 
 
This
website has been set up to keep my friends and family informed regarding a
challenging (or crazy, depending on your perspective) task that I've decided to
take on. Nearly a year ago I set a goal for myself to complete an Olympic distance
triathlon. Now, I am following through on that commitment.
To
be specific, I have committed myself to the Pacific Grove Triathlon on September 14,
2002. Completing this course
will involve jumping
into the 58°
waters of the Pacific Ocean, swimming 1.5km (about 1 mile), then hopping onto a
bike to ride 40km (about 25 miles). And
if that isn’t enough, I’ll finish the bike and move on to run 10km (a
little over 6 miles).
Now, I know
you’re thinking that I must be crazy. After
all, I’ve never been much of a runner (why do you think I played goalkeeper in
soccer?), I’ve always floated more than swam, and the last bike I owned was
the 10 speed I got when I was 12! However,
I have some great reasons for this!
1.
Team In Training – the Cause
I
have decided to train for my triathlon through the Leukemia
& Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training (TNT) Program, a 3.5 month
endurance-building / fundraising program. TNT
provides me with professional coaches, a training regimen and support and
encouragement (though I still need yours too!)
In return, I’ve committed to raise funds for the Society.
Donations are 100% tax deductible and over 75% go directly towards
research, patient services, professional education, advocacy and community
service. My goal is to
raise $3,500!!
2.
In Memory of Dale Czarnecki
I
was touched by a colleague of mine during my days at Union Camp in Savannah.
Dale had a funny sarcastic wit about him, combined with a positive
attitude that drew people in. Although
Dale lost his battle with myeloma, his smile and his love of life still stick
with me today.
3.
Personal Triumph
I’ve
realized that this triathlon is not about competing with others; it’s about
competing with yourself – beating your own limits that you think are
insurmountable. We all think
there are things we can’t do. If
you’d asked me a year ago if I thought I could complete a triathlon, I would
have laughed. But every day I
train, I break small barriers down in the limits I had once placed on myself.
I’m slowly proving you can do anything you truly commit to.
4.
Team Honoree – Terry Reinhard
I
thought I had enough reasons to take on this task, but Terry has given me one
more! Terry has been in remission
for over 2.5 years from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and is one of the honorees that
Team In Training has introduced us to. Terry
is an inspiration to us all, coming to nearly every training session to cheer us
on. He’s even taken polaroids of
all 80 of us and written our names on them so he can practice to be able to
cheer each and every one of us on by name by the time triathlon day comes along.
He sends notes to us telling us what an inspiration we all are, but I
think he’s got it totally backwards…
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