Support Team in Training (TNT)

Nearly There

September 7, 2008: Yesterday's ride was supposed to be 84 miles, but some wrong turns moved us just shy of 90. My knee was much better this week, though my thighs are really sore today.

Less than a week to go to the big ride!

Coming Soon!

September 3, 2008: The rides have been going really well recently. We did 75 miles this past Saturday, and I had my best ride overall, which is good since the Chuckanut Century is less than two weeks from now! My right knee was pretty sore by the end of the ride, but I remembered thinking, "I could do another 25 miles if I needed to." I've had a great time getting to know my teammates, learning their stories, and seeing their dedication to the ride, the cause, and each other. I'm wondering what I'll do with my Saturdays once this season is over.

Fundraising has slowed down for me, but I still have a way to go. Anyone who wants to support the LLS through my ride but who hasn't taken the opportunity yet, please feel free to donate! :-)

Blood, Mud, & Gears

June 7, 2008: After missing a week's practice due to work, today I rejoined our group for a 26 mile ride to Snoqualmie Falls. We've had a really cold and wet few weeks, and today was no exception. It rained the entire ride.

In addition to riding in the rain, I had a few other firsts:

1. First time seeing Snoqualmie Falls.

2. First time breaking 25 miles on a ride.

3. First time riding with clipless pedals.

4. First time falling on my bike (twice--both times due to the new pedals).

It was a surprizingly fun ride. By the time we finished, everyone was completely soaked and covered with mud. A bunch of us went to Starbucks all muddied up after the ride. Hot chocolate and a bagel hit the spot!

Some of you may be wondering how someone can avoid riding in the rain in Seattle. My solution was simple: don't take your bike outside when it's wet. It wasn't a great solution and sort of killed riding from November through March. However, after today's ride, the rain isn't particularly intimidating anymore. After all, all the muck washes off pretty easily in a shower. It took longer to clean my bike than it did to clean me!

Nickel & Dimes

May 24, 2008: I rode 25 miles with my team this morning! My previous longest distance was 16 (last weekend), so I'm pretty proud of myself. I think I could have even kept going. :-)

So what did you do with your Memorial Weekend Saturday?

Why I'm Riding

May 20, 2008: You may be wondering what this ride I'm doing is and what exactly this whole thing's about. After all, I'm not exactly known for my tradition of athleticism. Well, I bought a bike last summer, partially for fun but mostly for saving some time and gas. I've found I really enjoy riding. It's just fun. I even subscribed to a bicycling magazine. That magazine would occasionally talk about "centuries," 100 mile bike rides. Seeing the furthest I'd ever ridden was 10 miles, I brushed those long-haul treks aside with little thought.

Then I received a mailing from the LLS offering their Team in Training program, which included, of all things, the Chuckanut Century, a long haul ride I'd recently seen in my magazine. A ride only 90 miles or so north of Seattle. Hmm. Mixing charity, bike riding, and training for a 100 mile ride all into one? This sounded like an opportunity to investigate. So investigate I did, and I found myself intrigued. I signed up.

So what's my connection to leukemia, lymphoma, and the like? Why would I be supporting this kind of cancer research and treatment? My dad died from cancer. Though it wasn't a blood cancer, I remember all the terrible treatments and their side effects. I remember the blood transfusions we repeatedly sat through when his bone marrow was too compromised to keep up with his body's needs.

Additionally, a friend of mine from Seattle, Gary Birkland, died from a form of lymphoma. Being familiar with Dad's cancer struggles, I organized a group of friends to help take care of Gary as long as he could stay in his house. Dealing with Dad's cancer and death forced me to grow up. Helping Gary through his illness allowed me the opportunity to become the adult I needed to be.

So that's why I'm part of this. Please help me honor my father and friend and contribute to the fight against cancer.

Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

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 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!

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!