Welcome!!

Hello! I've started this blog to track my progress through training for my 1st half ironman!! I'll be competing in the Steelhead Half Ironman in Benton Harbor, MI this summer. Not only did I take on the physical challenge, but I'm training with Team in Training and raising money for the Leukemia, Lymphoma Society. As daunting as this is, I'm really excited about all of it! For years now, I've always seen the TNT group and their purple shirts at races that I've done and I've wondered what it was all about... And then my friend, Kathy, has trained with the group for a few years in a row now, which helped increase my awareness of what, exactly, those purple shirts really ARE all about (plus, they always seem to be enjoying themselves, no matter how many miles they've just completed!). So I decided to check out a meeting and learn more... From that meeting on, I've yet to leave a TNT meeting without fighting tears at some point during the evening. I think, deep down, I've always had a bit of a sore spot when it came to cancer after having my grandpa taken quite suddenly (at least as I remembered it... I'm sure it was a longer process then I was aware of, but to me..one day he was skiing with us and making us laugh, and the next I knew...he was gone) when I was in 10th grade. I don't think I ever fully processed that and I've always sort of been looking for a way to do something about that 'helpless' feeling that I had inside me. So with that inspiration, and then after learning about and hearing from the many people, young and older alike, that are fighting cancer and leukemia in their lives, I just feel driven to help. I do. I really, really do. My team's honored heroes are Luke and Lauryn and they are both 6 yrs old; I haven't gotten to speak with them personally yet, but Lauryn's mom is one of my coaches for this season, so I'm sure we'll get to spend some time together! But from what I've seen of these 2, they are adorable, fun, sweet kids and I can't help but put myself in their parents' incredibly difficult position of needing to hear that their beautiful, perfect child is sick. It breaks my heart every time I think about it... So, again, with the thought of my grandpa and with these honored heroes, I'm honored to be able to do my part to raise money and awareness that they so desparately need and deserve.

So now that I've explained my cause a bit... I guess I'll let ya know what I'm up to as far as this whole training thing goes... This weekend I upped my usual 'long run', which I've been doing with a group of runners that meet up at 6am to run in the freezing cold, to 8 miles on saturday; then today I did a tough swim workout of a little over a mile and then hit the indoor bikes for a little interval training. All in all, I'd say I'm on track... Keeping in mind that my 1st race of the season is a half marathon in early April... so I need to be ready for that one! Ah, and to add mention of my other heroes who keep me going through all of this... my amazing husband, Matt and my wonderful son, Mason. Aren't they cute?? Here they are cheering me on at yet another of my races this past season... I couldn't do it without 'em!