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JESSICA FINCH Associate Editor

• THEY SELL WHAT? - Awhile back I wrote about my friend Dan and his success in quitting smoking and completing a half marathon. Well, I became motivated and am now training for a 13-mile trek in San Francisco as a member of Team Cure, which raises funds for Roswell Park Cancer Institute. To help me get in gear - pun intended - Dan bought me a gift certificate from Dick's Sporting Goods. I was amazed by the thoughtfulness of the gift but was soon roaring with laughter. He told me that Dick's wasn't his first store of choice. He planned on buying one from Tim Hortons for my running-gear needs. It wasn't until he went to the Tim Hortons Web site that he learned that the former Sabres hockey player had opened a coffee shop and not a retail shop. I guess Western New York's obsession with the brew hasn't spread the 220 miles to Binghamton.

He had been in town for the Dec. 15 Sabres game, finally seeing a win after five tries. Snowed in until Monday, he got on the road and an hour later sent a text message to my cell phone, saying, "Had my first Tim Hortons experience ... good food, no sports jerseys to be found."

• IN TRAINING - Which leads into my New Year's resolution - yes, I am training for a half marathon. The idea came from one of the many press releases that arrive in my e-mail. Roswell Park Cancer Institute was announcing dates of upcoming seminars for anyone interested in joining Team Cure. The opportunity intrigued me, and I attended a seminar with Ken-Ton Editor (and former Amherst Bee reporter) Jill Schmelzer. We left excited and determined.

I feel like I have spent a lot of time talking about places I want to go and things I want to do and never actually move forward with them. But this time I am determined - because there is a lot at stake. It seems that too often I hear about someone from church, a friend's family member, or others that have been diagnosed with cancer or know someone who has. So for all of them, and the families at Gilda's Club of Western New York, I have pledged to raise the amount set by Roswell, lace up my sneakers and take action.

As a former cross country runner, I know I have the ability. And having met so many wonderful people in WNY I know I will reach my fundraising goal. Especially since I have eight months to prepare and because of the support I have already received. There have been a few people to doubt me, but I guarantee I will not only cross the Golden Gate Bridge, I will cross the finish line.

I have taken the first figurative step and set up my Web page, www.team cure.com, under "Donate To A Team Cure Participant," and my personal page can be found by searching my full name. The first literal steps are not far behind, I hope to start a training program the first of the year.

• RECYCLE CATALOGS - It's hard to believe Christmas has come and gone. Abitibi Paper Retriever recommends recycling the catalogues received during the past months. Take your old catalogues to the nearest green and yellow Abitibi Paper Retriever recycling bin. For a location, visit www.paperretriever. com, selecting "United States," and clicking on the "container locator" button on the left side of the page. Type in your zip code to get a map of the bins closest to you.