Death of Cancer Tour 2008

Death of a Cancer Tour 2008

There will be a Day when I can no Longer Do this.....

Today is NOT that Day

IronMan Arizona - November 23, 2008

2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, 26.2 mile run

I can quit and you won't care, but I will always know - there is no 'can't' in an IronMan.

That should be worth a donation from you to kill a cancer?

Here's what I'll be doing to help fight Blood Cancers

Limits? what Limits:

Need proof that people can accomplish anything:

Team Hoyt

You will need a box of Kleenex for both the link above and below...

What if... http://vimeo.com/359779

Death of a Cancer Tour 2009 schedule to come.

We haven't killed that bastard cancer yet, so I'll keep pushing through 2009:

• February - A1A Marathon
• March - Arizona Distance Classic
• April - Tour fo the Tucson Mountains

more to come

All donations are 100% tax deductible and 100% go directly to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I still pay for all my equipment, I take no freebies from any company, and I pay for most of my own event expenses.

If you prefer the old fashion way, you can send a check, made out to 'LLS', to:

2740 N Pacific Drive

Tucson, AZ 85705

In the Beginning

I started this quest when my good friend Steve was diagnosed with CLL (he's the one in the middle, usually holding a beer). Since then I have literally run with far too many who have lost their loved ones, or are still battling that bastard cancer. I run for them, but I run for my friend; he and I have many more miles to cycle and beers to drink together.

Steve started chemo the same week I did the IronMan back in late July. He just finished his 6th treatment and the end of the 'first round'. It has taken its toll on him. The affects are cumulative. This last session had him so tired he couldn't get on the bike to ride with us, nor could he drag himself to the bar for our weekly beer and bull session. He was tired; but getting better.

The Plea

So, like I have a full marathon of 26.2 miles coming up in 10 days, and the IronMan of 140.6 miles in less than 7 weeks; this equals 166.8 miles - why not donate a dime a mile; that is only $16.68. If another 20 people donated that much, it is enough to pay for someone with a blood cancer to get to treatment, spend the night and have a couple descent meals.

Yes, that is what your donations go for - to get people to treatments and take care of them.

The Challenge:

Eric Ingbar of Gnomon, Inc. has issued a challenge to other CRM agencies by donating $250 and challenging others to match it.

I Run for Life....I run for you my Friend.

Of Things to Come:

The list might be looking shorter, but I promise you that unless there is a cure by the end of it, I will keep adding endurance events until I can physically no longer do them....2009 - promises to include Arizona Distance Classic Half Marathon, Tour of the Tucson Mountains 70 mile bike ride, the Seattle marathon, at least one other marathon to be named later and another half IronMan- not to mention we will be back at Moab next September, and possibly this March.

• Nike Women's Marathon in Frisco on October 18 - 26.2 miles

10/24/2008 - finished and had fun....read here:

http://doodahroadclub.org/nikemarathon.htm

Its almost sad, or scary, but I look at this marathon as nothing more than a training run for my IronMan. Who would have thought the day would come when running 26.2 in 5 hours would be training for me.

9/27/2008 - yesterday was my 20 mile run for the event. I finished at about 3 hours 40 minutes and felt good, real good. I could have gone forever, of course I didn't, cause I was hungry. Today I did a quic k 40 mile bike ride and a 2000 meter swim. Things feeling good, but I'm a bit tired. by 7pm, I'm ready to call it a night, and there still isn't enough food handy. I am constantly foraging for something, I love pickles now, no I don't know why. Just can eat the entire jar now - organic pickles of course.

• Arizona IronMan in Tempe on November 23, 2008 - 140.6 miles

Training Update:

10/7/2008 - ...thanks to all of you for supporting the Team's quest to fight blood cancers. My IronMan training has rounded a corner. All of a sudden, I'm feeling great, no injuries, no major aches or pains; yes I hurt after the long runs or swims or rides, but its a good hurt, and I don't have to go through chemo, so the pain is insignificant. I thank Rudy every day that I don't have a cancer.

Today I did 3800 meters in the pool before coming to work, my longest swim ever and event distance. I felt great and really thrilled to have completed that distance. Now I'm starting to feel like completing the event is positively in reach and I'm guesstimating times.

I need more time in the bike saddle, but the new bike is fitting pretty well and I have a couple 80 mile rides on the horizon.

Keep those well wishes coming, and drop a few bucks into the coffers if you can - every dime you donate goes to support those suffering or to expand research....thanks.

9/24/2008 - After Moab, I am picking up with even more intense workouts. They are gettinig insanely intense. 4 hour rides followed by 2 hour runs, 2 hour swims followed by hour of spin class. Long runs of 12 miles or more followed the next day by a 60 mile bike ride. Repeats up Tumamoc Hill, 9 miles of Speed work at Reid Park. Hope I survive this, hope those people with cancer survive until we get that cure for them.

Events of Futures Past:

• Moab Century Tour on September 8 - 120 miles & many pints of Stout

Update - 9/24/2008 - We went, we rode, we drank Oatmeal Stout....ya, it was a great weekend. All the procedures from this event went to some form of cancer support - survivor programs, research, patient assistance. An awesome ride.

Couple of the gang did the "big nasty" a very long and very steep climb in the LaSal Mountains. Others of us opted for the more rolling hill route along the Colroado River. This after we road 40 miles through Archies National Park.

3 days of cycling with friends all to raise money to fight that bastard cancer....you should have been there. You can still participate though, just click on the 'donate' button to the left and give what you can to beast cancer to the curb.

• Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati on May 4 - 26.2 miles

UPDATE - 5/11/2008 - Finished the Pig run. I ran with 21 ribbons on my purple jersey - all with names on them of people still fighting that bastard leukemia or of those who have lost the battle. The most recent ribbon was for a 16 year old who passed a mere 3 weeks ago. I'm getting tired of the deaths. Donate now if you can help fight that bastard cancer. We can win.

• Sahuarita Triathlon in Sahuarita on May 26 - 41 miles

Won't be doing this one, Sorry. Sore foot that needs healing.

• Coaching San Diego Rock'n Roll Marathon June 1

Update 6/5/2008 - 26 Team members made the trek to San Diego. It was a good day to run or walk. All who came completed with a smile on their face and raised over $70,000. Team in Training from across the country raised over $12 million to fight blood cancers and help victims. I ran just under 33 miles with the Team that day. Now its on to the Half IronMan for me. Donate a buck a mile for my IronMan and help victims of blood cancers...help Steve. Its too late for my Uncle, the cancer took him on May 23, 2008.

• Mountain Man Half IronMan in Flagstaff on July 20 - 70.3 miles - finished on both feet - 6 hours 54 minutes

UPDATE - 7/22/2008 - it came, it went, and I'm still standing - so is cancer though. The event was good; my swim sucks, I had some hip problems on the bike ride over hills, and I ran through a thunderstorm for 4 miles of the run...but I still don't have cancer, so I'm good.

During those last 4 wet miles I kept thinking why I was there and my friend Steve, my Uncle Garry, a colleague, a 13 year old girl, a 16 year old girl, all came to mind. So when the really heavy rain came, I just looked up and yelled,: "is that the best you can throw at me?" Knowing Zeus was probably laughing, a thunder clap echoed very close by, so I laughed back. "You can't stop me now unless you hit me with the lightening." Apparently I scared him cause the rain eased up a bit. Or maybe Zeus is tired of watching people die of cancer as well and wants me to continue.