That's really what this is about, right?
Hope. Faith. Perserverance.
(Sorry, no funny stories about me scaring myself to death on the bike today.)
It is amazing and humbling, the journey I have embarked upon.
I am so over committed, it's almost funny.
(almost)
When I think about the challenge I have taken on, I wonder what the heck I was thinking about when I signed that dotted line.
And then, I get a story e-mailed to me like this one. It tells the amazing story of my co-worker's brother, Scott Dameron, and his battles; first with lymphoma, then with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. It turns out that her son is also battling cancer.
So are several co-workers' fathers.
Then I found out about someone else's sister, and cousin, and friend...
Just about everyone in my Training group has a similar story. Some race in honor (or memory) of the same person every time, others have a list of honored heros a mile long. My coach dedicates every mile of her races to a different hero.
Some of us just joined the Team in order to meet a new personal challenge, and to have someone coach you through it. Others join because their race of choice is sold out, and racing with Team in Training is the only way to get in.
It doesn't really matter, though. We're all racing for a cure.
I have met half of my fundraising goal, but still have a way to go. We have several fundraisers planned at my office, so the next few weeks are going to be full of bake sales, pizza parties, and a pancake breakfast. Hopefully that gets us where we need to be, financially speaking.
This weekend, we start our open water swim (yay!). I have been saying all along that I should have no problems with that - and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'm not all talk!
This weekend, I dedicate to my Dad. He would have been 66 on Sunday (July 4th). Hopefully he'll put a word in with the Man Upstairs for good weather, flat seas, and empty roads as I swim, bike, and run my way around Palm Beach County.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Breakthrough! (and a Happy Father's Day message)
I am feeling good, people! That's right! Here's me doing my happy dance!
It's been a while since my last update, so I am sorry for the one of you who is following my blog, and the rest of you who may be secretly following my blog, but not putting your names down (is that stalking?).
Anyway, I think I can finally ride a bike! I know you are probably tired of hearing me complain about something that we have all been able to do since grade school. Well, all I have to say to that is: Pthbbbth!
I have come to terms with the skinny, wobbly tires, and the shifting gears, and the cars (and all the other riders) whizzing past me.
This girl has finally learned to ride a bike!
Please do not confuse me with Lance Armstrong, or even any of those semi-professionals with their aerodynamic helmets and their integrated hydration systems, and their shoes attached to the bike, going the same speed as the cars on A1A... No, no, no, not even close!
But...
Last Sunday I rode 28 miles with the team and did NOT FINISH LAST! I also did not collapse into bed when I finished.
On Thursday I rode 17 miles with a friend, and we averaged 18 mph. I also (and this is huge) managed to get a drink from my water bottle while my bike was in motion! Previously I was only able to drink when I was at a stoplight.
I am actually looking forward to Sunday's ride.
For the first time, I think I am really going to be able to do this! Yay, me!
(Or, as my TNT webpage says, GO LEANNE!)
I think I am done bragging for now.
oh, wait, one more... I swam a mile this morning! A real mile - not just I swam so many laps, I must have done a mile, mile. A whole mile! Actually, I went a little further (1800 yds).
Now I'm sure I can do this!
My fundraising is going really well, better than I expected, actually. I'm up to 41% of my goal - that's HUGE! I sent out my letters to everyone in my address book, and I also sent them to my neighbors, and the area businesses we go to most. Our favorite sushi restaurant sent me a nice big check the very next day (we eat there a lot)!
Like my Dad used to say, "If you don't ask, you don't get."
I asked, and so many of you have responded - thank you!
Speaking of Dad, it is Father's Day weekend.
I miss my Dad all the time, but especially on days like today. They probably don't celebrate Father's Day in heaven - it might get a bit confusing. Or, maybe everyone just signs a card for God, and they leave it at that.
Anyway, to all the Dads that are here on Earth, Happy Father's Day!
And now, I have to give a shout out to my hubby, and his awesome feats of Fatherhood (I hope I don't embarrass him too much).
Last week he was in some airport, somewhere, as usual. Isabella and I were driving home from the Marlins baseball game and she wanted to call her Daddy to tell him about the game and how much she missed him. He was in the Admiral's Club, which is basically a VIP business travelers club with lots of big comfy chairs, desks, dataports, big screen TVs, a bar or two... you get the picture. It's more or less a quiet, relaxing place for business travelers.
Isabella was telling Ray about her day and you could tell he was trying to keep his voice down, but she kept asking him to talk louder (which he did). Then, at the end of the call, she blew him several loud kisses into the phone, and then requested hers back from him. As I was driving, I was picturing my big, strong, handsome husband blowing loud, wet, mushy kisses into his cellphone in the middle of the Admirals Club, and I couldn't help but giggle and wonder how he was going to get out of that.
Guess what?
He didn't even try to get out of it, but complied with her request.
I could hear those kisses all the way in the front seat.
That's love.
Happy Father's Day, Ray - you are the best!
I know that I couldn't complete this training if you (and my mom) weren't willing to take up the slack at home.
Thank you
It's been a while since my last update, so I am sorry for the one of you who is following my blog, and the rest of you who may be secretly following my blog, but not putting your names down (is that stalking?).
Anyway, I think I can finally ride a bike! I know you are probably tired of hearing me complain about something that we have all been able to do since grade school. Well, all I have to say to that is: Pthbbbth!
I have come to terms with the skinny, wobbly tires, and the shifting gears, and the cars (and all the other riders) whizzing past me.
This girl has finally learned to ride a bike!
Please do not confuse me with Lance Armstrong, or even any of those semi-professionals with their aerodynamic helmets and their integrated hydration systems, and their shoes attached to the bike, going the same speed as the cars on A1A... No, no, no, not even close!
But...
Last Sunday I rode 28 miles with the team and did NOT FINISH LAST! I also did not collapse into bed when I finished.
On Thursday I rode 17 miles with a friend, and we averaged 18 mph. I also (and this is huge) managed to get a drink from my water bottle while my bike was in motion! Previously I was only able to drink when I was at a stoplight.
I am actually looking forward to Sunday's ride.
For the first time, I think I am really going to be able to do this! Yay, me!
(Or, as my TNT webpage says, GO LEANNE!)
I think I am done bragging for now.
oh, wait, one more... I swam a mile this morning! A real mile - not just I swam so many laps, I must have done a mile, mile. A whole mile! Actually, I went a little further (1800 yds).
Now I'm sure I can do this!
My fundraising is going really well, better than I expected, actually. I'm up to 41% of my goal - that's HUGE! I sent out my letters to everyone in my address book, and I also sent them to my neighbors, and the area businesses we go to most. Our favorite sushi restaurant sent me a nice big check the very next day (we eat there a lot)!
Like my Dad used to say, "If you don't ask, you don't get."
I asked, and so many of you have responded - thank you!
Speaking of Dad, it is Father's Day weekend.
I miss my Dad all the time, but especially on days like today. They probably don't celebrate Father's Day in heaven - it might get a bit confusing. Or, maybe everyone just signs a card for God, and they leave it at that.
Anyway, to all the Dads that are here on Earth, Happy Father's Day!
And now, I have to give a shout out to my hubby, and his awesome feats of Fatherhood (I hope I don't embarrass him too much).
Last week he was in some airport, somewhere, as usual. Isabella and I were driving home from the Marlins baseball game and she wanted to call her Daddy to tell him about the game and how much she missed him. He was in the Admiral's Club, which is basically a VIP business travelers club with lots of big comfy chairs, desks, dataports, big screen TVs, a bar or two... you get the picture. It's more or less a quiet, relaxing place for business travelers.
Isabella was telling Ray about her day and you could tell he was trying to keep his voice down, but she kept asking him to talk louder (which he did). Then, at the end of the call, she blew him several loud kisses into the phone, and then requested hers back from him. As I was driving, I was picturing my big, strong, handsome husband blowing loud, wet, mushy kisses into his cellphone in the middle of the Admirals Club, and I couldn't help but giggle and wonder how he was going to get out of that.
Guess what?
He didn't even try to get out of it, but complied with her request.
I could hear those kisses all the way in the front seat.
That's love.
Happy Father's Day, Ray - you are the best!
I know that I couldn't complete this training if you (and my mom) weren't willing to take up the slack at home.
Thank you
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Crazy Week!
Training this weekend went really well. We all went out to brunch after the swim workout on Saturday and I feel myself really bonding with the Team. Everyone has their own amazing story to tell, about why they are fundraising, who their hero is, and one of our Team members is a survivor himself!
I enjoy the swim - it is a solo workout for the most part (even though we were piled in four to a lane), so there is no pressure to keep up, be first, not fall... Even if you wanted to chat, you couldn't (well, not without some fancy underwater communication device, and I don't think those are legal gear for Triathlons).
The bike on the other hand... Do you really want to hear this? Of course you do! It's always fun to laugh at someone else's pain (It's called schadenfreude).
So we all get out there Sunday, everyone on their fancy new road and tri bikes.
Except me.
I'm still getting my miles in on the hand me down Schwinn.
Little Schwinny got qite a few comments on its old-school style. (Whoa, look at that dinosaur! Wow! Haven't seen one of those in a while!)
That's okay. I'm actually getting more comfortable on it.
So I thought.
Until we all took off on our ride.
Despite my hardest pedaling, I was being passed like I was walking. The coach pulled up alongside to me to help. He did not know of my panic attack about bicycles getting too close to me. (AAck! Why is he so close?! Eek! I'm going to fall!) We finally settled into a comfortable speed where he could coach and my heart resumed it's normal rhythm. He probably felt like he was walking.
Apparently I was in the wrong gear (YOU MEAN I HAVE TO SWITCH GEARS?!!).
It took me about a mile to get up the nerve to take my hand off the handle bar and gear down (or was it up?). In any case, it worked! I was going 17 mph! My computer told me so, so it must be true!
Yay! I'm getting somewhere! I probably shouldn't mention that everyone else was going a lot faster. Oops, I just did. When we finished our 18-22 mile bike ride (yes, I went 18, everyone else went farther, in the same amount of time), we were instructed to get off the bikes and run for 10 minutes.
Sure, let's go! (says my brain).
Excuse me? (say my legs) We're not going anywhere!
My brain eventually won, but the legs almost had us for a few minutes.
Now I know why they're called "brick" workouts.
It's because when you get off the bike, your legs feel like bricks, or maybe because it feels likes you have bricks strapped to your feet. Either way, not pleasant to start.. But it felt AWESOME to finish!
This week Isabella has Vacation Bible School (I know, I know, all the cool kids call it VBS). I am helping out every night this week which means I can't train, unless I get up and go before work.
HAHAHAHAHA!
Guess how many times that has happened? Oh-well.
The first night of VBS (Sunday) was especially poignant. It was during this week last year that we learned that my friend Kim's leukemia had returned, and that this time she would need a stem cell transplant. When I saw her at the opening ceremonies this past Sunday, I got very emotional. In the past year, Kim has had several rounds of chemo and a successful transplant. She moved to Tampa for several months for treatment, and is finally home. She looks good, but I know she still doesn't feel well. During this time, she kept a blog and I was always awed by her good spirits, despite the torture she was going through. It helped recommit me to training and fundraising so that maybe someday our children won't ever have to go though this, or know anyone who will.
~Leanne
I enjoy the swim - it is a solo workout for the most part (even though we were piled in four to a lane), so there is no pressure to keep up, be first, not fall... Even if you wanted to chat, you couldn't (well, not without some fancy underwater communication device, and I don't think those are legal gear for Triathlons).
The bike on the other hand... Do you really want to hear this? Of course you do! It's always fun to laugh at someone else's pain (It's called schadenfreude).
So we all get out there Sunday, everyone on their fancy new road and tri bikes.
Except me.
I'm still getting my miles in on the hand me down Schwinn.
Little Schwinny got qite a few comments on its old-school style. (Whoa, look at that dinosaur! Wow! Haven't seen one of those in a while!)
That's okay. I'm actually getting more comfortable on it.
So I thought.
Until we all took off on our ride.
Despite my hardest pedaling, I was being passed like I was walking. The coach pulled up alongside to me to help. He did not know of my panic attack about bicycles getting too close to me. (AAck! Why is he so close?! Eek! I'm going to fall!) We finally settled into a comfortable speed where he could coach and my heart resumed it's normal rhythm. He probably felt like he was walking.
Apparently I was in the wrong gear (YOU MEAN I HAVE TO SWITCH GEARS?!!).
It took me about a mile to get up the nerve to take my hand off the handle bar and gear down (or was it up?). In any case, it worked! I was going 17 mph! My computer told me so, so it must be true!
Yay! I'm getting somewhere! I probably shouldn't mention that everyone else was going a lot faster. Oops, I just did. When we finished our 18-22 mile bike ride (yes, I went 18, everyone else went farther, in the same amount of time), we were instructed to get off the bikes and run for 10 minutes.
Sure, let's go! (says my brain).
Excuse me? (say my legs) We're not going anywhere!
My brain eventually won, but the legs almost had us for a few minutes.
Now I know why they're called "brick" workouts.
It's because when you get off the bike, your legs feel like bricks, or maybe because it feels likes you have bricks strapped to your feet. Either way, not pleasant to start.. But it felt AWESOME to finish!
This week Isabella has Vacation Bible School (I know, I know, all the cool kids call it VBS). I am helping out every night this week which means I can't train, unless I get up and go before work.
HAHAHAHAHA!
Guess how many times that has happened? Oh-well.
The first night of VBS (Sunday) was especially poignant. It was during this week last year that we learned that my friend Kim's leukemia had returned, and that this time she would need a stem cell transplant. When I saw her at the opening ceremonies this past Sunday, I got very emotional. In the past year, Kim has had several rounds of chemo and a successful transplant. She moved to Tampa for several months for treatment, and is finally home. She looks good, but I know she still doesn't feel well. During this time, she kept a blog and I was always awed by her good spirits, despite the torture she was going through. It helped recommit me to training and fundraising so that maybe someday our children won't ever have to go though this, or know anyone who will.
~Leanne
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Ah... the South Florida summers!Mind-blowingly hot and humid during the day, followed by dangerous thunderstorms around 3:00, repeat every day.
Normally I don't mind the weather. Since I have been promoted to #1 desk jockey (That's Mrs. Desk Jockey to you!), my ability to get the job done has nothing to do with the weather. I'm not out on a boat counting fish, nor am I walking the beach looking for sea turtle nests (ahh, the good old days); I just sit behind my desk and watch the clouds roll in. I'm happy for the rain - it waters my plants so I don't have to.
Until now...
Now I have a goal:
1-mile swim, 25-mile bike ride, 6.1-mile run ALL ON THE SAME DAY!
I can't train when the weather doesn't cooperate.
You have read about my issues on the bike (total spaz alert!).
Pools are closed in the rain.
I can run in the rain (but it makes my shoes all squishy - wah!).
So... here I sit, listening to the thunder, watching my plants grow, and wondering what to have for dinner.
I was supposed to go for a bike ride with the Team, but we don't ride in the rain - too unsafe. I actually did swim in the rain yesterday - guess what? Once you're in the water, you don't notice the rain! (I know, shocking news, isn't it?) I only got about 20 minutes in before the lifeguards allegedly heard thunder and closed the pool. That's ok, the 20 minutes nearly did me in!
It felt good, though.
Good to train.
Good to get out there.
And here's why... (Thanks to my coach, Lisa Mohler for this inspiration):
Because being able to train for an endurance event is a BLESSING. Our honored patients only WISH they could go for a bike, swim, or run. While we are looking for a reason to skip training, they are fighting for their lives. So SUCK IT UP and STOP MAKING EXCUSES!!To those of you who have made a contribution to my cause, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your faith in me is what keeps me going.
Please share this blog and the link to my fundraising page with everyone you know!
Thanks,
Leanne
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)