Why Tri?

A friend sent me this recently and although I don't know the original author, it echos so much of what I feel.

Why Tri?

Author Unknown

I tri for the doubters who question my resolve.

I tri for the younger me who never got involved.

I tri for the times that I never thought I would.

I tri for the believers who told me that I could.

I tri to contemplate what life is all about.

I tri for the former me who struggles to get out.

I tri for my family, my neighbors and for you.

I tri so that others may see they can too.

I tri not for glory, notoriety or fame.

I tri very happily just being in the game.

And of course, my own addition... I tri for women battling ovarian cancer, those who have lost the fight and those yet to be diagnosed.

Past and Present Update

First from Indiana, meet my friends Carl and Oscar from Kentucky. We stayed in the same hotel while racing state #23 and they caught up with me post race to take this photo. This is family fun at its best. Carl and Oscar are father and son! You two are lucky to have each other to "play" with.

Yesterday was the pristine, Jekyll Island of Georgia, representing state #24. Look at these mansions! Good crowd, warm ocean temperatures with a lovely current in the direction of the swim and a 2nd place finish for me. Truth to tell, two Olympic events in back to back weekends and I am hobbling. Because it is a barrier island on the coast of Georgia, it is flat. Now you may think that's a good thing but it means no variety in terrain and so no change in muscle use. For my body, it is actually better to have the variety. So by mile 4 on the run, I was suffering and limping. But I REFUSED to walk and just kept passing people one at a time.

A first in this campaign was the logistical snafu of my flight being cancelled four hours before departure. Weather, they said. So scramble I did, to find another flight but not until the next morning. It made for a stressful, whirlwind 40 hour trip, including several hours of driving to Jekyll, 2 layovers, and 4 states. Not to mention the most expensive airline to bring my bike on ($200 each way) and an airport that didn't have a large enough scanner for the bike case. So TSA had to unpack my entire bike, with its 100 pieces and repack it. A nail biter for sure but "she" arrived safely and I got to inspect each piece as I assembled her. Not the smoothest trip but that's not what this is about.

This is about ovarian cancer awareness and fundraising. Some of the details are just too funny not to include. Next stop, ALASKA for the half way race.

The Youth of Long Beach

It started with a radio show on WGBB. I was on the same show as a couple of the winning hockey team guys. The DJ, Halftime Howie, suggested a wing eating contest between the Long Beach hockey and wrestling teams to benefit my campaign and OCRF. The event was last night at Just Wing It in Long Beach. That's the background.
I had no idea what to expect when I arrived at 7 pm. But within 15 minutes, at $5 per person, high school students were lining up at the door to witness this event. Armed with a Sharpie pen at the door, I was marking hands as fast as the owner could collect money. A tiny storefront, the room was packed within the hour. We went live on air at 8 pm; the excitement was palpable. I got a chance to speak on air and while the boys glossed over and didn't want to hear about ovarian cancer, their girlfriends listened with wide open eyes and seemed to take in my every word.
The contest was a riot. Six members from each team had 20 seconds to eat as many wings as possible. Team Wrestling won by 12 wings, probably eaten single handedly by their "main man".
So while the boys strutted their stuff and the radio show continued, I approached the high school girls and talked about early detection. I told them to tell their friends, mothers and sisters what they learned. Amazing to me was how many thought a pap smear was the diagnostic tool for ovarian cancer.
Thank you Howie for coordinating this effort. We raised some money and I reached a new, younger audience.

Hot Off The Presses...The Star Press

No photos from Indiana...my camera had "issues" but here is a pre-race video. I think I've said this before but I can't say enough about Muncie Multi Sport and what they did to help me promote my campaign and awareness for ovarian cancer. I know someone's life will be saved because of this weekend!

And a special thanks to the Muncie Star Press for the awesome page 2 article in the Sunday paper. Click on the icon to view the article. State #23.... check!

Too Excited To Wait For Photos

Just finished state #23 in Muncie, Indiana and while I normally wait until I am home and can upload photos, I am busting at the seams to share my day and can't wait. Muncie Multi Sport put on this incredible race and I have to thank Steve Tamboni and Rich Morris for treating me like a queen. They embraced my campaign and went "all out" to provide a platform for me to spread the message about ovarian cancer. From Facebook and Twitter posts, a link on the race home page, teal wristbands for every athlete, announcements from the bandstand pre-race and mic time so I could introduce myself to the athletes, a morning radio show on WLBC FM, the newspaper interview and a shout out post race.... I can't begin to thank them enough.
The venue was gorgeous and the rain held off. I was in the zone and had a really good outing. Running has been my weak sport but rather than dread it, I psyched myself up during the run, telling myself, "I am a good runner and I can't wait to run". Well it must have worked. I took 1st in age but more important, it was a really pleasurable experience. The last Olympic distance I did was downright painful and this one wasn't.
Well Steve and Rich and their families are taking me to a fairwell dinner so I have to run. There is no way to thank them for this amazing experience. I KNOW we made a difference in some woman's life.

What Do You Get When You Cross A Chicken With A Charity?

....an amazing event! Some of you will remember I was on WGBB (1240 am, Long Island's first and oldest radio station) a couple of weeks ago. Broadcast from the Beach with Halftime Howie asked me to come on the show and talk about my campaign and ovarian cancer. The show went really well and live on the air, he offered to host a wing eating contest to benefit OCRF.
Next Tuesday at Just Wing It in Long Beach, the Long Beach State Championship Hockey Team will take on the 6th ranked Long Beach Wrestling Team in a wing eating contest. There will be raffles and prizes and fun for all... guaranteed!
Now I've never been to a wing eating contest before and I never envisioned combining it with raising money for my campaign. But we have an opportunity to raise some money and awareness and educate the folks of Long Island about ovarian cancer. So why not? It should be a hoot.
So come out and join me and the competitors for an evening of wings, laughs and fund raising.

New Territory

If you have followed my blog, you know I am not new to racing triathlons. My triathlon history started in 2005 and I have been non-stop since. Indiana will represent state #23 of my 50x50x100 campaign and I can easily double that in total races overall. I have lost count. BUT, I have never attempted two Olympic distances in as many weeks. To further this challenge, I will be competing in four races (3 Olympic, 1 sprint) in the next six weeks.... Indiana, Georgia, Alaska and North Dakota. All while juggling a couple of jobs, not sleeping much, sitting on a bunch of airplanes and spreading the message about fundraising for ovarian cancer. I try not to get ahead of myself or I would be tired already. It's day by day. That being said, the distances are a little overwhelming and I am a little nervous.
The outpouring of support from Indiana has been nothing short of amazing. The race director, Steve, has been onboard with my campaign since we connected last year. He has press and radio lined up and is really helping me to spread the message about ovarian cancer and early detection. A big shout out to Steve, who I have yet to meet, but to whom I owe a debt of gratitude. New state, new competitive challenge.... it's all good.

Where Do You Bank?

JP Morgan Chase is donating $5 million to worthy charities and the first round is complete. Yesterday, 100 charities were awarded $25,000 and will move on to round 2. I am not sure of the details of round 2 but there is another $2.5 million up for grabs. It was all through Facebook and the Chase Community Giving Campaign.

The amazing news is the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund was one of yesterday's winners and recipient of the $25,000. Way to go voters!!!! We are not done yet. On May 19, please log on and vote for OCRF in round 2.

Now I am not telling you where to bank. But with such bad news at every turn and economic downturn spiraling further, it is nice to know there is an institution giving back. Chase has my business.

Air All Booked

I made my last plane reservation tonight. With fuel prices going through the roof, airline prices have followed. I wanted to lock in my flights now before prices go any higher. So with 15 races this season, 12 of them require air travel. YIKES. Well I knew the 2011 season was going to be my most expensive. And you should see my frequent flyer mileage! I am hoping that next year there will be a few free tickets from all the globe trotting this year.

People have often asked me what the hardest part of this campaign is. It is not the training, it is not the racing. By far, it is the logistics. So with all the flights secured and that step behind me now, I can rest a little easier and concentrate more on what matters.... fundraising and passing the message about ovarian cancer and early detection.