I am 35 days out... and I am getting excited. There are so many unknowns about this race coming up but I have to keep in mind that I can only stress about things I can control.
Saturday's training was just a strange day - the weather called for it to be about 40 - which although cold, really didn't freak me out. When we got to practice we had a 20 minute random snow squall, that was just strange considering earlier in the week it was 70 (no seriously, 70).
Our training for the week called for a 10 minute run, followed by a 120 minute ride and then a 20 minute run. As I transitioned onto my bike, it was having difficulty shifting and it turns out that my shifter punked out (I think - who are we kidding, I don't know what it is really called) - I ended up having to come back and my bike was out of commission for the day. I wasn't going to just call it quits and hang out in the cold for 2+ hours, so I ended up doing a nice long run, which was actually exactly what I needed - not only for my mental health, but for my confidence going into this race.
I have always had a fear of running -that is why I started with TNT in the first place - and as I have trained for this race, I have continued to run, but I haven't done a "long" run, and it was nice to be able to do that on Saturday. I was able to zone out and just go. There was no set time limit or distance since it was just me, and I just got to go. It felt great to clear my head and recharge. I don't know exactly how far I ran and frankly I don't care... it was 1:30 and it felt great. I could have kept going but I ended up back where I started so it only made sense to stop. It was also a pretty awesome feeling to not feel like death for the rest of the day like I have in the past when running that long (woohoo to being in shape!)
It was also nice because the marathon team was on the same trail, so in a sense I felt like I was back with my old team. I was able to cheer them on and I remember those days of that first, intimidating long run out in Reston and how difficult it was. I remember how hard it was to continue to push and how much it meant to have people helping me along. It just felt good to in a sense give back. I loved seeing my old coaches and teammates and in the end, I felt good about the day.
On another note, now that the race is getting closer and the reality that I am actually going to do this is setting in, I have spent a lot of time thinking about the finish. I can see myself in each leg - going from the swim, to the bike and to the run - and then the finish... and that in particular, I have spent a lot of time thinking about.
Being totally selfish, this will be the first time that I am crossing the finish line without someone there. In some ways, it is very empowering - Hawaii has such a personal meaning to me because of my last trip and the independence that I gained from it. Having trained so hard and to have raised so much money in John's memory has reiterated the strength that I sometimes lose through my own personal self-doubt. But - on the other hand, it is difficult knowing that there won't be someone there to be proud of me in person. Especially since I feel like there is so much to be proud of this season - but again, I am being selfish with those thoughts.
I know - I KNOW and so deeply appreciate - that there are so many people in my life that are proud of me and that support me - and I don't, by any means discount or forget that. It means more to me than I can ever express in words to have such an incredible group of people - both friends and family - who care so much.
I also need to remember that I selected a race that isn't as accessible as the other races I've done (although now that I think of it, only one of my three brothers came to my marathon that was in DC...). I know that if my parents could, they would be there and I also know that my friends and the rest of my family will be there with me in spirit and cheering me on. I know I will have my other TNT teammates and coaches there - but familiar faces do go a long way.
But, just like the last trip to Hawaii, I will be able to take that away as lesson in strength - just like I have with this training. Regardless, I know that I am going to be happy and proud of myself - and for all of you that have supported me through this journey will be as well... and plus, who are we kidding - I have the best reward in the world waiting for me when I am done... Maui.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
$8500 is a lot of money... HELP!
I just finished my team training for the week and it went really well today - we did 60 minutes on the bike followed by a 40 minute run. Overall I felt very strong and each week we are building up a little more... and getting closer to race day.
As mentioned in the last post, I spoke to the team before practice about John and why I am doing this season... and I've spent a lot of this week thinking about that and why we are doing this. To me, this season is not just about fundraising and training - it is about giving back and honoring John... and I was renewed with my desire to not just reach, but surpass my goal.
With a goal of $8500 - it is really lofty - and thankfully I am just about 70% of the way there... and I really want to surpass it, but I know that it is going to take a LOT of effort on my part since I feel like I am tapping all my personal resources.
I still want and need the support of my friends and family and I am hoping that there are a few more folks out there that will reach into their purses and wallets and donate... and it doesn't matter to me how much - if it is just $1 or $100 - it still makes a huge difference and will help me reach my goal. Every dollar counts.
Over the next few weeks I am going to be reaching beyond just my friends and I am going to pimp myself out at Giant doing bake sales (and I promise I won't kill anyone with my baking), helping out at IHOP's National Pancake Day and hopefully having a happy hour... I also hope that I can look to Ratner to support me, so with all of this, along with all my training - I don't know where I am going to find time to do anything else.
If you are reading this blog (thank you!) - and you haven't donated, I am asking you to reach into your heart and help out. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is an amazing organization and they do so much to help provide patients a better quality and they have done so much in helping wipe out blood cancer. My link is below - please help me reach my goal (and beyond).
http://pages.teamintraining.org/nca/lavatri12/samperry
As mentioned in the last post, I spoke to the team before practice about John and why I am doing this season... and I've spent a lot of this week thinking about that and why we are doing this. To me, this season is not just about fundraising and training - it is about giving back and honoring John... and I was renewed with my desire to not just reach, but surpass my goal.
With a goal of $8500 - it is really lofty - and thankfully I am just about 70% of the way there... and I really want to surpass it, but I know that it is going to take a LOT of effort on my part since I feel like I am tapping all my personal resources.
I still want and need the support of my friends and family and I am hoping that there are a few more folks out there that will reach into their purses and wallets and donate... and it doesn't matter to me how much - if it is just $1 or $100 - it still makes a huge difference and will help me reach my goal. Every dollar counts.
Over the next few weeks I am going to be reaching beyond just my friends and I am going to pimp myself out at Giant doing bake sales (and I promise I won't kill anyone with my baking), helping out at IHOP's National Pancake Day and hopefully having a happy hour... I also hope that I can look to Ratner to support me, so with all of this, along with all my training - I don't know where I am going to find time to do anything else.
If you are reading this blog (thank you!) - and you haven't donated, I am asking you to reach into your heart and help out. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is an amazing organization and they do so much to help provide patients a better quality and they have done so much in helping wipe out blood cancer. My link is below - please help me reach my goal (and beyond).
http://pages.teamintraining.org/nca/lavatri12/samperry
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Mission Moment
Last week our mission mentor Kimberly asked me if I would speak at practice for our mission moment on Saturday. This caught me off guard - and I am incredibly honored and humbled.
This season means so much to me personally and I feel like I am doing this for something so much bigger than myself - it is about John and being able to preserve his memory and all he did not only for me personally, but also for so many others, and to be asked to share that with the team is really important to me.
I was talking to someone last night about TNT and he asked me what my minimum was and I told him that it isn't about hitting a minimum - it is about saying thank you to John and helping JPC raise as much money as possible so we can give back and honor everything that he did for LLS and for us. And as cheesy as that is and may sound - it is so important to me because he never knew what an influence he had on me and my life.
I've been doing TNT for years now and I have always admired and had a great respect for those that have shared their stories at practice - and it is hard for me to explain how I feel about why this season, above all the others means so much more to me.
There are so many different reasons why I started with TNT - I have connections in my family to blood cancer and who are we kidding - it isn't like there is a society for folks with blood clots - so in a very oddball and roundabout way, blood cancer is about as close as I think I will get to blood clots (If you want to know the story behind the clot - here is the link).
But really, I signed up for TNT because mainly I wanted to get over a fear of running so I could eventually do a triathlon. I spent my whole life thinking that I couldn't run - even at one point with the ho, my doctor said that I should "kiss my marathon dreams goodbye" - which at the time I laughed at him and thanked him for telling me that I wasn't going to be able to run anymore. Anyway - regardless of the many different (and obviously oddball) reasons as to WHY I signed up for TNT, I didn't know what I was about to get myself into and because of the experience of that first season, I continued to participate.
As the years have gone by, the meaning of TNT in my life has changed and developed, just as I have, and this year, the reason behind the season is something so much larger than reach a goal of fundraising or finishing a race. It is about honoring John and his life, and what he meant to not only me, but to every other person that he reached through Team in Training and LLS.
A minimum with my fundraising is not enough. And finishing is not enough. This is by John and FOR John - and as I am training and working everyday to get to this race, I keep in mind that this one is for him. (SHAMELESS DONATION PLUG: so if you haven't donated already and you are reading this blog - please donate)
This season means so much to me personally and I feel like I am doing this for something so much bigger than myself - it is about John and being able to preserve his memory and all he did not only for me personally, but also for so many others, and to be asked to share that with the team is really important to me.
I was talking to someone last night about TNT and he asked me what my minimum was and I told him that it isn't about hitting a minimum - it is about saying thank you to John and helping JPC raise as much money as possible so we can give back and honor everything that he did for LLS and for us. And as cheesy as that is and may sound - it is so important to me because he never knew what an influence he had on me and my life.
I've been doing TNT for years now and I have always admired and had a great respect for those that have shared their stories at practice - and it is hard for me to explain how I feel about why this season, above all the others means so much more to me.
There are so many different reasons why I started with TNT - I have connections in my family to blood cancer and who are we kidding - it isn't like there is a society for folks with blood clots - so in a very oddball and roundabout way, blood cancer is about as close as I think I will get to blood clots (If you want to know the story behind the clot - here is the link).
But really, I signed up for TNT because mainly I wanted to get over a fear of running so I could eventually do a triathlon. I spent my whole life thinking that I couldn't run - even at one point with the ho, my doctor said that I should "kiss my marathon dreams goodbye" - which at the time I laughed at him and thanked him for telling me that I wasn't going to be able to run anymore. Anyway - regardless of the many different (and obviously oddball) reasons as to WHY I signed up for TNT, I didn't know what I was about to get myself into and because of the experience of that first season, I continued to participate.
As the years have gone by, the meaning of TNT in my life has changed and developed, just as I have, and this year, the reason behind the season is something so much larger than reach a goal of fundraising or finishing a race. It is about honoring John and his life, and what he meant to not only me, but to every other person that he reached through Team in Training and LLS.
A minimum with my fundraising is not enough. And finishing is not enough. This is by John and FOR John - and as I am training and working everyday to get to this race, I keep in mind that this one is for him. (SHAMELESS DONATION PLUG: so if you haven't donated already and you are reading this blog - please donate)
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Bipolar Weather
I swear the weather in DC is bipolar.
It just can't seem to make up it's mind... one day it is cold, icy and miserable and then the next day it is like a spring day and it's driving me crazy! I HATE being cold - if I could be in a warm, tropical environment all the time, I would... I just hate being cold. You would think after all the dives I've done in the quarry, I would be use to being cold but I just don't like it!
On a totally opposite note, which I've said before, I am fine running in the cold - I actually prefer it, but, riding in cold weather is a whole different animal. The wind is a bitch and my fingers just don't ever seem to warm up. At least with running, your whole body warms up after the first 20 minutes.
Anyway, so after my week of incredible frustration, the next weekend practice was canceled because of a small amount of ice that fell the evening before. The ice really wasn't that bad, but it was enough to make the trails slick and unsafe to ride, so we switched the workouts for the weekend. On Sunday, I figured it would be "warm" enough for me to ride...
So fast forward to last weekend - the team was able to meet and I had a great ride - 110 minutes/40 miles followed by a 20 minute run... and this what the temp was:
Seriously, the weather needs to make up it's mind.
It just can't seem to make up it's mind... one day it is cold, icy and miserable and then the next day it is like a spring day and it's driving me crazy! I HATE being cold - if I could be in a warm, tropical environment all the time, I would... I just hate being cold. You would think after all the dives I've done in the quarry, I would be use to being cold but I just don't like it!
On a totally opposite note, which I've said before, I am fine running in the cold - I actually prefer it, but, riding in cold weather is a whole different animal. The wind is a bitch and my fingers just don't ever seem to warm up. At least with running, your whole body warms up after the first 20 minutes.
Anyway, so after my week of incredible frustration, the next weekend practice was canceled because of a small amount of ice that fell the evening before. The ice really wasn't that bad, but it was enough to make the trails slick and unsafe to ride, so we switched the workouts for the weekend. On Sunday, I figured it would be "warm" enough for me to ride...
So fast forward to last weekend - the team was able to meet and I had a great ride - 110 minutes/40 miles followed by a 20 minute run... and this what the temp was:
Seriously, the weather needs to make up it's mind.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)