Me!

Yeah, I never saw that one coming. Nonetheless, I'm thankful and inspired to be more "present" and spirited to our team.

Part of being graced with the Spirit award is getting a purple cape for the week and then decorating it however you may before you pass it on to the winner next week.

So appropriately I had to do something for my Mom. The heart in the middle obviously represents love for my mom, but in addition you may ask, "why the aloha shirt print?"

Part of my Mom's legacy was that she chaired the annual summer lu'au at my hometown church as a big fundraiser for the building fund (bc the church was being developed and built for over a decade).

Big Aloha to you Mom!

(i don't know why my picture was rotated)

To my lovely friends Michelle, Mary, and Janina...

Thanks so much for hooking up the restaurant.com gift certificates! Like I said, it's a good thing because it'll help me gain the weight that I have lost during training. Seriously, i've lost 10 lbs. (it's freaking me out lol) It's so hard to get used to, but I know it's better to be lean... but I'm short as it is!

Anyway, thanks again ladies. I'm so inspired and loved!

I just wanted to give a shout out to my fellow shoe designer, northwest "best road trip ever" buddy, and overall cool guy–Emil Blanco.

Thanks man so much for your support... I now have a piece of Lance Armstrong to wear during training and a pair of new running shoes for my race! And.. wait for it... in my beloved Miami Dolphins colorway (or pretty close to it)!

You're awesome Emil and I appreciate it. And again, to everyone else who has dropped me a supportive word, high five, or some dough–THANK YOU with all my heart.

Oh, and whoever was responsible for helping me win the "spirit award" for this past week in my TNT group... You're amazing. I had no clue it was coming to me! Go TEAM!

You might think it's nothing big, but it is... and it affects everything in our daily lives. Please read!

There have been times in the first couple weeks of training where pain sets in after merely a mile of running, or .. um.. after just 25 meters of swimming (man, do i need more practice in the pool!)...

and what keeps me going, to push for my goals, is the thought of my Mom.

Particularly, I can't help but recall her last night/my last night with her. She was pretty much unconscious and struggling so hard to breathe, every inhale and exhale was so jolting to her chest.

Even to that day, she was fighting.

...

Progress.

I'm sure I've read this information some time in my past life but I know I keep forgetting... or maybe, pastries and french fries are so darn good that my mind thwarts any good eating habits.

Facts about Fats

I was just on the bus on my way to work and as I was checking my email on my phone, I started tearing.

I was so touched by seeing the few donations I had already received from my friends and coincidently, the song that was playing in my earphones was "Overjoyed" by Mr. Wonder.

Tears of joy and inspiration y'all.

Looking forward to this. Thanks everyone.

Go TEAM.

msb

Hi, and welcome to MY Team In Training fundraising site!

Some years back (ca. 2006) I joined forces with Team In Training to train for my first endurance/adventure race and raised $2500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I did it because I wanted to test my physical abilities and heck, it's for a good cause.

But now, this effort means so much more to me. Just this past October, my mom passed away due to cancer. It was so sudden and painful–it was about a month and half from when we found out till her last day in October. Till now, I'm still a little disconcerted of what happened, how it transpired the way it did.

The bottom line is, I only need to see this situation in the best light possible. A part of that is embracing a newly found inspiration in all that I do moving forward; to be the best I can be as a reflection of what my mom had done for me. In this case, it's competing in the Avia Wildflower Triathlon (Olympic distance) on May 6, 2012, and raising $2,900 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. (LLS is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. Visit www.lls.org for more)

It's no doubt a big challenge, both competing in my first triathlon and raising that amount of money, but it's nothing compared to what my mom and many other cancer patients endure.

As the Team in Training template says, "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." I believe this and I hope you do as well. If you could please donate any amount I would be so grateful.

Thank you again for your support!

msb

ps–this website will also serve as a blog documenting some of my thoughts as I go through this process leading into the triathlon. Be in touch!

Mom and me, 1996