26 Days til Race Day!!!

Last Sunday some of the Team In Training crew signed up for the Hagg Lake Open Water Swim and it was a blast!  I did the 800 meters, 2k & 4k.  Good Times!!!

Team In Training friends!!

Swimming shot

Getting out of the water from one of my races...the 2k I think.

Can you find me???  Above pic I'm in the middle with the sleeveless wetsuit and in the below pic...I'm not even sure if I know where I was.

42 days until the Pac Crest Triathlon

I'm setting my transition area up for another brick.  Yesterday we did 22 miles of riding and 4 miles of running which with all the rolling hills it turned into walking up and running down.

I'm at 95% of my fundraising goal...thanks to all of you for supporting me on my journey to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Brick #2

Today was our second brick, which in triathlon terminology means 2 of the 3 events at one workout.  We rode 20 miles and then ran 4 miles.  Wow...the workouts are building up and Team In Training is really preparing us for our triathlon.  I LOVE TNT!!!

If this bike looks new to you ... that's cause it is!  Happy Mother's Day to me!!  

This is called a transition area where you put all your gear that you need for racing.  Last time I think I had a couple things that I didn't really use but this time I was much more prepared.

The whole workout today took me 2 hours and 40 minutes and it just thrills me that I'm getting in shape with such an awesome group of people who are such a support system it's more like a family.  A lot of the people who sign up for Team In Training know someone who was affected by cancer and it's a very personal journey for each of us.  Some people do it just to get into shape but are fundraising for a great cause non the less.  The coolest thing is that this journey of mine has been so awesome because of all the other people I'm training with.  We can share our experiences with who was touched by cancer and we are there for each other. 

I love Team In Training!!

Still Going Strong!

Oh man this Team In Training journey is AWESOME!  Today we had an intense workout which triathletes call a brick.  We trained two of the three sports...today was 15 miles of biking and 3 miles of running.  I was soooooooooooooo nervous but off I went to workout...

It was a beautiful day to be outside!!

Here was my first go at putting together my transition station.  Nice bright towel to recognize where my stuff is though it was really easy to find because we all put our towels in front of our cars.

I was excited to see how quick I was able to finish today.  Nervous to ride so far and then run for 3 miles but did it.  It took me an hour to finish the 15 miles on my bike and then I spent 4 minutes in transition then off running for 3 miles which took me 35 minutes.  I really enjoyed todays workout and looking forward to more.

Fundraising is going great!  I've raised 86% of my $3,400 goal for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Thanks for all your support!!!

Sincerely,

Summir

Last Saturday Kicked My Butt!!

We meet up at Leif Erikson Trailhead in Portland and I quickly realized we are starting our run at an incline!  My run turned into a swift hike and I completed 4 hilly miles on Saturday.  It was tough.  I don't think I was hydrated enough and totally needed more sleep.  My emotions were running high and I was exhausted.  It was tough but nothing compared to what my grandpa and other deal with while going through cancer.  Please help me raise funds to kick cancer's butt.  Click on my fundraising website here:  http://pages.teamintraining.org/or/pctri09/summir

Sincerely,

Summir

I'm at 30% of my fundraising goal!!  Thanks for those who have already donated and to those who will.  You're awesome!

A Wet Ride

Today we met up for what was to be a flat 15 miles but turned into a super rainy and windy ride.  It was an awesome challenge and felt oh so wonderful to be in my car with the heater on max when I was finished.

Today was very motivational.  One of our team mates shared his reasons for joining up with Team In Training.  His dad had lymphoma cancer and was in remission but had complications with getting sick after and passed away.  His passion for finding a cure was inspiring.  He said he was pissed with how many people he knew how have lost their battle with cancer and wants so badly for a cure to be found.  The coaches asked us to remember why we joined and that reason is in my mind every single day....my grandpa!    

As I hear the rain pour down right now, I'm guessing our 5k Shamrock Run tomorrow morning will be pretty wet as well!

5th Training Session and Potluck

First off I'd like to thank Mark and my Mom for donating!!  You guys rock!  Also I'd like to thank Mary Buban, a friend of my Mom and my Aunt Nancy who doesn't know me but still felt like donating would be a pretty sweet idea...THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING ME!!!

Last Saturday bumped me up to 40 minutes of straight jogging!!  YIPPEE!!  This is super tough...probably the hardest part of the training and will for sure be the hardest part of the race especially because it is at the end.  I have a great partner who I run with named Dina.  We are pretty similar in pace so that helps us to keep going.  

After our workout we had a Team in Training - All Event Potluck.  So the marathoners, cycle team and the triathlon teams were all joined to do there workout from the same place and regroup after for some inspirational stories, good food and free 5 minute massages...oh that was nice! 

Here are two pictures before my battery went dead...next time I need to remember to charge it!

Dina is in the blue and black beanie and Dave my mentor is on the left in the red jacket.  Can't see either of them really well but it was an action shot  :)

Tonight I'll be joining the team for a swim workout!

Sincerely,

Summir

4th Training Session

Saturday was awesome!  I started my morning early and saw some amazingly beautiful colors as the sun was rising.  When driving along the 99W, there is a great clear open space to see Mt. Hood on a clear day and today was that kind of day!  It was a great way to start the day. 

We meet up at the Spring Water Corridor, which is where Micah and I logged many miles training for the 2007 Portland Marathon.  This trail is great because it has 1/2 mile markers along the way which helps me stay motivated.  With the chilly 40 degree weather I had my sneakers on and I was ready to run!

I jogged for 30 minutes straight.  This is probably the 5 time in a row that I have been able to jog since I started training for the triathlon and each time feels a little better.  Getting in shape feels good and it's nice to start my day off with a bunch of people cheering for each other.  Team in Training makes working out so much fun!!

Thank you so much for my most recent donators: the Walker family (Kristie, Colin & Annie), the Currie family (Sasha, Cliff & kiddos), the Brisbane family (Joyce & Art) and one of my Team in Training Coaches - Dano.  Coach Dano gave us a challenge on the last team bike ride to look for a bear and asked what the bear was standing in front of...which was a mint green house...so he donated $5 to my fundraising.   I am now 17.5% of the way to my fundraising goal of $3,400.  Thank you all for your support!!!!! 

Sincerely,

Summir

3rd Workout Session

Last Saturday we met at Downtown Portland for a running workout.  Different endurance levels ran for different amounts of time...I'm at the lowest endurance level so I went for 35 minutes and was able to jog the whole time!  I was stoked!  I would love to be able to jog for the entire 6 miles after swimming a mile and biking 28 miles.  Each workout will build my endurance and I'm looking forward to seeing my progress.  

I'm in the back right chatting with my new friend Dina...We are pretty close in pace for all the events so I wonder if we'll be racing together in June.

It was pretty chilly!

Thank you to everyone who has donated from the last time I posted: Ashley & Ali, Deanna, Jody & Elissa, and Julie.  I really appreciate your support.  Thank you for your contribution!

Sincerely,

Summir

2nd Workout Session

First of all, Happy Valentine's Day!

Today we had an awesome 15 mile hilly ride.  It was crazy exhausting.  We did an out and back ride which means we came back the same way we went out.  It was nice to know the exact 1/2 way point.  The Team in Training group is filled with excited and motivating coaches, captains and mentors who are filled with great advise and useful tips.  They were cheering us on today.  One mentor in particular helped me get passed several of the hills and gave me so advise about road safety and my bike gears.

It's great to meet so many people.  One person shared their personal story about having lymphoma cancer when she was 15 and her emotional story was extremely moving.  She said she was so thankful for the research that is being done to help others.  Her grandpa had cancer and worked with cancer researches as he went through and eventually lost his battle.  She said she was so grateful that her grandpa took the time and effort to let them learn more about his cancer to help others.  She is one of my teammates for the Pacific Crest triathlon, raising money along with everyone else to help fund more research.  She won her battle with the cancer and passed her story along to us this morning...so I only see fitting to pass it along to you as well.

Special thanks to Alison and Peter, in that order, were the first to show their support of my journey to help Leukemia and Lymphoma research.  They each donated $50 to support my fundraising goal. Just $3300 to go!  Thank you guys so much!!!

Sincerely,

Summir

1st training session and some emotional stuff too...

Wow today was crazy hard!!!  First of all I had a hard time falling asleep because I was so excited.  Then I woke up at 6am, got ready and headed for Sauvie Island (a really cool place up here where they do lots of farming and u-pick fresh delicious food).  On my way there I was very overwhelmed with the feelings of why I wanted to do this.  I've been thinking about my grandpa A LOT!  His battle with cancer lasted 3 years and ended in August 2000.  This time in my life was absorbed with swimming.  I lived swimming from the moment I woke up to the dreams I had at night.  My grandpa and I corresponded as pen pals through my years at Fresno State.  I loved to here from him and he asked to hear all about me.  I didn't spend much time with him during these years....something that is really hard to admit.

The summer of 2000 for me was exciting, most of it at least.  I had qualified for the Olympic Trials that year at my conference meet in college.  I turned 21 in July.  I swam all summer long...morning and nights...training for trials, which was in the beginning of August.  My mom, sister, aunt, 2 cousins and their little ones came to cheer me on...what a surprise that was!!

Shortly after returning from that meet I had to head back up to Fresno for training for my senior year and school to start.  That is when I got a phone call I will never forget.  My mom called on the weekend and told me, "grandpa isn't doing so well" and I assured her I'd drive down the following weekend right after Saturdays workout.  She said I needed to come sooner.  I flew down to LA about 3 hours after our phone conversation and went to my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Dan's house where my grandpa was living out his last days.  He held on to say his good-byes and pass on knowledge to those he felt he needed to say something to...he was an amazing man!  

So with all that said...yeah this morning was a tough 45 minute drive to the meeting point which I pulled myself together and rode 12 miles.  I am exhausted.  It burned.  I'm out of shape! I've actually been crying while writing most of this post.  I know this journey is not just about helping raise money.  It's more then just getting in shape.  This is seriously therapeutic for me!  I have stuffed away feelings I didn't know I was holding onto about my grandpa.  I love him so much and miss him dearly.  He has made such a huge impact on my life and I'm truly so grateful that I was able to spend part of my life knowing him!  

I am so glad to have a team to train with...a team who's common goal is to help each other get better, race their best and fundraise for a fantastic cause.  I'm so excited to be a part of this experience!

Sleeping Well Tonight,

Summir

12 miles done, bike loaded up...now it's time to go home and sleep  :)

My First TNT Event!!!

Hey Everyone!  I'm training to participate in a triathlon. I will be doing this event as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team In Training and we are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. This is very important to me because my grandpa lost his battle with lymphoma cancer in 2000.  I am completing this event in his honor and  in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. 

Here's a pic of my mom, me and my grandpa...obviously from awhile ago but it's one of my favorites because my grandpa loved trains.  I spent a good amount of time in his train room where he enjoyed building up this little train town that had houses and stores...it was super cool!  He even got me a hat to wear with him while we worked on the trains together.  Now my son loves trains and it just warms my heart that he loves something his great grandpa loved as well.

I'm going to use this blog to post about my workouts, fundraising and other TNT related stuff.  

Sincerely,

Summir