Happy holidays!

Here's a long-overdue update ...

First off, thanks to everyone who's donated so far. I've got $957 so far, which is 38% of the way there, and still plenty of time left to do some more fundraising. I really appreciate all the support from friends and family.

The running training is going pretty well too, minus an hour spent running in sub-freezing wind chills at Alki Beach, which made me question whether it was such a good idea to have joined an outdoor activity in the winter. But overall it's been an amazing experience, and the people involved with TNT are some of the most friendly and welcoming I've ever met.

I've also got a couple of big fundraising projects coming up, beyond just sending out emails and letters. A few teammates and I are selling beads at the Seahawks game this weekend, and then on New Year's Day I'm heading to the Rose Bowl with Emma and Ben to sell beads to the Wisconsin and TCU fans. It should be a lot of fun, and seeing how much people love bling at football games, I think it will raise a lot too.

Highlight of the month -- my dad's old co-worker Steve told me I made his day by emailing him about the project.

Thanks to my first donors!

I've started contacting people via email for my fundraising, and I wanted to give a shout-out to the first few people who've donated to the cause. A huge thank you to Jon and Monica Stone for their support—you guys rock.

Training is still going well. I went to my first Tuesday practice yesterday, which is just an optional run down at Green Lake, and my running buddies and I made the 2.9-mile loop in about 30 minutes, which was great considering it was cold and I'm still getting into running shape from the whole knee debacle. We've got a training session Saturday morning that includes a shoe-fitting clinic, so I'm looking forward to getting some more running advice on ACL injuries.

First training day!

Our first training run as a team was yesterday morning -- just a 40-minute pace day at Gas Works Park in Seattle. It was a chilly morning, but luckily not raining, since I need find my running gloves and stock up on some cold-weather running gear. We train outdoors through the winter, so I'll get be out pounding the pavement no matter what the weather, in true Seattle fashion.

I signed up for the Team in Training partially for the charity aspect of it, but also because I wanted to make new friends in Seattle, and the first day didn't disappoint. I spent the 40 minute jog chatting with my new teammate Anna, and I also met my coaches and my mentor, Cheryl, who helps with fundraising tips and any questions we have during the training. The coaches and teammates were really supportive, even during a short training run. It's a great atmosphere, and everyone on the team seems really welcoming and eager to enjoy the experience.

I'm a little nervous for the fundraising aspect of the team, but Saturday was a great start. For anyone who's done fundraising themselves, what are your strategies?