That's right everyone. It's time for me to face my fears and hit the water. It's triathlon time!

As many of you know, I've been involved with Team in Training for many years now and it continues to be a cause close to my heart. This year I've decided to train for the Pacific Crest Triathlon on June 24, 2012. That's 1.5k swim in open water. OPEN WATER! Eeeps!! A 28 mile bike ride and a 10k run.

I've always a fear of swimming in open water. Or swimming in general. Heck, I can't even put my head under water without squeezing my eyes shut and plugging my nose. It's a bit terrifying for me. However, when I think of what patients with leukemia and lymphoma go through every day and the fears they face regarding their health and wellness, it makes my little fear of the water inconsequential.

With training comes fundraising. As a participant in The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training, I am dedicated to raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma.

• • The need is critical: An estimated 957,902 people in the United States are living with, or are in remission from, leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or myeloma. Every four minutes, someone new is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every 10 minutes, someone dies.

• The money raised by TNT participants has enabled LLS to fund millions of dollars of research to help advance new treatments and cures for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, and provide critical education and support to cancer patients and their families.

Teams are made up of individuals. Without them, there is no team.

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help advance the research for cures. Be a part of the TEAM.

**2/9/12

You can following my training progress on my blog!

http://pedalingmichele.blogspot.com/