Training through the fall/winter is a bit different than summer. First, you have holidays which means you have to be a bit more flexible with training. Second, weather is much more variable than in the summer. In the summer we have very hot and humid, hot and humid, or hot and raining. In the fall winter we have temperatures ranging from <30 degrees to over 80 degrees so you need a variety of gear and that can change drastically in just a few hours.

Here are a few pictures from my training so far.

Here we have a group pre-run. It was one of those days where people weren't really sure what to wear. The jacket was great pre and post run, but I ended up taking it off less than half a mile in. I was very happy to actually get over 5 miles in and did about 2 miles before my IT band started hurting a lot.

Next up are some pictures from a run I did in Austin on Black Friday. It was very nice becuase their are lots of steep hills there which you can't get in Houston. I did nearly 5 miles and my IT band held up until the end, when I found that going down hill is very painful once it has started hurting. I did see two deer and had a great view at one point.

This next picture is from a very cold bike ride. I when I got home I counted the items I was wearing... 16. Most of the ride I had very cold/numb hands and feet. Aside from the cold and one person nearly driving me off the road it was a great ride. I'm in the blue and Kim is in the red. We rode together for most of this ride.

Lastly swimming. I bought a swim parka during the Thanksgiving sales and it has been wonderful. It is very fuzzy and warm, which makes swimming outside in the cold a bit more bearable. Here a picture of the group after swimming. The pool is heated so once you get warmed up it's not so bad as long as you are actively swimming. If you are just standing there is gets cold quickly and getting in and out of the pool is miserable. Honestly the person who has it the worst is our coach standing beside the pool the whole time.

Welcome to my Team in Training (TNT) Ironman 70.3 Puerto Rico page!

Fighting Cancer is very important to me. Six years ago I decided to quit my job and go back to school, because I wanted to feel like I was making a difference in the world. I am now getting my PhD in Integrated Molecular and Biomedical Sciences focusing on genetics and cancer.

This past summer I decided to challenge myself in two ways. First, I decided to start racing triathlons to motivate me to get more exercise. To do this I decided to join Team in Training to help me train for Nation's Triathon, which leads to my second challenge I raised $775.66 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I have decided to step up both of these goals. I will be racing Ironman 70.3 in Puerto Rico on  March 15, 2015 and raising $5000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I am choosing to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, because I believe they are making a difference. They help with those who are battling Leukemia and Lymphoma not only in the future, but now. They work to raise knowledge and awareness of blood cancers, create grants to support research of better treatments and cures, and help those who are battling cancer and their families with money for expenses that insurance just doesn't cover.

Please join me on my journey to fight cancer. You can donate to the right or participate in one of our exciting upcoming fundraisers. Every little bit helps.