Yes, I'm still training

I know I've been absent from the blog for quite sometime. There is a variety of reasons/excuses for my hiatus -- but don't worry not one of them is that I stopped training. My triathlon is still on track for September 29. I am getting very, very, very nervous. I hope I can do this!!!

Thanks to all of you-- I have raised $50 over my $2400 minimum. Although, if you haven't given you still can. It's impossible to raise too much money for cancer research! Thank you!

Your Money

First off, thank you to all of you who have contributed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society! I am almost to the minimum requirement of $2400! I thought you may like to know how your donation will be used or if you're still considering donating then see how your donation can make a big difference in the life of a patient.


How is money spent by the Society?

A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.

A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.

A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.

A donation of $500 provides one patient in the local area financial aid for treatment related costs.

Impossible!

"But when a thing has to be attempted, one must never think about possibility or impossibility. People quite often do what seemed impossible before they did it. It is wonderful what you can do when you have to." CS Lewis

This Saturday's brick session caused me to think about this CS Lewis quote. After biking for well over 20 miles, I had to immediately run for 15 minutes. (or at my pace just over a mile) About 7 minutes into my run, my calf just completely cramped. My legs had had enough of this nonsense! I reminded myself of the CS Lewis quote, briefly stopped to stretch out my calf and continued running. I finished and lived-- which at 7 minutes in seemed an impossibility. I'm now hoping that while the triathlon seems an impossibility-- I will be impressed with what I did when I had to.

Needless to say, today my legs are very very sore!

Bricks

Today at our team workout we did our first brick. A brick is the bike/run combination. So for instance, today we biked about 80 minutes and then immediately ran for about 15. There are many theories as to why this is called a brick. One is that 'brick' is a combination of the words bike and run, another is that it is a block workout like a brick. The most popular theory is that when running after biking one's legs feel like a brick. I'm inclined to think this is the most accurate experience. My legs did feel like bricks! They didn't however seize up, which I'm told can happen. They went a bit numb, which was actually in my favor--at least they didn't hurt! Either way I did it! I biked and ran and didn't keel over!

The TNT folks are really great. Not only do they provide the great snacks Cathy mentioned after every team workout. They also cheer for us through out the workout. I have to say it is really encouraging to have someone cheering me on. As I was finishing my brick today it was just nice to hear 'Great Job!' 'Keep Going! You're doing Great!' Especially because my brain was thinking 'maybe we shouldn't keep going' and my legs certainly agreed with my brain. Not only is TNT a great way to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and honor those with blood cancers, it is also an excellent training program. I would recommend it to any of you considering an endurance event.

Mark Pascu

As you may have gathered from earlier postings, we have 'honored teammates'. Honored teammates are people who have had blood cancers, and who interact regularly with our team. It has been encouraging and heart wrenching to hear their stories.

I have two honored teammates, and one very special honored teammate that I am racing in memory of. I would like to introduce you to each of these teammates. This is Mark. Mark was originally diagnosed in November 2001 with Stage III Hodgkin's lymphoma. He immediately underwent chemo. A year later relapsed, and underwent further chemotherapy. During this time he was being prepared for a bone marrow transplant.

Several days before his transplant a routine EKG showed an irregular heart beat. Two days later he had surgery to correct his heart condition, and then went immediately to the transplant ward to receive his bone marrow transplant. Two months later he relapsed again. Mark is now cancer free-- although the there have been complications from the transplant including brain lesions. Additionally, the steroids he was given attacked his hip bones and he has had both hips replaced.

This is a race?

Triathlons are funny things, because apparently they are races. I always knew that and I frequently say things like 'I'll be racing in a triathlon.' However, it has never occured to me that it is actually a race. People will be racing to finish first. In fact, it may be many of the competitors goals to finish first, or at the very least, within a specific time.

As I've mentioned many times I too have a goal for the race -- finish. As I am now inspired by this race talk, Ive decided to set my sights higher. My new goal is to finish within the time limit, which I believe is something like 6 hours. I hope to finish just before the person driving the truck who lifts up the barricades and reopens the roads to traffic. I don't even mind if I'm running 2 feet in front of them.

I do find my training sessions hysterical when the coaches point out ways to shave a minute off of 'transition time.' Seriously!?!? A Minute!?!? I doubt picking up a minute will help me much, is there a way to shave off 2 hours? That would be helpful.

Last night, I purchased my bike for the triathlon. The bike salesman was giving suggestions too...for instance don't buy lace-up bike shoes. Seems reasonable, so I bought velcro. He even showed me triathlon specific shoes, which only have one velcro strap (mine have two-- will probably cost me another 10 seconds right there!!! Seriously, who are these people that the extra strap will slow them down too much?) and are meant to be worn without socks, so one doesn't have to waste all of that time putting socks on after the swim!

I doubt I'll even see any of these super fast, sockless, one-velcroed people during my 'race.' I imagine that as I'm just getting my socks, and second velcro strap strapped down they will be changing into their running shoes already have completed the 25 mile ride.

Suddenly

Suddenly a triathlon seems so easy. I just got this email from one of our team captains:

Team,

A number of weeks ago, Arlene (my wife and one of your Honored
Teammates) had CAT, MRI and PET scans done. The results were not
exactly what we hoped for. The scans and recent results of some blood
work indicated that she is no longer in remission.

A laparoscopic procedure will be performed this Friday at the
Washington Hospital Center, and the suspicious node will be biopsied.
There is a remote chance that the tissue is not malignant, but
unfortunately in all likelihood it is.

Please keep Arlene in your prayers.