Well Kona is calling me back again. I ran the Kona marathon in 2012 as a part of my campaign in the fight against pancreatic cancer. The Kona Marathon was number 11 of 52 and I can honestly say that number 11 was like running in Heaven. Not only is the island beautiful, it was the Aloha Spirit and it is that spirit that is calling me back again.

The Sheraton Kona Resort their Headquarter hotel is a jewel, with truly beautiful breathtaking views of the ocean. See for yourself

This marathon is extremely well run and was so very supportive and receptive to my fundraising and philanthropic efforts. The race directors are super friendly, the course is fairly fast and flat. The water stations were filled with supportive volunteers, keeping you cool and hydrated with smiles for miles

As if this weren’t enough, check this out: The world famous UCC Coffee is a proud sponsor of the Kona Marathon and Family fun run. There is nothing like Kona Coffee.

Ok, now for the icing on the cake, or the umbrella in the mai tai I should say Would you look at this beautiful medal? This is the first redesign they have done in 19 years and it is special to the 20th Anniversary.

So what are you waiting for?  Check out Alaska Airlines www.alaskaair.com. When the islands are calling, it’s always good to listen. Life is short, NOW is the time. Come and let your Aloha Spirit shine and I’ll see you at the finish line. Register today at www.konamarathon.com

WE GOT THIS!!!

Aloha for now,

Julie

Number 10: Led-Zeppelin-When the Levee Breaks.  You can’t go wrong with any Led Zeppelin song, but this one was great for the first mile or 2 to get me to go out slow and get warmed up.

Number 9: Neon Trees: Everybody Talks- This song is great.  Once you’re warmed up, it helps you to get your groove on. It’s got a great rhythm, and if you’re in a relationship it kinda get’s you thinking and then pretty soon you’re flying

Number 8: New Radicals – You Get What You Give.  The title says it all

Number 7: Pit Bull-Don’t stop the party.  If you are getting bored on your run and then this song comes on, it’s like a wake up call.  All of the sudden you pick up your pace, you smile and your run turns super fun.  Like  a party

Number 6: Madonna- Ray of Light . Great song, it helps you fly through your race and provides some cool inspiration.   You can tell by the video. 

Number 5: The All-American Rejects- Move Along.  Great for mid race and you know you still have a long way to go but it helps you to stay strong , keep going and you will get there

Number 4:  Will.I.Am/Britney Spears -I can’t have a play list with out Britney and when this song came out, it was on!  It always fired me up.  

Number 3: FUN: Some Nights.  This song always put a smile on my face.  Even in those tough moments: 

Number 2: Flo Rida-Wild Ones. This song always put me in the zone, it made me feel wild and gave me that extra kick.

Number 1: Calvin Harris-Feels so close  This song always came on when I was within a mile from the finish line.  Feels so close.  Love it!

NOW LET’S GO RUN A MARATHON AND DONATE TO THE PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK ))) WE GOT THIS.  ROCK ON!!!

I would like to honor those that sponsored a mile for the final 26.2 miles.  I apologize if I have missed anyone, if so please let me know and I can edit after the race.  Below is a picture of the beautiful grace bands that I will be wearing tomorrow.  With so much love on my arms and in my heart we definitely got this!

made by Races2Remember

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. However I am not done, not even close, I am not stopping until we have a cure for pancreatic cancer. We got this. xo  See you at the finish line. xo

My sponsors:

Mile 25: Ron Bowker
Mile 24: Francis P. Urban
Mile 23:  Team Molli- Srtongest woman I know!

Mile 23: Paul Perkovic, Half Moon Bay, he will be in my heart forever
Mile 22: Yitzchak ben Chaim Zelig
Mile 21: Lora Gudbranson

Mile 20: John H, Harris, Jr. May 30, 2013 20th anniversary of his death

Mile 19: Noel Irvine
Mile 18: Herman C. Atienza
Mile 17: Amo Cappelli
Mile 16: Adam Zauder

Mile 14: Nancy Kramer and Mort Shorris
Mile 13: Buck
Mile 12: John Price
Mile 11: Grandma Gerry
Mile 10: Patrick Powers
Mile 9: Ron Smith

Mile 6: Spyros Sipsas
Mile 5: Doug Brand & Jeff Brand
Mile 4: Edmund C. Bechtold
Mile 3: David G. Hollander
Mile 2: John Sam Chee
Mile 1: Judith Maiman

More that sponsored w/o a specific mile.: (taken from my website)

• Bless you Julie, and may they find a cure for this horrible disease. I know that I am doing everything I can to spread awareness. Take care and know that we are rooting you on, (Melissa Silva and Family)

• Bette Grey – Passed away from PanCan in 1966 (Sent from G. Twist)

• Thanks for spreading awareness Julie! In memory of my dad Doug Brand and his brother Jeff Brand that were taken by this horrible disease less than a year apart. (H. Swanson)

• Thank you for creating national awareness for PC and PanCan! Good luck running #52 this weekend! AMAZING! In memory of my wonderful mom, Gigi Shanes-Hernandez, who died almost four years ago on April 9th from pancreatic cancer. KNOW IT! FIGHT IT! END IT! (T. Shanes-Hernandez)

• You are such an inspiration. My father passed away when I was young from cancer and I now too fun marathons to raise funds for research… nothing like you. GO GIRL! I am also buying a calendar:). Thank you for what you do! (M. Rouse)

• In honor of Diane Fyock @ It’s a Fyock Fight (T. Fyock)

• Impressed and thankful for your dedication towards providing awareness of Pancreatic cancer. Lost my grandmother in 2008 – you are an inspiration! (D. Singer)

• Julie – you inspired us. My mom passed of pancreatic cancer – our family is very thankful for your efforts! (Velocity Sports Performance)

• In memory of Florence Sugimoto. (A. Otani)

• For Paul who was the light of my life and my one true love. What you are doing is truly inspirational. This is a horrible cancer that we must find a cure for. Thank you for what you are doing to try to find a cure. xxoo (Anon.)

• In honor of Eleanor. (B. Anderson)

• In honor of John Sam Chee who is battling this awful disease. We love him so much<3 (C. Lee)

• For my own dad, who died of colon cancer in 1988…he never saw me cross the finish line but I did it for him! (M. Miller)

I met my beautiful new friend Belinda at the LA Marathon’s Big 5 training night in El Segundo.  We started talking and she told me about her sister Lydia and that she passed from pancreatic cancer at the very young age of 52. We started crying and  I instantly knew I had to dedicate #52 to Lydia.  Lydia was a great woman.  She and her sister raised their children together.  She gave all she could to help people that she loved the most.  She was funny and strong willed.  She loved Jimmy Buffet, Elvis, Tom Cruise and See’s candy.  A girl after my own heart.  They were best friends and Lydia is missed every day.  She loved Belinda’s children like they were her own and Belinda loved Lydia’s son like he was hers.  Lydia worked at the DWP for many years until her passing.  Cheeseburger in Paradise was her favorite song. They would sing it with the kids in tow on their way to the beach every summer.   I hope Lydia is  having a wonderful time in paradise.  I will imagine Lydia’s beautiful spirit with me while I run tomorrow, knowing what a strong willed woman she was will help me with every step I take.  Lydia, #52 is for YOU.  We got this!!!  This one’s for you :    Cheeseburgers in Paradise xoxoxo

So Cute!!!

He first felt pain back in 2004 with pain in his left side, he thought he had just pulled a muscle that just wouldn’t heal.  It turned out he had neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer.  He had surgery and still has several issues from the cancer. PC hit him hard but he has his family and friends by his side the whole time and is truly blessed.  Robert is 52 years old, I know he doesn’t look 52 but he is.  He has so much hope because of  his beautiful family, friends, volunteers, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and so much love. That is what it takes, Robert is all about hope. Even though he still has pain, he is always smiling.  Robert’s smile is infectious and he goes on to say the real heroes are his family and friends. Robert has been my hero, he is always posting supportive  comments, pictures and making sure that I am ok.  I ran the Long Beach marathon on his 52nd birthday, and it was also my 52 life time marathon at the time. It was meant to be. I consider myself  lucky to have Robert for a friend, and hoping I can make it out to Philly to run a marathon in his town.  Robert Hollawell Sr. #52 is for YOU.  Pancreatic Cancer- Know it. Fight it. End it!!!  We got this!!!

Lupe ran her first LA marathon in 1999 while her young son was in the Marines. He encouraged her to run so she thought she would try it just once. Her parents, her niece and her sister were at the finish line, so proud of Lupe when she finished. That same year on November 4th her father died. She continued to run. She ran the LA Marathon every year after that for the next 10 years. Life happens so running was therapy for her, a stress release. She hadn’t run a marathon in 4 years but since she turned 50 on 1-11-12 she felt she had to run it that year. On 2-11-12 Lupe was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer so she was not able to run in the LA Marathon but she did run the hardest race ever. She ran the race of fighting for her life and she completed her race on 1-29-13 when her cancer was removed by the Whipple procedure. Every year she ran she dedicated the marathon to our military and to other people who were in need of prayer. Lupe never imagined one day someone would be dedicating the LA Marathon to her. I am deeply touched and truly honored to run for Lupe. She will be at the finish line when we  cross it and we are hoping to cross it together.  Lupe you are my hero.  #52 is for YOU. xoxo

Beautiful,Healthy Strong, Survivor Lupe

This is Rick and Lupe’s wedding

My dear friend Lupe a Pancreatic Cancer SURVIVOR who I am running for this weekend just told me about her friends brother who was not as fortunate. They just lost their brother Master Sergeant Richard J. Cox (USMC Ret) to pancreatic cancer this past Sunday. He was diagnosed January 30th. He was 64years old. Master Sergeant Cox was  laid to rest with full military honors on March 14th.

He took pride and honor in serving  his country.  He was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle.  He was loved by many and will be greatly missed. Rick’s father was a Marine who was given several awards including 2 purple hearts & a silver star, and Rick’s son Bill is also a marine.

Master Sergeant Rick- I shouted out an “OORAH” for you when I got to the top of that mountain last Saturday. Imagining your strong spirit there with me, helping me to beat pancreatic cancer once and for all. Now we will run #52 and I will imagine your spirit with me as I finish this epic year long journey.  Thank you for your service.

We got this xo OORAH!!!!

With love and deep admiration,

Julie. xo

<3

Why 51 in 51 you ask? Because this darn pancreatic cancer took my dear friends mother at the young age of 51. Therefore marathon #51 is also for Sweet Eleanor Gertrude Bergstrom Adams.
Eleanor was born in 1918 and died of pancreatic cancer in 1969, way to young. She grew up on a farm in a family of 9 children. She was the fifth child, so she had an important role caring for her three younger brothers, but everyone worked very hard! She attended school in a one-room school house, graduated from Atwater High School and went on to get her RN degree. She then worked as a pediatric nurse in a hospital. She married during World War II, when her husband was on leave. They had three children, who are all still living.  Eleanor  loved to cook, knit, sew, and take care of her family, house and garden. She used her nursing skills to help anyone who needed assistance. She also did a great deal of volunteer work and was active in her church. She was known for her generosity, kindness, quick mind, and capacity for hard work.

Eleanor sounds like a beautiful sweet lady who loved to help people.  If we could all be like Eleanor the world would be a better place.  I will imagine Eleanor’s generous, kind, heard working spirit while I run.  I am  honored to run for such a beautiful woman. Eleanor, #51 is also for you and I will work as hard as I can in your honor, to help find a cure. We got this.

Love,

Julie xo

Molli won the battle of pancreatic cancer back in 2011, and if that was not enough, she also was also training for an IRONMAN at the same time.  While going through chemo she would ride long miles on her bike  and dealt with numerous hours of training each week. Personal drive and determination is an understatement. She would blow her doctor away with her progress. She was also the recipient of the Kona Inspired award, competed in the World Championship IRONMAN in Kona and had an outstanding race. Now Molli is on her way to beating pancreatic cancer again.  I have had the pleasure of virtually meeting “Molli’s Tribe” and received several donations in honor of her. What a loving group of family and friends Molli has been blessed with. I have now officially become part of her tribe.  It is with great honor that I am prepared to sweat for 26.2 miles up a mountainous journey.  I know Molli would much rather be running with me, so we must keep the faith, because it can happen and I am holding her to that.  Her good friend told me she channels her “inner Molli” I love that,  and tomorrow I will do the same Please everyone send your healing powers and prayers her way, it will work miracles. Molli Serrano- “YOU ARE AN IRONMAN”!

                                                    Mike, his wife and his two babies. This cancer has got to be stopped.

      Amanda ran for my dad at the Westlake village pancreatic cancer research walk. Thank you Amanda xoxo

Kary Lawrence contacted me and asked me to run in memory of her mom, Judith Maiman.  Judi was diagnosed in 1996 and died in 1999 of PC.  She was the survivor speaker at the first Evening with the Stars before the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network was even an official charity, they raised the money for Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, where Judith had her whipple procedure in 1996.  Kary ran the 2000 & 2001 Marine Corp. marathon in her mother’s memory for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Judi Maiman was one of their  original passionate survivor volunteers who helped  get everything started way back in the beginning – before PanCAN – when they were doing the very first An Evening with the Stars gala in 1998.  She was then, and always will be, an amazing inspiration to her daughter and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network..  Thank you Kary and Judi for all you do.  Your spirit lives on and will be with me today while I run. xo

Beautiful Judith (Judi) Maiman

Off I go, for Judi, for Mike and all those affected,  I run for you.  We got this. xoxox Julie