Doubled my goal and the Silent Mile

It has been a very very intense week or so since I've posted. Lots and lots of training done. In the pool Coach Pam and Coach Kia are opening my stroke up and the difference is astronomical. All the crazy one-handed drills are paying off in the form of a more efficient and tighter stroke. Now that we are starting to put some more distance in the workouts I can tell where all the energy saving is going. On top of all that I got a big, "You're going to be fast," from Kia recently. And I see what she means: because I have a solid foundation on running and cycling I can see how getting some coaching on swimming is really going to push me to a new height. As the weather starts to warm I'll hopefully get to try it out in some open water. I can't stand doing more than two kick turns a workout it seems.
On the run/bike side I noticed a huge difference in the number of people showing up for practice this past Saturday. Of course it was not just a workout but an event Cate from LLS put on called the Silent Mile. It was a very touching event that really got us in touch with the cause again. Everyone huddled in the DirectBuy parking lot in their lycra tights and headbands early in the morning and we head testimonials from some of TNT's biggest fund raisers. That is to say we heard from some of cancer survivors who are raising funds through TNT. The type of deep seeded dedication and passion I heard that morning were astounding and awe-inspiring. As we stood there waiting to workout we heard stories from people who had survived blood cancer and then contracted thyroid cancer only to beat that and return to the scene and hit the ground running. One woman who had raised over $6,000 for a single event, she was a survivor who spoke with an intensity that befit a world-class athlete. Emotions and passions flew and I realized that I could now run my ass off all day. They type of pain aerobic exercise can put you through is nothing to these people who battled off cancer and were still hungry to help others and find a cure for some of the most debilitating diseases in the world. It made it real and it made it prescient to keep at what I'm doing. After that I ran a mile silently considering all that I had heard and emerging with a truer sense of purpose than ever before.
After that, and a bout with a cold/possible food poisoning I returned to the pool on Tuesday to keep the drive alive and was demurred by powerful sinus headaches and a coach who saw that killing myself to swim was doing more harm than good. It's interesting to see how I can gain fervent passion for training and still train smart and effectively. That's what coaches are for I suppose.

Now, since the piles are starting to disappear I am undertaking a major overhaul of the road bike. It's going to be clean and on point by the time I am done with it, but here are some early stage photos of what the process looks like:








Last, but in no way least is the big news that after many many generous contributions I am doubling my fund raising goal to $3,000! That's another $1,500 I believe we can raise to find a cure so that people won't have to worry about whether or not they will live through lymphoma. There are also some things in the works at local restaurants around the corner so please keep eyes peeled for those opportunities soon.

As always, don't for get to visit the contribution page.

Some words about fundraising.

First and foremost, from the looks of the progress bar on the fund raising page that personal goal of $1,500 is going to have to go up. We'll see how things start to go before I set a very specific goal. All of this means that I am very impressed with the level of donations so far. I really didn't expect to be this far along. In fact, I must concede that there was a dull moment when I began to bemoan the slow pace of replies. This was most likely a symptom of those awful monkey pox from which I (and possibly all of Richmond) was suffering from at the time. Let's just say that if my refresh button we some veneered toggle on a piece of actually machinery it might could use a new paint job. Of course I am very happy to be proved wrong by all of the wonderful support.

Furthermore, and even though I mentioned this on the other page, I must give incredible thanks to Andy Jimenez, the general manager and Colombian haberdasher of Cheesecake Factory, and Cyndi "Big Excited Smile When She Heard About the Cause" Coupland, general manager of Olive Garden West Broad. They both made generous contributions of $50 gift certificates. These are going to be raffled to talkative donors. Now, since I've had so much success with these two restaurants I will, armed with my letterhead from LLS, be venturing out to other places in search of contributions. The remainder of these may be auctioned off at an upcoming silent auction put on by good friends the LLS or raffled off sooner. If I do well I'd like to be able to auction something off every month, or with much greater regularity.

Lastly, and most importantly I have to give my wholehearted thanks to all of those who have contributed and given me and everyone battling blood cancers a big boost. Last year TNT raised over $500,000 to fight cancer and everyone who gave is the reason why one day all the children who shouldn't have to live with cancer won't. I'll keep these thoughts in mind as I go through two practices tomorrow and Saturday. This is really pushing me to succeed.

Ever the contribution reminder.

Guest post over on TNT's blog.

TNT asked me to post something on their blog. Even though I gave them a little editorial license I won't double up, but I want to say that I'll be adding a photo soon.


Don't forget to check my fund raising page.

I woke up early today and saw this.


That means no first bike practice with the group, and since this is the second weekend I am stuck inside for the most part: cabin fever. Luckily the bike trainer is still sailing along nicely and my room mate got The Hurt Locker from Redbox. I think I can throw down two hours and some calisthenics today.

On the fund-raising front I just sent out my first rounds of emails and facebook messages. I'm a little nervous about how they'll be received and I'm hoping for some responses, but If you're reading this it probably means that you got one. Friends and family all have received emails and I'll be getting hits on my email every time someone donates. Something I'll quickly mention here because it hasn't totally come to fruition just yet: Cheesecake Factory will donate a gift card worth $50 for the cause. I will use this as a raffle prize to anyone who donates AND tells someone they know who would have an interest in the cause about my drive. No big chain letter, just $10 and let me know you passed the word on and you'll be entered. I like this idea though, maybe I can get other local restaurants to pitch in some gift cards and we'll be raffling off dinner on the town.

As always, please donate.

All right, time to hit the imaginary bricks.

Welcome to my Team in Training Blog

"Try not to become a man of success but a man of value."
Albert Einstein

Thanks Al and welcome one and all to a blog I set up many, many years ago. It was left unused all this time while my head filled with delusions of scribbling my mightiest musing on the digital page. We see how that all worked out. So instead of being used for its original, mind-numbingly egotistical purposes it will now be converted to my Team in Training blog. I will be updating regularly about my campaign to raise money for the LLS. Now if you're somehow haven't been linked here by one of my emails, my fund raising page or a TNT-related (shorthand for Team in Training from now on) facebook post I'll tell you a little bit about how I got started and what this is all about.

Since about 2004 I've been training off and on for short endurance races like triathlons, duathlons, 5ks, and cycling races. I've even participated in a few. After racing in the National Duathlon Championship, a national event that was nonetheless open to all participants, here in Richmond I received a notice from TNT about their program. It really piqued my interest as a group where people came together to train and race and to do it all for a really good cause. So I filed that away in my mind knowing that I would come back to it. And that's what I did this winter, sitting on this contraption I use to hold my bike in place so I can ride it indoors, wondering when the snow and cold would go away so I could play outside again, I though about how in the world I could stay motivated in such dire conditions. In a few short hours I was on the phone with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Richmond, from there I was whisked into an email network of coaches, coordinators, and mentors who were all very excited to have me on board and to get me to start raising money ostensibly. And I have, with an initial donation of $100 from the folks (they promised me a bike race for Christmas) and some paperwork I am now officially a member of Team In Training (full name used for emphasis).

Here's basically how it works: I will be training everyday and meeting with the team regularly about twice a week while you, my friends and family, make donations to my website which go directly to the LLS. Everyday that I'm being inspired by the idea of helping cancer patients get well people can take inspiration from me, and then I in turn from them as they contribute to my website and we watch the goal tick away. TNT has placed on my shoulders a goal and a minimum of raising $1,500. Ideally, I'll be getting MANY MANY people to make just small donations (150 at $10 apiece and we've got that goal licked) to make sure I make all of the deadlines. All of this comes to a head in June when I race the I Love the Tavern Triathlon in Richmond.

After getting all the details over the phone I met with my coach, Kia yesterday in the early AM. Swim practice was at the Northside Y and I got there with just enough time to greet and introduce. She was bright-eyed, energetic, and impressively undaunted by the fact I was late for my first practice. After that and a short shift at work I stopped by the LLS headquarters to meet briefly with Cate, the event coordinator, and drop off the forms she had emailed me along with my registration fee. I'd never been to a non-profit before, but I guess they are all staffed by beautiful, smiling women who are excited to see me. That is, if LLS is any indication. Cate was just one of several working there with a great smile; she set me up with my starter kit (pics to follow) and loads of info (info to follow) to get me started and sent me on my way with lots of wishes of good luck.

Looks like I have homework

Dri-fit shirt to train in

So I'm in, on the ground running, and I'm ready and excited to raise a bunch of money for a great cause. I'll be updating here as much as possible so stay tuned and don't forget to visit my website and make a donation directly to LLS!