Sit down, settle in and get comfortable...this is going to be a long one...

I'm sitting here on the couch, finding it hard to believe that the big day is only TWO DAYS AWAY! I can barely remember how all of this started...

Way back in the middle of last year, I first heard about Team Challenge while volunteering for CCFA in Georgia at the camp for kids. I met a few people who had already run for Team Challenge and CCFA the year before, and I heard a lot about the race while I was in Georgia at camp. I didn't immediately think about doing the race myself...it sort of just went from a little seed planted somewhere in my head that week to an idea that gradually grew into a desire and a passion. I thought about it for several weeks after camp, wondering if I could actually do it. While I've always been active and mostly fit, I've never thought of myself as possessing the endurance to run 13.1 miles...but I just couldn't seem to let go of the idea...so I did some research, checked out some training schedules, did a few short practice runs...and decided to go for it.

From there, it was a lot of training, and a WHOLE LOT MORE fundraising...The training part went fairly well over the next several months, with a few little hiccups, the fundraising...not as well as I'd hoped. I needed just under $4000 in order to make it to Vegas for the big run with Team Challenge. I raised just under half of that, to a grand total of $1902...I was, of course, disappointed and devastated that I would not be able to join my teammates in Vegas, but...in the long run, I was still wildly elated that I managed to raise almost $2000 for CCFA...

I was still trying to get over my disappointment at not being able to run the race when, a couple weeks later, a co-worker mentioned to me that, "Ya know, you could always just run the 1/2 marathon in Gainesville two months from now..." And so I began to put my energy towards that goal instead...I took a couple weeks off training...Well, it was more like a month. With all the holidays and food and chilly weather, it wasn't difficult to postpone things...When I finally got back on the road, it was January...

But in the end, here I am, two days away from race day, and I can hardly believe it...time really does fly. I'm as ready as I'll ever be, and there's really nothing I can do from this point to be any more prepared. I just have to show up at 7:00 A.M. on Sunday morning, and do what I've been working toward for so long.

On a side note, I rather like the significance of the race being on Valentine's Day...I've never been a big fan of all the hoop-lah that revolves around this holiday (and I'm not just saying that because I'm single), and I really can't think of a more genuine way to spend Valentine's Day then running a race to help people that need it...and to help people that I know and love, by raising funds and raising awareness for a cause that is so close to my "heart".

I want to say thank you to each and every one of you who donated your time, money, encouragement, criticism, wisdom and support...This was truly a work of art in that so many, many people surprised me with their incredible generosity. With that in mind, I'd like to dedicate my 13.1 miles to a few special people that went so far above and beyond what I could ever have imagined...I am so very blessed to know all of you.

1. The first mile is for my mother, who is easily the most amazing person I know. Her spirit of generosity is like no other, and whether she knows it or not, she was probably the biggest influence in my decision to run this race. For as long as I can remember, my mother has been putting others before herself, always taking care of those around her, and giving much more than she received. I can only credit her example for the fit of inspiration that drove me to sign up to run a 1/2 marathon for charity. Throughout this several month process, she has given more of her time to help me reach my goals for this race than anyone else. She emailed friends, family and neighbors to help with fundraising, passed out pamphlets, sent follow-up emails, gave me ideas, and encouraged me when I needed it. She spent countless hours helping with the garage sale fundraiser, putting in even more hours than I did to make it happen...and I'm sure she's put in many hours of worrying about me as well. That's just the kind of person she is...and I could not have done any of this without her, not even close. I love you so much Mom, thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I can't wait to see you at the finish line.

2. The second mile is for my dad. Like Mom, he's always been there for me, with words of encouragement. I'm sure the perseverance (read: stubbornness) that I needed to get to this point, and the perseverance that I'll need to finish the race, is inherited from my dad...My dad has always "made it work", never gave up, and refused to fail...that's just the kind of person HE is...and I'd like to think that some of that rubbed off on me. Thank you for your example Daddy, I love you very much, and I'll see you in 13.1 miles.

3. I'll be running this third mile for my sister...One day I hope that I'll be running it with her, too! Even though Melanie won't be running the race with me this time, she'll be in my thoughts. She's an amazing sister, and she's supported me in my decision to do this race, called to check on how my training's going, comforted me when I didn't make it to Vegas, and even almost made it up here for race weekend. I know you won't be there at the end Mel, but I'll imagine you there with your "Team Jules" t-shirt, and it'll be almost as good...and there will be plenty more opportunities for fabulous times together in the future anyway, I'm sure. I love you and miss you.

4. The fourth mile is for all of the friends (read: family) that I've met through Camp Oasis. I can hardly believe that it's been five years since the first time I came to the Georgia camp as a counselor. I can't congratulate myself enough for deciding to volunteer in another state, with tons of people whom I'd never met before, in a place I'd never seen before...one of the best decisions I've ever made. I have gotten so much back from camp than I ever gave to it, because that's just how camp is...Of course, only you guys would understand how this actually works. This whole idea of me running this race started at camp, and I was still on my camp "high" when I signed up for it...I'm sure you can all relate to that. Camp is so inspirational, and every year after camp I take away something with me, something intangible, that carries me through the rest of the year...And every one of you is a part of that, from the young campers I had the very first year (that are now grown up and in senior and LIT cabins this year!!), the teenagers from my second year (some of who were counselors last year!!), the crazy LITs from last year, and all my co-counselors...all of you have inspired me, and I am so lucky and blessed to have met each of you. Can't wait to see you again this year, and when the race gets tough, I'll just picture all of you singing "World's Greatest."

5. This fifth mile is for a relative and fellow "Crohnie", John Riley. Uncle John, thanks to you and your family so very much for very generously supporting me with your donation, and for the emailed words of encouragement. See you in June!

6. The sixth mile is for Orrin and Lucas, two of my co-workers that played a big part in helping me get to this race. Thank you for your patience as I badgered you with millions of questions during my training, pestered you into helping me with my running form, and nagged you until you "fixed" me every time I had knee pain...and ankle pain...and toe pain...and hip pain. Thanks especially to Lucas, for offering to help with fundraising, handing out fliers, badgering a few local businesses, and emailing David Garrard. Thanks Orrin, for telling me about the Gainesville race, and I'll see you at the starting line (I'll wave as you breeze right past me)!

7. Seventh mile, more than halfway done now...This one is for Reina, who talked me into running in my first 5K, and who finished the race, then ran back to find me so she could help me finish the race. You rock...and I still owe you an inner tube.

8. The eighth mile is for Chase, another fellow "Crohnie", who I met my first year at Camp Oasis Georgia. Even though I've only seen you twice in five years, we can still talk like we're old friends. Thanks for all the late night chats and "deep" conversations, you're kind of nuts (not as nuts as you think you are), but I guess you're alright anyway. I'll see you at camp...no ifs, ands or butts (pun intended)!!

9. Mile number nine is for Dr. Christopher Jolley and nurse Marcia Cross...My pediatrician and nurse growing up, and they don't come any better than you two...I still haven't found any adult doctors or nurses that can hold a candle to you. Thanks to Marcia for telling my parents about camp when I was kid, and for flying me all the way to Texas for my very first camp experience. Thanks to Dr. Jolley, for leaving Texas and coming to Florida, and for taking me to camp my second year...you're the best pediatrician ever!

10. The tenth mile is for Clayton, who was the very first person to donate to my cause. Thanks for being the first person to believe in me...Just so you know, it's going to be in the 30's on race morning, so it's almost like I'm running in Montana!

11. The eleventh mile will be for anyone else I didn't already mention, for everybody else who supported me and who helped in some way. Like I said before, I was overwhelmed with your generosity and support, some of whom gave so much when they had so little; it's meant more to me than words can say. I'm going to try to at least list all of you by name, but if I forget anyone, please forgive me...there's just so very many people I have to remember to thank, my memory is bound to fail me at some point...Cathy Crump, Gail Johnson, Stephanie Johnson, Gaylyn Henderson, Stan and Geri Schuham, Ginny McLeod, Jack and Ginny Riley, Jim and Ginny Johnson, Art and Linda Godina, Marisa Gopaul, Meredith Bauer, Nondy Smith, Beverly Ellington, James and Kathy O'Boyle...Thank you, thank you, thank you!

12. Only two more miles to go! At this point, I'll know that I've pretty much got it in the bag, so this mile will be for anyone who ever doubted me, and also for the part of me that doubted myself. I'll show you all!!

13.1 This last mile is for me, Julianne Johnson, finisher of the 1/2 marathon! Only one more mile to go, so many behind me. Thanks to myself for putting in all the long hours, for getting up at ungodly hours of the morning, in freezing cold, in 100% humidity, for working through the physical and emotional stress, for not letting me talk myself into quitting, and for finally getting myself to the starting line...it's all downhill from here, right?