Much needed update..

It's been a while! I almost don't even know where to start... I guess, 1st..let's talk fundraising. So I've made it to 70% of my goal...which is awesome... but I must say, I had my goals set high and I'm a bit bummed that I'm not just a wee bit closer to my minimun by now. Well, let me rewind a bit... I'm 100% greatful to all of my friends and family who have already donated and lent their support to both my fundraising goals and my training...it means so much to me and I thank you all so much! I have also seen a lot of great things that companies in the community have been willing to do to help support the cause as well, which is very cool. For example, if you've never been to Chick Fil-A (which I never had before this..), they. are. amazing. First, they have awesome customer service in their restaurants (what other fast food joint has people walking around the dining room asking if you need any more napkins, sauces or a refill??)..which it seems lots of people already knew about that. But they were also SO supportive of my fundraising efforts and they donated a BUNCH of chicken nuggets for my Gymboree event last weekend...all with really no questions asked...just 'when do you need them?'... I just think that's awesome... They have a fan for life in me, for sure! So with all of this fundraising, it's definitely been a learning experience... I've learned that there is a lot of good out there and a lot of willingness to support a great cause. I've also learned that sometimes, even with the best laid plans...an event can be a bit of a flop. Again, I've had a lot of amazing supporters, but it's hard to not be a tad disappointed when you spend an entire afternoon at an event that you organized...only to have ONE person show up. Ah... Live and learn, I suppose.. (in fairness...I had the Gymboree event on both friday and saturday, and friday was pretty darn successful.. And I should also add that Gymboree has been amazing in that they offered their facilities and supplies and such ALL for the event and ALL for nothing in return...so that was awesome, too!) So anyway, that's how fundraising is going. I don't have any other events planned at the moment... But I'm still happily collecting any and all donataions at the website/link at the top of this blog! Again...I cannot thank all of you enough for donating and supporting me, my goals for training and fundraising, and the cause. I guess my husband, Matt, helps to keep things in perspective and reminds me that I have raised over $3,000 for LLS in just a couple short months, which is GREAT! ...but when I'm training along side the moms of our teams 2 honored heroes and hearing them talk about their 1st time hearing that their child has cancer...about the long years and struggles and ups and downs of treatments... about how they started in with Team in Training not quite knowing what event they could do...but just that they needed to be a part of something to do whatever they could to try to cure their babies... I just want to do more. I want to do my very best to get them and their families the treatment and care and CURE that they so need and deserve...
My training is still in full swing, too, of coarse. My race season officially kicks off this saturday with the IU half marathon...so...let's get this thing started! I'm trying to taper a bit this week to have my legs nice and fresh for the run...but training still goes on. Last weekend, on saturday, our team met up for a lovely brick workout at Eagle Creek. I was only able to stick around for part of it because we had Mason's 1st egg hunt to get to! But I did get in about 10k run, 15k bike, and then a few minutes of hill repeat runs (just for good measure) before I hit the road and raced over to the church for some good family fun!...which was great, by the way... Mason got 3 whole eggs in his robot basket (he picked it out...nice one, Dad!)... He was a bit unsure of the whole things and kept putting the eggs that I was encouraging him to pick up...back into the grass, like "what do I want with that thing??". But then...he opened one to find a mini candy bar...and THEN they were worth holding on to! He did get to take a bite of his 'treat' and he was more than pleased with the mornings events! So that was my saturday morning..then off to my Gymboree event... And that's a day in the life of a fundraising triathlete!! It really is fun, though... I promise!!

I'm FREE!!!

Woo Hoo!! We got outside on our bikes today for the 1st time this season...and though it was only about 30 degrees when we started, it felt GREAT! It's been a long, cold winter of indoor cycling, and there's just not much (that I can think of at the moment) better than getting back on the road. Our trusty tri team met up at 8am today and the group I rode with made it 9 miles on the bike in about 30 minutes (not super fast, but OK for our 1st time out in a while), and then my teammate, Ashley, and I ran a lovely, leisurely 9 miles after! I must say... I love tri training! I do. I really do. And having a team to get out there with (and to help justify riding your bike in 30 degree weather!) helps so much. So that's been my day here so far.

We got back after our long weekend in Playa Del Carmen, MX late on monday, so I kind of crammed a lot of training in to those shorter weeks. I did train while I was away (I know...most call that crazy, but it really was enjoyable), but not quite the same as I do when I'm home. I did get some great runs in on the beach, which is always a welcome change of pace. In fact, here's a little snapshot of what my morning runs looked like last week!

Pretty nice, huh... See, now I don't seem so crazy for wanting to get out to enjoy this scenery, right?? Anyway, it was a great time, but I did miss my little guy, Mason, whom we left at home with his Grandma Bucher. Aside from all the great training I got in this week, I must add that Mason had quite the accomplishment, too!... he's now a proud, official member of the 'no cavity club'! He made it, quite successfully, through his 1st dentist appointment

So that's been our week! All in all, I think it's going well. Fundraising is still going; it's stalled a little bit, but there's still time to donate, so never fear! The link is still at the top of the blog (aptly titled 'my fundraising page') if you want to add your donation. I still have my Tastefully Simple fundraiser going on...feel free to order on-line and add me as your host and your purchase will go towards the fundraiser. Also, if you're in the Indianapolis area and have little ones that like to run and climb and have lots of fun, we're having a Gymboree Playgym for LLS coming up on friday, 3/26 from 4-7:30pm and saturday, 3/27 from 2:30-6pm where donations will be collected, there will be items up for silent auction, food, games, fun, come join! So that's what's coming up with fundraising. I thank all of you so much for the support you have offered. I continue to think of my honored heroes and all of those suffering through treatments and rough times as I head out for my trainings, and it keeps me focused... My eyes are on the prize and every little bit that we all can do to raise money to help these folks helps so much, so thank you for joining me in this great cause!

25 miles by 8am!

Well, I'm heading off on a little vacation this weekend...a trip to Mexico to see 2 of my great friends get married, which is exciting... But that also means a little extra training in the early part of the week to get ready for some lighter days while I'm out and about.. So I did a little impromptu backwards tri this morning...20 miles on an indoor bike, straight to 4 quick miles on the treadmill, then on to a mile in the pool. Good times! And to think, all of that and only moving 25 meters! Really makes me look forward to getting outdoors and getting to the 'real' training and racing. But for now, it'll have to do. The ol' bike is in the shop getting it's spring cleaning and hopefully this snow will clear out soon and let some sun and warmer stuff in. Last weekend we had a lovely, chilly, snowy run followed by a team breakfast where our honored heroes were able to join us! I must say, they were a bit overwhelmed by the 30+ of us that were there, but they smiled and nodded as they tried to learn our names... So great to have the chance to get to know them a bit more, as I'm sure there will be plenty more chances to get to know these 2 great kids as we go on with our training this season. After what is starting to feel like a long winter of bundling up to get out for runs, I'm definitely looking forward to the spring... Here we go March!!

Snow, snow, snow...

Well, it's snowing again, here in Indy. The snow and cold actually haven't held me back too much with my training so far... I've still gotten my runs in every weekend (NOT on the treadmill... Something about doing more than 40 minutes or so on the 'mill just isn't appealing to me anymore..). But the one thing that does bum me out is when the roads are too bad for me to safely get out for my practices or trainings. I went out early this morning to my 5am spin class without even thinking about the roads because all they had called for (last I had looked) was an inch of flurries over night... Well, about half way there I started thinking that it was a really bad idea for me to have gone that morning. Now, mind you, I still did make it to my class and I made it home safely...but it made me ponder a bit about my common sense. But anyway. All is well. I had a decent weekend of training... If anything, I'm having the strange issue of having too many training opportunities and not enough time to get them all in! I met up with my usual running group early on saturday to get 6 miles in... and then went back out to meet up with the tri team to run another 4! Then sunday I had a good swim workout and did my own indoor bike training. So that was that! We had a great valentines day weekend... Just made dinner and dessert (which Mason was a big fan of!) at home. It's low-key, but that's the way we roll these days!
The latest on the fundraising front... Donations have slowed down a bit, but there's still time to get in there and join me in my fight against blood cancer. My first deadline for meeting my goal is in April, so the more donations I can get in by then, the better. I am hosting a Tastefully Simple party where the more orders I receive, the more the company will donate to LLS... So if you haven't already gotten my emails on this, you can visit www.tastefullysimple.com to browse their products; then when you make your purchases and proceed to check out, there's a spot to 'search your host'...so look for my name there and add me as the host so any purchases you make go toward my total and will increase the amount that Tastefully Simple will donate. Or, if you prefer to just donate straight to me, the link is still at the top of the blog page and you can add your donation there. I still have a few ideas rolling around, but I'm really hoping to kick start the fundraising again. I greatly appreciate those that have already contributed and I appreciate all the support and well-wishes as my training has started to take off! Here's hoping I can continue to train hard through these darn winter snows...

What's a 1/2 Ironman??

It was brought to my attention that perhaps some folks don't know much about this race that I'm taking on... So maybe I'll share a little about it! Honestly... I don't know too much about the race just yet... Here's what I know for sure about what's going to go down on race day, July 31st... I'll be swimming in Lake Michigan (again...you she-devil of a lake, you... You won't get me this time!) for 1.2 miles, then heading out on what's sure to be a lovely, scenic and relaxing 56 mile bike ride, and then...because I have juuuust a bit left in the tank (I'm hoping), I'll take off on a 13.1 mile 'sprint' to the finish... Sounds good, right?? I'm sure there's still spots available, if you'd like to join me! If you want to check out the race info, the website is: http://www.steelheadtriathlon.com Luckily, I'll be trekking all these miles as a WELL prepared, well oiled, cancer fighting machine. The extra motivation of raising money for cancer patients and survivors, along with the push from my team and all my wonderful supporters will be just the thing I need to keep me going... Go Team!!

another week of TNT!

So 3 TNT meetings down this week and NO tears this time!! A new TNT record for me... Probably because we were all 'business' this week, but I'm getting excited for our 1st official group training this saturday. And I'm very certain that I am in very capable hands.. We met our coach tonight and he talked for over 2 hrs on various race things...from fitting your bike, to planning your potty breaks on race day... And it took all of about 20 minutes for me to be singled out as the group nutrition expert.. I even already had a team member say she was going to email me for advise! Drummin up some business in the darndest of places.. It looks like it's going to be a long season, but I'm ready for it! To update on the fundraising... I've made my 1st grand, which is exciting. I also have some exciting plans that I hope come through... I'll be sure to keep you all posted on that! I'd like to take a moment to thank those that have already visited my site and been able to offer some support; Kathy G., Kathy P, Andrea, Beth L., Melissa (Aunt Lis!), Kain and Erin, the Fischers, Dan, Kim, April D., Amie, and Mom and Dad. I thank you all! And no worries, there's still time left to offer your support! My 1st deadline for fundraising is April, 7.

As I sit here thinking about all the training that lies ahead of me, I can't help but think of where I was this time last year...just deciding to take on the Mini marathon. Starting pretty much from scratch again with running after having Mason. I remember those 1st runs on the treadmill when I could barely do 2 or 3 miles at a 5 mile/hr pace... But I did that half marathon, then got the crazy idea to do 2 tris and a full marathon that season! And here I am... I just think it's so amazing what a person can do when they put their minds to it (I hope I can still say this in a few months!)... So here we go! And the new 'season' officially begins... Here are some pics of last years races:

Mason and I 'pre race at Eagle Creek Tri

heading off for the bike!

Chicago Tri...heading to my 'big finish'!

And this is me heading toward the finish line (it was around the corner..which means I couldn't see it yet, but I knew it was near..) at the marathon. It was 60 some degrees in November and was my warmest race ALL season!.. Go figure.. Just goes to show, you NEVER know what to expect on race day.

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!