Here we go again!

On May 5th, 2012 I will be competeing, again, in the Wildflower "Long Course" Triathlon.

Just how long is "Long"? Very, very long:

1.2 mile swim in a chilly lake

56 mile bike ride up and down insane hills

13.1 mile rocky, dusty, hot and hilly trail run

You can read all about my 2011 Wildflower race here

Why am I doing this again? For the fun of training with a great group of people, for the challenge of it, for all the regrets at having to wake up at 6am every weekend, for all the extra burritos I get to eat, for the last few miles where I think "just what in the hell was I thinking when I decided to do this to myself... again", for a billion other reasons... I think I'm mainly doing it because it makes me feel alive and it reminds me that I have the luxury of good health.

Unfortunately, there are many who may never receive the blessing of good health, or who will wake up one day with a serious health issue obstructing their path in life. Every individual's health and happiness is a precious commodity and one that can and should be nutured. It is only through my good fortune of having a healthy body that I can even attempt this triathlon, and I want to share my good fortune in life with the people who need it the most.

As always, I am dedicating my fundraising, training and race event to a friend of mine who passed away in 2007. Shane Asbery was a high school pal of mine back in Rolla,Missouri. We shared a love of music, specifically, we both played the bass guitar. Originally, I had known Shane only through his larger than life personality in the hallways between classes, and we had a few mutual friends. During a high school talent show, Shane approached me to borrow my bass amp only minutes before his group was a about to play. I obliged, and he played SO LOUD that I thought my amp was doomed to blow up! Luckily, this wasn't the case, and Shane and I soon became friends. I lost touch with Shane after high school and only upon hearing of his passing did I find out that he too had continued playing music. I wish I could have another chance to see him, to talk about old friends and old memories.

Back in 2010, I contacted Shane's wife, Maggie, and she has graciously agreed to share her and Shane's story about their life, love, struggles with cancer and the support they received from LLS.

In Memory of Shane Asbery:

Shane Asbery graduated from Rolla High School in 1995. In 2004, he moved to Portland, Oregon to pursue a career in music with his wife and writing partner, Maggie Brown. Shane was a phenomenal bassist with a larger than life personality. He was always the funniest person in the room. He had many years of illness accompanied by no insurance, which meant doctor’s visits were few and far between. In 2006, Shane was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma while in Portland. Shane appealed for financial help from many organizations and the one to answer his call was the Leukemia and Lymphoma society who found it in their hearts to help monetarily on more than one occasion. On June 6th, 2007, Shane entered the hospital with breathing problems from radiation therapy. His 30th birthday was celebrated in his hospital room. His band had just finished their first album but he was in a coma the night it was released and he never got to see the finished product. On June 18th, he died peacefully with his wife, family and friends by his side and the album he worked so hard to create playing in the background.

Hodgkin’s robbed me of my husband, my band mate, and my best friend. Saying goodbye to Shane was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Organizations like Providence Hospital and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society made the financial burden easier on me so I could focus on rebuilding my life without Shane. He would be honored to know that Chris is doing such a wonderful thing, as one of the hardest things for Shane was knowing that there were so many others having to go through what he had to. There isn’t a day that goes by that my mind doesn’t wander to the what-ifs and all that was, but I know forever I will think of him. To all those out there who have a connection to Shane or to someone else with cancer, it never will be easy. If it were, it wouldn’t be love.

Maggie Brown

(Shane’s widow)

Shane Asbery

1977-2007

I'm training to participate in an endurance event 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 Shane Asbery and all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Each donation helps accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. More than 823,000 Americans are battling these blood cancers. I am hoping that my participation in Team In Training will help bring them hope and support.

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

In the Fall of 2010, many of you donated to my LLS fundraising attempt for my first triathlon, the Marin County Olympic. I'm asking that you donate again! Some of you did not donate last time around, maybe you could'nt afford it or put it off or forgot about it. I'm asking that you donate this time around. Even just a single dollar. Everything helps.

Use the link below to donate online quickly and securely plus learn more about my progress. You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/wildtri12/cloental

Hopefully, I will be periodically updating with blogs about my training. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!

Love you all,

Chris