Brenda Walther's Team In Training Page -for Kings Trail Triathlon
Racing to Save Lives
Brian finished his triathlon in only 3 hours and 3 minutes!!!!! He is my hero! Congrats Brian. I will update more later.
Welcome! I am training to participate in an endurance event as a member of 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.
Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance the Society's mission. Be sure to visit often and see how I'm progressing in my fundraising and training.
My goals: To raise $5,300 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and complete the Kings Trail Olympic Distance Triathlon with my brother on June 8th,2008.
My race: The Kings Trail Triathlon which consists of a 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6.2 mile run. The race takes place June 8th, 2008
Fundraising Dates:
March 27th: Corporate sponsor deadline
May 26th: Final fundraising deadline
June 8th: Race Day
So, what's the cause? I'm raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They fund research and provide patient services for people with blood cancers. The LLS is near and dear to my heart because they have done so much for my brother and his family.
So what am I doing? My brother and I joined Team in Training to help us prepare for the King’s Trail Olympic Distance Triathlon. That would be a 1 mile swim in the scary ocean, a 25 mile bike up into the mountains, and a 6.2 mile stumble back to the beach that I mentioned earlier. Training for and completing this triathlon is one of the premier events to help raise money for the LLS.
Why would I do this? First, I get to participate in a triathlon with my brother. We’ve never done anything like this together before. Second, to help raise money for the LLS. Hey, that's where you come in! And finally, because I can.
What’s Brian’s story? Last year Brian was having gut pain that was not going away. Though he insisted that it was not age (he is older than me), he made some changes in his life: overhauling his diet, exercising more, and cutting back on sweets, even tried an industrial strength laxative. Nothing made a difference. So off to the doctor he went. A battery of tests later and his doctor informed him he had Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Stage 3X Intermediate Grade Follicular. It had spread throught his lymph system. The main tumor was about the size of a football in his abdomen and up his spine. No wonder his insides hurt! It’s been a long year for Brian and his family. But after chemo he is in a stable state and busy experiencing everything he can in life. The lymphoma that Brian has is currently incurable.
What else? Brian is the best brother I have ever had! Course, he's also my only brother, which actually makes him more special doesn’t it? Really though, he has been a pretty great brother...can't say perfect though because he didn't like me tagging along when he was a teenager :). Just look at how far we have come -he wants me to tag along on his triathlon experience. It only took him 20 years to decide hanging with his sister might actually be cool. Brian works hard and plays even harder. Throughout his life he has never slowed down, always trying something new, challenging, and most important -fun. Naturally, he wants to do a triathlon. He's the kind of guy who doesn’t sit still, and makes you want to go out and try something new.
One last round of begging: Despite everything Brian has been through, having a pesky little sister and cancer, he is determined not to let any moments of his life go by without filling it with something fun and exciting. By his example he's teaching his children to embrace life. What a great dad!
Please take a moment and make a donation to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's mission. Remember that 72% goes directly to research, education and patient support and it's tax deductible.
I'm completing this event in honor of my brother and 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 let me know if there is someone special to you that I can add to our banner and race in honor of or memory of. I am honored to race in:
honor of Brian Johnson
honor of Eric Dahlquist
memory of Jerry Setter
Be sure to e-mail me with any questions. I can be reached at brendawalther@gmail.com
Thanks in advance for your support,
Brenda
Brian's TNT website: http://www.active.com/donate/tntsvmb/bjohnson
Bill, a great friend and supporter of Brian, is also doing King's Trail Triathlon with us. On Bill's page you can see a picture of him and Brian training!
Bills page is: http://www.active.com/donate/tntsvmb/BillDelveaux
UPDATES
So how is the training going? If I train really hard, I may be able to keep up with Brian :) -wouldn't that be amazing. He just sent me a tempo trainer so I can pick up the pace! Now if only he could lower some of those hills.
March 1, 2008: It’s been a busy week of training and fundraising. I have increased my pilates classes to twice a week now. Team swim practice was an experience to behold. After swimming 1200 yards with drills and skills we moved on to “practical” practice. That would be learning how to swim in crowds and choppy water. How would you ever do that in Minnesota in the winter you wonder, well wonder no more. All you need is about 50 people in one swim lane at the pool, 49 of them with kickboards making waves and one poor sole swimming through the chaos. Everyone got a turn. A few more practices like this and it will make open water swimming a piece of cake. Speaking of cake, I could really use a few pieces. I was able to workout all but one day this week, and one day I was able to workout twice! Yeah. The weather is warming up some and I am dressing wiser, my feet were not freezing this week, next week I will work on keeping my hands at a tolerable temperature. My jogging did see some improvement this week, I am now able to make a mile and a half before needed to walk a bit…that 6 miler is getting closer to my reach now. GO TEAM.
February 24nd, 2008: Did my first run with the Team on Saturday. What an experience that was!! We “ran” three miles around Lake Calhoun, or should I say most of us ran 3 miles. I was in the group that did a walk/jog combo, emphasizing the brisk walk not the jog. Interestingly enough, I did make it all the way around the lake without keeling over. My hands were still cold 2 hours later, and I don’t think my feet ever warmed up. The temperature was just above 0, but I’m thinking you have to actually run to keep your body warm. I will have to consider running next time if it is this cold. Most people may not think that it is exciting to come in with the last of the pack, but those who think that have never been with Team in Training. This is how it works, no one leaves until the last person crosses the line. So, this means that those fast runners who cross the finish early have no one cheering for them. Of course, this also means that those last few people to finish (me and a few others) have 75 people cheering for them! Life couldn’t be better than to have the support of a team!!! Maybe some of those 8 minute milers will walk with me next week for the experience? GO TEAM.
February 22nd, 2008: Training has been going well, all in all. I am actually getting faster at swimming and practice is fun. Spinning class went surprisingly well last night. It was my first ever indoor spinning session. I must say that it was definitely much harder and more motivating than any outdoor bike ride I have been on. There is something about having a coach standing in front of you yelling the entire time. The team is motivating! A room full of people working, sweating and cheering all for the cause, I can hardly wait for the next session. I will try to do a spin class at the health club each week as well. I will close tonight with the hopes of a warm morning tomorrow for our weekly team run.
January 2008: Wow, sitting on the couch for 5 years has made a difference (maybe not a good one). So, I've started yoga and pilates classes, hoping to gain some core strength and flexibility. Swimming is improving, I’ve been going to the pool 4-5 times a week. Still swimming slow, but technique is improving.
