News

As you can see, things have changed around here a bit. I've sorted things into catagories (it was only a matter of time) so you can read what interests you. Just click on the topic to left. Please, please, please check out the new FAQ's section. It's got all sorts of info about what I'm doing and why. I really want you read the question on how you can help me fundraising, even if you've already donated. I really want to beat my goal of $2900 but can't do it alone! That's it on the news. Now, go, click something and read it!

A new love affair

I love my bike. Simple as that. Isn't she lovely? I haven't come up with a name yet. For now we're just getting to know each other. It's going to be short process since I felt immediately attached to the bike as soon as I clipped in.
It's a rare occurance when you feel superbly at peace and comfortable with what you're doing. That's how I feel every time I ride. It's the Junge blood, it's built into our genetic make up.
The world is perfectly clear when I'm on my bike. I'm right where I'm supposed to be at the moment.

What makes her so special? Check out the specs at the end of the post; not bad for an entry like road bike.

I had clipless peddles installed to be more efficient. It's got a cute little computer to keep track of everything. When I recommit (April 4) I'm going to buy areobars.

I love my bike.

Frame	Specialized A1 Premium aluminum, (Designed for Women geometry
Fork	Specialized, carbon w/aluminum steerer
Rims/Wheels	Alex S500
Hubs	Specialized, forged-aluminum
Spokes	14-gauge stainless-steel
Tires	Specialized All Condition Sport, 700 x 23c
Crankset	Sugino Comp
Chainwheel	50/42/30
Front Derailleur	Shimano Sora
Rear Derailleur	Shimano Tiagra
Rear Cogs	SRAM PG-950, 9-speed: 11-28
Shifters	Shimano Sora
Handlebars	Specialized Zertz Women's Comp
Tape/Grips	Specialized Body Geometry Bar Phat, cork
Stem	Specialized Comp-Set, aluminum
Brake Levers	Shimano Sora
Brakes	Ultralight, dual-pivot
Pedals	Composite w/clips and straps
Saddle	Specialized Lithia Women's
Seat Post	Specialized, carbon

Not bad at for an entry level bike.

Honor Teammate Picnic

Just a quick blurb on this right now. I'll add more when I'm more awake.
A couple of weeks ago we had our Honored Teammate Picnic where we met our official honored teammates (people who have been affected by a blood cancer) and those of individual participants.
People took turns telling about their experience and what brought them to TNT. The stories talked about everything from a woman who's been a survivor for 26 years to a young father who died within 3 weeks of diagnosis.
I'd been doing this training to get in shape and push my physical limits. I wanted to accomplish something big in it. At the picnic it stopped being about me. It's about the horrible things people have dealt with as they watch family members deal with a blood cancer. The remissions, reoccurances, miracles, and devastation.

This day made me increase my personal $$ goal from $2900 to over $4000. TNT is aiming for the $1 billion dollar mark this year. I'm going to help them accomplish that. Every dollar does something.

At least my swim cap is cute

I still don't like swimming. I feel watery and seasick when I drag myself out of the pool. Ugh. Not to mention the breathing issue. I'm concerned how I'm going to manage that at the race. Currently I feel like I can't get a good breath after a couple of laps. They tell us to flip on our backs until we're breathing normally again but that's not working. The only way I can get a good intake is by getting my chest out of the water. The river in Philly isn't going to be kind of to offer ledges for me to do that.

We had a stroke clinic last Thursday (not that kind of a stroke, nor that kind of a clinic). It helped to see someone who knew what she was doing show us what it's supposed to look like. I always visualize myself as I'm swimming but without a comparison it's a mute observation.
It helps, now, to "see" what I'm doing but I still don't have the body position right. I'm either arching my back too much so my rear is sticking out or I'm dragging my legs through the water.
What is the adjustment I need to make? I know it's something simple but I don't know what it is.

For now, I'll just keep drudging to the pool and working on one aspect at a time. Got any tips?

Training is, well, here.

Training is going “swimmingly”! (Sorry) We’ve started having two workouts a day, either swim/run or bike/strength. That's one in the morning, and one after work.

It has been tough getting my body adjusted to the changes. I had some wooziness issues the past couple of workouts that I’ve been trying to get to the bottom of…come to find out that I haven’t changed my eat habits at all! I was eating healthily enough, no burgers or candy bars. But I was eating the same as when I was trying to lose weight. I stopped counting calories a while ago, but made my habits while I still was, so I’m stuck in the mindset of small portions and little snacking. 1300-1500 calories does not support 2 hours of training a day, 6 days a week! It’s been hard to eat more... My mom’s helping by sending cookies from her bakery.

Outside of that, everything is coming along quite well. I’m finally starting to get the hang of good swimming technique and god knows I’d ride my bike forever if there were a long enough trail. Running is slipping a little behind progress-wise. I love to run, but I’ve been so caught up in swimming and my new baby – er, bike – that I haven’t been paying it the right attention. At least I finally got a pair of shoes that don’t kill my legs.

I don’t always look forward to individual workouts, but I can’t wait to see the results when I do them. Case in point: my pants are a little more snug around the thigh...

Just a little bit more...

Direct marketing always works best, so here's the deal: I'm sitting at $475 raised so far. I think that's a good start. But I want more. If I have a certain amount in my coffer by March 7th, I get a little goodie bag of TNT things. Right now I'm short of that mark. How short? However much you're willing to give, $5, $2500 (lol), $100, $27.50...please? Stella says it's the right thing to do!

This past weekend I went to Chicago to visit Annie at DePaul. Did I use the opportunity to take a few days off? Heck now! I decided to go for a run. I searched everywhere for a nearby gym with a decent guest rate. I couldn't find one. Nevermind, I thought, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the sidewalk!

Undaunted by single digit temps, I put on two pairs of tights, running pants, tank top, long sleeved t-shirt, Northface 1/4 zip, Northface Windstopper, gloves, and a hat. I strapped my iPod to my arm and took off. I was sweating like it was summer by the time I got to the front door. That was quickly resolved when the blast came through the door.

It took 30 seconds for me to realize that I left my inhaler in Annie's room. The wind siezed in my lungs. I kept going. I told myself that I'd survived 5 bouts of bronchitis while a smoker in Senegal, certainly a little cold air wasn't going to hurt for too long.

I ran for 30 minutes, meeting Annie outside the dorm. It didn't dawn on me to note my sighting of her roommate heading away from the dorm. I should have; she locked the door and we didn't have the key.

We slog to the Student Center and I am surrounded by clear-eyed, fresh as powder college kids, and me with my sweaty hair and bright red face. I took solace in my age and confidence.

After that adventure, I decided to leave the running until I came back to DC. It's hard getting back into the routine I had only just established. I'll be there by Saturday, no fear. The more motivation I have, the easier it is. The more donations I have, the more motivation I seem to find! Neat how that works huh?

Thanks for reading! Use the comment button and tell me what you think! I love the feedback.

I think I'm tired and only one donation?

I'm sitting here enjoying a small bowl of ice cream and looking forlornly at my fund-raising site. Okay, not forlornly, we have until June after all. But it's fun to see activity on it. It'll come! Right? Of course it will.
Now that that tiny guilt trip is out of the way, I'll write about other things. On y va.
Here we are, well into our second week of training. It's taking me a minute to get into the flow of it. I'm not used to having such defined goals and schedules for working out. I do like that aspect of it though, gives me a purpose. Your donations help too, because I can't let you down, now can I?
It's just tough to remember right now why I'm going to wake up at 5:30 tomorrow for a spin class. Oh yeah, curing cancer. That sounds like a good reason. I'll be in the habit soon and then I'll be one of those obnoxious people who "sleep in" on Saturday until 7:30AM.

Saturday we had a group workout session and nutrition seminar. It's great to be reminded that there are 20 other people who also have never done a triathlon and think they suck at running/swimming/biking. Just like me, imagine that!
Well, I know I don't suck at running. We have 3 levels of workouts, 1,2, & 3; it's based on length of time instead of speed or distance. Level 1 (that's me for now) runs for 30 minutes this first month. 8 min run, 2 walk. That structure makes it fly by. 30 minutes feels like nothing!
I don't think I suck at biking, I love spin class. Riding on a trail/road while clipped to the pedals in 30 degree weather in the dark might be an entirely different story though...we'll see...gotta get a bike first.
That just leaves swimming. Despite looking surprisingly cute in a lime green swimcan, I'm pretty much an abysmal in the water. I feel like I'm just flopping around in the pool like a little kid, all haphazard and inefficient. I have to get beyond the fear of looking stupid and keep working at it. It's in my genes after all.

I'm off to Chicago this weekend, where I'll get to see pretty art and eat lovely food, get a tattoo, and run in subzero temperatures. Yippie. That's not an excuse though, I have to follow the schedule as well as I can, otherwise there's really no point is there? Nope. So if anyone wants to call me this weekend and yell at me to get my butt outside, please, feel free.


Oh, this post is sounding booooorrrrriiiing...I'm surprised you're still here reading. I'm falling asleep on my desk! Good talking to you, and I hope the next post won't be as blah...at least it felt a bit blah to me. Feedback anyone? Lay it on me!
Logistics and day-to-day be damned! The fun stuff is soDespite looking surprisingly cute in a lime green swim cap, I found much more fun.
So my first day of swim practice was hell!

First Donation

Woo! I got my first donation to kick things off. Thanks Catherine, Go team! :)

Two packs a day to Triathlon

Yes, you read that right,I've gone and signed myself up for the Philly Triathlon in June. I did it because I really just wanted an excuse to write update e-mails again, but the world of finance can't compete with the adventures of Peace Corps.

Okay, so maybe that's not why I signed up for this event...what was the reason? Probably the same reason I took off to Africa for two years, to see if I can. PC pushed me mentally, psychologically, and emotionally. Now I want to test my physical limits, do things that never even occurred to me 5 years ago. Things that would have given me an asthma attack just thinking about, much less doing.

I did some research and discovered the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's group Team in Training. The organization is one of the largest endurance training groups in the world, which is great by itself. Add to that the research, support, and care they provide to the victims & survivors of blood cancers and you've got a great thing.

A thing that I am now a part of.

Over the next 5 months our DC group will train to swim, bike, and run an olympic distance triathlon in Philadelphia on June 22. Worried you'll miss out? Don't be! You'll get to hear about all the sweat and challenges and achievements we experience.

In exchange for training us and getting us all to the event and putting us up in hotels and pushing us when we want to stop, the participants have to individually raise $2900 by June. A lot of people are intimidated by that aspect. I'm not. I've seen firsthand the generosity you all possess when we raised money for the computers in Senegal.

Not only do I ask for your emotional and sometimes physical support, I need your help to complete the circle and reach my goal. I'll by putting up a website for donations in the next couple of days. You'll be able to track my training progress (if I'm not too tired to blog it) and my fundraising progress.
Sit back, get comfy and ride with me to Philly 08! Go Team!

Yours,
Paige