This is my 4th season coaching for the Southern WI region of Team in Training and after our kick-off meeting last night I am excited for another season with such a great organization!!

Team In Training (TNT) is the signature event of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and is the largest endurance training program in the world!  Since 1988, more than 420,000 TNT participants have raised over $1 billion for life saving cancer research and services to help blood cancer patients live longer, better lives.  These days everyone is affected by cancer in some way, and it is through the fundraising that we can raise the money needed to help.

I am currently training a team of athletes for 3 different marathons/half marathons (San Diego, Vancouver, and Seattle).  Many of the runners or walkers have never done a race or ran more than a few miles before, so it is quite a challenge for me as a coach and for them as aspiring marathoners. 

I am so glad to be involved with TNT and be able to help make a difference in the lives of people suffering from blood cancers.  The survival rate has increased dramatically and I know each season that the money we raise is making a difference.   It’s great to be running for a reason!

For more info:       http://www.teamintraining.org/

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10. Giving up Mike Lavery’s round food diet
9. Running and riding… even in the rain…
8. or on the trainer if it is wet and cold - with inspiring riders (Carmen (pictured) and Kelly, Colavita Professional Cyclists kicking some computrainer butt).
7. Running or cycling for more than an hour…
6. or just do a race that takes more than an hour (I came in 100th place — try to repeat that)
5. Sleep
4. Prep (e.g., ensuring gear is in working condition, nutritional products aren’t expired, etc.)
3. “No more hobbies, no more volunteering” mantra (imposed by my spouse)
2. Finding more time to work in order to support racing habit
1. Calling it “training” instead of “working out”

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1. Bionic Ankle
The seemingly endless cast and boot wearing came to an end after the post-Kona reconstruction of my right ankle. The rehab journey, I must admit, left me more logistically compromised, mentally drained, and unfit than I expected. Who knew the hours I’d spend standing on one leg… But alas, I raced short a couple times, just to test it. Nothing noteworthy, just in the mental tank.
2. Family travel
Without weekend bike racing and triathlon race travel, we hit the Texas towns of Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio as well as Sedona (AZ), the Redwood National Forest (CA), Chicago (IL), and Montreal (QC, Canada). If you are looking for a great family trip check it out - Western Spirits . Wow.
3. Toilets
For my birthday, I bought myself new toilets. They are the “push the big button for #1 and the small button for #2” type.
4. Garage
I cleaned the garage and attic. Imagine crazy mess “before” and cabinets and organization “after”. The only victory I needed; I love purging the garage and attic (although I gave Michelle about 12 boxes of kid books and 5 boxes of baby stuff, so one day we’ll have to purge her garage, too).
5. Pixie
Our newest family member, our shelter puppy. She loves to run.
6. Favre
I love Brett for returning to football to a team for which he knows the offensive system. Makes my family/marriage-life much better. We even call my husband, Michael, “The Silver Fox”.
7. Haircuts
Autumn and I cut off our long hair.
8. 40!
Even drank wine in my special ‘40’ wineglass.
9. Spectating
I became a champion spectator… Cali 70.3, Florida 70.3, CapTex, Longhorn 70.3 (ok, I was in that race, but I wasn’t exactly moving in a speedy way)

Happy 2010!

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It’s autumn, and the winter approaches. What to do on a chilly afternoon?
Make some hot apple cider and snuggle up together with a great book.

1. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
A coming-of-age book where a middle-school-aged boy becomes stranded out in the wilderness. Forced to make critical decisions, he prevails over daily survival challenges.
Inspiring, well-written, intense.

2. Savvy by Ingrid Law
Imaginative fantasy with enough realism to make you consider your own self, Savvy tells a heart-felt story. A fabulous story about a young girl’s journey to find her unique gift. Maybe it’s causing hurricanes, like her brother, or being ‘perfect’ like her mother.
What’s your Savvy?
Insightful, creative, touching.

3. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
There are 13 books in this series. I have to say, I was reluctant on these… misfortune, negativity, vile villians… but I’ve converted. If my dad were to have ever written a series of books, this would be it. Witty and fun with creative vocabulary building.
Dry humor, meandering, creative, occasionally ludicrous.

4. Harry Potter - JK Rowling
You know I had to go here. These books continue to amaze readers of all ages. The character development exquisite, you fall into the story as you read (all 7 books!). Mind-candy-fantasy paired with exceptional writing.
Spell-binding, imaginative, fantastic.

5. Anything that interests your child. :) Enjoy!

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Yesterday, October 21, the “Day of Singularity” (as named by The Secret Language of Birthdays), I turned 40.

No need to tell me, “Oh, you don’t look 40!” because 40 looks like a number.

A few thoughts (in a list, because I’m an ENTJ, I like LISTS):

1. Never considered…
When I was young (like 10), I never contemplated 40. I thought of 30, since I’d turn 30 just prior to the millenium; I pondered 100, since that’s so cool. Never considered 40.

2. What was I doing when…
When I turned 10, I had a sleepover party and I did a huge muppet puzzle. I also broke my ankle when I was 10 while sledding down a tree- and bush-laden hill in Minnesota.

Autumn threw me a sleepover party last night. We sang math facts, watched Harry Potter, ate sushi, and read for a long time. Michael and Autumn gave me a Kindle (which Autumn has pretty much taken over already) and a 1,500-piece puzzle. I had my ankle reconstructed when I was almost 40. FABulous.
When I turned 20, I was probably playing soccer, breaking the law, and doing other things I’d now deny.
When I turned 30, I was pregnant and ate deep dish Lou Malnati’s spinich pizza (The last time I could eat cheese).
Therefore, using Birthday Logic (hey, we went for the Laffer curve in the ’80s), I’m closer to 10 than the other multiples…

3. My 40 mantra…
“Just when you think you know exactly how it’s going it gets even better.”
:) With Gratitude to my friends and family.
PS, The photo is Autumn on the Pacific off the coast of Northern California.

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