And I've done more than I really thought I was capable of. I won't lie, many of these workouts have been a CRAZY tough challenge. We are working out six days a week (ohhh I love my rest-day Mondays!) including one big big team workout every weekend. Sometimes they are really far (like Napa!) and I find myself getting up at 5:30am to fuel (whole wheat bagel with peanut butter!), wake up (coffee), pack all my gear and pick up my awesome workout buddy Lily. Then we're off.

Six weeks ago, I could barely swim 100 yards (4 lengths) of a pool. Now I'm doing 1900 yards, with only a few rest breaks. Six weeks ago I could barely ride a bike, and I do mean barely. This weekend I rode 15 miles with my feet clipped into the pedals - the idea of which terrified me more than anything. It's a huge learning curve. Six weeks ago I could run, but not after biking or swimming an hour to an hour and a half. I'm learning to put these workouts together, and how to fuel myself properly (Gatorade and pretzels are my new winning formula since I am so prone to dehydration). I've come to really treasure being part of this incredible team, all of whom are not only pushing their personal physical boundaries, but doing it so that we can help find treatments and cures for cancer.

Every time we do a team workout, the workout is dedicated to someone's honoree - someone who currently has, or once had cancer (and either survived or passed away). These stories are so moving and also so motivating when we ask ourselves, can we run one more mile, can we cycle just a bit more or keep swimming. People with cancer endure so much and we can do just this little more to help them.

I need you to help me. To help me by cheering me on in my personal efforts, and also to donate what you can to help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. What they have given me has already been priceless - the gifts of strength and endurance and confidence. I still can't quite imagine what it will be like to cross that finish line on November 6th, but I can tell you it's going to be one of my life's biggest milestones.

Please give what you can. It means the world to me, and to the people you're holding up.

I haven't been posting to this LLS blog a lot, because I'm blogging constantly on my other blog, FoodFoodBodyBody. There you can read about every mile, every tear shed and drop of sweat (and a little blood - argh, bike!). You'll see more about the details of my triathlon training than you ever thought possible. Sometimes, it's miserable, sometimes it's triumphant. It's all there. Please visit me there, but GIVE HERE. Thank you! With love.

The last time I did a TNT event in 2000, I did not have a personal connection to leukemia or lymphoma. But since that time, a family friend of ours, Scott Simmons, was diagnosed with T-Cell lymphoblastic lymphoma and he passed away 10 months later. His daughter Paige was 15, and his son Trent was 12. We had met their family at Montecito Sequoia Family Camp when our youngest children were just two.

Here's a picture of Scott with his kids at family camp, and our daughter Mollie. I'll be thinking of their family as I train.

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

I can do this!!!!! (my first triathlon) Do you believe I can do this? Please lend your support!

I have a mission-to help find cures and more effective treatments for blood cancers. To accomplish that mission, I’m participating in my Very! First! Triathlon! as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training.

This is an enormous personal challenge for me because even though I have enjoyed running these past few years, it is going to be a HUGE leap for me to take on biking and swimming as well. I'm nervous! But excited. And I'm doing it for my own health as well as for the health of others.

Like the other members of TNT, I will be raising funds to help find cures and better treatments for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma. I’m improving the quality of MY life by participating and with your support, I can help improve the quality of life for patients and their families as well.

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