Racing to Save Lives

Thanks for taking the time to log onto my Team In Training Website!

So, In 2005, shortly after Shane’s diagnosis, we received a flyer in the mail for this thing called Team In Training. I thought to myself, what is Team In Training and what are they going to try and sell me? I told Shane that I was going to attend a meeting and all I received from him was a puzzled look and his usual supporting words… “Okay!”. I convinced Shane to go with me and here the story begins for the last 4 years of our lives.

Our first year, we decided to complete a triathlon. Most people don’t even know what a triathlon is, I know at the time I didn’t. We decide that with support and encouragement and training, we could do this. Most people are afraid of the swim portion. NOT ME! I was a swimmer in high school and feel as though sometimes I have fins. Shane however was a different story. After many long months of training in the pool and too many swear words from Shane’s mouth to count, he got it. He learned how to relax himself enough in the water to swim continually for a mile. The bike and run came very easy to him. He is an athletic rock star all the time so for me, it felt good to know that even if he kicks my rear on the bike and the run, at least I can swim better right! ( I know – the competition between us is sickening!)

Our second year, we decided to complete America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride: a 100 mile bike ride in the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. With elevation changes of over 8,000 feet, it is safe to assume that I struggled. Now, a moped would have been a better idea, especially considering the size of the trailer that I tote behind me. Think about it… At speeds above 15 MPH, I’m bound to tip sooner or later and not recover! After many swear words from my mouth this time around, we finished in just over 9 hours. I can not tell you what it does to one’s bottom to sit on a seat like that for that long! We’ll just say that it takes a couple days to recover…

So, at this point, we have completed a tri and a century: both amazing endurance events that neither one of us ever imagined we would complete. So what do we do? We decide to punish ourselves and train for a marathon- my absolute biggest fear and the one event that I swore I would NEVER do! Training really went well for the marathon, much better than I anticipated. I felt strong and Shane had no problems like always. We went to Chicago and of the way through the event they decided it was too hot to finish the race and shut the course down completely! It’s probably a good thing they did because there was a lot of safety issues that day, but I was bitter. I felt like I had not accomplished what I had set out to accomplish and that simply wasn’t good enough for me!

Now around the same time frame I was also training for a half iron man event to complete on my own. The only reason I even considered completing this was because of that aforementioned “competition” thing…. You see, The year before, Shane had completed his first one. He did great! Therefore, I had to do one too! After 7 hours and 14 minutes of swimming, biking and running unbelievable distances, they too decided to stop the race due to lightning. I was mile from the finish line and I was LIVID! I can not tell you how furious I was! Shane started calling me “Linus” and swore that the black cloud was following me around… Not nice.

Two races within a months time period canceled beyond my control was enough to send me over the edge. So, we started a little group we call “Unfinished Business”. Our group recruited the largest team the Nebraska Chapter of Team In Training had ever seen to complete the Lincoln Marathon this last May. It was an incredible experience and we were a part of those 49 people to cross the finish line… Barely!

I will NEVER do a marathon again! (Most Likely)

What’s up our sleeves this time? Just another endurance event. We will be completing a 109 mile bike ride in Tucson, AZ at the end of November. We’ve got a lot to do between now and then so I figured I better pick up the pace.

What can you do to help? Donate to a great cause! 100% tax deductible.

Help us in the fight to find a cure for cancer!

Training Log...

10/06/08

My bottom still hurts!!! 61 miles down

10/27/08

74 miles on Saturday. I had my very first flat tire while riding this weekend Then I got another one about 5 minutes later. I had run over something that sliced through my tire and tube. I changed my tire by myself, I was too proud! HUGE REALIZATION however... I still will need to put in an additional 35 miles on race day to complete my event. I hit my wall this weekend. I was tired and ready to get off my bike. This Saturday we will ride 80 miles. I wish I could listen to some tunes while I ride!