Swim...Bike...Run for a Cure

Dear Friends and Family:

Approximately three years ago, I first learned that one of the most important and inspirational people in my life, my Mom Josephine, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. It is a moment that I will never forget. It forced me to realize how fragile and special our time in this world is, but it also lead me to an amazing organization -- the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's ("LLS") Team In Training ("TNT").

I am reaching out to you again because our war against cancer is still ongoing, and I need your help to find a cure.

My journey with LLS began as, and continues to be, my way to help find a cure for all blood cancers. For my Mom, like so many others suffering from blood cancer, only the hope of a cure sustains her through her endless treatments, medicines, side effects, and sleepless nights. I joined the Team because of my Mom, but over time, my mission has grown to include some of the most amazing and brave individuals I have ever met -- people like Laura Maloney, Kyle Garlett, Stevie Ramos, Virginia Gardner and Krissy Kobata. These Honored Teammates are the true warriors for the cause. They tirelessly fight their personal battles with cancer while also training and inspiring scores of TNT participants and other patients.

I have also been able to honor the many brave and wonderful individuals, like Mama Jean, Isabella Wilno, and Scott Becker, for whom, unfortunately, we did not find cures in time. But we cannot and will not stop searching, fund raising, training and hoping. One day, with your help, we will find a cure.

If you recall, the very first time I reached out to many of you, I had just signed up to participate in the San Diego Rock'n'Roll Half-marathon. My goal was to walk the half-marathon and raise a small amount of money for LLS. I quickly realized that I was going to be doing much more than that. Your responses to my first campaign were overwhelming. I cannot honestly put into words the full effect of (and sheer amount of) the love and support that I received. What I can tell you, though, is that since that first event (which, by the way, became a full marathon) I have remained very active with LLS.

Since February of 2007, I have run 7 marathons and 4 half-marathons and completed a century ride (102 mile bike ride) -- all with the Team. I am also working on the LLS Man/Woman of the Year campaign, and I co-captained a Light The Night walk team.

LLS and TNT have honestly become my family away from home.

Over the last three years, I have continuously raised money for LLS. The organization is not a one-way street though; LLS has also been wonderful to my Mom. They provide her with financial assistance and counseling. Her current course of treatment is a direct result of LLS sponsored trials. LLS also provides the hope that, one day, she too will be cured.

What could I possibly be doing now, you wonder? If you didn't pick up the hint from the title of my letter, I have decided to complete my first triathlon -- The Lavaman Olympic Triathlon on March 28, 2010. An olympic triathlon consists of a .9 mile swim, a 25 mile bike ride, and a 6.2 mile run.

The date of the triathlon is very important to my family. It will be my Mom's and Stepfather's 20 year wedding anniversary and also 2 days before my Mom's 60th birthday. Yes, you read that correctly...60. She is probably going to kill me for revealing her age, but given that we were unsure whether or not she would see 57, 58 or 59...60 is wonderful.

So I need your help. My fundraising goal is $15,000. I cannot do this alone. You have helped me down this path before and I am asking you to help me again. I know the economic times are tough...but cancer does not care. It sounds like a cliche, but every small amount helps. Your donation, large or small, will help people like my Mom get the medicine and support they need; with your help, we will find a cure.

Miles Levin said, "Dying is not what scares me; it's dying having had no impact." Let's make an impact together. Please donate today. You can submit a donation online at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/lavatri10/jriveracp2 .

Thank you for all of your support. Please check my website often as I will be submitting weekly updates on my training and my fund raising. I look forward to sharing my journey with you.

On behalf of my Mom and my family...THANK YOU and GO TEAM!

Your Humble Warrior Against Cancer,

Javier

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TRAINING UPDATES:

Weeks 1 - 2: Because of my work schedule I didn't get to attend the first two weeks of practice, but I have been running with the TNT Westside marathon team , so I am doing okay with the running. I am focusing on increasing my speed, but generally I am not too worried about the running.

Swim Practice 1: Swimming is the main thing that scares me in this triathlon. I have no idea how to swim efficiently or competitively. I attended my first practice tonight and it went well. We did beginner balance drills and I learned some new terminology. Overall a very exciting and exhausting 45 min. The swim is going to kick my butt all season...bring it on!

Week 3: The team met at Ocean Park and Barnard Way this morning at 8 a.m. and had a great practice. 45 min run and 30 min Yoga/Stretch session. I ran 4.7 miles in 45 min (roughly a 9:20 pace). Yay! I am working out my shoe issues though. My regular running shoes, Brooks Beast, are wonderful, but a little heavy. So I am experimenting with some lighter weight shoes. So far I am 0 for 1...thank goodness for Arch and Sole's shoe return policy.

Fund Raising Update: Thanks to everyone who has donated. I just passed $700 and I am well on my way. Keep the donations coming and together we will find a cure.

Weeks 4 - 8:

The last four weeks of training, as promised, kicked my butt and was immensely rewarding. I have finally started swimming twice a week consistently, thanks to my mentor Noel de la Torre, and I really need the practice.

One gerat memory from this season was our practice on Dec. 12...also known as my 29th birthday. It poured down rain all morning and as we ran aroud the Brentwood Country Club getting soaking wet all I could think about was how lucky I am to have great friends and teammates. With all of your help, we've raised over $4600.

Week 9:

Happy Holidays TEAM! Even though I am at home with the family, I have been keeping up with my workouts. 45 min of cardio one day and 900 yds of swimming on x-mas eve. It's great to be to home and I am looking forward to my first workout of 2010.

Weeks 10-18:

It's been a while since I last posted and for that I sincerely apologize. A lot has happened since week 9, I hit and surpassed my fundraising minimum (THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR SUPPORT), I have become more confident in my swimming, and I almost feel like a triathlete. I can hardly believe that in 1 month I will be on the shores of Kona, Hawaii getting ready to take the plunge for Lavaman.

As a side note, my marathon team started up again, and that means double duty for me. Saturday is tri team....Sunday is marathon. The last 5 weeks of my life have been pretty hectic and I can't thank each of you enough for putting up with me and for supporting me.

Week 19: DESERT TRIATHLON

This week was the time to take the training wheels off and join the triathlon world. On Sunday, March 4, 2010, I competed in my first triathlon :: Desert Triathlon (Sprint Distance: 500 meter swim, 14 mile bike, 5k run). I was, to say the least, a NERVOUS WRECK. On top of this week being one of the most exhausting weeks of my life due to work and life drama, I was also dealing with race anxiety . Nonetheless, I pushed through, made it to race day.

Race Recap:

All season long our coaches told us, "You will be nervous on race day, but you are ready." Well they could not have been more correct. I was a nervous wreck for sure. I double and triple checked my transition area, walked all around the start area to see where everything was and where I needed to go. I have done a bunch of marathons with the Team, and was never as nervous as I was for this race.

I did my warm up swim, just like the coaches told us (the water was a very cold 62 deg) and before I knew it, race time had come. The horn blew and my wave took off. I ran into the water and started swimming. Just like my coaches told me, I went out too fast. Lucky for me I realized it in the first 30 seconds to minute and I piulled myself back and got into my rhythm. I made it to the first buoy with ease and I was even passing people on the way. Made my turn and headed for the second buoy. So far so good., or so I thought. As I reached the second buoy I got disoriented and dizzy. It was so cold and I sort of freaked out a little. I floated around for a little, collected my thoughts and started swimming again. What I didn't realize was that I didn't make the turn...I was swimming the wrong way! After 30 seconds, I finally realized what I had done and I changed directions and headed into shore. I booked it home because I knew that I was behind now, but I didn't go 100% because I had a bike and a run ahead of me. Total swim was 0:12:20 for 500 meters .

I exit the water (did I mention its freezing cold) and I run into Transition 1 (T1). I was in T1 for 3 min and out on my bike. Not bad a time for a newbie.

The start of the bike course is up a small but steep hill. I made sure I was in an easy gear so getting up the hill wasn't a problem...but starting out that way cruel. The bike course was boring and mostly full of false flats (a road that looks flat but actually has a slight incline). Oh and did I mention that it was windy and cold. The cross-winds were out of this world. Luckily I had my glasses on, so I was able to avoid getting dust in my eyes. About 1/2 mile into the bike, my cycle computer stops working. Without my knowing it the sensor came loose and wasn't reading properly. So I am doing the bike with no speed or mileage sensor...just my candence meter. I vow to keep my candence between 80-90 no matter what and that's what I did. [Side note: I did pass a few folks on the bike, but mostly I was being passed by 50 to 60 yr old men/women. They are phenomenal athletes...I hope I am still doing tri's at that age.] As I finish the bike course, a person in front of me decides to fall off his bike and I have to swerve around them and sort of hop off my bike at the same time. Could have been disastrous, but it all worked out in the end. Total bike time 0:48:45.

I enter Transition 2 (T2) and run to my rack. I am in T2 for 2 min and then head off to run.

Now for me, the run is the comfortable part. I have been running for a few years now (7 marathons and 5 half-marathons) so I am feeling confident about this run. As soon as we start the run, there is water stop 1 and my bladder decides, its time to go. Anyone who knows me will know that I have the bladder of a 2 year old child. So when its time to go, its time to go. I run through the water stop, grab a cup of water and head to the bathroom. I'm in and out as fast as possible and back on the course....feeling a lot better and lighter. I start running and I pass a few folks on the course and proceed to post my best 5k time ever...0:27:34 (8:53 pace). I finished the race strong and came in with my head held high and a smile on my face (despite the wind, cold, and now light rain).

Total Time for my Triathlon: 1:34:26.

Now comes the craziest part...I placed 3rd in my division (Clydes34andunder). I was totally shocked when I heard this...my goal was to finish. When I was swimming all I wanted to do was not drown and survive. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would podium at my first triathlon.

I definitely owe this one to my Mom and Crea Wilno. When I was freaking out in the water...I thought about my Mom and focused on her. When the bike was tough and my computer went out I was thinking about Crea and how wonderfully she survived her surgery and kicked cancer in the butt. Crea got me through the bike.

On the run, when I was rounding the corner to come into the shoot...I channeled every once of energy I had, turns on the juice, and thought of my Mom. If you have ever done a race with me, you know that at the end of every race I start repeating the same phrase over and over. "Mom is not giving up, so I am not giving up." Many a race and training ride, I have felt her spirit near me and her steadfast encouragement in my head. "Mom is not giving up, so I am not giving up." I wish that Mom could be physically with me in Hawaii for Lavaman, but I know that no matter what the distance that separates us,, she is always with me.

"Mom is not giving up, so I am not giving up." -- LAVAMAN HERE I COME...

Until next time . . . GO TEAM!