Racing to Save Lives

I'm training to participate in a century (a 100-mile bike ride) 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 blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia from taking more lives. I am completing this event in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to reach our ultimate goal - a cure!

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!

-== Progress Journal ==-

May 16:

Argh, I've been terrible about updating.

The ride was beautiful--sun and rolling countryside. I'm clearly getting strong, and feeling like I may be ready for Tahoe--and a good thing, with only a few weeks left. I think the biggest thing I need to work on is remembering to drink--I was pretty dehydrated by ride's end.

Apr 11:

Today was far more unpleasant than it had any right to be! I chose to climb an optional hill early in the ride, but I wasn't warmed up yet. The abuse strained my calves, and I still had 45 miles to go! About 10 miles later, we took a stretch break and I stumbled dismounting. I accidentally stepped on my valve stem, breaking it off. One fresh tube later, I was ready to go again. If it hadn't been for the beautiful scenery I would've been really upset!

Apr 4:

What a lovely ride through the gresham countryside! I felt very strong on the hills, and although I'm definitely starting to notice the distance, I'm clearly getting stronger.

Mar 28:

Frustrating ride this week. It was so cold and wet that I was shaking too hard to hold my bike steady. I had to call the SAG vehicle to come pick me up. That was a hard decision to make, given the symbolism, but it just wasn't safe for me to keep riding. I'll have to keep working!

Mar 21:

Whew! I'm definitely feeling the longer rides now. I was pretty tuckered out.

Mar 14:

I thought last week was miserable, but it had nothing on this week! Cold and rain and wrong turns. It was really necessary to focus on why I'm doing this...

Mar 7:

Man, what a miserable ride. rain, teammates crashing, a twisty route...no fun. I did the miles, but I didn't feel like I really accomplished much...

Feb 28:

Well, no trouble with the route this time, but WOW, what a tough ride! We went up and down and up and down through the west hills. In some places, it felt like we were going straight up the side! I made it through to the end, though (mostly by repeating to myself "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger").

Feb 21:

Man, a lot of trouble today! First I took a wrong turn, in spite of knowing the right way to go. Then I lose my route directions! All in all, though, it was still another beautiful ride!

Feb 14:

We started having some hills this week. I'd been laying back a little up to now, because I wanted to make sure I still remembered how to ride and all. Today I really cut myself loose and it was wonderful! I was up those hills like the Duke of York.

Feb 7:

The second ride was gorgeous! Last week was so foggy that I couldn't see anything beyond the road. This time the sun was out, making for much better scenery.

Despite some trouble finding our start point, I had a really good training ride. I'm definitely becoming a stronger rider.

Jan 31:

I had my first ride today. It was actually the second ride of the season, but I had to miss the first one because I was moving.

The ride was quite cold! I forgot to get warm socks or booties for my feet, so my toes were completely numb by the end of the 15 miles. Otherwise, though, I think it was a good ride, and I got to know my teammates a bit.