I'm Gonna Do a Triathlon ! !
THANK YOU ALL for HELPING ME REACH MY FUNDRAISING GOAL!
This spring I am training for the Avia Wildflower Triathlon (May 4th, 2008) with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training.
All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I'm completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!
Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance the Society's mission. Any amount helps.
If you would rather send a check, you can mail it to me at 580 Peralta Ave, SF, CA 94110 (payable to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training)
I am dedicating my effort to people who have had blood cancers, friends and strangers. Especially in my heart is my friend V, who has battled lymphoma with more grace than most of us ever muster in a lifetime. Please visit V's website (http://www.alotoflife.com/2007/10/i-am-living-with-lymphoma-non-hogkins.html#links) to read about her incredible journey.
I hope you'll visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress.
Thanks for your support!
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As the weeks pass and I am in contact with more people, sadly, my list of honorees keeps growing. I am dedicating this effort to:
V - artist, mom, woman extraordinaire
Beth - supermom and can-do-gal
Allison - did Wildflower last year and battling cancer now
Minoru - the Stokemaster's father who died from lymphoma
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Week 1: I can tell ya already that this is no cake walk for me...
Week 2: I feel good but my body is complaining. My knees hate me. Now up to 3 miles running and 15 miles biking. The new road bike rocks! My dogs are good running companions, even the little one.
Week 3: Slowly building up strength, and it's kind of cool to see how I can do things I couldn't just a short while ago. This week we did an 18 mile bike ride, with some hills, up in Novato. I got some good aches, and am really focusing on remaining injury-free. 3 times around Bernal Hill this week - woohoo!
Weeks 4-6: The truth is I have been soo tired, tioo tired to even update this little web site. Training 6 days a week is exhausting. Last week I got an awful case of shin splints (running too far too soon, probably) so now I am just biking and swimming and hoping to heal quickly. Stay tuned for news about our Pie and Poker fundraiser coming in April!
Week 7:Shin splints are gone and I'm back on track ('scuse the pun). I feel strong enough to do the distance of each of the three sports, but still wondering how the heck and I going to do them all one after the other? This Saturday: open water swim in the Bay!
Week 8:Successfully completed the training weekend! The TNT team went down to Lake Antonio, where the race is held, and got a chance to do the course. I was slow - didn't push myself too much - but it is great to know exactly what I am up against (a lot of hills!). My bike's odometer hit 39 mph on one of the downhills - woohoo! I know I can do this thing now...
Week 9:Training is peaking and after 2 more weeks we start to taper off and give our bodies a rest for the big race. It's good to feel so strong and healthy. In my heart is my friend V, whose lymphoma may have returned, and how year after year she has battled illnesses and is still so positive and full of life. I think of V often when I am training and it feels too difficult, and know that doing a triathlon is nothing compared to the pain and the courage people encounter when they are sick. Blessed Be.
Week 10:Getting stronger everyday. One of the best parts of this training is how much time I get to spend outdoors. This week is the "peak" of our training and then we begin to taper off to give our bodies a rest before the big race. I am feeling so grateful for all the generous people in my life who have donated to LLS. I have rasied $3,000 - the SF TRI team alone has raised over $250,000. WOW.
Week 11:Now that I have reached my fundraising goal (thank you thank you!!) I can breath a small sigh of relief and relax a little. Now, to rest up my body and let me knees take a chill.
