Week 7 Thanksgiving

November 21-27
Swim 3500+ yards, Bike 32+ miles, Run 15+ miles

David's parents came to visit us for the week around Thanksgiving, so we entertained family at our home this year. During the week we played a German boardgame called Catan and really became quite the addicts. Each night we had to sit down for a game that lasted between 2-3 hours. I'll have to check in with our coach to see if dice rolling counts as an upper body workout. The game is like a cross between Monopoly and Risk with some strategy along with luck.



When we weren't playing Catan, I managed to make it to a superb bike ride down south near the reservoir with the team followed by an amazing brunch hosted by my mentor Joe and his wife Maria. I only wish I had a photograph of her yummy egg casserole.

Week 6 Did you know that...

November 14-20
Swim 3500+ yards, Bike 50+ miles, Run 14+ miiles

This week I focused more on thinking about my fundraising goals and why I am involved with IronTeam. I thought it would be a great time to share the following facts and figures.

Did you know that...

• Leukemia is the number one disease killer of children under 15


• Lymphoma is the leading killer of men and women under 35


• since its inception in 1949, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has raised over $250 million to find a cure for blood cancers


• 80% of children with leukemia survive, compared with just 5% only 20 years ago


• 640,000 Americans are living with leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's, or myeloma


• 109,000 new cases were diagnosed last year


• One-third of all research funds that went into Gleevac (the 'miracle drug' for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, CML) came from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Neither did I before becoming involved with Team In Training. There are many reasons for staying involved with and volunteering for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, but the most important and inspiring one is that this organization is truly making a difference in the fight against blood cancer and the lives of those afflicted by these diseases. This is why I gladly will commit free time to raise money with IronTeam and why I am proud to be part of such a good cause.

Week 5 Coached Workouts

November 7-13
Swim 2700+ yards, Bike 34+ miles, Run 11+ miles

I took most of the week off from the above schedule to recover from the Treasure Island triathlon and have a short break, but attended the coached weekend workouts. Here I am water running alongside my fellow participant Laura Staub- notice the wide blue water running belts. This was pretty funny trying this out for the first time and watching us practically running in place! It's surprisingly a good workout.



We also are learning to spin on bike trainers to be able to have a good workout regardless of the winter weather. So, we set up our road bikes on these stationary devices with resistance and spin!

Week 4 Treasure Island

October 31-November 6
Swim 4000+ yards, Bike 30+ miles, Run 6+ miles

The fourth week of the IronTeam training program was the final week for the Fall Team In Training Treasure Island season. Volunteering as training captain for this team of new participants to the program was very rewarding and to see the team have a successful day for the event was great. David captured some great photographs of the event that I'd like to share. Here he is with his Team In Training tattoo on the cheek the morning before the triathlon. I'm lucky he is willing to drive me before sunrise to the event!



Here we are ready at the transition area with our wetsuits preparing ourselves for the swim start. At Treasure Island, we had to set up the transition area by 7am, but for our wave of swimmers we did not start until 9:30am which left plenty of time to take pictures and be nervous for those doing their first triathlon ever.



Trevor is our Honoree for the Treasure Island season and is truly inspiring. He spoke to us the morning of the event and rallied the group.



The Team In Training women's wave was one of the last to start the race so David captured us in the water waiting for the swim to begin.



Everyone came to expect David at this one corner of the race where he cheered everyone on and snapped photographs. His energy was contagious.



With a two loop run course, David also had plenty of chances to take more pics and he ran with me to the end of the finish.