So, I'm back at it again!

A year ago I signed up to join the Ironteam and fundraise once again with Team in Training. At the time, I thought training for, and finishing, Vineman would be my final fundraising season for a while. I trained hard, for nine months, I had some crazy training highs and lows. I made amazing new friends, who are practically like family at this point. I discovered things about myself that I never realized I was looking for, things that make me realize that, not only am I capable of doing anything I set my mind to, I have so much more inside of me than I ever realized. But, most importantly, I fundraised more than $6,000! (This puts my lifetime TNT fundraising total at nearly $15,000!)

On July 28, 2012, because of my hardwork, the support I received from family, friends, teammates and YOU, and the amazing coaching I received from the Ironteam coaches, I did this:

I swam 2.4 miles, cycled 112 miles, ran 26.2 miles. In 15:44:00 I became an Ironman! All with a smile on my face!

You might wonder how I managed to smile for 140.6 miles of swim, bike, run. The answer is simple, because I appreciated every minute of it. I appreciated that I could be out there doing something so incredibly challenging and amazing because so many people can't. So many people are not able to do this, and I recognized that and remembered the hard work I put in day after day to achieve my goal and remembered why I was out there - for those who couldn't be. I remembered the friends, family, and even strangers, whose lives have been touched by cancer in immeasurable ways.

Throughout race day I thought about all the people I was out there for. I thought about how much cancer sucks and how lucky I am to be able to do what I do to not only have the physical capability to get it done, but to be able to fundraise at the same time and help bring much needed funding to blood cancer treatment and research.

After crossing the finish line I knew my journey with Team in Training wasn't done. During training we had a "practice" race, Wildflower Long Course. That day I did not finish (DNF). I missed the bike cut-off by about 15 minutes. I was devastated. But, then I remembered why I was out there, and that I was training for a different race. After my DNF I redoubled my training efforts and I finished Vineman. But, I knew that I wanted to go back to Wildflower and get my revenge.

So, I'm back, fundraising once again, for Wildflower Long Course (one of the hardest half-iron distance races around), not only because I can, because this is how I can help make a difference, but most importnatly, BECAUSE CANCER SUCKS!

Friends and family are still being touched by this far too often, and a cure for one will eventually lead to a cure for all. Help me get through my training for Wildflower and get my revenge, and most importantly help me find a cure, BECAUSE CANCER SUCKS.

Thank you for your coninued support!!

Elisabeth (EWS)