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Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page. Training updates made March 3, 2009.

My personal story

I know what hearing a diagnosis of cancer feels like. You never think it can happen to you and your family and I still can't believe that cancer took my mom from us, but it affects thousands of families every day.

I remember the day my mom sat me down at the age of 10. She told me she had cancer and I had no idea what that meant at the time, or how it would eventually shape and change my whole entire life.

Now that I am a mother I can't even imagine what she was feeling that day. I can't fathom having to tell Luci that kind of information about her mom, nor do I ever want her or any child to have to live without his/her mother at such a young age.

Why I am doing this!

First, my incredible and very giving husband Gregg inspires me to be a better person each day, and after the birth of our daughter Lucia in November I am inspired to take on this adventure because of them.

There are a number of reasons for my participation == to support such a great charity and a great cause, to get fit and challenge myself physically, and to actively participate in raising funds for cancer research.

Our honored hero Max

Max, our Honored Hero for our Triathlon Teams, was originally diagnosed with T-Cell ALL (a form of leukemia) in December 2007 at age five. Max and his family have become very involved with Team In Training and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This past week (Feb 1st) we learned that Max has relapsed and his leukemia has come back. The best choice for Max's treatment is a high dosage of chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant. The preferred match would be a sibling. His family is being tested this week. Next best is finding an "un-related match." That's where you can help!

I am registered with the National Marrow Donor Program - register today!!

Visit www.marrow.org to find out more about donating!

To read more about Max's story visit http://caringbridge.org/visit/maxclark

About my fundraising

I'm training to participate in a triathlon 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 all individuals who are battling cancer and in memory of those who have lost their lives to cancer, especially my mom Suzanne Dee. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - 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!

I am training in honor of:

Max

Wayne (Gabby) Sharp

Nancy Thomas

In memory of:

Suzanne Dee

Art Pogorzala

Col. William Blankinship

Training Updates

March 3, 2009

This past weekend was another huge step in my training. We rode from Loggerhead Park to Hobe Sound Beach, a total of 28 miles and then ran for 30 minutes (which I think is the equivalent of 2.6 miles). Monday was a day off and boy did I need it! My legs were shot. On Saturday we swam an intense workout also. I want to say we did about 1600 yards...maybe a bit more. I can't keep track. I am usually just thankful to be done at that point! Every weekend I am amazed at what was so tough to do in the past, I can achieve. I look forward to seeing my progress every weekend.

Feb 25

While I thought I would have a really long road ahead to compete in a triathlon, training is going surprisingly well. Everyday we do something == either run, bike or swim on our own and early morning weekends are reserved for team trainings.

This past weekend we rode (bicycles) from Lake Worth up to the Palm Beach inlet. It was a total of about 25 miles and the most scenic route with the ocean on one side and big mansions on the other.

A few weeks go I had to break down and purchase a road bike. It has certainly made training much easier. I purchased the clip-on pedals and have practiced getting my new 'shoes' in and out of them several times now. Well, in motorcycle racing they say there are only 2 kinds of people: those who have crashed and those who will. Cycling is no different! I have joined the "have crashed" segment. While leading our ride we came across a round about where we have to yield...I was yielding and the woman in the car stopped. I was unprepared and fell over. No major deal...I am glad I got it over with!

Feb 4

I continue on with my training - I swam the suggested 10 x 50s and doubled that! I figure I have a bit of catching up to do since I didn't get any training done last week (traveled to Grand Island, N Y). I swam at the North Palm Beach Country Club - what a beautiful pool...and I had it all to myself because it was 60 degrees outside.