Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

I'm training to participate in an endurance event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of Jenna Mangini. Jenna was diagnosed with A.L.L. (Acute Lymphocitic Leukemia) at just 14 weeks old. Though her family was blessed with her presense for another year, she lost her battle this past December. The picture I have is with the Manginis after I finished the Hyannis Sprint Triathlon last June.

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

I hope you will visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!

5-19-08

What was I thinking? I am not quite sure myself. After dislocating my knee in January and spending seven weeks in a brace, I figured this would be a year off. Instead I signed up for an Olympic distance Tri this time. More Swimming, More Biking and More Running. At this point running is the hardest. Almost doesn't hurt. My Physical Therapist says he'll have me back to normal soon.

I had my first swim practise this past Saturday. Luckily I seem to remember some of the stuff I learned last year. Today I ran a mile and a half, which is an accomplishment considering what I am coming back from. I hope to be running back at my normal pace and level soon. Right now I need to work on my level of cardio fitness.

6-5-08

I am running 2 miles at a shot for the next couple of weeks, then I will begin to increase the distance. My Physical Therapist set me free last Thursday. He gave me excercises to do and wants me to stretch every day. He also said I should do cardio workouts 3 to 4 times a week. Too bad I am in training. I do 6 in a regular week. This is a "rest" week. That means I am only required to do four workouts. Last night we ran at Walden and worked on our form. Technique is stressed at group practises in the beginning and we work on building our endurance on our own. We have a couple more Saturdays at the pool, then we will be swimming at Walden Pond. Last Saturday went pretty good. I wasn't exhausted when I left the pool. That's a big improvement from last year.

6-14-08

Saturday afternoon is a good time. I did something every day this week. Biked on Monday, Ran two miles on Tuesday. Group bike practise Wednesday, swam at Walden Pond on Thursday, Ran two miles on Friday and swam this morning. Plus some weigh lifting to get my leg back in shape and maybe help with swimming. Now I get to relax til Monday.

6-26-08

Well I am up to 2.5 miles now for my run. Last week at our Wednesday night practise we ran about 3 miles with some breaks every mile or so. I figured since I didn't ache too much after that, I could do 2.5 without stopping.

We will be doing all our Saturday swims at Walden now so pray for sun til at least 11 AM every Saturday. At last nights bike practise I did some drills to work on technique. Trying to get my cadence to 90 RPMs so I do it without thinking. And Shifting gears to keep a steady rhythm. It was raining today so I didn't go for my swim. I will have to make it up on Sunday.

6-28-08

It was an overcast morning at Walden. The water was a little chilly when you first get in but once you move around it was nice. We did some drills on keeping your head down to minimize drag and get your hips up. Then worked on sighting and swimming on your side. Then Kathryn said we'd try turning at the buoys and she and one of the mentors swam out to play the part of the buoys. She said go and I went. I gave it my all and felt pretty good. Then she said"Okay back again." The trip back was a bit tougher. I made it, but it wasn't so pretty. Gotta remember to keep breathing even when I think the end is in sight. I was to busy trying to keep up with the fast swimmers.

7-13-08

Yesterday I did my first brick. A bike ride of 18 miles followed by a run for about 3 miles. A brick is one of the legs followed by the next leg. I find bike then run harder than swim to bike. When you start the run, your legs don't fel right. The first mile feels really strange as your muscles try to figure out what is going on. I am pleasantly surprised with how I feel today. Must be all the excellent coaching.

On Wednesday we went for a swim at Walden that was about a third of a mile. I was concentrating on keeping my head down and rolling from side to side. If I can just master keeping my head in the water and rolling to the side to breathe I will do much better.