - for leukemia! We can do it, Mom! What if we have that concert with your friends?"

And an hour later, we're registered with Fred's Team to raise $2000 each. (Yup, $4000. Yup, my husband is freaked.) What we didn't realize was that we hadn't officially registered for the Chicago Marathon. But since we believe we are, we live life around the online Nike Training Schedule - running, running, running.

The Mama in me starts worrying whether Manda is really ready for this. She's had health issues, after all --- we should probably check with her doctors first.  Doubt and worry, worry and doubt.

And then.... Email from Fred's Team: Thanks for registering with us, but you're not registered for the marathon. Still need to fill out more forms, pay more money.... hmmm.... maybe this is our chance to back out.... definitely want doctors' approval before we submit official reg forms, but that takes time - and the deadline is tomorrow. I call and request an extension. Agreed - two weeks.

We get appointments, stay on training track. Run our long 10 mile endurance run on Loveland trail - longest run of Manda's life; longest run for me in six years. Manda clocks us at 91.5 minutes. Accomplishment.

Two doctor appointments, two thumbs up - just be sure to add stretching and strengthening to that schedule. Just be sure we're running for the right reasons. Run, stretch, run, stretch, sweat sweat sweat.

As of yesterday, we are officially registered! (And psyched!)

Let the fund raising begin! Stay tuned for Making Music, Raising Money Fundraiser for Leukemia details soon....

Manda and Mama have started this blog to document our journey. Hopefully, there will be songs, videos, photos and updates from both of us on all things marathon-related between now and then....