THE MAGIC HAT

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Steve Cannon

It has been said that nothing great is ever accomplished alone. I believe that. Dr. Richard Deming, the founder of Above and Beyond Cancer has a saying I love. “None of Us is as good as ALL of Us.”

It was somewhere around the end of January that The Million Dollar Marathon was announced. A dream hatched up while running across Iowa had become a reality. The MDM had been brought to life because of others, not me. The Above and Beyond Family (which I am finding out is way bigger than the Brady Bunch), believed in the concept and gave it life. Even then, were it not for the efforts of others, The Million Dollar Marathon would be hanging out like Frosty the Snowman without his magic hat…lifeless.

Over 100 incredible cancer fighters and those who love them became The Million Dollar Marathon’s magic hat. They gave our event life, in so many ways. These people, many of whom have never run near a marathon, some not even a 5k stepped up and said, “I CAN do this…I WILL do this”. They show us that the only thing that limits us is, well….US. They show us that we are all capable of so much more than we know. You put one foot in front of the other and when things get tough you find a way to stay in the game, to take one more step and then another and another until the goal is reached.

I have heard Cancer Survivors say that if given the choice to go back and not have Cancer that they would not. They speak of the “gift” of Cancer and that they live a different life now.  They laugh louder, hug stronger and live each day to the best of their ability. It is a gift that they share with us all. My life is better because of these people and what they have taught me. They will always be my “Magic” hat.

Go Team Million Dollar Marathon!!!

 

 

Filed under: above and beyond cancer, american cancer society, cancer, Inspiration, Lance Armstrong, Livestrong, marathon, Running | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

AMERICAN NINJA WARRIORS

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Steve Cannon

Sometimes it’s better to let others do the talking. The following blog is from one of the participants in this summer’s Million Dollar Marathon. You can still apply to join the team here.

Well said Brady!!!

Training “officially” started on Saturday and I was dodging so many puddles that I felt like a contestant on American Ninja Warrior. Within the first few minutes my feet were soaked and I was feeling pretty underwhelmed by my inaugural run. That was, until I got to Lake Harriet and came upon hundreds of runners partaking in the 100% Irish for A Day 5K and 10 mile run. Conveniently, I needed to run 10 miles anyway and it is much more entertaining to do it amongst packs of runners in kilts, green tights and Lucky Charm-style hats and sunglasses. I normally do not condone “race-crashing,” but I was able to justify it on this special occasion.

It struck me as I ran in these less than preferable conditions that this summer when the MDM team runs across the country, chances are we will encounter adverse conditions like these, or perhaps worse. My mind was spinning as I contemplated the implications of this for the first time. Most of us are following Hal Higdon’s marathon training guide, (which, I agree that it is the best out there), but even Hal can’t prepare us for driving rain in the Pacific Northwest, snow in the Rocky Mountains, or gale-force winds across the Great Plains. You can’t train for these conditions…it takes courage, heart, dedication. Then I remembered who I was running with…CANCER SURVIVORS AND SUPPORTERS. My teammates have been through far worse obstacles in life, and it would be tough to assemble a team better prepared for this challenge.

I then realized that during my state of panic, I had increased my pace considerably without a noticeable increase in effort. I had gone to a place mentally that took me to a different level on my training run. I remember this “runners high” from past long runs and races I have run, and every time I wish I could bottle it up. The closest I can get is to recreate the formula that got me to this place on Saturday:  1) listen to good music, 2) envision yourself in the Rocky Mountains in a rainstorm; and lastly, picture running into the Atlantic Ocean with 159 friends and teammates. If you aren’t overcome with emotion at least once during your run, try again.

Now let’s get out there and become American Ninja Warriors.

Filed under: above and beyond cancer, cancer, Inspiration, Livestrong, marathon, Running | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

SHARE SHARE SHARE

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Steve Cannon

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Filed under: cancer, Inspiration, Livestrong, marathon, Running, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG ONE

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Steve Cannon

 

  IN  JUST ONE WEEK, 37 AMAZING RUNNERS HAVE RAISED OVER $20,000 TO FIGHT CANCER. WE MAY HAVE TO RENAME THE EVENT “THE TWO MILLION DOLLAR MARATHON”. 145 SPOTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. YOU CAN JOIN THE TEAM.    

     PLEASE SHARE WITH ALL YOUR PEEPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CHANCES ARE THE ROUTE WILL PASS CLOSE BY. THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG ONE!!

READ ABOUT IT HERE!!

Filed under: cancer, Inspiration, Livestrong, marathon, Running | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

145 SPOTS AVAILABLE

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Steve Cannon

Today at 8 am we began accepting  APPLICATIONS  for runners into The Million Dollar Marathon . We have only 145 spots still available. On June 21st, the first of 160 marathoners will take the baton, run their marathon and pass it to their teammate. 40 days and 160 marathons later, they will have crossed the United States covering nearly 4,000 miles. The team will be made up of every sort of Cancer fighter. There will be those still in Treatment, Survivors and Those who run because of the effect it has had on their own lives and those they love. 

Those accepted to run will use their marathon to raise money and awareness for both Cancer research and Advocacy. All fundraisers will have a chance to qualify for some incredible trips as well. Want to be a part of what just might be the largest running fundraiser ever?? I’ll be keeping an eye out for your application.

Run The MDM Brochure

Filed under: cancer, Livestrong, marathon, Running, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Steve Cannon

I am not good at keeping a secret!!! Those of you closest to me know that for the last two months I have been working with Above and Beyond Cancer on a TOP SECRET PROJECT!! Above and Beyond Cancer is a Des Moines Based foundation doing incredible Advocacy and inspirational work for the Cancer community. Founded by Dr, Richard Deming and  with Charlie Wittmack as Exec. Director they have done great things over the past year. (see link above). 

Today was the day. At 10 am we announced “The Million Dollar Marathon“

Watch Here….

Million Dollar Marathon Press Conference

June 21st, The first runner of a team of 160 Cancer Survivors and Supporters will run an entire marathon. When finished, that person will hand the baton to their teammate and so on until they have ran a 3850 mile marathon relay across the United States in an effort to raise One Million Dollars for Cancer Research and Advocacy Programs.

Has Cancer touched your life? Want to join the Team? You can apply to do just that at The Million Dollar Marathon link above. 

Man am I glad to have that off my chest….I told you, I’m not good at keeping secrets.

Filed under: cancer, Livestrong, Running | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

The Power of The Human Spirit

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Steve Cannon

The potentiality of YOU is beyond measure!! Believe!!!

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Once a Hawkeye…Always a Hawkeye

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Steve Cannon

Great Article by Tina Owen!!  Once a Hawkeye!! Proud to represent the Hawks and humbled that they would do this!! http://www.iowalum.com/magazine/oct12/run.cfm

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Hammer Nutrition!! Great Article!! Thank You!!

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Steve Cannon

If you are an Endurance Athlete wanna be (of which I consider myself a proud member) there are few higher honors than getting featured in Hammer’s Endurance News. It is a 112 page magazine that is incredibly well done. Hope you enjoy the read!! Check out PAGE 82 !!!

Might be someone you know.

Find the incredible adventurer within each of you!!!

 

Livestrong!!

Filed under: cancer, Lance Armstrong, Livestrong, Running | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

YOU SAVE LIVES!!!!!! ( A Letter to Me and YOU)

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Steve Cannon

Dear Steve,

It’s easy to remember the crucial factor that helped me finally get my life, and myself, back after cancer—people.

After four months of intensive chemo, I was lost. Felt tired all the time. My hair still wasn’t growing back. I couldn’t get used to my “new normal”—and I didn’t want to. Thanks to two amazing Lance Armstrong Foundation programs that connected me with other survivors going through the same thing, I didn’t have to.

They gave me a network of support—people who had my back and let me know it every day. That made all the difference in my fight. And I’m proud to report that I just completed my first triathlon ever!

This LIVESTRONG Day, you have the chance to be there for millions of survivors like me, all around the world, in an incredibly powerful way. But you have to act quickly.

Share a message for cancer survivors today and it will automatically post to your Facebook account on LIVESTRONG Day—next Tuesday—as part of a historic outpouring of support.

On LIVESTRONG Day—October 2—people around the world are coming together to do something extraordinary. For one full day, we’ll share more than 100,000 personal messages simultaneously on Facebook and Twitter in the largest global show of support for survivors in history.

Even better, every message means another dollar will be donated to the Lance Armstrong Foundation to put into programs like the ones that turned my life around—Cancer Transitions and LIVESTRONG at the YMCA.

As a cancer survivor, I can tell you it’s going to be an amazing moment for survivors and supporters everywhere. But we all need to get involved to make it happen.

Share your message of support to be a part of an unprecedented global support network for the world’s 28 million cancer survivors:

LIVESTRONGDay.org

I can’t wait for this massive LIVESTRONG Day event because, quite honestly, if it wasn’t for the substantial work of the Lance Armstrong Foundation I wouldn’t be where I am today. I hope you take part.

Thank you for all you do to support the Foundation and survivors like me,

Alyson Achorn

Filed under: cancer, Lance Armstrong, Livestrong, Running | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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