Operation: Bald, Beautiful, & Beneficial

Well, the day has come... in fact, it snuck up on me! Tonight I, and several of my teammates are shaving our heads to raise awareness and benefit several organizations! You might think we are crazy, but we believe our one act can help to raise awareness and enhance our fund-raising efforts, not to mention contributing to the great organizations who will benefit from receiving our hair. Please come to support, cheer or laugh... just come down! Bring friends, bring news crews, whomever!!

WHEN: Friday Sept 5 @ 7 pm
WHERE: Salmon Street Fountains at Waterfront Park

THE ORGANIZATIONS TO BENEFIT:

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - We are conducting an awareness and fund-raiser to further the great mission of LLS to find a cure for blood cancers in our lifetime!
Locks Of Love - all hair 10" and longer will go to making natural hair wigs for children who have suffered hair loss due to radiation, chemotherapy, and other medical reasons.
Matter of Trust - all little pieces will be made into hair mats that are used in oil spill clean up.

My journey with Team in Training has been amazing! The triathlon is ONE WEEK away!!!
Thanks for all your support thus far! You can still donate as little or as much as you want (even $5 helps) at www.RalynTNT. com

GO TEAM!!!
Ralyn

Keeping warm with laughter and friendship!

This is me with my dear teammate, Katy! She is awesome! She was my partner for the ocean swim on Sunday. She taught me how to body surf. We had a blast... even though our feet, hands and faces started going numb!

This weekend... Friday and Saturday, we are holding a garage sale on NE Davis, just off of 20th. Come on by! All money raised will go to our fundraising for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. There will be furniture, girls', women and men's clothes. Also, a bunch of outdoor gear and a couple of nice Canon cameras.

Come on out and support our team! And get some stuff for yourself!

I must say, that one of the greatest things about this experience has been the friendships I've made. These are some of the most wonderful people I could ever have hoed to struggle through this with! WOW! I am so proud to be on their team! Heck, some of us are shaving our heads together! That's love!

I love you guys!!

Cheers! GO TEAM!!

A grey day on the coast

Brrrrrrrr... have you ever had an ice cream headache? That's what it feels like when you dive through the waves in the Pacific Ocean. Woah, I just got chilly thinking about it!

I must say, we had a blast in Manzanita. Coach Julie is making sure to prepare us for our race in every way possible. This, of course, includes COLD WATER SWIMS!

Come back later... I have more to tell you about this, but I have to run!

Winding Through Wine Country

38.2 mile Bike

We went on the 8th Annual Vine Ride today in Newber, OR for our team workout today. I am incredibly happy to report that it was a beautiful ride! We rode 38 miles through the rolling wine country of Yamhill County. It was lovely day for it.

Coach Glen told us to just go out and have fun! That was great! Typically, on our team rides we have to observe the official USAT triathlon rules. For example, you cannot draft in a triathlon. Drafting is riding within 5 bike lengths behind another cyclist. You also have only 15 seconds to pass. There are a few more rules, too. Breaking of such rules usually results in a time penalty. So, today we got to ride closer to our teammates, and actually talk to them. This is especially nice when the ride is so beautiful!

Okay, I will have to tell you more about the ride later... I'm a little hot right now and just want to take a nap!

GO TEAM!

Stay tuned for a report on tomorrow's trip to Manzanita for a swim in the Pacific!!!!!

A run around the river

- Run 3.25 mi
- Bike 8.2 mi (just commuting)

Today I took my run at lunch and ran around the esplanade and waterfront. It was a great day for it... not too hot. I was scheduled to run 4.5, but didn't get that fit into my lunch hour. That pesky day job just seems to get in the way of the rest of my life. So, I just made sure to push myself a little harder than I normally would have. It worked out just fine!

I will shave my head!!!

Hey folks!

Yes, you read that heading right... I am going to shave my head to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You can be a part of this wild adventure too! Simply make your 100% tax-deductible donation at http://www.ralyntnt.com/ between now and August 25th and you could be a part of this grand undertaking.

Several of us on the TNT Triathlon Team are going to shave our heads in an effort to blow the doors off of this fundraising challenge. If you all pitch in and help me raise another $3000 by August 25th, I will shave my head!! We are still ironing out the details, but I wanted to give you all a head start!

Not only will the money you donte at http://www.ralyntnt.com/ support research and patient care, but we will be donating our hair. Those whose hair is long enough will be donating to Locks of Love, a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. And the shorter hair and small clippings will be donated to Matter of Trust to make hair mats that aid in the clean up oil spills.

Now, antoher way you can help... we are looking for corporate sponsorship and media coverage. Please help me connect with people that can help make this HUGE! We want to get some attention and funding for LLS!!! We can do it!

Together we CAN make a difference!!! YOU are a part of this team!!

GO TEAM!!

Another night in open water!

Tonight was my second dip into the open water. We swam at Klineline Pond in Vancouver, WA. I did a little bit better than the first night, but I had a couple other little demons pop up. Okay, so, I will admit, I am a little scared of the open water. Most specfically... what may or may not be in the water. This kind of falls into the scared of the dark category for me. I'm happy to report that I was NOT dragged into the murky deep and eaten by a 300 lb. mutant creature.

At any rate... we swam around the lake/pond twice, totalling approximately 2/3 of our race distance. Not too shabby. I am having some breathing problems, but I think i just need to slow it down. And I think I will be taking an inhaler to the water from now on. I think the asthma didn't really go away.

Even though they are wicked tight, a crazy wrestling match to get into, and just plain new to me... I think I like my wetsuit! I feel super tough and super sporty.

Cheers!
Ralyn

First Time in the OPEN water!!

Klineline Park, Vancouver, WA. Wow! First time in open water. First real time in our wetsuits. I'll admit, I had a hard time with it. I felt a bit panicky and felt like I was hyperventilating some of the time. I gotta tell ya, those things are a bit constrictive. But, I guess it makes us faster! After I slowed my breathing and calmed my stroke so I wasn't thrashing about, I felt better. Oh, and the cool thing... because you are wearing a rubber (well, neoprene, specifically) suit, you float! Now, I don't mean on top of the water like you are an innertube or raft, but just peacefully ... little need to tread water.

All in all, I am glad that we got that over with. I do believe it will get easier as we go along. But maybe I should start bringing an inhaler with me to swim... maybe that would help.

A lovely ride

- Bike: 26.2 miles

I rode out to my mom's house and had a lovely dinner and visit with her. Man, I love to ride!! It doesn't take me long before I am smiling like an idiot. Especially when I get out of the city streets and get on the Springwater Corridor Bike Trail.

Longest Brick of the Season

- Bike: 20 miles
- Run: 5 miles

So today was our longest brick. It wasn't so bad! Surprisingly enough. I had a rough week of ultra-busy-ness and got less than ample sleep and less that "training" nutrition. However, I still managed to survive the brick. And I even "ran" the whole run. Wahoo.

"Gorge"ous Bike Ride

(photo left: My crazy teammate and friend, Eluta... check out that view up at our aid station at the Women's Forum!)

What an amazing way to spend a Saturday morning! Today, we did a very long, very hilly ride. Well, at least relatively speaking. 28 miles. We started at Edgefield and rode across the Sandy river and up through Corbett. We had an amazingly beautiful aid station stop at the Women's Forum. WOW! The view was spectacular! Looking out over the Columbia River Gorge, at the seemingly endless beauty and awesomeness of my Pacific Northwest, I can't help but feel so incredibly fortunate to be healthy enough to make this journey. We were graced with the presence of our honored teammate, Darlene this morning. This is such a wonderful occasion, as she has been struggling lately with her health, problems with the bone marrow transplant, which is sadly quite common. I am so glad she felt up to joining us. She brought with her some wonderful beaded bracelets that say "HOPE" that we all wore on our ride, and I now keep in a place where I can see it often and grab it to wear when I need some extra encouragement... and hope. Remembering the encouraging words that Darlene said, and her humble giving of such an appropriate and thoughtful gift, helped me make my way up the hills. The most challenging aspect of the ride was probably the final 4 mile ascent up Larch Mountain. Woah! I repeatedly went through my collection of encouraging mantras: "Yes, I can!" "I can do it!" "I am amazing!" "Healthy body, Strong mind." And more! Guess what!? I never had to get off my bike and walk it (not that the idea of walking uphill for a few miles was attractive!) I am frankly AMAZED at how far I have come... how far the entire team has come. I even got lost on the way back... took the wrong bridge... had to go up yet another hill not on the agenda. I don't see how I can make any excuses for not being able to do anything now... I believe I can do anything I put my heart and mind to! YOU CAN TOO!!!

Fundraising Update... you all ROCK!!

I thought you all might like to know how the fundraising effort is going! So far, at the halfway point, my supportive friends and family have helped me to raise $1736.50!! What a great start!!! We have a ways to go to my goal of $6500, but I know we can do it! I will be having a yard sale with another team mate in August that I will tell you all about! It should be a good assortment of several families worth of treasures. Speaking of which, if you have any items and boxes of things you've been "meaning to take to the GoodWill" that you would like to contribute to the cause, let me know and we'll figure out a way to get that from you! And there is still time to donate... and any amount helps! Go to www.RalynTNT.com to monitor the donation thermometer and contribute to this worthy cause, and help stamp out cancer! We are "Saving Lives, One Mille at a Time!"

As I have been mailing out letters, sending emails and generally telling everyone I know about what I am doing and the mission of TNT and LLS, I am finding out just how widespread these blood cancers are. It's amazing, though, to see the outpouring of love and support out there. And I believe that in my lifetime, we will see an end to blood cancers and other cancers as well. Individually, it may not seem like we can make a difference... but put a bunch of individuals together and we are MIGHTY!!!

Much Love!

It's been too long!

Wow, I have not been keeping up with my blogging! I am new to this blogging world. And, to be honest, I was never a great journaler or diary keeper. I am constantly inspired by the blogs of other people in my life. One of my very favorite blogs is Jen Polo, she is one of Trek's Featured "Women Who Ride!" She's amazing... an inspiring triathlete and mom, and hilarious woman, as well as a strong woman fighting Lymphoma. You should check out her blog at http://www.womenwhoride.typepad.com/jen/

As for my world... the training expectations are increasing and I am happy to say that I am rising to the occasion. We have been doing those bricks (Bike, Run... ICK) almost every weekend. Slowly but surely, I am actually getting all of my "away from the group" workouts in. I even went for a run a week or two ago and ran to the running store and bought new shoes! Yay! They make me faster... well, not really, but at least my run is more efficient and comfortable!

On July 12th we had an amazing workout and event! We ran an hour at Willamette park and followed that with a celebration with the other Team in Training groups as well as our honored teammates. Sadly, Darlene, our team's honored teammate was unable to attend. She is having some problems with her recovery from the bone marrow transplant she had. So, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers for a complete & speedy recovery. It was a fantastic potluck, nonetheless, as it was amazing to see how large a group we are! It's amazing to see that there are so many of us fighting to find a cure for blood cancers. And this is happening all over the US and even abroad. We actually just got a teammate transplant from the San Francisco TNT Tri team. How cool is that!? It's like a baseball trade!!

That's all for now... I'll give you all some more recaps from the last couple weeks a little later!

GO TEAM!

Wow! First Brick and a couple HOT HOT rides!

Yay, first brick! Brick = 2 of our 3 sports. Saturday... 10 mile bike + 2.2 mile run. Woah! It was already a little warm out. But we all survived! Hooray!

On Sunday, I was scheduled for an 18 mile bike... and I did about 21 miles. Oops... no wonder I was exhausted. AND I discovered www.MapMyRide.com AMAZING!!!

I just keep plugging away!!

Hi everyone!

Well, this has been a great week! I made serious progress on my swimming on Monday. Coach Julie gave a great kernel of wisdom. Maybe this will help YOU swim better too! (Or at least help with anything you need to have a little rhythm to do.) Choose a mantra or sing a song in your head to keep an even breathing rhythm. Man, that really enhanced my mood and my power! I must say I had more energy AFTER my workout than before! Here were my mantras: "I CAN DO IT!" "I'M A WINNER" "YES, I CAN!" Wow, just typing those makes me feel all energized and happy! Never ever underestimate the power of positive thinking and positive personal praise. Our fragile egos can sometimes use the boost... even if we think we are doing alright. I think I'll even incorporate that theory into other areas of my life. For example... I think that praising and encouraging the people around me will be beneficial to all of us!

*~*~ "We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot." ~*~* Eleanor Roosevelt

I did it! I RAN!!

Okay, so I finally got my running workout in!! It was a great day for it. I ran for 35 minutes around the Eastbank Esplanade and Watferfront. It was beautiful! I feel like I am getting stronger and perhaps even faster. So this goes to show that the endurance working I'm doing in the swimming and biking are helping the running. HooRay!!

This weekend, a bunch of us from the team will be renting ourselves out as rowdy fans for a triathlon in Vancouver. This is in an effort to get us closer to our goals for fundraising... and get The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society closer to their goals of helping people with blood cancers & bringing an end to this monster of a disease!

Together we CAN make a difference!!

Go TEAM!!

Keeping up with the team

Keeping to the training schedule is not too terribly easy for me right now. I'm able to keep up with the group training sessions... since I feel more accountable for those. I have also been doing well about getting my extra swim workout in. I squeeze it in between work and Comedy Sportz on Wednesdays. I feel that the running (the event I'm LEAST excited about) tends to get left by the wayside. I did my run on my own on June 1st... and that's it. Shhh... don't tell coach. Or, maybe I do need a good "talking to." I just find it hard to get out there and do it! I need to just suck it up and schedule it, and commit. Today, I intended to run at lunch. Well, it got to be half an hour until lunch and I was starving. I couldn't very well run on an empty stomach, right? Nor could I eat and run half an hour later, RIGHT? Okay, so I realize that's a LAME excuse to not run. Especially considering I had already put it off since Tuesday.

Well, enough beating myself up... I'm just gonna finish my work day and squeeze in a run before dinner. Wish me luck!

feeling the burn

Okay everyone... it's officially here. The day when I am really starting to be sore. Maybe that means I haven't been working out steady and hard enough yet, but, holy moly, am I looking forward to my massage on Sunday! I gotta tell ya, when I actually started doing my workouts regularly... I feel it!

So, I haven't been keeping up with my blog... sorry to leave you all hanging. Saturday morning we went for a run... a 50 minute run! Wowee... I think that's the longest I have ever run. I got in about 5 miles so that's quite an accomplishment for me. I was certainly ready to nap after that! But, it sure felt good to do it and even keeping a steady run (well, my jogging pace of "run") 99% of the time.

On Sunday, I took advantage of the glorious weather and went for a long ride with my dear friend and massage therapist, Stephanie (she's excellent, I'll give you her number!!!) and another friends of ours, Sara. Oh, we had a blast! I LOVE LOVE LOVE riding my bike!! And, did I mention that I have a new bike? She's fabulous!

Last night... GROUP SWIM! It was our first night in PSU's pool. It's a nice place! Now, I learned a valuable lesson... I must get some food in me before an hour and a half of swimming. Otherwise, my usual cheery disposition is replaced by a snippy, crabby grouch!

First Team Swim!!

WOW! How fun! Last night I participated in my first team swim practice. I had a great time! It is so much more enjoyable (and productive) to swim with the team and the coaches! We did drills and techniques to help with our body positioning. It was very nice to have feedback from coach Julie, Coach Glen, and my lovely mentor Matilda. I felt more at ease and felt like I was actually doing the strokes right... or at least correcting as I went along. It's amazing to see what a difference a little accountability makes. I've been doing my swimming mostly in my twice a week swim lessons at my local pool. Don't get me wrong, i love the class and love love love swimming with my dear friend Christine, but I'm not very focused on much except fun. :-) Honestly, I'm new to the concept of self-discipline... well, not the concept isn't new, but the practice of it is. TNT is proving to be good for me on soooo many levels.

I'm looking forward to tonight, TNT is offering an injury prevention clinic. I must say, TNT is GREAT for giving us all the tools we need to be successful in this entire enterprise. THANK YOU TEAM IN TRAINING!!!! You Rock! Oh, and I just found out, there's still time to join the Marathon (walk/run) and Cycle teams with Team in Training if you want to get in on this awesome experience. Especially if you were already planning to do the Portland Marathon, or dream of doing the Nike Women's Marathon (or half) in San Francisco.

'Til next time!

The Mock Triathlon!

Oh, what fun! On Saturday, we met as a team at Vancouver Lake Park to participate in the bike portion of a mock triathlon put on by the Portland Tri Club. It was awesome to watch other Team in Training triathletes gear up in their TNT wetsuits and a whole gaggle of them jump into the lake on a chilly morning! They are normal folks like the rest of us and it's great to know that they were right where we are in our training only four months ago. In a few weeks WE will be swimming in that same lake! The bike ride was a lovely 13 miles and the weather was perfect. A little chilly, but not too bad. We learned about triathlon rules and regulations before we set out on our ride. It was interesting to find out how many specific rules are involved in triathlon.

I'm Back in the Saddle again!

Okay, so my first training day back from being sick was pretty good! I'm still sick, but my energy is back. I missed Saturday's run, as I was still sick in bed. So today, Sunday, I rejoined my team bright and early at Frenchman's Bar Park, in Vancouver. Armed with a handkercheif, a pocket full of Kleenex, plenty of water and Gatorade and all my rain gear, I was more than ready to hop on my new bike, Louise for our maiden voyage!

We had a bike handling clinic, where we learned to properly countersteer into a turn and especially how we are going to have to handle our 8 u-turns at the race. Interestingly enough, I've been doing these things backwards all these years. You have better braking and more control during a stop when you use your front brake. Well, we only had one spill... and that was pretty harmless. Way to go, George... you are a rock star!

The ride itself was about 11 miles and flippin' wet! Ah, the joys of training in the great northwest! It was AWESOME to ride my new bike!! I'm so excited! It fits me perfectly. And it makes me fast. hehehehe! It was a great ride and yet another great time with our team.

Today we got into a conversation about how, as we talk to more and more people about our Team in Training mission, we find out just how many peolple's lives have been touched by blood cancers. It's staggering. With all of us working together to fund research and family support, I believe we can see the end of this and other cancers. Thank you all for being a part of that dream!

GO TEAM!!

My First week of Training with the Team!!

I can't believe it has only been one week since I committed to take on the challenge and priviledge of participating with Team in Training! It has been such a full week!

Our first team training was on Saturday May 17th. It was a gorgeous day for a bike ride. We met bright and early at Sauvie Island for a 12 mile bike ride and to get to knwo our team a little better. It was FANTASTIC! We all survived and rode back into the elementary school parking lot where we started to the sounds and sights of our new teammates cheering. What a feeling! I'm so excited to be part of a team like this!

The very next day, we met up bright and early for a run and form clinic at Duniway park. It was pretty darned warm, but we all still managed to learn alot and have a great time! We have such supportive coaches and mentors. And my fellow teammates are a huge source of support. This is the start of a beautiful partnership!

For now, I'm a little under the weather. I'm learning about my body and specifically, that I need to get my rest and hydration.

Sniff..sniff..hachoo!
Until next time!
GO TEAM!!!