Lavagirl

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sd/lavatri12/kmasonjccd#My-Fundraising-Page

Please check out my Team in Training page! I'm really happy with how it turned out. I hope to find the time to update it during training.
So about this whole TNT & Lavaman race...
Let me back up awhile.. maybe after my first triathlon, the mini super sprint. I met Jeanie from work, she did the ironman. She began to share with me her passion for triathlons. She patiently took me on my first open water swim & first ride on my bike. She has raced with TNT & been a mentor for a few years. She suggested I look into the group. At the time I had no interest in fundraising for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). She also told me I HAD to do the Lavaman. That it is such an awesome race! (she also wants me to do an ironman someday as well).
All these ideas/suggestions were pushed to the back of my mind as I had which ever upcoming race & you know my life as a single, working, home schooling, training mom forefront.
Then my brother got sick & I did the Rock n Roll marathon. That races raises funds for LLS. it is the biggest TNT race event each year. There were TNT members from all over the continent in the race! I believe somewhere around $300,000 dollars was raised for LLS (don't quote me!)
What was really cool that I saw on the race was the support TNT members had. There were coaches all along the route encouraging & helping their team members. They had their own cheering squads. They barely went half a mile with out someone there for them in some capacity.
I knew I was going to at some point join TNT. my good friend Deana did the Rock n Roll marathon twice with TNT & all along had described to me what I saw first hand.
Then Jeanie told me coach Gurujan the TNT tri coach was retiring after this years Lavaman season & now was the time to do it. Not only that but because Coach is leaving everyone is trying to get on the team & there is limited spots.
It came down to a few days where I needed to decide if I was in or out. & even if I was IN I may not get IN the race!
I woke one of those mornings & didn't wanna go but went to the gym. I trained with my friends Kathy & Nancy. I was going to Kathy's for coffee after but first I had to get a run in. Well I didn't have to...that is the thing with working out & training you never HAVE to do anything. It's a choice to put get out of bed & put one foot in front of the other. So I went on my run & as usual once I got going & pushed through the blahs it was a good run. As I ran I thought about my brother & how it must of been to wake up every morning not wanting to be sick, not wanting to fight for his life. I realized I HAD to get on the TNT team, I had to do everything I could to honor his memory.
I emailed & called TNT. I told my story & desire to get on the team. I was given the details: there was 65 spots for Lavaman team & unlimited spots on the local Superseal race. The team registration opens 10/4 & bibs will be assigned first come first serve. Anyone not on Lavaman team will be wait listed & put on Superseal team. Everyone will train together & if spots open for Lavaman people will be added to team.
I stayed up past midnight on 10/3 & sent in my registration! Within a day or two I found out I got the spot!
What I think i was really worried about is the commitment. I am basically consuming my life for 20 weeks with training & fundraising for this race! It is also the longest triathlon I will ever do! Olympic distance .9 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike, 6.2 mile run.
Once on the team we got our websites & join the team yahoo email group. This is where we get all the info for trainings, group meet ups, other team members Fundraisers. We are assigned a mentor to help get us through the whole process!
Our first team meeting was at Rock Bottom Brewery (practicing what they call the 4th event) it was very festive! I got there not knowing anyone & figured out who coach G was. I went up & introduced myself. He was VERY nice & asked how I came to TNT. I told him about my brother & brief race history & my commitment to honor Noel.
The formal part of the evening started with Julie the triathlete manager getting up & giving a few details & then she introduced coach. He got up & started with his thank you's first he thanked his long time girlfriend. Next he thank Katie (yes ME) he said I actually just met Katie & we spoke only a few minutes. But she is here representing all of you. She lost her brother to leukemia in December. This is her first season with TNT. All of us are here because like her our lives have been impacted by blood cancers. It was an emotional moment for me but also how I want this experience to be.
I was able to meet my mentor Kristen & her husband. I can tell this is a fun group & I've been assured I will be more than ready for my race.
I got the training schedules & must admit looking ahead to the final 40 mile bike ride, the 2 mile ocean swim & the practice tri at moonlight beach (where tri-Kate panicked & got out of water) seem impossible! I have the added challenge of not being able to make A LOT of the workouts! They are in the evenings when I work. I will be able to attend every Saturday am workout (I've been told the most crucial). Track workouts are Tues nights I will miss all those :( Swim workouts are Monday & Wednesday nights. I will be able to go twice a month on Wednesdays. Open water swims start in January on Sunday afternoons & I will make a few of those.
I know the 20 weeks is gonna fly by. I'm praying for God to guide me through this & help me keep balanced. The fundraising is daunting but I have some good ideas & events planned. I'm confident in the end everything will come together in God's timing.