Wow! The last couple of weeks have been something else! I guess I really am all IN at this point. Build weeks are meant to push you, strengthen you and I secretly think they are there to make you fall apart. I have hurt muscles I never really knew existed except for in anatomy class. A lot of things have happened even before I started training for my race. I lost a lot of weight. I wanted to be smaller than previous years because I know being lighter is better on my joints and overall health and well being. Fast forward to all the runs, bikes and swims and I can totally tell a difference what a few pounds less can do for you. But I am not done yet!

Now last weekend we had a wonderful, chilly, hilly bike ride in Westlake. And when I say chilly, I mean COLD! So cold you couldn't feel your fingers while you grasped onto your brakes praying that you wouldn't fall on this really steep windy road that seemed to go on and on and on. I had been having issues with clipping out of my pedals for most of this training season and Westlake was no different. Wait, it was different. I crashed a total of 3 times on my bike because I couldn't get out of my pedals. That last crash was something else. I started up the last and final incline of the ride. Midway, I started to cramp in my right hamstring. I told myself to suck it up, don't think about it. So I totally tried to mentally block the pain that each pedal stroke was giving me. All I needed was to get to that street sign and then I could stop and stretch. Oh snap, my left hamstring is cramping too! Don't think about it! Keep pedaling! Just get to that street and it will be flat and okay. Oh no! That street turned out to be a gated community! So needless to say, I attempted to pedal a lil more and clip out so I could stretch. BAM!!!! I hit the ground. This final crash caused an innocent motorist to call 911! Poor thing, she thought I was hit by a car. Yep, the fire trucks came and I almost wanted to put my bike on their truck and ride back to base point with sirens blasting. I wanted to bring the firemen back with me for all my friends that love firemen. LOL!

After the final crash, I said ENOUGH! I can't go on like this. I was speeding through intersections trying to make it before the lights turned yellow because I was so afraid of getting stuck at a red light and not being able to unclip. I didn't want to crash again. I avoided going on rides because of the fear of being hurt. I got a bike refit and my cleats were adjusted in my shoes!! I could finally clip out of either foot with no problems.

My run has improved considerably since the last couple of seasons. I feel good when I am on my feet. And this past weekend put my body to a test that I feel will make me that much stronger. We did a wonderful 56 mile bike ride along PCH and the canyons and yes it was a hilly bike ride but it was nice and warm. That was a nice change from the 30 degree weather from previous weekends.

Sunday was an 11 mile run to Inspiration Point and back to Ocean and San Vicente. I finished it!

Its great to be out there training with friends/ teammates. We feed off of each other. Some of my teammates are going through their own battles with life and they find a way to push through and make it to practice each day. There is a mom on my team who has a son that is going through treatment right now. And she is out there breaking new barriers for herself with each practice. She inspires me!

Wow what a 3 week build!!! I honestly don't even know where to begin because it has been an amazing journey so far.

I will say that the build cumlminated into one epic....EPIC weekend!!! Last week, I did my timed run along Westwood blvd. and Pico. Running in the early mornings or evenings at this time of the year is going to be dark regardless. Unfortunately, some drivers don't really care about pedestriasn, people on bike or even other cars. They just want to beat the light! And I almost was a victim. Thankfully, I wasn't hit but boy did I have a few choice words for them in my head.

But back to this weekend. We had our very first open water swim on Saturday and when I tell you that water was COLD, it was COLD. Like numb fingers and hand kinda cold. Like you needed booties kinda cold. My face, feet and hands felt like I was getting stung by something over and over again. But what made that even worse was the fact that I had limited vision. The life guard threaten to take me out of the water when I was trying to readjust my goggles. Yeah, I told him to back off! LOL He thought I was panicking. So I had to reassure him I was not. So yeah, I couldn't see much of anything that wasn't right in front of me so my friends guided me with their pink swim caps. Thank goodness!

Now that we were out of the water, it was time to take off the wetsuits and embark on a 9+ mile run! Are you kidding me?? I can't even feel my feet out of the water and now you want us to run? Well, I finished that 9+ mile run and in a good time. The weekend consists of 2 days. Sunday! Oh Sunday.....

Sunday was going to be hilly ride of 40 miles plus a 45 minute run. But we had no idea of how hilly this ride was going to be. For starters, I was unable to click out of my pedals..very frustrating! The ride was along Palos Verdes and there were beautiful views. I even finally saw the Trump Golf Course. Then the ride turned into switchbacks and I have no idea how many hills I went up yesterday but the one epic one took us all by surprise! I cried a few times yesterday out of frustration of not being able to click out, I cried because I felt so weak compared to my other teammates and I cried because at some point I wanted to quit. And going downhill at speeds of 30+ on a bike is just as scary! I was so glad to be back on my feet and off the bike.

So this 3 week build built character as well as speed and strength. I am more determined today than I was 3 weeks ago. And at some point I intend to own hills!

Boy what a couple of weeks training will do for you!!! Let's see I have almost crashed on my bike a few times because my foot was clipped in and I couldn't clip out. Its funny now but at the time I was scared.

On last Tuesday, I was thinking of how cold it was outside and how I really didn't want to get into a cold pool. But something hit me....I am doing something that some people only dream of doing. I was doing something that would help in finding a cure or more treatments for those that need them. That swim wasn't about me at all. So after this thought I embraced the coldness of the pool and did what I had to do.

While asking people for donations may be hard, sitting around and not doing anything is harder. Not taking the opportunity to train and race for a cure is not an option. I am all in! But I do love those moments of reflection.

Teams are made up of individuals. Without them, there is no team.

Welcome back! So I am going for a huge goal for 2013! Let's see for starters, I will be turning the BIG 40!!! So the goals set forth are to first of all EMBRACE 40 because its going to be awesome. I have also set the huge goal of completing my very first Full Ironman distance!!! Remember back when this all started? Remember I couldn't swim but with the encouraging words from friends, mentors, coaches and people donating. We were able to accomplish something amazing. I thank you for being there for me but more importantly being there for the survivors and the ones fighting everyday just to be here!

So I am trying to get off to an early start for donations. Consider it an early birthday gift to me. Donate cause you think I am crazy to be doing a Wildflower Long, the olympic course was the toughest thing I have ever done!!! Donate cause you want to help provide a cure for others. Donate because you can. Donate because you feel inspired. Whatever the reason is, I hope that you can find it in you to dig deep... When I did my very first half iron distance this year, it was the first time I didn't want to quit at any point on the race course. So I promise to train hard, be dedicated to the cause, fight with everything in me to make sure we finish what we started. I'm going ALL IN!!!

I have a mission-to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in Wildflower Long as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training. Like the other members of TNT, I will be raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I’m improving the quality of my life by participating and with your support, I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well. Your donations have helped so many but there is still work to be done.

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures.

Thank you!