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Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

**I've reached my goal - Thank you, all of you how have helped give your time and/or donated either on here or by attending my fundraisers! Your support has been truly humbling!!**

I'm training to participate in the inaugural Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon (www.rnrseattle.com) as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training to again raise funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives.

Last June, I completed my first endurance event by finishing my first marathon in Anchorage, Alaska. It was an unbelievable experience and one I won't soon forget as it was the culmination of months of training that were by in large painful, yet rewarding given my previous running history that comprised of somewhere in the range of 1-3 miles! The countless hours put in training, enduring the extremes of WI weather from wind, snow, sleet, rain, and heat, along with the hours needed to fundraise to reach my goal were all worth it in the end. With the help of many wonderful family and friends, I raised nearly $4500 and collectively Team in Training raised approximately $4.4 million from this event alone! I thought it only fitting I 'try' to finish 49th in my age group as Alaska is the 49th state.

I am completing this event in honor all individuals who are battling blood cancers and in memory of those who lost their fight against them. Specifically, I'm running in memory of Estelle Banaszak, Heidi Etzel, and Lawrence Bose and in honor of Dave Schlies, Neal Short, and Christi McLinn. Christi is a 17 year old senior who is our honorary teammate. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

I would be remiss in failing to mention that one of the reasons I chose this event/location was that my aunt Angie, who was undergoing her own courageous fight with cancer, lived a few hours from Seattle. Sadly, she past away recently, but I know she'll still be there with me in spirit!

I ask that you please join me in my efforts to reach my goal and help touch the lives of the many people who are helped by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's excellent work. Without your support, none of this is possible.

Thank you for any donation you are able to make to support my goal and help advance LLS's mission.

A few postings from my training:

June 20th: Our last weekend of running. Well we were supposed to run 8 but I think I eeked out 4 in the 85+ temp before cooling down in the pool and wondering what next week will bring. At last, the circle is complete...or something like that.

June 13th: So I'm T-minus 2 weeks and battling a cold/flu! I was hoping to run in the Bellin Run in GB but it's only 6 miles (only?) and I need to do 12-13. I managed around 13 but it was another semi drizzle and weather changing day (oh and I was late...again so I had to play catchup w/the group!). I was just glad to finish...hmmm I thought this was supposed to be easier as we were tapering...I'm pretty sure it was in the brochure they used to sell me on this!! Afterwards it was time to hit ZIms for some bloody mary carbo loading!

June 6th: Taper time!! Hooray, the miles are coming back down. Unfortunately, I ran into a bit of a painful stretch around mile 13 and gutted out the last 3 despite ALOT of pain. Definitely a setback but hopefully next week fares better!

May 30th: What a day this was...we had our 20 mile run starting at 8AM and I also had my fundraiser brewers outting starting at 2 w/ppl showing up to help prep at noon! The run was long to be sure be we grinded it out at a pretty good pace (just over 3 hours running time!) I was completely exhausted and by the time I stretched out and cleaned up at the WAC, I got home only to find several friends digging in to help finish some tailgating dishes (Big thanks to Drew, Frank, Jared, Kim, and NJ Shannon!!). A long long day of running followed by a terrific tailgate, weather and game...what a day!! All that on a few hours sleep!

May 23rd: Today we bumped up to 17 in preparation for our peak of 20 next week. So far so good!

May 16th: Ran for the first time ever in the GB Cellcom (half). While it's only '13.1', I was scheduled to run 18 today...I'll settle for 13! This event was truly inspiring - the masses of ppl, seeing some friends/family, and of course finishing outside Lambeau field after running inside it. I was focused on hitting 1:57 min - a new personal best, and did it!! For a while I wasn't sure. Mile 8-9 were so hard but at mile 10 I saw a familiar face in the crowd - my mom - who saw me running my first race so that was very exciting for me! Energized I cruised through 11-12 but again hit a wall. With Lambeau field in sight I pushed through it all and finished with a full crowd. What a great experience!! To top it off, free brats and beer!! Now that's how you finish a race! A few familiar pains started creeping back. With the next few weeks being the crucible of training, I hope I can hold up!

May 9th: Despite some great weather, today was my first day of 'hitting the wall'. I could barely knock out 12 miles...I'm thinking I need more rest during the week!! Next up my first run in the GB Cellcom half!

May 3rd: After 2 nights in a row of cheering on my Crew w/some friends, we had perfect weather for a lakefront run..maybe too much sun! Another 14 in the books and feeling mostly good as I enter what will be the crucible of my training this month! Bring it on!

April 25th: Fighting some cold or flu from my last few weeks of being on the go, I was still glad to meet up some of my fellow runners and crank out almost 14 miles! What started out as 70 and partly sunny the first 12 miles turned to 45 and a torrential downpour the last 2! Completely soaked and shivering by the end - that'll wake you up in the morning!

April 18th: After 2 weekends of half marathons, a reprieve! Being in Vegas for several days, running is the last thing this body can motivate to do! Yet some friends and I trekked out to Red Rock Canyon for what has become a must hike everytime we venture to Vegas. A two hour hike to the top of one peak was quite exhilerating and exhausting! Good cross training.

April 11th: One week removed from my first Half, I'm embarking on my 2nd half run, this time the South Shore half. Running this last year was so difficult that I nearly quit training! Freezing cold, snow, windy, wet...this year it was a bit more ideal though. While there was a strong cold wind again this year at least it was a little warmer and sunny. Fighting through the wind on the return along the lakefront along with a nagging (and painful) tendinitis in my foot from the half the weekend before, I pushed myself to do well again. I think I did just that finishing in 2hr 3min(well it took 2 min to start so I'm subtracting that). For me, that's pretty good!! I had the good fortunate of meeting up w/one of my Team in Training mates at the 7 mile mark and then one of our running coaches at mile 8. They definitely helped me the last 2 miles as I was so exhausted and numb I couldn't feel anything (except the pain) and every other step was accompanied by the thoughts of "please stop". Yet I pressed through it and didn't stop running till I finished - a full 15 min faster than last year! What a great feeling! Now I def need some 'active recovery' as my body is feeling the wear and tear big time. A trip to Vegas is just what the doctor ordered!! :)

April 4th: Today was my first big challenge - my first half marathon in a year and the first of this season as I ran the Trailbreaker half (http://www.trailbreakermarathon.com/). I was really nervous not knowing what to expect given I didn't post a good time last year in my only half marathon run. Probably wasn't a good idea to 'carbo load' Friday over a few Guiness beers but it apparently works! I ran a personal best finishing UNDER 2hours (1hr 59 min!) Never thought that was possible for me - ever! Very exhilerating!!

As much of a high that was, equally was the low the next day to find out my good friend's father Lawrence Bose, who I previously had listed as one of those I was running in honor of, past away. It only goes to affirm my purpose in raising money for LLS to help find a cure so that there is someday a cure.

March 28th: Another 10 mile Saturday. This week was our group run and man did they keep a fast pace despite some strong winds which made it painfully fun. Finishing 10 mi around a 9:30/mi avg is well above where I was at last year so that's pretty encouraging. On a positive note, I'm finished with reffing so no more Saturdays of running for 4-5.5 hours! WHEW!!!

March 21: After running in 80 degree temps last week it's back to reality with 30s by the lakefront. Just the wakeup I needed after celebrating the amazing WI win over FSU a tad too late. Up to 10 miles finally!

March 14: Fortunately I was in sunny FL so I was able to take a break from the snow! Still it was no picnic as it was very sunny and 80 so it was hot. Not only did I get to work on my tan but I also got to see some interesting wildlife including a few poisonous snakes!

March 7: The weather was finally snow free...unfortunately it wasn't rain free. I drag myself out of bed by 7 to drive to the lakefront but I the weather was not kind. Cold, raining and very windy. I think I got about 100 yards before I questioned my sanity and decided to head to the gym. Some 72 laps later (talk about monotony) I had my 8miles in then hurried to go ref for 4 more hours. Ugh!

February 28: One of the challenges of running is not only tackling the run itself, but finding time to run. Unfortunately a number of work issues kept me from running all week but I was able to get on track Sat for an early 7 mile run indoors.

February 14: Like the previous weeks, I ran inside the Petit Ice Center for an early morning run due to the weather getting back to normal -freezing and snowy. Not that 6 miles was that hard, but like every weekend through March, I have to ref for 4 hours soon after training. Man are my legs sore by the end of the day! That's 4-5 hours of running...a marathon doesn't even take that long!

February 7th: Our first group run outside as the weather was unseasonably warm - around 50. Perfect running weather, unfortunately it was a rough 5.5 miles for me. I might want to consider getting more sleep!

January 24: Our first group run for 5 miles and it was a breeze which I found interesting considering the year prior was incredibly hard and consisted of me stopping at least once a mile. Good start!

Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!