Jen participated in the half-marathon with Team in Training. This also happened to be her birthday. What a way to celebrate! She finished in 3:24:36. Not bad at all, considering that she ran more than 13 miles!

Jen and I ran in the 30th Gate River Run, which follows a course through downtown Jacksonville. I finished with a final time of 1:55:42. Jen was right behind me at 2:05:05.

After 24 years of smoking cigarettes, I finally quit with the help of a new drug called Chantix. The drug eliminates the chemical addiction to nicotine so that you only have to struggle with the habit of smoking.

Jen was home in New Jersey to shop for a wedding dress with her mother and best friend, and also help her dad celebrate his birthday on the 4th. This was a big one — he's officially old this year. Happy birthday, sir!

After three years in the historical district, Jen and I are moving into a new condominium in the Gate Parkway area of Jacksonville's southside. While old turn-of-the-century houses certainly have great personality to them, they are also on the verge of falling apart if they haven't been restored. Jen is looking forward to being in a new place that has more than one electrical outlet per room. Come to think of it, so am I!

I recently established several goals for myself, including running a marathon next year. In order to meet this goal, I've joined the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's volunteer endurance sport organization, Team in Training to help prepare for the 2008 Disney Marathon on January 14. In addition to training for a marathon, I've also committed to raising $3000.00 for the Society. Please take a few minutes to visit my marathon page to learn how you can help me reach my goal!

After more than four months of training and preparation, I ran the Disneyworld Marathon with my Team in Training group, finishing the 26.2-mile course in 5 hours and 22 minutes. Jen was not far behind me, finishing in 6 hours and 14 minutes. All 10 members of our team (and two coaches) crossed the finish line just as the five members of our half-marathon team had done the day before.