A Good Year to.....do a Triathlon!

Hi all,

To celebrate the milestone year in which I turn 50, and to honor those who fight blood cancer, I have decided to do a triathlon to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! I will be swimming, biking, and running for the next four months or so, until June 27 when the triathlon is held. Along with all that, I will be fundraising for LLS, and my personal goal is to raise $5000. I'll post updates on my training and fundraising periodically, and I hope that you will join me in making a donation to support my participation in Team in Training and help advance the mission of LLS. Thanks for your support!

Susan

UPDATE 2-23-2010

Introducing My Honor Teammate

My Honor Teammate for this season is my aunt, LaReece Haynes. She was diagnosed with bladder cancer just in the last couple of months, and had surgery to replace it this week. Please send healthy, healing thoughts her way. She is a very feisty and terrific woman, who has enriched my life with a great laugh, a caring for family that goes beyond words, and a strength that has been a true inspiration. My aunt loves life, and finds interesting and novel ways to live it, including taking up skiing in her fifties, visiting Mexico in the same decade to learn Spanish, and taking dancing lessons of all types. I hope that my training to raise money for cancer research can one day help people like her. When I asked her what she would like in her biography, she said “Just tell them I am a cancer survivor as of this week.†Here’s to you, Aunt LaReece!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/or/pctri10/eotoole

Update 3-3-10

I biked 15 miles and ran (OK, partially walked!) 3 miles after the ride on Saturday. My legs felt like rubber after getting off the bike. I felt like Gumby trying to run! My aunt went through her surgery sucessfully, although she is in a lot of pain. Thanks to all those who have contributed to the cause so far, and to those who have given me encouragement and support in this journey.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/or/pctri10/eotoole

Update 3-17-10

Hi all,

This week's update brings sad news--we have lost one of our honor teammates, Hunter. Hunter was only three years old, and had been fighting cancer almost his whole life. He was a big inspiration to all of us in TNT to keep training, to keep raising funds to fight cancer, and to be the best people we could be. If Hunter could keep fighting every day, so could we. Please keep Hunter and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

On a more positive note, my Aunt LaReece has returned home after her surgery for bladder cancer. She is doing well, although she had a brief heart attack while in the hospital. Please also remember her in your thoughts.

My training goes well. I rode 19 miles last weekend on mostly hills, and made it to the end. I swam on Monday and this morning at 5:45 a.m., and am getting stronger. In three weeks we will be timing ourselves to see how fast we will be in the race. I'll keep you posted! Running is still my biggest challenge--we will be running 5 miles this weekend on hills. We'll see how much like Gumby I feel after that run!

Thanks for all your support!

Susan

Update 3-29-10

This week I am grateful to those who have contributed to my cause thus far. I have been baking goodies and having bake sales at work, and my massage therapist has proposed that she give me massages at half price and donate the rest to LLS (the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society). Tomorrow I am hosting a wine and cheese tasting at Thirst Wine Bar starting at 7:30 p.m. 25% of the profits for the tasting will go to LLS. Many others have contributed via my website and sent me encouraging and supportive messages.

The training went on hold this last week, as I pulled a muscle in my back while making my bed last Tuesday. I wish it had been more glamorous, but it was just making my bed! So I took the week off to let it heal. I am back in the pool tonight, where we have started doing 1½ hour practices instead of an hour. Then we go eat sushi as a group, hence the name Sushi Swims! I will be back running and biking in the rain this week. My aunt is recuperating at home, and I don’t hear much new other than that she is doing better everyday. Thanks again, terrific friends—I really appreciate you!

Update 4-12-10

I found out this last weekend that a law school classmate of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer in February. Her name is Lindsay Kandra, and she is only 32 years old. Since I have taken on this cause, it seems that I am becoming more sensitized to just how many people are fighting the battle with cancer. Please keep Lindsay in your thoughts and prayers.

My Aunt LaReece is doing very well—she is recovering and her substitute bladder is beginning to work great. She is in high spirits, and is visiting with family and her grandchildren.

My team did its first real “brick” workout this weekend—a workout with two of the three events. We went up to Hagg Lake and rode 12 miles of hills around the lake, and then ran 3 miles of hills. At least it was mostly downhill on the way back from the run! I learned a lot about how a triathlon is as much about mental toughness as physical toughness, just like the battle with cancer. You have to visualize yourself getting through it, and it gives you a leg up to do so. I also learned about Goo, the food substitute in little packets that we suck on while riding to get our nutrition for the run. I’m not a big Goo fan, but the chocolate ones are not bad.

Thanks to all of you who have contributed to my campaign against cancer thus far. I really appreciate you, and it makes me feel great to know that I am fighting this battle with your help. We had a great time at the Wine and Cheese Tasting Fundraiser, and I owe a special debt of gratitude to the Dragonflies and rest of my friends who attended. Thanks all!

If you want to contribute please go to my website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/or/pctri10/eotoole

Susan