Road to Nations

The Road to Nation’s
September 23, 2009

Innocent Beginnings
I started a journey four months ago. The journey was initially a personal endeavor to complete a new challenge, but turned into an amazing experience where I met some amazing people while supporting an amazing charity. I would like to share a few highlights and thanks with you in this e-mail.

Spring started innocently enough – I flirted with the idea of buying a road bike and finally took the plunge about six months ago. The receipt is still crisp and filed away in a cabinet. The small aluminum frame and two wheels are more valuable than the engine, metal and plastic that I call a car.  I am still in awe of this little fact. I have included a picture – though she has been through a few upgrades since I took the picture including a new saddle, pedals, handlebar set up and a few new gadgets.

To welcome such an instrument of speed into my varied collection of hobbies I decided that I needed a goal and occasion to look forward to using my bike. The Nation’s Triathlon looked like the perfect opportunity. The race was sold out; however, there were open spots if you decided to join Team in Training, a charity for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I joined Team in Training as soon as possible. I would raise money for the organization in return for training and support during my first triathlon. I understood the responsibility that I was taking on, but perhaps I did not fully appreciate the work that it takes to raise money for charity.

Training & Fundraising

The past four months were challenging in many ways, 5:00 a.m. wake up times became the norm as I headed off for my first work out and often went back to the gym at night for my second workout after work. I started my swim workouts barely able to swim a length of a pool without gasping for air and stopping to take a break. I now swim a mile no questions asked.

There were tough times during training. Our team of athletes traveled across Virginia, D.C. and Maryland every Saturday to meet up at put in between 20 and 30+ miles every weekend, there were hills, many hills, flat tires, jellyfish, and did I mention hills? It was worth every minute and the support of my coaches and teammates was phenomenal. I have included a picture from a Saturday morning practice in MD. I did write to my personal blog as much as I could with training updates. Balancing work, training and fundraising took a majority of my time so my last training entry was probably half way through the training season. Feel free to read a few of the posts below.
When it comes to fundraising – I quite simply could not have done it without the help of an amazing group of people. To donate to charity during these rough economic times is very generous and I would like to express my utmost thanks to everyone that contributed to this cause!

The BIG Day

The Nation’s Triathlon was quite simply one of the coolest experiences I have ever had. I woke up at 4:00 a.m. and headed out to meet my mentor with a friend and take a cab into D.C. to set up my gear at the transition area. We arrived at the transition area (where we left our bikes the previous day) and started to set up our cycling and running gear. I was nervous but shared smiles and laughter with friends before jumping into our wetsuits. We were ready and I was determined to enjoy every minute of what was ahead of me.

The Swim

The swim pen was certainly something new. More than 4,500 people were together and I was eager to jump into the Potomac. You read that sentence right, I was eager.  My wave of 25-29 yr old males was easily more than 100 people and I am sure we were a sight to see because all of us sported bright neon pink swim caps. The air horn sounded and off we went towards the Memorial Bridge. The Potomac was not bad at all! It was a perfect 73.2 degrees, the current was barely existent and contrary to popular opinion did not taste like crap.

The open-water swim is often the scariest thing for many people and I was no exception. It is too easy to think that something can go wrong, but I had a great time and stopped at the Memorial Bridge close to the turn around point to glance around me and say wow. Not many people will ever be able to say they have seen D.C. as I have. I made it back to the swim exit ramp and ran as fast as I could towards my bike in the transition area. The swim took me 44 minutes and I am extremely happy with that time. I know I can improve and will for my next triathlon in May 2010.

The Bike

Honestly, the bike was a bit of a blur dodging fallen water bottles and watching a wipeout or two.

I spent my time going between 18 & 20 m.p.h up towards Maryland and back. The 25-mile bike ride was a blast and I am thankful I did not get a flat tire! The total ride took me approximately 1 hr 20 minutes.

The Run

Running with my bike back into transition was probably one of the most surreal experiences I have had.  I had traveled approximately 26 miles, but had a 10k run left. I donned my running shoes, remembered to take my helmet off and took off towards the running course. The course was quick, flat and fast around a place called Hains Point in D.C. With the finish line in sight, I passed friends and coaches towards the finish line and let out a surprised, “WOW” when I crossed the finish line. I was ecstatic when I crossed the finish line after a 1.5K swim, 40K bike and 10K run.  I finished my first Olympic distance triathlon in 3 hrs and 25 minutes, WAHOO!

A Memorable Experience

Participating in the Nation’s Triathlon and supporting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this summer was quite simply one of the best experiences of my life. I learned a lot about blood cancer and the resources available to families affected by this life-altering disease. Did you know that charitable organizations such as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fund a majority of the research to find a cure? I have included a few resources at the end of this e-mail and hope you take a moment to click on a few of them. Even though I questioned the possibility at first, I definitely look forward to signing up again next year. Maybe I can even convince a few of you to join me. To hear the words “you have cancer” is devastating, but a movement exists to ensure that a cure is found and future mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends are not lost to blood cancers in the future.

One person is diagnosed with a blood cancer every four minutes in the U.S., and I am proud to have participated in an event with an organization that gives hope to those families and friends in their moment of need.

________________________________________

My Team

I would like to introduce and give a shout out to my team below. I completed the Nation’s Triathlon on Sunday, September 13 with everyone below on a wave of tremendous support.  This is one amazing group of people!

Thanks for reading.

Resources:

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: http://lls.org/
Facts & Statistics: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=12486
Patient Services: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_toplevel.adp?item_id=4184
Find and event you want to participate in – Team in Training: http://www.teamintraining.org/

Matt

A brick, a flat, a day of conquered challenges

It was a busy weekend!

Saturday’s group brick (bike & run) was near Greenbelt, MD [Our Ride]. My group mentor, Rich, and I convinced ourselves that we would be early. Was that the case? Not so much. More than 15 people were already getting ready in the parking lot when we arrived and it was 7:20 a.m.

The weather was nice – great day for a ride and run

Side note: I’ve found cycling much more enjoyable than I could ever have anticipated. I love the preparation, the gearing up and taking off with another rider, or a whole peloton.

I was in a competitive frame of mind. I have been training a lot and this brick was supposed to show some of that off.

Ready

Slowly everyone begins to huddle in on one section of the parking lot.

Steady

The group grows, 10 to 30 to more than 50 riders amassing together with bikes and eager looks. Announcements made, safety signals reviewed.

Go!

We’re off!

One by one riders hit the road. How do you feel when riding in a group versus by yourself? I’ve found riding on roads to be okay when I’m by myself; however I’ll admit that riding with large groups takes a lot more concentration. There is so much more to look out for and you depend on great communication skills to stay safe.

pssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

I am ten people from the front of the group two riders. This is exciting…we’re in the middle of MD on an awesome day.

pssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Me: “Hey can you check my back tire. Is it flat?”
Rider behind me: “Oh yeah – your tire looks low!”

My first flat tire, bugger! What a kill joy! I pulled over to the side of the road five minutes into the group ride and ask for help to change my tire. I have not had to change my tire since buying my bike. Ironically, the Team in Training coaches had a planned tire changing clinic for after the group ride! (Mini shout-out to the coaches that stopped to help me out and make sure I was okay.) It turns out more than five people had flat tires along the course on Saturday. That seems like a mighty high number.

Let us give that a second try

Tire mended, I took off to reach the rest of the riders. As soon as I hit the main road there are a few of the faster riders passing by. They just completed seven miles at a great pace. I will confess though, I was baffled – there were only two sections of the bike course where you could keep a fast pace. There were so many potholes that I barely had time to look up and enjoy the fields of hay, the blue sky and the peace around me. One guy said after the race – “I don’t think I’ll be able to have kids after that course.” The road was bumpy. I get the sense that today is not my best day for riding.

I completed one lap of the course and headed back to the park (approximately 13 miles). Quickly throwing off my helmet, cycling shoes and gloves, I donned my running shoes, grab some water and took off for the running course.

Enough said – I ran the course which turns out to be really hard for me. I don’t really know why I had difficulty running. Maybe I didn’t hydrate properly. The loop was about 1.1 or 1.2 miles and I clocked in 12 minute miles…I swear I was running. I ran two laps and called it a day.

Total workout ~15 miles. Not bad before 10 a.m. I’ll boost up the mileage next weekend barring any additional mishaps.

All in all – training was fun and riddled with hiccups this weekend. One of the coaches said at the beginning of training that there are few things you can control in life, but what you can control is your attitude. I’m happy that I stayed positive, took away some new skills and know a few areas to work on. I want to put my new skills to use and practice changing my tires and more running after biking.

I’ll make sure to join the group workout faster, better, stronger next weekend.

—–

I am racing in the Nation’s Triathlon to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people facing Leukemia and Lymphoma.

Make a difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans currently facing a blood cancer by funding research, treatments and support. Please donate to support this cause. Any amount is greatly

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nca/nattri09/mingram

RAAM – Whoa!

The traithlon group had a bike clinic a few weeks ago and we heard from an owner of a local bike shop. The owner is a participant in RAAM – The Race Across America. I actually took a moment to look up the Web site here.

http://www.raceacrossamerica.org

This stuff is amazing. What an accomplishment for everyone involved! This is truly an endurance feat of dizzying proportions.

Maybe one day

Training run deemed “not that bad”

Running – The act of putting one foot in front of the other until (A) you sweat-out like a block of cheese in the sun and crack, or (B) need to tie your shoe laces.

…there may be other options; I chose not to indulge you with such things.

Runners abound

Hmmm…how do I start a conversation…“You look different without your swimming cap, maybe it’s the hair?”

Our group begins to grow. Triathlon participants are arriving one by one to join in the morning’s first group run. Collectively we number approximately 200 people. Rest assured, those 300 Spartans would find that our group could dispatch them with ease…after we finish eating our Powerbars.

You go first, I’ll catch up

Tough choices in life include where to live, who to date, what to eat, but at this moment in time – should I run for 40, 45, or 50 minutes? Ambition takes hold, but settling for 45 minutes will do. The 50 minute group leaves first. I will show off for the ladies at a later time.

We join the Custis Trail and find hills, oh they may have been short and sweet, but like an attractive person that glances at you as they pass by, a lasting impression is quick to form. This lasting impression burns.

Runners reach their time and turn around for the run back. The hills are unquestionably more downward than up.

Clinic 1: This is a bike

Shimano 105s (and above), shoes, cleats, and a helmet capable of shattering – all good things that any self respecting tri-athlete must consider owning.

Here is my bike! I love it. I bought it approximately two months ago.

Do you own a road bike?

Conte’s has regular Tuesday night rides. [Link]. Consider joining them, but be warned that there are some hills involved.

Team in Training Members

How was practice for your first running practice?

Family, Friends and Random Readers

I am racing the Nation’s Triathlon on Sept 13 and raising funds with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Please sponsor me by clicking on this LINK and make a donation. Any amount is greatly appreciated, makes a world of difference and is fully tax-deductible.