You are browsing the archive for 2010 January.

Team In Training Kick Off And Alumni Social

January 31, 2010 in Team In Training

It has started! Well sort of! We haven’t started training yet but the team has formed and we had our kick off last week. Also I got to go to an alumni social with Becca last weekend.

Team Photo Team In Training is not just about training, getting in shape and raising funds, its also about making friends and having fun. The first glimpse of the close relationships formed within TNT was at the alumni gathering – the annual rock paper scissors tournament. It was a blast. The picture to the left is from the event. Dea’s mother, myself, Becca and Dea (one of the coaches) are all doing the Steelhead triathlon this year too! This event was so much fun because everyone was having fun catching up and you could just tell everyone was really great friends.

The next experience with the Team was seeing everyone who is on the team this year! The Team kick off event was on Thursday. All of the LLS staff was there, the coaches, the mentors, the honored heros and MY TEAM MATES. This was by all means a pump up event and everyone left excited after meeting everyone.

Team In Training is Not just hard work, its forming relationships and I can not wait to get to know everyone as the season goes on.


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Getting Back in the Pool

January 15, 2010 in Elkheart Lake, Steelhead, Team In Training, Training

I quit swimming my sophomore year of college.  That was 2004.  I have dusted off the goggles, broken out the speed (yes you read that right – be scared.  Be very scared) and a few months ago hopped back in the pool for the first real time since the day I quit.

A lot of former swimmers tend to stay out of the water for a while after they retire because they were so burnt out and I was no exception, but the urge to swim again has been growing stronger for the past few years.  Well signing up for the Steelhead Ironman and Elkheart Lake Triathlon has pushed me over the edge and back into the pool.

Swimming was not as easy as it used to be but I have to admit, it felt good.

Stroke

I noticed my stroke was a bit off this first time back in the water.  Your stroke is the most important thing for swimming so here are my favorite tips for freestyle.

REACH: My coach Craig back in high school always yelled out “REACH” because as you rotate your body reach.  Shortening your stroke out front will only hurt you.  On the same token don’t pull too long!  Pull your hand out of the water at the back of your stroke when its at your hip going any further wastes energy.

High Elbow & Loose Hands:  When your pulling start to bend your elbow just before you start moving the rest of your arm.  You then keep your elbow high.  This keeps your fore arm acting like a oar to pull you through the water with the most force directly backward, pushing you forward.  On your recovery, keep a loose hand and a high elbow.

Head Tap Drill: A useful drill is called the “Head Tap” drill.  This helps align your arm recovery and emphasize body rotation.  In other words, it will keep your hips from wiggling.  To do this drill Tap the top of your head with the your hand as it is recovering.  You may have to go slower, but keep the rest of your stroke “normal.”

After doing a few hundred yards and keeping these points in mind I have begun to feel better in the water.  Swimming isn’t like running or cycling.  Swimming is different because water just feels different.  It takes a while to, as we swimmers used to say, “get a feel for the water.”  If you are new to swimming or trying to get back into it, be patient and you’ll start to feel much more in control of your movement  in just a few weeks.

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Team In Training Information Meeting

January 14, 2010 in Team In Training

I went to my first Team In Training information meeting last night.   The presentation was really touching.  You hear what the program is about, learn that the staff and other volunteers are there to help you and help you fundraise and, most importantly, you hear about the individuals that are suffering from Leukemia are the Honored Heros of the events (I’ll have more blogs about them later).

A particular catch phrase that caught my attention was that by being a part of Team in Training you are “An ordinary person doing extraordinary things.”  You work to do something you never thought possible and you are doing your part, to contribute to cause of curing blood born cancers.  A few thousand bucks may small compared to the 1 BILLION dollars that Team In Training participants have raised but that large number comes from THOUSANDS of people, like me and you, putting in time, and effort to accomplish something extraordinary in our lives, and something that taken collectively is extraordinary for cancer research.

If you think you want to get in shape, run or walk a mini marathon, do a triathlon, bike 100 miles, or any of the other events Team In Training offers go to an information meeting.  It was fun to think who my fellow team mates might be and see that “yeah I could really become good friends with these people.”  There is really NO commitment required and it was very inspiring to see how thousands of people have been helping to make the lives of patients better.

If that doesn’t do it for you, the LLS has some really yummy mints they put on the tables.

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Keep Andy Bald for Team In Training

January 5, 2010 in Fundraising, Team In Training

On April 3, 2010 (my birthday) I will be shaving my head for the LLS with a goal of keeping it bald until the race – or longer!!!

Since I quit swimming in 2004, I have grown rather fond of my hair but alas, I need a way to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, support the “honor heros” who the society supports and of course get psyched for the race!  It may be a bit trite but I can’t think of a better way to get people to ask “Why in the World did you that?” so I can tell them about the good the LLS is doing.

What To Do

Make a donation and buy a day, a week, or a month of baldness and I will dedicate that period to a person of your choosing.  If you send me their story I will post it on my blog to inspire others to act, and wear a sticker on my computer bag telling all who see me who I’m dedicating that week too.

How to Buy some Baldness

  1. Buy Your Time – Donate to TNT ($50 = 1 day | $325 = 1 week | $1450 = 1 month)!
  2. Email me to let me know who you want to dedicate your day, week or month too.  I will let you know which one will be dedicated to you.
  3. Email me the story you want me to share (optional)
  4. Site back, be happy because you know you’ve helped further cancer research and support the LLS.  I will let you know when the time you bought is.

Check out the Keep Andy Bald page for more details.


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