Recommitment

I turned in my recommitment forms today. That means I have commited to raise $3,200 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. At this point, I am a little nervous. My fundraising went well for about a month and now it has come to a halt. I think its time to start "plan b".

I will be having a garage sale on April 10th and 11th.

I thought I'd give you a little info on the hike I will be doing at the Grand Canyon.

Trail: Bright Angel to Plateau Point

Distance: 12.2 miles, 6,500 feet of total elevation change

A long, steep, strenuous hike on the most famous trail at the Grand Canyon. The view from Plateau Point of the inner canyon and the Colorado River will be awesome, however~I must reach that point before turn around time. I'm happy that I will be going down first because I have more strength going up mountains than going down them!

Hike #4-Romero Pools, Catalina State Park

Distance: 6.5 miles, 1,000 ft elevation gain

I really enjoyed our hike today. The wildflowers were beginning to bloom on the side of the trail; it was beautiful. Our hikes are progressively getting harder! Although it wasn't a far hike, there were areas that were quite steep. The pools also had a lot of water!

It's amazing to think that there are people all over the United States, crawling out of bed on Saturday morning, to train for the Grand Canyon hike......

Hike#3-Sabino Canyon, Phoneline Trail

Distance: 8 miles

Weather: Started off sunny, ended in a downpour

We met at Sabino Canyon at 7:30 on Saturday morning (the 20th). Before we got started on our hike, we listened to a short presentation about some of the plants we will come across as we're hiking. At about 8:15, we got started on our hike.

We actually gained elevation on this hike (I think about 900), so it wasn't too strenuous. Since we've had lots of rain lately, many of the streams were flooded across the road, so we had to put garbage bags over our feet to walk across.

Since everyone hikes at a different pace, a group of us (including me, thank goodness) got done with our hike before the storm rolled in. Unfortunately, the other half of our group got drenched and had to walk the second 4 miles in the rain, which also brought hail.

While we were hiking, a few team mates shared stories about people who they know that are battling a blood cancer. One of our teammates has a friend who has Stage 4 myloma (and she's only 26). I also found out that my dad's cousin was recently diagnosed with lymphoma and is undergoing chemo treatments.

Hearing these stories helps to remind us that we shouldn't complain when we have to "suffer" in the rain or our legs are aching from hiking. There are people with blood cancers that face much bigger challenges than some of us will ever face. Keep that in mind.

I will be taking a Saturday off from hiking (my sister will be in town), but I will still hike with her and keep training! We are hiking mountains, not just going for a stroll in the park!

Hike #2-Saguaro National Park

Distance: 9 miles

Weather: BEAUTIFUL! 70 degrees and sunny

What was planned as a 6 mile hike turned into a 9 mile hike yesterday. We met at 8am at Saguaro National Park and got started on the trail after some warm-ups and strectching. Once we reached our turn around point, everyone agreed that we could go a little further. Although we didn't do any steep climbing, my legs are sore and very tired today.

Some new things Iearned from our coaches: How to make a fire with very little materials, you can eat the little black seeds found inside the fruit of a barrel cactus and you can use the insides of a prickly pear cactus as aloe for sunburn.

Nest Saturday, we will be at Sabino Canyon. We will be going up this time (steeper).

Thanks to everyone for your support!

Love, Kristen

Our First "Hike"

Yesterday, our group met up at Children's Memorial Park for our first hike. It was more of a 3 mile walk, just to get started and to get to know one another. Each week will get progressively harder. We found out that we each get to choose what hike we would like to do at the Grand Canyon on May 15th.

I found one other teammate who would like to do the hardest and longest hike with me. Maybe there will be more? The longest hike is 12.1 miles.

Next week, we are off to Saguaro National Park to do a 6.5 mile hike and to learn about some of the animals and plants we may encounter while hiking in the Tucson desert.

Thanks for your support!

Kristen

Racing to Save Lives

Welcome

to my Team In Training home page.

I'm training to

participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia &

Lymphoma Society's (LLS) 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 am 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

LLS's mission.

I hope you will visit my web site often.

Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your

support!

Kristen