IronJen In Training!

Welcome to my Team In Training home page!

I'm training to participate in the Wildflower 1/2 Ironman triathlon on May 1, 2010 as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training.

On May 31, 2009 I successfully ran my first marathon in San Diego with TNT, and had an amazing experience raising funds and training for a very worthy cause. Now I'm taking on something I NEVER thought I would do!

Please help support me, and ulitmately all those who suffer from blood cancers with a donation. No amount is too small!!

Have a great idea for raising funds that you can pass along? Send me a message... jennifer.shaw [at] gmail [dot] com.

Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress on this page, or on my training blog: http://www.jenbackontrack.blogspot.com

Thanks for your support!

What I'm Up To

4/1: Toyota Desert Triathlon was a success! It rained the entire time, but we managed to get through it and the day was incredible. That was nearly a month ago now, and exactly one month from today we head to Wildflower! I am more than a little nervous :) Lately the team has been biking the hills of the Santa Monica Mountains and logging some serious running miles. Stay tuned...

3/4: It has been a while since my last update! I am happy to report that several long-distance rides, many anguishing swim sessions, and familiar runs at the beach are now under my belt. My first triathlon is this Sunday! This will definitely be a good testing ground. I am both nervous and excited!

1/22: Enjoyed training in Northern CA and Washington the last several days. Lots of laps at the Gonzaga U pool and peaceful runs through vineyards and on Centennial Trail. I also just registered for the Toyota Desert Triathlon on March 7th, which will be "practice" for the big event. I'll be racing the international distance - 3/4 mile swim, 24 mile bike ride, and 6 mile run. Only about 6 weeks to go!

I'm so grateful to those who have donated. I am currently at 25% of my overall goal. Every little bit helps!

1/9: Beautiful 30 mile bike ride this morning! Challenging hills, but fantastic scenery. Feeling great after a good timed swim this week as well.

1/3/10: Happy New Year friends! It's been a great couple of weeks - getting deeper into training and working in some early morning sessions. I am beginning to experience some aches and pains, but I know this comes with the territory as the schedule gets more intense. I am not quite used to the days that include two sessions, but I'll get there.

We had a hilly team ride through Pacific Palisades yesterday, which definitely tested my nerves. I feel much more comfortable on the bike, but going downhill on Sunset Blvd with cars flying by has a way of challenging that comfort :)

12/20: It was a beautiful morning yesterday for a good team ride at the Rose Bowl. I'm feeling much more comfortable with the bike (especially the dreaded clips). Swimming and biking are a blast, but I need to get some running in!

12/17: Training is definitely getting more intense, and I am quickly realizing I need to make some sacrifices if I am going to be successful. This morning I was up at 4:30 am and off for a bike ride. Last night I swam for about an hour at the LMU pool. Today = sore legs! Looking forward to a rest day tomorrow. Thankfully, I am still feeling excited and optimistic about this adventure :)

12/05: First fundraising event was very successful! Thanks to all the Murrieta community members who supported LLS at the garage sale today. A special thanks to my parents for their help/use of the driveway!

12/02: First bike practice took place last Saturday. It was great to be on the road. I see how people easily become addicted to this sport! Last night we took the swimming up a notch at the group practice. I need to concentrate on drills and form this week in my individual practice time. A long road to go!

11/21: I bought my first road bike yesterday! It's a Trek 1.5 2009. I can't wait to get on it more and learn the ropes. One of the best things about triathlon training is learning two new sports. The swimming continues to go well, but I have a long way to go! Thanks for all the support, friends.

11/10: First swim practice in Culver City. It was great to train with the group for the first time, and I really enjoyed being in the pool. I can tell this is going to be tough, but COMPLETELY worth it!