Grieve, Pray for Strength and Remember...

Alan Impicciche passed away on April 23, 2012.  He was 52.  He was my uncle, "Unke Al."  He died from Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

When I began this journey in January, I wanted to show support for my uncle as he underwent treatment for a disease I was sure he would beat.  I wrote to him to tell him I wanted to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to support and honor him.  My uncle fully supported the challenge I was taking on and was touched by my desire to help in the only way I knew how.  I had no idea that only four months later I would be training to race in his memory.

When I was a child, Alan lived with us for some period of time.  I have fond memories of going to Toys 'R Us to pick out gifts on my birthday.  One year he bought me a giant green plastic piggy bank with pink eyes (think the Amityville Horror Pig), another year a whole slew of pound puppies with a carrier.  I can remember so looking forward to shopping for my birthday gift with Alan, because he always let me pick things that my mom said I couldn't have or were too expensive.

I recall Alan picking me up from day care one day and marching back into the office to admonish the administrator for not punishing some little boys who had thrown sand in my eyes making me cry.  And I will never forget weekend dinners at my grandparents house when an hour or so after dinner, Alan would announce "Dudes, Pizza?" (What can I say, we Italians think pizza is an after dinner snack.)

As I grew older, Alan married Ann and they had two amazing children, Maria and Michael.  Although I was not as close with Alan as I grew into adulthood, I always loved and cherished my relationship with him.  As I write this, I cannot help but think of Alan's unique quirks that made him both goofy and lovable at the same time.  Alan loved vanilla ice cream and beanie weenies, but he hated to be in the same room as an onion. Alan loved to eat Wonder Bread sandwiches...just two slices of white wonder bread squished into a ball.

Alan loved golf, but he loved his family more.  I have read numerous messages left by friends and colleagues.  Seeing Alan through the lens of his friends and co-workers is to see him as a dedicated and bright co-worker, a wonderful friend, who put family and friendship above all else.

Alan suffered greatly the last few months of his life as he battled his illness.  I take comfort that Alan is no longer suffering and is now watching over all of us.  Alan's death came too quickly, his children were too young, his wife and family still hopeful he would recover.  So, we will grieve, we will pray for strength, and we will remember.  I believe that training and racing in Alan's memory will give me the opportunity to grieve, to pray for strength, and to remember.  And when I struggle, I will picture Alan alongside our Lord and Savior...perhaps they will be sharing a Wonder Bread Sandwich after a game of golf as they watch over and protect our family.

Unke Al - I love you, I miss you, and I will look to you for strength.  We will always remember your kind heart and gentle spirit.  Rest in peace Alan. Love, Andrea

I did the Carmel Sprint Triathlon...and then I asked myself "what were you thinking signing up for a 70.3?"

The Carmel Sprint Triathlon is the 1st Triathlon of the Indianapolis Racing Season.  The race is a 400 meter pool swim, 10 mile bike ride, and 3.1 mile run around Carmel High School.

First let me set the stage.  Mentally, I have not been training for a sprint triathlon.  In fact, mentally I have been training for this race that seems really far away.  And, I've been focusing on distance.  And, last week I only managed to get 1 training day in on Monday before the race on Sunday...oopsie!  Cue mental brain fart...I forgot to make sure my bike was in working order the day before the race... and, I forgot that I felt the gear shift pop the last time I road my bike.  Add in a beautiful day with winds gusting up to 30 miles/hour.

I awoke at 5 a.m. (awoke seems like a funny term, because I never really sleep before races and this was no exception).  I pulled on my tri suit, twisted my hair into my usual double french braids I always sport for race day, loaded my bike onto my car and began my trek to the Upper Penninsula also known as "Carmel" by those who live in downtown Indianapolis.

When I arrived at the highschool to set up transition at 6:30 a.m., it was so dark I could have used a head lamp.  After unloading my gear from the car (I could seriously post a second blog entry on my packing rituals) I trudged to transition and began unpacking and arranging my gear.  I won't get into the fact that some people are obsessive about transition and arranging their gear.  4 races in I have not developed an obsession with transition arrangement, but I can feel it coming.

When transition closed I headed indoors with the my TNT team and began the waiting and defensive peeing (hey, no one wants to stop and pee mid race!).  Although you could warm up in the pool, given that the race did not begin until 9 (and it was closer to 10 by the time that I started) I was not interested in freezing my keister off for 2.5 hours. Hence the waiting and defensive peeing.

I was actually thrilled when the race finally started.  I really didn't have a strategy other than to finish in the least amount of time possible. 

Swim: My swim went well other than passing a breast stroker who clearly incorrectly seeded himself (amateur hour anyone??) and having to pass a guy who cut me off despite being slower than me.  All in, I give the swim a thumbs up.  Official race time: 9:23.

Transition 1: Transition 1 went relatively smoothly...everything seemed to be soaking wet, but I felt like transition went well as I donned my helmet, wedged socks onto wet feet, clipped on my bike shoes, etc.  Getting out of transition with your bike was a bit of a haul from a course perspective.  Official race time: 2:55 (ouch...I used to be more efficient at this)

Bike: The bike was an utter disaster.  Remember I set the stage for you above.  The first half of the course (at least) was up-hill in terrible wind...and remember that pop I mentioned...well, my bike would not switch gears.  2 miles in I was off my bike trying to adjust the rear brake and figure out what was wrong with my bike.  I got back on, I finished, but I was really sore and not a happy camper.  I should also mention that the bike course was really technical with lots of turns and lane changes...in short, it was super tough.  Official race time: 41:41 (ouch...just 13.7 miles/hour).

Transition 2: Transition 2 actually went smoother than Transition 1.  Things were less wet, and I was extremely thankful to be off my malfunctioning bike. I threw my helmet down (noticing half of my race gear strewn across transition from the wind) and exchanged my bike shoes for my newtons and clipped on my race belt.  I was ready, only to realize I didn't know where the run start was...after yelling to a volunteer I learned it was directly opposite the bike course (weird).  Official race time: 2:59 (ouch...perhaps I need to become more obsessed with transition).

Run:  Well, what can I say? The first 1/4 mile was straight up hill...broke my heart...especially after my awful bike experience.  I walked a little and started running, but I had a bad attitude after the bike.  I was thirsty, and tired and no water stops in sight (there was 1 water stop the entire race at mile 1.5 of the run course).  The run was not my best effort, but I completed it.  Official race time: 35:23 (although you may think this is slow (and although I am capable of running a bit faster) this time was actually not horrible for me).

And it was after all of this that I thought to myself "What were you thinking signing up for a 70.3?"

I'm still pondering that lapse in judgment.  But, alas, I've signed-up...and so, I will train and I will conquer 70.3 even if it isn't pretty...because I signed-up to raise money to fight blood cancers...and fighting blood cancer is more important than any lapse in judgment. 

Chicken and Brown Gravy For the Soul...

Last night I was asked to attend what people at my law firm like to call a "Chicken and Brown Gravy Dinner"...a gala event benefiting one of our clients where the food is never very good...but, is usually chicken with brown gravy.  So, I did my duty and attended.  And while I will admit that these events are sometimes a tad boring, my colleagues are a good group and we usually can make any event fun.   But this event actually had a really inspiring message. 

I attended the Brady Sports Achievement Awards and Dinner presented by Methodist Sports Medicine's Research and Education Foundation where scholarship awards are presented to  high school and college athletes who have overcome adversity or hardship in their pursuit of academic and athletic excellence.  Out of the 5 athletes that were presented awards, 3 of them had overcome blood cancer.  While all of the kids who were honored have overcome serious injuries and adversity (you can read about Robbie Hummel and Bradley Humphrey), my heart went out to the 3 who have battled blood cancer Ashtyn Brown, Alysia Bennet, and Evan Meade.

I guess I never really understood how prevalent blood cancer is until CLL struck a loved one.  Now I see blood cancers everywhere and I find myself witnessing extraordinary battles and extraordinary courage and perseverance every day.

You should read about the adversity faced by all 5 of the kids honored last night because it makes you realize that these kids love of being active and participating in athletics helped them to overcome the odds.  And these kids have first hand knowledge of what it is like to be privileged to have a healthy body that lets them participate in the sports they are passionate about.  They have first hand knowledge of what it is like to sit on the sidelines when faced with a horrific injury or incurable disease.

Next time I find myself wanting to slack off and take a day off from training or not push myself as hard as I should...I'm going to channel the spirit, energy, strength and perseverance of these kids.

I am not going to complain...

I am not going to complain...I am not in the hospital.  I don't have water on my lungs making it difficult for me to breathe.  I do not have a feeding tube nourishing me because I am too weak to eat. My kidneys are not struggling to keep up.  I am healthy.  My body is conditioned to swim, bike and run for long periods.  In the last week alone, I have swam more than 5000 meters, biked 54 miles and run nearly 7 miles (did I mention that running is not my favorite part of triathloning?).  So...I am not going to complain about training because it is a privilege to be able to train.  It is a privilege to not be so unlucky as to have my body taken over by blood cancer. 

But...

I have to admit...sometimes training is hard...mentally and physically.  Getting 1.5 - 2 hour workouts in 6 days a week is a challenge...especially with a full time job that is not always 9-5.  Once in a while I am tempted to give in to sitting on my couch and watching tv in lieu of running or biking because the temperature is a little nippy and the wind is whipping.  Lately, I have had a hard time getting everything in...which when you are facing what will likely be an 8 hour race in a little over 4 months... is scary.  I won't even get into the part about the fact that when you are training 12 or more hours a week...and working a full-time job...that having a social life (especially one that occaisionally incorporates a good happy hour cocktail or two) is nearly impossible. 

Instead, I am spending my time agonizing over what to eat so that I am a) not starving, b) not overeating, and c) properly nourishing my body.  I do laundry...lots of laundry...because well training is a stinky business that seems to create a ton of black lycra that needs laundering.  I plan and re-plan my workouts.  And yet...I still don't seem to get them all in.  I worry about my injured hip.  I pump and re-pump bike tires...plan my routes.  You get the point. 

And yet, I really do enjoy triathloning.  I like being so tired that I fall into bed.  And, as much as I thought I would hate asking people for money to support finding a cure for blood cancer...I find that I am now not shy at all when it comes to asking.  Because as I said before...I am privileged.  I am privileged to be the person asking for money...instead of the person battling blood cancer.  And...given the chance...I would do it all over again.

Take A Moment to say a Little Prayer For Those Suffering From Blood Cancer...

Training to fight blood cancer has never meant more to me.  My Honored Hero is having a really tough week in his fight against blood cancer, and my heart goes out to him and his family as I pray that he recovers.  Days like today make me realize that training really isn't that hard when you put it  in perspective.  Today, please take a moment to say an extra prayer for those who suffer from  blood cancer...

March was a long month to say the least.  From a training standpoint we were in a build period which meant that I was having to devote more time to training...longer swims, runs and rides...training six days a week...brick workouts...outdoor training.  Suddenly this race I signed up for is starting to seem real.  Couple that with a last minute trip to Little Rock for work and closing a deal I have been working on for over a year, and I was officially pooped and very ready for Recovery Week!

When your training, Recovery Week is like this beacon of light on the other side of a steep hill.  You don't mind that you still have to train during Recovery Week because your training distances are very tolerable.  The only bad thing about Recovery Week is that it is bookended by build weeks.  Alas, the first week of April is a build week. But, I am ready for it!  Bring. It. On. 

Dough Raiser!

Here is a simple way to eat pizza and help raise money to fight blood cancer!  Uno's Pizzaria on Southport Road has agreed to donate 20% of all guest checks (dine in and take out) during the week of March 4th through 10th.  Simply present the attached flyer  when paying the bill.  (The flyer MUST be presented in order to for us to receive credit!)  Please pass this along to all of your family and friends!

The Week In Review...Getting Back Into Training Mode

On Monday I swam 1100 meters, which in perspective is not that far, after all a mile is 1600 meters, and I have to swim 1.2 miles at Steelhead.  Our team has three work out options for our training schedule for each sport: Developing, Fitness or Competitive.  My goal is to always choose either the Fitness or Competitive work out.  So on Monday, I went with the Fitness workout despite the fact that the Competitive work out was only a 100 meters further...what can I say, the Bachelor started at 8 and it was the Hometown Date episode.  And, swimming is hard for me...I may not have swum that far, but I was still tired after 1100 meters.  That said, I am actually starting to enjoy swimming...and, the new swim suits I just purchased make swimming a little more fun!

On Tuesday I ran...and I had grand plans to run 3 or 4 miles, but the running gods had a different plan for me.  So, I only ran 2 miles.  I was a bit defeated...but, I figured I had several months to train...and if running didn't work out for me in August, I guess I can always walk.

On Wednesday I swam again...but, this time I swam 1300 meters because I chose the competitive workout!  I felt like I should have earned a medal.  This workout was particularly tough because instead of doing 200-300 meters of drills (which can be a bit of a break) we did a set of 2 x 250 meters.  This was followed by a 2 x 50 kick (with a kick board) and then another 2 x 250 meters with a negative split....again, I thought I deserved a medal.  And...swimming makes me ravenous...cue the large bowl of Special K when I got home!

Thursday was my first fundraiser.  Several of my friends and I attended a wine tasting at Kahn's to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through Team In Training.  It was a lot of fun, and a load of people  attended!  We raised nearly $1500 dollars in two hours!  The fundraiser was a great excuse to skip a workout.

Given the mild winter we have had thus far, to say it took an act of God to get me to Group Training yesterday (Saturday) at 8 a.m. in 27 degree weather (with wind) for a hilly (and very slick) 5.5 mile run at Fort Ben, is an understatement.  Factor in that I have not run that far since some time late last summer, and you might consider the fact that I actually got out of my warm car with heated seats a minor miracle.

The first two miles or so were pretty tough for me (it always takes me more than a mile to settle in and get comfortable...I think this is why I have a love/hate relationship with running).  The weather was lousy, and I was not so happy to be there.  But, thankfully one of our Team coaches, Coach Dave, picked me up about a mile and a half in and ran the rest of the way with me.  The next two miles went pretty smoothly despite the rolling hills...in fact, I was feeling pretty good.  Dave and I were discussing our love for Taco Bell and how unfortunate it was that Taco Bell is not considered health food (a fact that seems to be the common denominator amongst our Team).  And then, with a little over a mile to go, my legs started to give out.  I've been battling IT Band problems in my hip for months now...couple that with a longish run in the cold (with extra slippery pavement) after a few months of what I would term "very light running" (i.e. I have put very few miles in)...and that equals a pretty tough last mile.  But...I finished!  And...despite the fact that I am a bit sore today, I am feeling a lot stronger mentally about getting back to a regular training schedule that includes some longer runs.

Today I will finish up a week of 5 days of training with a 40 minute bike ride...which with any luck I will get to do outside if the temperature ever pops up like it is supposed to.   (Oops...were we supposed to do 6 workouts this week???  What can I say, it is February...the race is in August...I will get there.)

The trainer in my living room = Necessary Evil!