First days of training

It's official. Training has begun! I am on day three and feeling incredible. I have to say that I love the feeling of sore muscles - just sore enough to remind you of the good you're doing.

Day one was a group training in Portland. We spent time getting to know the tri team, running/jogging approximately 30 minutes total, and learning how to stay healthy with stretches (static and dynamic). What a great group of people we will be training with over the next 5 months. Ages range from young to old and levels of fitness vary that same spectrum.

Here is the only photo I have from that day so far - me jogging around the track with a mentor. It looks like I'm leading the pack. Don't be fooled. I was out of breath and barely carrying on a conversation while the mentor was effortlessly putting one foot in front of the other. I will get there!

Sunday was what the TNT team affectionately calls a "rebel workout." Basically, it is a non coach led training. I spent a quarter tank in gas borrowing a bicycle trainer from my mentor, Joie, and another quarter tank driving to Happy Valley for the training at Glenn's.

I felt like I was in good hands as Glenn is a former tri-athlete coach and certified. Needless to say, he put us through a great 50 minute bike ride using a NE fall bike ride video. I was sweating and at 30 minutes was starving! I forgot how awesome it is to feel so hungry when you are training. Glenn enticed us to finish with his special... "Glenn's naughty nuts." Before you think too much, it is the most delicious concoction of goodness I've had; bare almonds, semi-sweet chocolate chips, craisins, and walnuts (I'm sure I'm missing some ingredients). I gorged on several handfuls post the ride and will be buying some from Glenn once he starts selling them for fund raising. Smart man!

This morning I actually got out of bed at 5:11am, drank half a cup of my International Vanilla Coffee mix, and headed to the garage for my 35 minute treadmill run. It felt awesome. No knee pain (had that previously).

I'm now sitting here at the computer with my little love, Sidney, practicing her standing and cruising. Hard to believe she is going to be one in a month! Yes, 5am is early, but so worth it that I still get to see my girls in the morning!

Oh - I forgot to mention... I was the only person called out at our training and recognized for the $1,700 I have already raised. Thank you to all of you that have donated. Your generosity is incredible and you are helping so many people.

Go Team!

Let the training begin

I was starting to wonder why I was seemingly signing up for the impossible... adding training for a triathlon (which I've never done before) to being a Mommy and wife, working full time, and social networking (blogs and facebook).

And then we went to the 2009 Spring TNT kick off meeting last night. I was quickly reminded of the challenges put forth to those that contract blood cancers every 5 minutes... and die from it every 10 minutes. Our honored team mate, Natasha sat right in front of me. Her hair still disheveled from chemo treatments and her face swollen from steroid treatments, she sat happily eating candy and playing her Game boy. She is 9.

And I'm reminded of the series of events that happened while this decision to join the TNT team with Todd was swirling. My dear family friend came out of remission after 6 months. And this was after fighting blood cancer almost 20 years earlier.

The pit in my stomach even larger, I was brought back to last November when Todd was diagnosed with testicular cancer... for the second time. He was also a 20 year survivor. I was 6 months pregnant with Sidney. I rarely cried because when you are faced with that kind of diagnosis, there is no other way to be but positive.

And positive is what gets you through life's challenges.

I will cross that finish line in June. And any time I start to whine or complain, I will think of Natasha. Think of TS (you know who you are, my friend). And think of my husband. My pain will be nothing compared to what they suffered.

So, my newest blog begins.

"Do one thing every day that scares you." - Eleanor Roosevelt

My one thing today: commit to a triathlon where swimming scares the heck out of me.

More to come... thought the attached video was apropos. I was so motivated after we signed up for TNT that I strapped Sidney in the Bjorn and got on the treadmill. :)