Tony Thomson's Team In Training Page
In Memory of Peter Thomson
- Contents:
- September 22, 2005
- October 1, 2005 - Update
- October 29, 2005 - Update
- November 12, 2005 - Update
- December 8, 2005 - Update
- December 19, 2005 - Done!
Dear Friends and Family,
Early this summer, I signed up to run a marathon. A friend had just finished doing the AIDS LifeCycle Ride from San Francisco to LA, and I was inspired to find something I could do both to push myself a little harder and to accomplish something meaningful in the process.
To make a long story short, I discovered Team In Training, a program run by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). TNT is a four month endurance-building and fund-raising program. As much as I enjoy running, I’ve only ever been a casual runner. But I’ve been training for almost two months now, and thanks to them, I’ve already surpassed what I once imagined were my limits.
However, to cross the finish line in December (I’m running the Honolulu Marathon), I’ll need not only their help and support, but yours. You don’t need to get up at the crack of dawn on Saturdays, or spend Thursday nights freezing in the fog in Golden Gate Park or any ot the other exciting things I get to do, but I am asking for donations. More on how to donate below...
The LSS’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The LSS has invested more than $320 million in research specifically targeting blood-related cancers since its founding in 1949. In the last 25 years the survival rate of children with leukemia has increased from 5% to 81%. This would not have been possible without the help of projects like TNT.
As many of you know, my father died of complications arising from his leukemia treatment almost fourteen years ago. He’s the reason I chose this organization and this cause. So far, this experience has made me think a lot about his illness, something I’ve generally avoided, and about him, which I sometimes don’t do enough. It was his birthday on August 23rd, and it will be the anniversary of his death on October 7th. I don’t think I’ve felt closer to him in a very long time than I do right now, and than I know I will on December 11th, when I run.
I’m hoping you’ll all support me through the remainder of my training. Since the LLS is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, all donations are 100% tax deductible. Please submit your contributions on-line through this page; the link is above (you'll be asked for a credit card number). If you’d prefer to send a cheque through the mail, just let me know and I can give you instructions; I can be reached at thomson(at)mac(dot)com.
Please feel free to pass on the address of this site to anyone you know whose life has been touched by blood-related cancers. I would be honoured to add their names or the names of their loved ones to my dad’s on my jersey. I’ll continue to update this site and send out e-mails with more information about the LLS and the work they do, the ups and downs of my training and as much other excitement as I can cram in.
Thanks for your support!
October 1, 2005 - Update
What better way to start off the month than by running twelve miles? We had another long run this morning; we do a few of these before the marathon, raising the distance each time, though the longest we'll do before race day is twenty-two miles, I think. We won't do a full marathon distance until the big day. In between we do a lot of shorter runs for conditioning, as well as cross-training and strengthening. Today was the first day I actually followed the recommended prescription for after a long run... an ice bath. It's exactly what it sounds like, and though I've avoided it until now, I have to admit, it seems to have made a difference for my legs. Now I can relax for the rest of the afternoon, guilt-free. It's just me and this cup-a-soup (it's all about the electrolytes).
I'd just like to say something about the work done by the LLS, since the more I learned about what they do, the more impressed I was. The LSS’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. The LSS has invested more than $320 million in research specifically targeting blood-related cancers since its founding in 1949. In the last 25 years the survival rate of children with leukemia has increased from 5% to 81%. This would not have been possible without the help of projects like TNT. One of the most amazing developments in treating blood cancers in the last several years is a drug called Gleevec, which I've heard a lot about by some of our team honourees (survivors of leukemia and lymphoma who train with us). This drug has helped a lot of people, and its early trials were funded by the LLS. It's a good example of how much of a difference the money we raise can make. Besides supporting research, the LLS also provides a lot in the way of patient services, making sure people can get to their treatments, providing support for family members, and more. For example, in the aftermath of the recent hurrican disaster, the LLS committed a million dollars to getting treatment centres up and running, and has helped coordinate the treatments of patients who have been relocated so their treatment won't be interrupted.
Lots more about the LLS can be found on their website. It's a really good feeling to be helping these folks.
October 1, 2005 - Update
It was almost a great run today. I had plenty of sleep, new shoes, and I was fully carbo-loaded. But my knee decided it was not a day to go the distance. It started bothering me a couple of weeks ago, during our fourteen-mile run (today was supposed to be sixteen), but I thought I had licked it. Unfortunately, after about nine or ten miles, I just couldn't run on it anymore. The good news is that it's likely not a serious injury, since it seems to be the patella (kneecap), and some exercises and rest should have it in shape soon. So I can sit around for a little while and do some other low-impact stuff for the moment. And yes, I'm seeing a doctor this week to make sure.
It's funny to find yourself considering ten miles kind of a wimpy run, which goes to show how much your body can get used to. I wasn't that tired when I got home, just hungry (so I hobbled up the street for a large, tasty hamburger and fries, brought it back, and am content to spend my afternoon watching Six Feet Under and freshening the ice pack. Anyways, two more long distance runs in the next four weeks (and lots of shorter ones), and then we taper off to rest before the marathon. I'll let you all know things go in the next week or so. Right now, I'm hungry again.
Thanks for all the support so far! I'm over sixty percent there, thanks to you!
November 12, 2005 - Update
Well, after two weeks staying off the knee (it was over a week before I could do stairs without pain) and doing all the things my coaches could think of, I tried running again today. It took forty minutes, and then my knee conked out again. Which is frustrating. But it lasted longer than it has in a while, so it's mending. I have another doctor's appointment this week, but I'm feeling hopeful. Fingers crossed.
December 8, 2005 - Update
I'm off tomorrow! I haven't been updating since the last month has been pretty frustrating. Things have gone something like this: knee gets better, I run until it hurts, I stop running. I let it heal and then the same over again. But it has been lasting longer and longer. I couldn't complete the last long distance practice run (twenty miles), so the most I've done to this point is sixteen or so. But I've had two people tell me that's the most they did before their marathons and they were fine. So I'm hoping that all the strengthening and healing of the last few weeks will make the difference! That and a new brace. For anyone still reading, apparently you'll be able to track my progress on-line (I'm now having second thoughts about telling you that...) at the Honolulu Marathon website. Just so you don't get bored if I hurt, I'll be sure to slip my electronic tracking gizmo into some other delirious runner's pocket so you have something to watch on the little map or whatever it is they do.
No matter how far I get on Sunday, I wouldn't be able to do it without all the great support I've gotten so far. Thanks to everyone who's written or donated! I'll be updating next week!
PS: To the folks who told me they were waiting until the last minute to make a donation... that minute is here! :)
December 19, 2005 - Update
All done! My knee was fine, I was able to finish the race (in the top half, even though missing a lot of training meant I was a little slower than I thought), and I can't describe how thankful I am to everyone who helped me. If you haven't received my e-mail with a description of the race, please let me know.
I seem to have got the bug now; I'm already looking forward to my next marathon!
