Don’t Stop Your Eatin’
(Sung to the tune of Journey's "Don’t Stop Believing")
After a Wednesday swim
Are we going to Moe’s again?
He takes a chance on Mellow Mushroom
Just a standard ride
Miles were on the high side
His trek was flyin through the hills of Cartersville
Running with the IronTeam
What the heck does Zone 2 mean?
Biscuit Buns can run all night
He goes on and on and on and on…
Waffle House. Calling!
Ribeye steak & Two eggs up
Hashbrowns: scattered, smothered, co-o-vered!
Raisin toast x2
Think all that food would do?
Maybe he should have a waffle too!!!
Working hard to get his fill
I offered him an appetite suppressant pill
Paying money just to get more food
“Just one more meal!”
He will eat Krispy Kremes
With sausage patties and cherry cream cheese
Oh his hunger never ends!
It goes on and on and on and on….
Waffle House. Calling!
Ribeye steak & Two eggs up
Hashbrowns: scattered, smothered, co-o-vered!
Raisin toast x2
Think all that food would do?
Maybe he should have a waffle too!!!
Don’t stop your eatin!
Got to end that hungry feeling!
Blazin Asian oh oh oh!!!!
Don’t stop your eatin!
Got to end that hungry feeling!
Blazin Asian oh oh oh!!!!
Joanna Berentsen is the TNT IronTeam co-captain and likes to sing while riding with the team.
Follow Joanna and the rest of the team as they train for Ironman Arizona. As Jo says, "It's kind of a big deal..."
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Imagining Ironman by John Dapper
 |
| John at 2010 Kiawah Marathon |
Coach Mary asked us on Wednesday whether any of us had an Ironman dream, yet. Surprisingly, no one chirped up. Perhaps we are all sleeping too soundly!
While I have not dreamed about the Ironman experience, I think about it all of the time. Not because I have anxiety about the event. I know that I will be ready.
I think about the training, the pre-big event events (Rev-3, Augusta, the open water 5k swims), I wonder if I washed enough clothes for the up coming work outs, when will I eat so that I have digested in time for the next workout, etc.
I also think about the event weekend. I usually do this while training. Depending on the workout, I imagine myself doing that particular sport in Tempe with throngs of spectators cheering me on including my daughter there in person and my father watching in spirit. I imagine myself flying on the course, exceeding expectations.
As much as I imagine my own event, I imagine our Team there in Tempe, each having a great day. I wonder what we will say to each other as we swim, bike, or run past each other on the course. I imagine holding back tears as I see Jane on the course and the pride wells up inside me. I imagine the big smiles of Mike and Mary as we pass by them on the course with each lap. At times, I imagine the team cheering for me as I come though the finishing shoot. At other times I imagine the team, cald in purple jumping up and down, screaming as our last TNT finisher completes their 140.6 adventure.
I am sure that there will be dreams. I am sure that they will be epic. I am sure that those dreams will pale to what this experience has and will continue to be.
Proud to be your teammate.
John
John Dapper is a long-time Team In Training alumnus that has been involved with several TNT chapters, not just Georgia. He's been a mentor, a coach and he is now chasing the dream of completing an Ironman triathlon with the TEAM which will be his 36th TNT event.
Friday, March 11, 2011
TNT AirJam at Gwinnett County Airport on April 2nd, 2011
 |
| 2011 TNT AirJam on April 2nd, 2011 |
The TNT AirJam is a one-day festival for the whole family. There will be airplane and helicopter rides as well as two shows, both day and evening, by 2009 Georgia Country Music Artist of The Year, Thomas Tillman and Coney Island's Favorite Performers Captain Stab Tuggo and Miss Maybelle performing their one of a kind freak-show! Get all the details at www.AirJam.org.
All current Team In Training Georgia Chapter athletes can raise money for their individual goals with the TNT AirJam! Up to 25% of every purchase will go back to YOUR GOAL! There are two ways to do this:
1) Send everyone you know to www.Airjam.org and make sure they put your name in the special instructions box during checkout...
or
2) Pre-buy Tickets (raffle and entry) at 75% of face value and resell them for full value, or take orders and money from your guests for the total amount of purchase and buy tickets at 75% of face from us. Either way you get 25% BACK for YOUR GOAL.
To learn more, please don't hesitate to email or call fellow TNT'er and IronTeam member Jason Bussey for details:
JasonBussey@mac.com
JasonBussey@mac.com
404-890-5621
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Welcome Letters from IronTeam Coaches
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| TNT IronTeam Coaches Mary Doyle and Mike Gaw |
IronTeam coaches Mary Doyle and Mike Gaw made the trip to Tempe this year to witness up close all the logistics behind Ironman Arizona and have returned with plenty of new insights. Below are welcome letters they have written to the team. Read on and enjoy. Thanks Mary and Mike!
Welcome letter from Coach Doyle
Welcome to the first ever Georgia Ironteam! I am very excited to be a part of this epic experience.
When Mike and I started seriously discussing the possibility of starting a team here to train for Ironman we had no inkling of how far the idea might go. Would LLS be able to help us create this team? How do we find out about other chapters and their Ironman experiences? How many participants would even be interested in joining the team? Would fundraising be outrageous? Which race should we choose? The questions went on and on.
Well, now we have the answers to all of those questions. With the help of Maureen Davidson, the coaches from other TNT chapters, and input from participants we are launching our first Ironteam event and you are going to be a part of it! Congratulations!
You may already be asking yourselves: “What have I gotten myself into?” Mike and I are asking the same question! We had hoped to have the opportunity to coach 15-20 athletes for IM Arizona, and all of the sudden we have nearly 50 athletes! Do you realize what this means?
First of all, you will never have to worry about training alone. Our team is comprised of athletes of all abilities. On any given day you should be able to find someone to swim, bike, or run with you. Ironman training can get to be a lonely thing, but with such a huge group of people it truly becomes a team event.
Secondly, you are about to become a part of a group of people who will likely have an impact on you for the rest of your life. You will help each other with fundraising, push each other with training, and celebrate each other’s successes. Along the way we hope you make some lifelong friends. Many of you were worried about putting your lives on hold for such a long time while training for Ironman. Instead, I look at training as a new way of life. Your teammates become your friends. Your social life changes from all-nighters on Friday nights to all day rides on Saturdays. You have great excuses for getting out of dreaded family functions (“sorry, I have to ride 100 miles that day”)! If you are like me, you will find that the more you have to do, the more you get done and you will become very efficient.
Thirdly, you are going to take yourself, mentally and physically, to a place most of you have never been before. You are going to find out how much inner strength you possess. You are not only going to impress your friends and family, but you are going to impress yourself with how well you handle the training season.
And finally, if each of you successfully completes at least the minimum fundraising our team will raise a quarter of a million dollars to help cure leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma! For those of you who have never done a Team In Training event before and who might not have a connection to the cause, you will quickly become motivated by the stories of patients and survivors, and you will learn that you are making a difference in those lives.
I started with Team In Training because I wanted to do a marathon back in 1998. At that time I thought it was a one-time thing. Train, fundraise, race, and move on. I soon realized that there was a certain energy surrounding the team. We were not just in it for the personal glory. We knew there was a cause greater than ourselves. That cause has kept me thrilled to be involved for 13 years. As the program grew it became obvious that although each one of us can only do so much toward curing cancer, all of us together can make a huge impact. Who would have ever thought that a group of athletes running marathons, riding in century rides and competing in triathlon could raise hundreds of millions of dollars? Well, we can. And now you can.
In my thirteen years I have seen our program continue to develop to be the best program in the US (my personal opinion). We have the most enthusiastic support staff at the TNT office and we have a slew of highly qualified coaches. The staff and coaches want you to succeed in your Ironman event. We will do everything possible to make that happen so that in November, 2011 as you cross the finish line at Ironman Arizona you will hear Mike Reilly say: “_insert your name here__, you are an Ironman!”
Thanks for being a part of the first Georgia Ironteam!
Mary
Welcome Letter from Coach GawWelcome to the first-ever Georgia Team in Training IronTEAM! By joining this group, you are making history and setting out on a journey of truly epic proportions! By now, your emotions have probably run a gamut – of marathon distance, no less – from sheer excitement about the journey embarked upon to utter fear about the journey embarked upon. But, you’ve run a marathon already, and we haven’t even started training yet! While it may not have encompassed 26.2 miles under your own legs, there is no doubt that for many of you, getting from where you were just a few months ago to official IronTeam members is nothing short of an ultra-distance event! And, you’ve done it! The rest, as they say, is all downhill from here!
Well, “downhill” may be a bit of a stretch, but it’s not totally off the mark. Building off of more years of experience than we care to admit, Mary and I have developed a training program designed to get you across the finish line in Tempe next November. And, for the few members of the Team with Ironman racing experience, our plan will also help you reach the goals you have set for this sophomore Ironman event. The anxiety you may feel right now is perfectly normal, and it is shared across much of the Team. But, know this: As long as you follow the training program and put in the miles consistently over the next eleven months, you WILL cross that finish line in Tempe! You WILL become an Ironman! And, Mary and I cannot wait to witness that phenomenal accomplishment and share in it with you!
The journey to becoming an Ironman will prove to be one of the biggest challenges you have undertaken in your life. That does not mean that it’s insurmountable. On the contrary, it’s actually very attainable, but it requires a level of discipline and diligence that you may not have applied to training or athletics before. And, it requires that focus over an extended period of time – 11 months. But, because the goal requires so much effort over many months, the realization of it will fill you with a power of self-confidence that will transcend much of what you’ve accomplished previously in your life. In short, you will be blown away by what you achieve! It will be something that will defy words, but it will be something that will come to define each of you in very empowering ways.
While the journey will be long and, at times, arduous, you won’t be alone on this quest. As you’ve no doubt heard, 49 other people of questionable sanity have also thrown their hats into this ring. And, they are coming along for the ride (swim and run too)! Upon hearing that we had 50 people on the IronTeam, images of the Pied Piper popped into my head! In all seriousness, both Mary & I have been rendered speechless (a very rare trait for us both as most of you know!) by the response from all of you to this inaugural IronTeam program. When we pitched this concept to Maureen Davidson at Team in Training a year ago, we defined success in terms of having 12-15 people sign up. But, as you all will no doubt do in Tempe next November, you crushed that goal and raised the bar even higher than we dreamed! Fifty brave souls on this Team is mind-blowing and creates an even higher level of excitement for us, as coaches, and it will bring an even more energetic dynamic to the program! Plus, it’s safe to say that we will have several people at all speeds and levels so that no one will be training on their own!
In addition to your Teammates, coaches, captains, mentors and the amazing Team in Training support staff, you will be buoyed throughout this journey by your family and friends outside this sport. Don’t underestimate the importance of their role in your success. In many cases, these people will be taking on additional burdens and responsibilities in order to allow you to put in the hours of training needed to become an Ironman. They will put up with early nights and even earlier mornings. They will tolerate smelly workout clothes and incessant talk of training, heart rate zones, gear and nutrition. (And, they will do it with minimal eye rolling.) In short, they will pick up your slack. And, they will do so willingly and supportively because they understand that what you’re doing is big, is important to you and requires the time and effort you are investing. They will do it because they are your partners in this journey, and they want to see you succeed and help bring about that success. Remember their sacrifices in helping you become an Ironman. And, start making plans now for them to join us all in Tempe next November. Having traveled to this year’s Ironman Arizona, I can tell you that it is – by far and second to none – the most spectator-friendly course on the Ironman circuit. Your friends and family will see you nearly a dozen times throughout the day without having to move more than a block! And, that kind of crowd support will boost your spirits regularly as you tackle the 140.6 miles! What better way to thank your family and friends for their role in making it all happen than to share this special moment with them?! After all, it’s not everyday that dreams come true.
And, speaking of fulfilling dreams, you will be doing that not only for yourselves but also for countless others facing a cancer diagnosis. From the moment they are faced with the news, their world becomes one filled with uncertainty and fear. But, together, this group will raise more than a quarter of a million dollars that will be put to work immediately to fund vital medical research that will improve treatment options and survival rates and WILL, one day, lead to a cure! The money you raise will also fund patient services, which, among other things, provide counseling about available resources and support and help offset some of the staggering costs of treatment. But, most importantly, your fundraising efforts will deliver to these patients and their families the one, often elusive, thing they seek most – the gift of hope. Hope for a chance at life and a better future because of what EACH OF YOU has done.
So, when you cross that finish line in Tempe next November and you hear Mike Reilly proclaim to all the world that “you are an Ironman!,” you will do so not only as men and women who have fulfilled an ambitious dream of your own but also as life-giving heroes who have made the hopes of tomorrow more real to countless people who will never have the honor of meeting you but who will nevertheless feel the effects of your efforts just as palpably as you sense the chills running down your spine and tears of joy shed as you crossing that finish line.
Thanks for taking what is surely a giant leap of faith for many of you in joining this IronTeam. While the road ahead will undoubtedly push and challenge you more than most, the impact it will have on your life and on the lives of so many others is one that defies words. Suffice it to say that it will be a journey you will never forget. Nor will we. Nor will the cancer patients and their families who will call you Ironheroes.
You CAN do this! You WILL do this!
Go TEAM!
Mike
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Perseverance Pays Off at Ironman 70.3 Augusta by Cameron Thomas
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| Lindsay and Cameron post-race at Ironman 70.3 Augusta |
This has been a great year of training with Team In Training for Ironman 70.3 Augusta which has brought me to my next challenge, the Ironteam. I did not have the best race but I thought I would share it with some of you who were not on the Team and who might be on the fence about joining the Ironteam. Ironman Tempe Arizona will be my fourth TNT event and I cannot wait until the season starts. Here is my race report from Augusta. Go Team!
Friday, September 24th
This was a busy day at work although I have to say everyone at my office has been very supportive of my training and my fundraising so it was nice to get all of the good luck wishes from everyone. I think everyone knew I was excited and ready to get to the race. Some of them probably were tired of hearing about it and were ready for me to get it done, so I would shut up about the event but as I said I could not have a more supportive work family than I have. That evening I got home and began to lay out all of my gear on the kitchen table. I am not sure if any of you have ever competed in a triathlon but there is a lot of gear from swim goggles to running shoes and my kitchen table was completely covered. I slowly packed my gear while running through my transitions from the swim to the bike to the run to ensure I had everything. I packed my bags and did a quick check over of my bike to ensure it was ready to go. I finally went to bed at 11pm, but didn’t fall asleep until 2am.
Saturday, September 25th
I woke up around 4:30am to double check all of my bike gear and get ready to leave. I drove up to meet Lindsay and Chris so we all could carpool to Augusta. We finally got our bikes and gear loaded and left around 8:30 for Augusta. We arrived in Augusta around 11am and checked into the hotel and went to check in at registration. At that time I could not believe the amount of people competing in this event. (Later on I found out this is one of the largest half ironman’s.) I completed my check in and then went back to my room to get ready for a team swim at 2pm.
I made it to the team swim and thank goodness I brought my wetsuit with me. I never expected the Savannah River to be cold but it was around 70-74 degrees. Most everyone at the beginning seemed a little intimidated with the course because we could not see the end of it from the start. The orange swim buoys are what helps guide us to the swim finish. I finally jumped in and got my swim completed and felt I was good to go but little did I know what was in store.
The next event for the day was bike check in. If you ever competed in a major triathlon you know you have to bring your bike to the transition area to be inspected and checked in the day before the race. This is also the time where you figure out how you come in from the swim and where you enter and exit on the bike and run. I was amazed at how big the transition area was and how many bikes was in this area. I checked in my bike then headed back for a quick nap and to get ready for the inspiration dinner.
If you have ever completed a Team In Training event then you know one of the highlights of the weekend other than the event itself is the inspirational dinner. This year Trey’s Father gave the inspiration speech how much help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has benefited his family and helped save his son’s life. Every event I go to the inspiration dinner seems to be one of my most memorable times because it reminds me that all of my fundraising is truly paying off. Just to let everyone know that Team In Training raised over $340,000.00 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society which is amazing. We had a team meeting after dinner to review the rules and regulations of the race and then I went back to my room to try and get some sleep.
Sunday, September 26 (Race Day)
The alarm went off at 3:30 am and I knew this was race day and I could not wait to get the race started. I woke up, did my usual routine of getting ready and headed down to the lobby to meet up with the team at 5:00 am. The team all met up and you could feel the excitement and energy. I knew there was going to be times during the race where it was going to get tough so I decided to write my honored hero’s names on my forearm as inspiration. We made a couple of pictures and then loaded the shuttles to go to the transition area. We arrived at the transition area at around 6:00 am and I began to set up my gear the way I wanted to ensure my transition times were as quick as possible. After setting up my gear, I grabbed my wet-suit and headed to the start.
Swim
I was in the 5th swim wave which was starting at 7:46 AM. I made my way to the swim start with my usual group (Lindsay, Chris, and Katie) to begin the process of sitting and waiting. I was ready to go, but we had about 45 minutes to just hang out and stretch. Then as the weatherman said, it started to rain which would be no big deal as long as I made out of the swim and to my shoes so I could put my socks on before they were soaked. There was only one other person in my swim wave named Chris. I met up with him close to the start and we made our way to the swim start. I jumped into the cold water and that is when I started to get nervous about the race but before I could really think about it any further we were off. I made my way through the swim with little issues until I went to exit the swim and then I felt something pull in my right calf muscle. I remembered making eye contact with one of our coaches and saying this is not good. At first I thought it was a cramp but little did I know it was something much worse than that. I hobbled up and got my wet suit off and found my bike.
1.2 mile Swim time 29 minutes.
Bike
I pushed my bike to the beginning of the transition area where I finally got on my bike in pain. I luckily had a friend named Brenda at the start of the bike ride who provided a load of encouragement to complete the tri. The first 10 miles of the ride I tried to stretch my calf out thinking it was just a leg cramp but the longer I was out there the more I realized it was not a typical leg cramp. I pretty much made my mind up about half way through the ride that I was going to push the bike as much as I could because I knew I was not going to be able to run. Unfortunately, I only had one good leg to push with so it made it even harder. I owe a huge thanks to some of my teammates who helped encourage me as I pushed on the bike. (David, Tushar, Alec, Sasha, Mike, and Monica) I made it back to the transition area where I said to myself we are about to see how bad the pain really is. As soon as I dismounted from the bike I could hardly standup and basically had to use the bike as a walking cane to get me back to my transition area. I sat down put on my tennis shoes and looked down at my forearm where I had my honored hero’s names listed and thought to myself if they can beat cancer then I can finish the race. I got up and headed out for the run.
Completed the 56 mile bike course in 3 hours and 1 minute.
RunAt the beginning of the year I was ready for the run since I just completed my 2nd marathon but I didn’t expect to be dealing with the issues that were given to me. At the beginning of the run, my coaches were standing on the corner cheering me on. I want to say I really appreciated the support I received from Mike, Mary, and Darren at that time because I was in a pain like I never have experienced but I was determined to finish. For the first time in a long time I was forced to walk and slow jog the half marathon. Throughout the run I received words of encouragement from fellow teammates who could tell I was in severe pain. I have to say that if my teammates, friends, coaches, my parents and the inspiration I got from thinking about the honored heroes I am not sure if I would have finished. I completed the 13.1 mile run in about 3 hours.
My overall Half Ironman time was 6 hours and 42 minutes.
I have always told first time marathoners that they were going to learn a lot about themselves during the run and I have to say the same goes for a half Ironman. I have always been taught to never quit anything that you started. I might not have had the best time but I learned that I know how to adapt and overcome when things do not happen exactly the way you want them to. If you are wandering why I am sitting down in my picture it is because my leg was swollen I could hardly stand. I have to say thanks to all of my awesome teammates for their support. I cant wait until our IronTeam training begins.
Friday, September 24th
This was a busy day at work although I have to say everyone at my office has been very supportive of my training and my fundraising so it was nice to get all of the good luck wishes from everyone. I think everyone knew I was excited and ready to get to the race. Some of them probably were tired of hearing about it and were ready for me to get it done, so I would shut up about the event but as I said I could not have a more supportive work family than I have. That evening I got home and began to lay out all of my gear on the kitchen table. I am not sure if any of you have ever competed in a triathlon but there is a lot of gear from swim goggles to running shoes and my kitchen table was completely covered. I slowly packed my gear while running through my transitions from the swim to the bike to the run to ensure I had everything. I packed my bags and did a quick check over of my bike to ensure it was ready to go. I finally went to bed at 11pm, but didn’t fall asleep until 2am.
Saturday, September 25th
I woke up around 4:30am to double check all of my bike gear and get ready to leave. I drove up to meet Lindsay and Chris so we all could carpool to Augusta. We finally got our bikes and gear loaded and left around 8:30 for Augusta. We arrived in Augusta around 11am and checked into the hotel and went to check in at registration. At that time I could not believe the amount of people competing in this event. (Later on I found out this is one of the largest half ironman’s.) I completed my check in and then went back to my room to get ready for a team swim at 2pm.
I made it to the team swim and thank goodness I brought my wetsuit with me. I never expected the Savannah River to be cold but it was around 70-74 degrees. Most everyone at the beginning seemed a little intimidated with the course because we could not see the end of it from the start. The orange swim buoys are what helps guide us to the swim finish. I finally jumped in and got my swim completed and felt I was good to go but little did I know what was in store.
The next event for the day was bike check in. If you ever competed in a major triathlon you know you have to bring your bike to the transition area to be inspected and checked in the day before the race. This is also the time where you figure out how you come in from the swim and where you enter and exit on the bike and run. I was amazed at how big the transition area was and how many bikes was in this area. I checked in my bike then headed back for a quick nap and to get ready for the inspiration dinner.
If you have ever completed a Team In Training event then you know one of the highlights of the weekend other than the event itself is the inspirational dinner. This year Trey’s Father gave the inspiration speech how much help The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has benefited his family and helped save his son’s life. Every event I go to the inspiration dinner seems to be one of my most memorable times because it reminds me that all of my fundraising is truly paying off. Just to let everyone know that Team In Training raised over $340,000.00 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society which is amazing. We had a team meeting after dinner to review the rules and regulations of the race and then I went back to my room to try and get some sleep.
Sunday, September 26 (Race Day)
The alarm went off at 3:30 am and I knew this was race day and I could not wait to get the race started. I woke up, did my usual routine of getting ready and headed down to the lobby to meet up with the team at 5:00 am. The team all met up and you could feel the excitement and energy. I knew there was going to be times during the race where it was going to get tough so I decided to write my honored hero’s names on my forearm as inspiration. We made a couple of pictures and then loaded the shuttles to go to the transition area. We arrived at the transition area at around 6:00 am and I began to set up my gear the way I wanted to ensure my transition times were as quick as possible. After setting up my gear, I grabbed my wet-suit and headed to the start.
Swim
I was in the 5th swim wave which was starting at 7:46 AM. I made my way to the swim start with my usual group (Lindsay, Chris, and Katie) to begin the process of sitting and waiting. I was ready to go, but we had about 45 minutes to just hang out and stretch. Then as the weatherman said, it started to rain which would be no big deal as long as I made out of the swim and to my shoes so I could put my socks on before they were soaked. There was only one other person in my swim wave named Chris. I met up with him close to the start and we made our way to the swim start. I jumped into the cold water and that is when I started to get nervous about the race but before I could really think about it any further we were off. I made my way through the swim with little issues until I went to exit the swim and then I felt something pull in my right calf muscle. I remembered making eye contact with one of our coaches and saying this is not good. At first I thought it was a cramp but little did I know it was something much worse than that. I hobbled up and got my wet suit off and found my bike.
1.2 mile Swim time 29 minutes.
Bike
I pushed my bike to the beginning of the transition area where I finally got on my bike in pain. I luckily had a friend named Brenda at the start of the bike ride who provided a load of encouragement to complete the tri. The first 10 miles of the ride I tried to stretch my calf out thinking it was just a leg cramp but the longer I was out there the more I realized it was not a typical leg cramp. I pretty much made my mind up about half way through the ride that I was going to push the bike as much as I could because I knew I was not going to be able to run. Unfortunately, I only had one good leg to push with so it made it even harder. I owe a huge thanks to some of my teammates who helped encourage me as I pushed on the bike. (David, Tushar, Alec, Sasha, Mike, and Monica) I made it back to the transition area where I said to myself we are about to see how bad the pain really is. As soon as I dismounted from the bike I could hardly standup and basically had to use the bike as a walking cane to get me back to my transition area. I sat down put on my tennis shoes and looked down at my forearm where I had my honored hero’s names listed and thought to myself if they can beat cancer then I can finish the race. I got up and headed out for the run.
Completed the 56 mile bike course in 3 hours and 1 minute.
RunAt the beginning of the year I was ready for the run since I just completed my 2nd marathon but I didn’t expect to be dealing with the issues that were given to me. At the beginning of the run, my coaches were standing on the corner cheering me on. I want to say I really appreciated the support I received from Mike, Mary, and Darren at that time because I was in a pain like I never have experienced but I was determined to finish. For the first time in a long time I was forced to walk and slow jog the half marathon. Throughout the run I received words of encouragement from fellow teammates who could tell I was in severe pain. I have to say that if my teammates, friends, coaches, my parents and the inspiration I got from thinking about the honored heroes I am not sure if I would have finished. I completed the 13.1 mile run in about 3 hours.
My overall Half Ironman time was 6 hours and 42 minutes.
I have always told first time marathoners that they were going to learn a lot about themselves during the run and I have to say the same goes for a half Ironman. I have always been taught to never quit anything that you started. I might not have had the best time but I learned that I know how to adapt and overcome when things do not happen exactly the way you want them to. If you are wandering why I am sitting down in my picture it is because my leg was swollen I could hardly stand. I have to say thanks to all of my awesome teammates for their support. I cant wait until our IronTeam training begins.
Cameron Thomas first joined TNT in 2009 and ran the Marine Corps Marathon with the Team. After running the 2010 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon also with the Team, he transitioned to triathlons and is now on the 2011 IronTeam squad.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Ironwoman in the Making by Lindsay Carmichael
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| Lindsay at the 2010 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon |
My first actual sprint triathlon was in Amelia Island in August 2009….an ocean swim. Holy crap was that tough! Not to mention it was right after shark week, so all I can think about was whether or not, I was going to drown or get eaten by a shark…or both!
In October, I decided to try out a half marathon. I ran with a slight IT band injury and was sore for a few days, but the real nerves were that I knew what the next step was…a full marathon. My friend, Christian Dodder, kept telling me I needed to do my first marathon with Team In Training because of the great cause and outstanding support from the team. Although my grandmother passed away from cancer, I had no real connection with Leukemia or knew of anyone that had it. I was on the fence, but then on Christmas Eve 2009 my family and I received a call that a good friend of ours’ 18 year old son was just diagnosed with Leukemia. My mind was made up and the day after Christmas I signed up for my first full marathon that I completed in June 2010. With a miscarriage in April and many weeks off from training, there is no way I could have gotten through that marathon without the support and encouragement from Team In Training. During the 2010 triathlon season, I completed four sprints and my first Olympic distance triathlon. With the twist of my arm from a few of my teammates, I was talked into signing up for the Ironman 70.3 Augusta and there was no doubt I was going to sign up with Team In Training. At some point during all this I thought that maybe I could complete a full Ironman, but had some doubts. After my Olympic triathlon finish and further training for Augusta I thought, “you know, I can do that!” and in August I signed up for the inaugural Team In Training Ironteam and the Ironman Arizona to be completed November 22nd 2011 in Tempe, Arizona.
On September 26th 2010, I will complete my first Half Ironman, a huge accomplishment! Never would I have thought I would be ready and I give so much credit for the amazing coaches I have had and teammates that keep me going. I also thank my parents, friends, and significant others for the love, support, and praise along the way, Last, I thank my two heroes for giving me the inspiration and reason to cross the finish line.
I have decided to train and compete in Ironman Arizona in Memory of my grandmother, Helen King, who passed away December 6th 2005 from Mesothelioma. In the 20 years of athletics, she NEVER missed a single competition, meet, game, etc., and I know without a doubt she will be there watching over me and carrying me through the finish line in Arizona! GO TEAM!!!!!
Lindsay Carmichael first joined TNT this past January and finished the 2010 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon. She is currently training and fundraising with the Ironman 70.3 Augusta team and has also joined the TNT IronTeam.
Friday, August 27, 2010
This Time, I'm Doing It with the TEAM by Pam Wiener
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| Pam Wiener after finishing the 2010 Ironman Lake Placid. |
I never thought the words "I'm going to do an Ironman" would ever come out of my mouth. In fact, up until about six years ago I didn't even know what a triathlon consisted of. A friend of mine did the St Anthony's Olympic distance triathlon with Team In Training in April of 2004. She told me about this triathlon thing and I thought she was NUTS! She told me I should do one. Yeah right like I'm going to exercise for fun! The following year another friend did the NYC Triathlon also with TNT. This time I at least knew what a triathlon was. I donated, I asked about her training, I thought she was a whack job for doing this and I watched her race. It wasn't until I saw these amazing athletes, and by athletes I mean people like you and me, that I was truly hooked. There were physically challenged athletes, 80 year old athletes, athletes raising money for a cause, all who brought tears to my eyes. My first thought after the tears, "I'm doing one of these bad boys!" My second thought was, "Hell no, you're not! You're way too lazy!" A year later, I completed my first triathlon and raised over $5,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Four years and over $20,000 later, I'm now doing the Ironman 70.3 Augusta, my seventh event with TNT and soon the new Ironteam will make it eight.
In July, I completed my first Ironman in Lake Placid. It was such an incredible experience and I can't believe I actually did it. But there was something missing, I did it solo. No Team In Training, no fundraising, just me, myself and I. I really thought I was one and done when it came to an Ironman. However, when I heard TNT was doing an Ironteam, there was no way I wasn't doing it with the TEAM. I will be raising money and racing in honor of an amazing man, coach, husband, father & Leukemia survivor, Andrew Johnston. I am so excited for this upcoming year and I can’t wait to be a part of it!
Pam Wiener first joined TNT with the NYC Chapter in the summer of 2006. Two years later, she moved to Atlanta and rejoined TNT with the Georgia Chapter. She is currently training for her seventh event with the TEAM and has also joined the 2011 IronTeam Georgia. Pam maintains her own blog at http://pamelawiener.blogspot.com/.
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