Leann Slaby's Team In Training Page
Racing to Save Lives
Welcome to my Team In Training home page!
UPDATE 06/03/08:
I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What an unbelievable experience...
As you know, my biggest concern regarding this whole process was my knees. Well, I need to give my doc a gigantic smooch because the cortisone shots did WONDERS! I basically had a knee-pain-free race! I can't begin to tell you how much of a relief that was. That, and only that, was the only thing that might have stood in my way of crossing the finish line. Ok, from the beginning...
We got to San Diego and went straight to the Expo at the Convention Center to get our bib numbers, gear bags, and timing chips. We got to the hotel just in time to meet our Team in Training group for shuttles to the Pasta Party. There is a great buzz and vibe in the air and everyone is nervous and excited for the big day. As the busses drop us off at the dinner, we are welcomed by around 100 Team In Training mentors and coaches from across the country with applause and horns and cheering. It was really emotional and it was the first time it really sank in what we were a part of. Not only was this a physical and mental challenge for us individually, but we were a part of something much bigger…a group of people dedicated to helping people and finding a cure for blood cancers. The room was packed full of Team in Training participants -- there were a total of 3500 of us running for the cause.
There were a number of speakers -- funny, inspirational, encouraging… A number of cancer survivors were in the audience and racing the next day. Truly amazing. The amount of money raised by all of us was astounding. I was so proud to be a part of it.
It's marathon day!!!! We got up on time (3am!!), ate our breakfast and met the group downstairs. The lobby was teeming with purple jerseys. We hopped on a shuttle and made our way to the course. It's a little strange, since it's still pitch dark out. We were ready. Soon we began to line up in our assigned corrals, and it was our familiar group again that we had previously self-named "Team Awesome" --Me, Royana, Joyce, and Lisa (who was running the half-marathon). The race begins, and it felt a little surreal…there was a lot of noise and excitement, even though it took us nearly 15 minutes just to get to the Starting Line! But now we are off and running! I really took in what was happening around me. I was running for a reason. I was running with great friends. I was being supported and encouraged by so many people in my life. I was being cheered on by people on the sidelines, cheerleaders, coaches, people from their balconies, bands, children..you name it. It was truly overwhelming. Roy and I often looked at each other and said, "We’re doing this. We're running a marathon!"
We knew we had to be conscious of our pace and not let our adrenaline speed us up. We started off slowly. After a couple of miles, Lisa had to use the bathroom so we made a stop and let her get through the lines…nobody really cared about what time we would finish; we wanted to stay with our group for as long as possible. The run is easy right now, and I'm feeling good. So many people with photos and names of loved ones who lost their battles with cancer…it's so sad but reminds us of what we are doing. The bands are great at this point..very energetic and fun. We are run-dancing and singing through some of the band areas! After a few more miles, Lisa needs to use the restroom again. She told us to go on ahead and that she would catch up. So we did, but we ran slowly, sure she would catch up..we even stopped a couple of times to see if she would catch up. But no luck. Another couple miles later, we made a bathroom stop at a hotel (which apparently nobody else thought of, so we were in and out pretty quickly. Must have been funny for them to see three women running through the hotel!). We thought for sure that we would have found Lisa at that point, but as it turns out she got stuck in a bathroom line for 25 minutes, so we did not see her again (found out today that she ran into someone else from our team who was having major stomach issues, and she ended up staying with her for support all the way to the half-marathon finish. She is fantastic.)
The miles are going by and we are greeted every so often by our mentors and coaches that we have worked with for 17 weeks. It was always such a welcome sight to see familiar faces, who reinforced our abilities and gave us that extra push. So many Team in Training supporters, I can't even begin to explain. I remember one woman holding a sign that said "I am a cancer survivor. Thank you." and it made me tear up (still does) as I grabbed her hand and held it for a moment while I passed. There were people that made me laugh, like the guys dressed up as women with big balloons in their shirts, and the guy holding the sign that said "Sweat is Sexy". People would yell out our names..Go Leann! Go Royana! Go Joyce! It was fantastic. The three of us would break into song once in a while..we were having the time of our lives. The miles wore on, and we start getting into the teens..it's getting a bit more difficult. There seem to be more lulls between bands and activity, but maybe the miles just felt longer. Joyce is started to struggle quite a bit. She's hurting in places she never hurt before..ankles, knees… I am still feeling good physically and Roy is keeping a great attitude as she deals with her own ankle and knee pain (and an occasional asthmatic moment which she never really had before!). As we approach miles 18 and 19, I finally start feeling the difficulty and become a little more quiet. Roy points out how beautiful it is, and it helps snap me back into my 'enjoy the journey' mantra (thank you, Gordon!) as I look at how truly beautiful the scenery is. That was one of only two low points for me, but they were fleeting, and I was thankful to have such a great friend by my side. Even when Roy hurt, she never stopped being funny and encouraging.
At mile 22, we see Yukie (a mentor), who has been a great support to the four of us, and she runs the last four miles with us. She was a crucial element at that particular moment, and I believe she was a huge help to Joyce. Roy and I tried as hard as we could to keep Joyce going mentally, but it was Yukie who really brought in a new dynamic. There were some hard times in those last few miles, but we would walk when we needed to. (Especially if there was a hill!) The support and excitement was growing as we got further along…we are started to realize that we are going to finish this! I remember feeling the enormity of it all and being on the verge of tears because it was happening...I was doing it!!
We get to mile 26. Less than a quarter mile to go! We are met by one of coaches who will run us in..it was so great to see him!! We see the finish!!! What an amazing triumphant moment!!!! And the three of us, all in a line, crossing the finish line together!!!!!!!! WOO-HOO! We hugged and bawled and hugged and bawled. A feeling of accomplishment I can't even explain…makes me cry just thinking about it!
Every single person that donated on my behalf had a hand in this. Whether you contributed $10 or $100, you played such an important role for me and this mission. I never wanted to let any of you down. And that kept me going. You are all amazing people and I truly cannot thank you enough.
All my love,
Leann
