Train Endure Achieve Matter

June 7, 2010

100 miles..... Stick a fork in it, it is sooooo done!

12.0 MPH average speed, over 5600 feet of vertical climbing.

The Connecticut Chapter of Team in Training raised $ 137,000

You helped me raise $ 6,155 of that amount

The event raised $ 6,000,000 !!!!!

This event offers hope and a cure for thousands of people. Seeing over

1,500 of us in one place riding 100 miles to find a cure is quite emotional.

I will be fund raising for this event again in the future, as long as I

can throw my leg over a bike! I know I will be able to count on many of

you in the future.

If you are at all interested in joining me on a Century ride, just let me know, we can make that happen, even if you have not been on a road bike in 25 years (as was my case).

I will be posting some links to pictures and updating my blog over the next few days,

Love and Peace, and of course, Tailwinds!

Karen

May 30, 2010

Getting down to the wire! We will be leaving for Tahoe on Friday, June 4th. I am nervous, excited, and it has been such a great journey to get to this point I don't want it to end.

The fundraising, the training, meeting new people, learnning how to keep a road bike upright in a crosswind.. you name it, I wouldn't trade a second of what I have learned over the past 6 months for anything.

Thank you all, not only for the donations, but for the well-wishes. I will let you know how I fare on the ride.

To quote one of the coaches.... "It's a HILL!!! GET OVER IT!!!"

For all of my heros out there waging the war on these cancers, this one's for you!

Peace and Love,

Karen

April 12, 2010

All I can say is THANK YOU! Together we have raised $5,585.00 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Your support has meant so much to me personally, and it means even more to the patients that rely on the programs and research that is provided by the LLS> Thank you so, so, so much.

Check out the blog at: http://pedalkarenpedal.blogspot.com

Love, Karen

PS... that is a hill behind me Rt 202 coming out of Collinsville/Canton towards Torrington. Loved it.

April 5, 2010

Soooo close! Almost at $5500.00.. will I make it by April 9th?

Training is going well.. last Saturday gave new meaning to the phrase "Uphill Battle". I was pretty stubborn and made it up Rt 219 without stopping! 45 miles. Phew!

Check out my new blog, it is just getting rolling!

http://pedalkarenpedal.blogspot.com

See you at the finish line!

March 27, 2010

The journey is the reward. - Chinese Proverbs

Signing up to join Team in Training, has been a journey. I am part of the way down the path, Along the way, I have met some great folks, who are sharing my passion for doing this, each of us with our own reason for doing this. Some have lost family members, some have family/friends fighting the battle, some are survivors themselves. Each of us has our eye on the end result. Fundraising to help support the programs that are provided by the LLS to patients that are fighting their battle. Training, so that we can cross the finish line, and know that with every mile we have shown our support for these patients. Whatever road you are on, enjoy your journey, because truly, like the proverb says, the journey IS the reward.

Love you all!

Karen

March 20, 2010

Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped. -African Proverb

Okay, I admit it. A week ago Tuesday, I took a spill, a hard spill. Went off the left hand side of my bike, onto my left knee, shoulder and head (okay, it was time for a new helmet anyways). My knee is slowing feeling like normal again, the shoulder is following closely behind in healing, and the head.. well I am nothing if not hard headed and the helmet did its job. I had to think about the fall, I was on the bikepath and a mom and little boy were standing there. The little boy turned and came running across the path and collided with my right knee and sent me flying through the air. The little boy was fine, and bottom line is I am fine. But where did I slip up? I was riding along 'in the moment', really enjoying myself and I made an error. I did not announce myself. Not looking where I fell, but looking where I slipped up, taught me a valuable lesson. Announce myself, loudly, and ahead of time. It taught me to really pay attention and look ahead on the road or path. Even though it may be a beautiful day, and I am out enjoying the weather and my bike, I need to be aware of other people, kids, dogs, grates, gravel, potholes and cars. Today I got back on, and completed a 30+ mile ride with my team, stayed on the bike and paid attention. I paid attention for the whole ride, and givenmy short attention span that is really saying something. I was a little tentative going down the hills, I don't like to pick up too much speed, but I was able to make it UP all of the hills, with the help of my 'Granny Gear'. I am in love with Granny Gear! It felt good to get the legs pumping!

When someone falls ill with leukemia (or lymphoma, myeloma, or any cancer for that matter), they may stop and look where they 'slipped'. Is it enviornmental? Genetic? Did I smoke, not eat right? There may not be an answer (or at least a clear cut one). Did the cancer 'announce itself', or did it just come out of nowhere and blindside the patient, knocking them off their feet? Either way, these patients get up, and continue on. They continue with treatment, and, in time, like me, get back in the saddle.

Thank you all so much for your donations and your well-wishes. I am hoping with the money donated, we will find clear-cut answers to the how's, the why's and most importantly.. the treatments and cures.

Love you all!

Peace,

Karen

March 4th, 2010

Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick in the pants will take you a long way. - Baltasar Gracian

Now, don't get me wrong, I am all for dreaming, and dreaming BIG at that. I am also, all for setting goals, and working hard to achieve them. But sometimes, nothing works better for getting one motivated than a good kick in the pants. So, with that in mind, I would like to thank, yes THANK, all the people who at one time or another have given me a good kick in the pants to get me motivated. I got the kick in the pants from friends, co-workers and coaches this week, and I have learned and yes, mastered changing a bike tire.

Something else that kicks me in the pants is reading the statistics. These numbers are enough to take me a long way, and help me pedal 100 miles. In the end., we will be "100 miles closer to a cure."

• Every 4 minutes someone new is diagnosed with leukemia/lymphoma.
• Every 10 minutes, someone loses their battle with this disease, nearly 146 people each day.
• Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children under the age of 20.

Big news!!!!!!!!

April 22, 2010 we will be hosting a fundraiser at the New Britain Rockcats game! Tickets are $5.00 each. Come to Rockcats Stadium, support the team and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Here is a chance to do something great for patients and have a night of great baseball at the same time.

Thank you everyone for your support!

February 23, 2010

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.-- Dorothy Bernard

I am going to Tahoe! Once I ,hit 50% of my fundraising I knew I was going to meet my goal and I knew that Tahoe was a reality. I have conquered the fear of fundraising, and yes,, I prayed every time I sent a wave of emails, or every time I sent a batch of letters, and people responded generously. Now, there are 100 miles out there that I need to conquer, and yes, I do have some fear. Fear of the hills, of not making it, of being too slow and told I have to take the shorter loop..... and the Fear that has a capital F......Fear of having a flat tire.

I know, that each of these fears will dissolve given time. The more I train, the more the fear of not being able to finish, or of not making the time requirement will dissolve. I pray that I will have strong legs that day, energy to spare, that it won't rain, or be to cold. I know that I will be able to conquer all of the fears I have about the actual ride, and that I will cross that finish line, and that I will do it for all of those that have leukemia/lymphoma/myeloma.

The fear of the flat tire? Not so sure about that one. I thought I would have an entourage following me with a tire repair kit. Kind of like a pit crew. In my mind, if I had a flat tire, some nice man in a golf cart with really white teeth would magically show up and offer to change it for me. And, that he would also offer me some fresh water or gatoraid and a great tasting pack of goo. (If you don't know what goo is go to your local bike shop and take a look.. it is hard to explain.. it is just goo). This nice man would also offer me a few high end chocolates to nibble while he changed my tire, and flashed his white teeth at me. No. Such. Luck. I was told by my friend Bill that same thing I tell my kids from time to time... YOYO (You're On Your Own). There is no entourage, there is no nice man with white teeth in a golf cart following me just waiting to come to my rescue and change my tire. Hence, I am signed up for a bike clinic next week, and I will learn to patch, and change a flat bike tire. I bought the wrenches and patch kit today, and I bought some nifty little CO2 canisters that will inflate the tire. I will conquer the changing of the tire, along with the 100 miles. Fear is not an option.

Again, thank you all so much for being so generous. Together we will improve the lives of leukemia/lymphoma/myeloma patients and yes.. work towards finding a cure.

Love you all!

Karen

February 16, 2010

The greatest pleasure in life, is doing the things people say we cannot do.--Walter Bagehot

What a difference a week makes! My total has grown to 3,795.00, 84% of my goal, one week after our event kick-off. I am so grateful.....not that I am so close to my goal, but that so many people stepped up to help. I thank you from the bottom of heart.

So, what is left to do??? Reach my goal! I am hoping to be at 100% by St Patricks Day. Let's hope the Luck ' O' the Irish will be with me and I will see my purple bar hit the 100% mark. With your help, I know we can kick these diseases to the curb.

• An estimated 245,225 people in the United States are living with, or are in remission from, leukemia.
• About 33 percent of cancers in children aged 0-14 years are leukemia.
• The most common cancer in children 1 to 7 years old is acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
• About 74,490 people living in the United States will be diagnosed with lymphoma this year (8,510 cases of Hodgkin lymphoma and 65,980 cases of NHL).
• NHL is the seventh most common cancer in males and females in the United States.
• Lymphoma (Hodgkin lymphoma, 7.2 percent; NHL, 6.6 percent) is the third most common cancer in children.

Training Update! 3 sets of 3 hills, increasing the tension, decreasing the time with each, but keeping the same cadence throughout, 3 time trials, one 8 minute climb. Such is spin class. But.. it seems to be getting easier! Our first outdoor ride is scheduled for March 6th which right around the corner! Yikes!

Coming Soon...... working on a fundraiser.... hopefully this one will work out!

February 8, 2010

Success! Bike pants that fit and pad and do everything they should! Hallelujah! Having the right gear makes training so much easier (as well as more comfortable on the sits bones).

As you can see, my fundraising is moving along nicely. I should be at 75 % very soon, I am waiting on a few checks to be posted.

I am hoping to be at my goal by early March! Won't you help me support the programs offered by the LLS? Your donation will do that!

Thank you for your incredible support! You are not just making a donation. You are making a difference for people touched by blood cancers.

Feb 6th, 2010

The Team in Training Kickoff celebration was so much fun, and there was so much positive energy in the room! 250 people all their for one reason. .. to support the mission and vision of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

January 21, 2010

A quick update... I have been told that participating in something like this will change my life. I thought, yeah, it probably will change my life, but I didn't really think about it too much.

Today, I got an online donation from an old friend from work. It not only touched my heart, but I realized just how much of an impact doing something like this can have, not only on those that are experiencing leukemia or lymphoma, but also on me. What follows is the note from Tom (Tom is a lymphoma patient).

Hi Karen, I have a story to tell you about your cause. My stepson David was part of Team in Training to run a marathon to help the Leukemia Lymphoma Assoc. He ran the London Marathon in my honor and bought me a ticket to fly to London to watch him run I was never so shocked in my life that this young man thought so much of me and such an honor to be part of this whole program.I never saw so many people line all the streets in London it seemed like there were millions of people but I actually saw him run by and screamed out his name and all the people around me joined in and I saw Dave turn his head to look. What a thrill ,what a memory!! You will make it I know you can even if you have a diaper on***. GODS SPEED WELL DONE. Big Bear Hug Tom

I am so proud to have Tom Kelley as my Honored Hero.

*** Just in case you are wondering.. Tom is referencing my feeling like bike pants make me look like I am wearing a diaper. LOL!

January 10, 2010

As I keep sending my letters and emails, I realize that fundraising is not an easy task, and I really don't like doing it. But, recently, I received a fundraising letter from an old friend. The letter included a quote, that made me see fundraising a little bit differently. The quote, by Henri Nouwen is as follows,

Fundraising is certainly not begging. It's just the opposite. Fundraising is first and foremost a form of ministry. It is a way of announcing our vision and inviting other people into our mission. It is proclaiming what we believe in such a way that we offer other people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision.

By committing to participate in a Century (100 mile) bike ride I am sharing the vision of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. My mission is to raise the necessary funds to support the ongoing research and patient education and support programs.

I am inviting you into my mission. Come along with me and participate in supporting the research that will lead to a cure ! Make your donation today! Together we can and will find a cure.

*Donations are 100% tax deductible.

Love and Peace,

Karen

News!!! News!!! News!!!!

January 9th, 2010

Team training.. Yahoo! It is a fun group... legs are tired, but.. no charlie horses! That is a huge improvement :) Thanks to my most recent contributors, JoAnn, and Suzanne and Joe.. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The photography fundraiser was a huge success.. got some really cute pictures of some very sweet little girls, and raised a total of $245!! And, I have another one lined up! I will be working on the massage fundraiser soon.. keeping my fingers crossed that I can work that one out.

January 4th 2010.

Spin classes are going really well.. I OWN that bike! I am enjoying the workouts.. even had one "black and white" class... black lights in the room, glow sticks on the bikes, everyone dressed in black and white and all the music was.... you guessed it ... black and/or white in the title! It was fun. Can't wait to get outside to ride:)

December 2009

"He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!" Dr Seuss

Thank you to everyone that helped me reach 33% by Dec 31!!!!

As we enter the Holiday Season, won't you join me in supporting the LLS so that we may someday say that leukemia has been cured? Training for the Century bike ride is going along as planned... NO INJURIES!!! :)

November 2009

I will be training for, and participating in, a Century (100 mile) bike ride in Lake Tahoe to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. My goal is to raise $4,500 . The task of raising this money is almost as daunting as pedaling 100 miles on a course that contains mountain switchbacks as well as rolling hills. I am not an elite athlete, and while I know the training will not be easy, the real heroes are those people that fight this illness every day.