Even though my doctor told me I would never be able to run again, I still didn't want to believe it. I was not ready to give up on my hobby of softball or just running for exercise. In September, I started working with Team and Training on the leadership team.
For those of you who do not know what Team in Training is, they are a nonprofit organization that raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, or should I say their participants do. Individuals sign up with Team in Training. The participants agree to raise a set dollar amount and in turn, they are trained to do an endurance event. It can be a marathon, a hike through the Grand Canyon, a Triathlon or a 100 mile Bike Ride. If you have thought about doing some event like this and were afraid, this is the group to do it with as they will train you, teach you what to eat, help you stay healthy and provide your training schedule while you raise a few dollars.
Team In
Training is a group that increases awareness of the work of The Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society and raises money towards finding cures for leukemia, lymphoma,
Hodgkin’s disease, and myeloma.
Participants train for nationally recognized marathons, century rides,
or triathlons in the name of all patients, including my Honored Hero.
Leukemia is
the number one disease-killer of children under 15, and lymphoma is the leading
killer of men and women under 35. Every
five minutes, someone in the United States learns that they have leukemia,
lymphoma or myeloma.
This past winter, I served as the Mission Captain for the Winter Season. My job was simple, for each Saturday practice, I found a person to share their Mission with the team, why they are part of Team in Training. As you can imagine, there are definitely stories of victory and stories of heartbreak. Our overall goal is to find a cure so we can celebrate more victories than heartbreaks!
Well during the Winter Seasons Injury Prevention Clinic, I got a second opinion on my knee (free of charge- YAY). In looking at my knee, the doctor said there was no way that I needed a knee replacement and my ACL was fine. Then he grabbed my leg in a certain manner, and I never knew a person could fly off a table so high, but I sure did. His finding, it was my IT band. For those of you that do not know what that is, you can click here to learn more. My IT band had attached itself to quadricep and was no longer gliding over it. Hence why my knee hurt every time I ran and why my hip always ached.
Well after a solid month of exercises and continued walking, the problem eased and I found that I did not need my knee brace anymore. I then began running again. Yes, running that thing I wasn't suppose to do. By January, I was able to run for a 1 minute, walk for 3 minutes and finish my 13.1 miles. It might not have been fast but I was doing something I was told I could not do anymore and I finished a 1/2 marathon without ending up in a walking boot!! Whoooohoooo!!!!!
And so the running fever has returned. I decided that this season it was time again to be just a participate and raise money on
my own for a very important cause. So the “She’s
Gone Mad Part II” Campaign has officially began!
My commitment to you between now and June is to blog on a weekly, if not daily basis and share all the training and juggling of life that goes on while taking on this endurance event. It's not easy but it is so worth it. Tonight I have spent a 1/2 hour so far just updating my letters I need to send out, updating my fundraising website and updating you here. I still have envelopes to stuff and address so it will be a busy evening. Of course, let's not forget, today is a cross training day so I need to get in a 1/2 hour walk with the pups yet tonight.
You can follow my fundraising efforts here:
In the spirit of Team in Training, I sign of tonight with:
GO TEAM!!!!!
