Holler At a Baller Doing A Triathlon!!!

Racing to Save Lives

Seacoast Article: copy and paste to view

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081001-NEWS-810010331

Dear Family, Friends and Colleagues,

Your generosity and support has left me speechless. I was able to exceed my initial goal of raising $3,200 and raised $3,815! Your donation is funding research to find a cure for blood cancers. Your donation is providing patient services to those who would otherwise not receive them. During the Saturday night pasta dinner before the triathlon I had the privilege to sit next to a 23 year old girl who was going through radiation. Without the LLS society she would not be able to receive the most advanced form of treatment she was receiving. Thanks to your donation and donations alike the survival rate has increased from 4% in 1960 to 85% in 2008! This year as a whole Team in Training participants at the Nations Triathlon raised $3,000,000! Thanks to you, the scientific community is moving faster toward a cure than ever before in history.

You were a part of my Team in Training Triathlon experience and I wish I could relay to you how grateful all of the Leukemia and Lymphoma patients are to your contributions. Just knowing that people are out their training for them and knowing that people are donating in the name of this cause inspires them to keep fighting. Team in Training instills positive encouragement to all of those who need it the most (people who have or had blood cancer). As one young woman with lymphoma recently said: "My advice to anyone who is diagnosed with blood cancer is to stay positive and never give up, don't let cancer win." Team in Training provides a helping hand along their tumultuous journey.

I am so grateful to have such a supportive network of friends and family. When I look at the final list of people who supported me in this endeavor I have a heightened assurance that everything and anything is doable. Thanks for being part of such a worthy cause!

Sincerely,

Lindsey Blackburn

Generous Donors:

Robin MacLean, Deborah Best, Connie Masi, James Kautz, Christine Smith, Katie Neibert, Lauren Blackburn, Katie Hollerbach, Haley Derrah, Kathleen Lascelles, Julia Rose, Carole Wyche, Jessica Kohring, Jacqueline O'Toole, Elyse Boyle, Emily King, Jacqueline Sukalas, Alison Graichen, Linda Tipping, Neil and Beth Goodwin, Johanna Reinke, Susan Condon, Danielle Desjardins, Bruce Fearon, Chris Chessie, Marilyn Zotos, Rletta Van Natta, Chris Milliken, Milton and Victoria Aldridge, Beth Bush, Debbie McGrath, Mickey McCrillis, Stephanie Conzelman, John Bement, Rich Knight, Linda Hirst, David O. Patten, John Collins, Randy Kinzly, Barbara and Donald Blackburn, Robert Barbera, Susan Forsley, Stonewall Kitchen, A.D. Cloutier, D.C. Acabar, W. Scott Taylor, The Marshall Family, John Laverriere, When Pigs Fly Bakery, Bob and Susan Lascelles, Doug and Lisa Roeder, Monique Richard, Thomas Barton, Pamela Cleveland, Bonnie Cruz, Beth Hutchins, Christopher Blackburn, Amy & Eric Norris, Jessica McCallum, Patricia Red, Brian Kautz, Josh Stauble

Race Day Details!

Up at 4AM to eat a light breakfast and then head over to the East Potomac Park. It was one of my favorite moments throughout the long weekend, there was a full moon right over the Potomac and the Washington Monument looked beautiful, it was quite, serene and almost very serious with everyone walking quietly to set up their race gear. Even though my swim wave wasn't scheduled to start until 8:12AM I still needed to be at the “transition” area by 6 to get everything set up. Thank goodness I was early because I had a sweet flat tire awaiting me to start off my race day. Apparently something in my rim...bla bla (I will skip the technical stuff) but moral of the story I spent an hour with the bike mechanics using packing tape to tape the inside of my tire. Sweet way to start off the race day.

All of the athletes were supposed to leave the set up/transition area by 7 and then wait for their swim wave in a huge fenced-in pen. Luckily I ran into Emily (my training partner) and we just stretched and hung out for about an hour until our swim wave was called.

Swim (34:35)

Finally it was time for our wave, to enter the water. They had floating docks with ladders set up that worked well for entry. I jumped in the water, made sure my cap and goggles were set, and waited for the start. It was so funny having a hundred bobbing bodies all around. We looked so silly.

The Potomac River water was better quality than I expected, very murky but not smelly. The water temperature was a very comfortable 77*F in my sweet TNT wetsuit. The start was not so smooth, there were people swimming over and under me. It was awesome/intense...I definitely got kicked in the face and my ankles were bleeding from two scrapes from fingernails (gross). On the outbound leg against the slow current I swam along fairly easily spotting off the bank to my right and heading for the second arch of Memorial Bridge. I swam comfortably under the bridge and spotted the yellow turn buoy still fairly far off, but made it out around two yellow turn buoys without incident. My goggles were leaking, but otherwise I was really enjoying myself. I really love swimming.

The return leg headed directly into the rising sun and I couldn't see the yellow buoys at all. I must have looked ridiculous...haha I think I swam the course in a Z shape back and forth...which probably cost me some time, but oh well I was a first timer.

The swim exit was fast and smooth and I was not tired at all from swimming the mile, so all and all it was a great start to a great race.

T1 (2:28):

After I had my wet suit half way off I started to run into the bike transition area, I took my swim gear off, threw on my shoes, put on my race shirt and number, helmet and I was ready to go...everyone was taking so long so I started to think that I was forgetting something, but I was off and running and on the bike ready to go!

Bike (1:25:42, 17.4 mph):

Hoping on the bike felt a little funny, in my head I was thinking wow this is so sweet...I get to bike throughout all of DC with all the roads closed! We started out on Independence Avenue, and I was feeling nice and strong. This was MUCH more fun than I had expected! I hit the first few miles pretty hard and was enjoying myself greatly. Swooping through the curves around the Washington Monument, onto Constitution Avenue heading towards the Capitol. Swing easily through a U-turn 6 lanes wide and I'm having a blast! Up standing on the pedals to pick up some speed again, and I was passing more people than not, which is not something I was not expecting to happen on the bike. A quick glance over my right shoulder to spot the White House, and then it was a quick turn down a wide-open Constitution Avenue in our nation's capital, with cheering spectators on both sides, was well worth all efforts put forth to get to that point.

Back down towards the Potomac, climbing up the Whitehurst Freeway towards Georgetown in what seemed like the biggest effort on the bike course. Then we had a long ride out and back along Canal Road and the Clara Barton Parkway into Maryland with lovely views of the canal. We biked to Maryland! I did not even know that that was going to happen, so you can imagine my surprise when riding along the bike course and I saw the “welcome to Maryland” sign.

Another little leg up into Rock Creek Park and under the Kennedy Center overhang and past the Lincoln Monument and back into transition. Hurrah! There were so many cool, nice people on the bike course. I spent a considerable amount of time with another girl my age, and we were chatting it up and enjoying the experience! In order to prepare for the run I did a lot of stretching on my bike, my legs after 25 miles of biking still felt fresh and ready to go! Wow... I was not expecting that!

T2 (1:26):

Off the bike, off with the helmet, etc... this was pretty uneventful!

Run (56:15, 9:05 min/mile):

As soon as I headed out on the run I knew I had to get in a good place mentally...the race day predictions of 90ish degree weather were dead on! There was full sun and little shade on the concrete roads leading out towards Hains Point. The official temperature for the day eventually got up to 92*F, which with a dew point of 72*F yields a 100*F heat index. I was so happy about how the whole race was going, I just couldn't slow down. I started out the 6.2 miles cruising at about an 8:15/8:30 mile pace and I felt great. I dumped ice down my front and back at every opportunity, and took ample opportunity at every aid station to drink up the water and Powerade. The 8:15 mile pace was kind of freaking me out after I saw a few people pass out...and I realized how hot it was...so in order to guarantee that I finished the way I wanted to (happy, smiling and ready to go for more) I backed off a bit and started running around 9 minute miles.

Finally with the Capitol in the background I crossed the finish line (at 3:00:05) I sat down and rubbed ice on my overheated neck and arms. I was on could nine! I crushed my time goal (3:30:00) and in such crazy conditions! Wow...I knew from that moment on that I was addicted. If I could love the last leg of triathlon in 90 degree weather then I am sure I would enjoy doing more triathlons :) .

Post-race:

There was abundant pizza and some other food items at the finish line area. Clearly I went to go get some pizza. haha. Dave Scott was there ( the most infamous triathlete ever) and Emily and I ooed and ahhed over him. Some of my friends from undergraduate came to cheer me on so it was so nice to see them. Apparently there were shuttle buses heading back, but we could not find them. Instead after running a triathlon we hobbled 1.7 miles back to the transition area to pick up our gear. We then hobbled 1.7 miles back to the race line to catch a shuttle... which did not happen! Ahhh, I found out that I had to walk back to the hotel in 92 degree weather for another 2 miles! I was not pleased. There were no cabs available due to all the roads being shut down : (. My race day high was kind of fading due to being in serious need of a shower and some relaxation.

Follow up:

This was one of the best experiences of my life! I have never been more proud of myself! I was more proud crossing that finish line the way I did than when I graduated college! In my age group I finished 16/77 (20%). I was extremely surprised to see that I ended up placing higher than I expected. Being a part of a larger goal and raising money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society made the whole experience that much more meaningful. I am so happy that I had the opportunity to participate in such an event with so many great people from all over the country supporting me. I would encourage all those even remotely interested in training for an event with TNT to do so! It will be an experience you will never forget.

Past Posts

Hey Guys! Thanks so much for visiting my Team In Training home page! That little girl on the bike is me... I have a bigger bike now though : ). and a better haircut but that is debateable.

Training Update: Training is going great! I have the basics to be successful in DC, so the focus for the next 6 weeks will be to become more effiecient and work on putting it all together. It is one thing to swim a mile, bike 25, and run six, but to do them all in a row...hmm I am glad I still have two months to train.

Fundraising Update: Fundraising has been fantasitc so far and I am so close to the minimum. I really want to continue fundraising beyond $3,200 to meet a personal goal of $4000.

For those of you who are visiting for the first time! I am training to participate in the Nations Triathlon in Washington, DC as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training.

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance a cure for cancer. It is easy, secure and just a click away right on the left : )

All Donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE and the Society will send you a receipt.

Team In Training (TNT) exists to find a cure for blood cancers It also looks to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Every 5 minutes, someone in the United States learns that they have a blood cancer, and every ten minutes, a child or adult dies from one of these diseases. Leukemia is one of the leading causes of death in children between the ages of 1-15. The good news is due to the amazing research that has been going on (where your donations will be going) the survival rate has from 4% in 1960 to 81% in the last decade.

The money that I will raise for research is fulfilling, but the most important and inspirational part of my training is knowing that my hard work could make a difference in the life of a little kid with cancer. I have the chance to embody a glimmer of hope for those who are battling blood cancers and to remember those who have lost their battle.

The next several months will be an amazing journey, and I won't be able to train for this event alone. I would be honored if you would help me. My goal is to raise $4000. No pledge is too small! I promise you, there is no better feeling than knowing that you were a part of an amazing mission that successfully helped so many people!

Thank you so much for your support! See you at the finish line!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

~Margaret Mead

If you have your own Hero you would like me to honor I would be more than happy to run/swim/bike with their name on my shirt in their honor.

Heros I will be honoring:

Jack Hoyt

Clare Shepley