Commitment

I like the thought in this article from a TNT runner from the Georgia Chapter.   Julie talks about  making commitment,  and the consequences of breaking that commitment.  Please click here to read her thoughts.

Last weekend, I went to a foundation training workshop for Colorado Youth at Risk.  At the end of the workshop the facilitators of the workshop asked us to stand up if we were going to make a commitment to the program and to the possibility of making a difference in the life of a person we haven't met.  Ten out of ten people made that commitment.

Saturday, I went to a Team in Training information meeting at Whole Foods.  There was a very good turnout, 30+ people took an hour out of their day to come and learn more about the program.  I am not sure how many people made the commitment and signed up on Saturday.   I talked with one person as she agonized over her decision.  She told me she couldn't believe she was even considering taking this on. 

Taking on cancer, raising money for research,  providing support and hope to the people who are fighting this disease.  It is a step to take.   She signed up!

I talked to another person and found out she was going to run for her husband to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of his remission.  That was her presesnt to him!  Inspired!

My friend, Brittany shared some of her story of being diagnosed one month before her 16th birthday, being told she wouldn't live to see her 16th birthday.  Brittany turned 25 earlier this month

I went to the info meeting, because I knew Brittany was going to speak.  I made that commitment to support her.  I have heard her tell her story several times.  I am still moved to tears, not so much by her story, but by her commitment to make a difference in this battle. 

What are you committed to in your life?  What inspires you?

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52 weeks + one day

A year has come and gone since I last ran a marathon.

Last year, I ran the Denver marathon with a heavy heart. It was my first marathon I had run since Kelly died.

This year I had to drop back to the 1/2 marathon distance. The injury that began over a year ago still hasn't healed completely.

I am not sure if my heart has completely healed, but the experience this year was very different.

I had no sorrow in my heart this year. I still miss Kelly very much. She will always be my hero.

I had done very little training for the 1/2 marathon. A year ago, it seemed like I ran six days a week. Now it seems like I run one day a week. I wasn't overtrained for this event.

The neat part for me this year was being able to run with Laura. Laura ran her first half marathon on Sunday. Well, I lined up at the start line with her and she disappeared in the sea of runners during the first ten seconds of the race. Still, it was neat to know she was running ahead of me. I wondered how she was doing, mentally guessing how far ahead of me she was. What would her experience be like.

Another blessing, Kelly brought to me. My daughter the swimmer, now a distance runner :)

One of Laura' friends from high school, Vicki talked Laura into running the 1/2 marathon. I think Vicki totally rocks!

Laura and I did a couple of training runs together. The runs didn't feel very good, but how I loved being able to spend time with Laura this way.

I had run a grand total of 18 miles during the month of October. Interestingly I added 18 minutes from the last time I ran a half marathon. Good thing, I didn't train any more than that... Who knows how much time I might have added.

I saw one of the Rocky Mountain Chapter's team heroes(Sharon) early in the run. I ran over and gave her a hug, thanked her for providing inspiration to us in her journey. I had hugged Sharon last year at the finish line. It was neat to see her out there, living full out.

It was kind of sad running by Coors Field seeing the Rocktoboer 09 sign. The playoffs ended so soon last year. In 2007, running past Coors field was magical.

The miles passed by fairly quickly. I was wearing my TNT purple singlet. I had pictures of Kelly and Laiken on the back of my singlet. Running for and with my angels.

Surprisingly, the miles passed fairly quickly. My pace was consistent. I tried to put on a burst of slow the last two miles.

No tears this year as I crossed the finish line.

Laura did great on her first 1/2 marathon. I was so proud of her for taking on something she didn't think she could do.

Next year, the Denver marathon will become a Rock and Roll marathon. I wonder what that will do to the growth of this event.

I hope next year, I get to find out. Maybe next year, Vicki will talk Laura into running the marathon. How cool would that be?

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TNT Group ride-Elephant Rock Metric Century course

TNT training ride on Saturday followed the Elephant Rock Metric Century ride course.

We did some pace line training. It is really cool if you can grab the wheel of the rider in front of you. Saves so much energy as you can draft is you stay close enough. Requires constant communication and trust with the people you are riding with. It is very powerful and also a bit unnerving. To do this correctly the front wheel of the bike you are riding should be right next to the rear wheel of the bike in front of you. This was our first pace line ride of the year so the gaps are a bit too far apart to get the benefit.


Rode up and down some rolling hills towards Palmer Lake.


Made sure that everyone was properly hydrated including Brian(Our sag wagging support :)


Andres got up after taking a nasty fall in the gravel. Andres is a board member for the Rocky Mountain chapter. Andres cut his leg, will have a good case of road rash, hurt his elbow and wrist on the fall. It is always unsettling to see a rider go down. Hope he is okay today.

We had our largest group ride of the season. 27 cyclists!

We have three cancer survivors riding on the team. One of the survivors is the Colorado Springs coach! Very cool to have them out providing additional inspiration to us.

The ride this week was not nearly as hard as last weeks ride. My legs did not feel very good again today. I had not been on my bike since Monday so I took it fairly easy today. My heart rate skyrocketed during the first climb of the day. I backed off the intensity and spent a lot more time trying to relax on the bike and spin at a higher cadence to try and keep my legs fresher.

I actually felt pretty good during the last climb of the day. I was pleasantly surprised when I got to the top of Tomah Road and started to descend. I even managed to enjoy the descent. I remembered a tip my cycling coach from the 2003 season gave me and it really helped me feel like I had better control. Thanks, Gary!

2 weeks from Saturday is the Copper Triangle. 3 mountain passes, 78 miles and 5,900 feet of climbing.

9 weeks to the Moab Century and the encounter with the Big Nasty. 30 miles of climbing right out of the start....

I hope I will be ready. I am very nervous about the first part of the race. I have plenty of inspiration and reasons to ride. My heroes and my angels will pull me to the top.

For all of us involved in this fight to find a cure, the truth is that it will not happen soon enough.

I found out when I got home on Saturday that another angel had earned his wings. Please keep the Lindgren family in your thoughts and prayers.

"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight".- Kahlil Gibran

My heart breaks again for some I don't know. The battle rages on.

For now I will continue to pedal. I wish I could do more...

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May 23 memories

Our niece Kristin was born on this day 26 years ago. I was so excited to be an uncle, albeit only by marriage.

Sue and I went to the hospital that night to meet Kristin for the first time.

Happy Birthday Kristin! Where did the time go? I have great memories of Kristin and Laura playing together when they were little. They would giggle and giggle. No greater sound in the world than that of children laughing.

10 years ago today I ran my first marathon with Team In Training at the San Diego Rock and Roll marathon.

I remember at the 23 mile mark feeling so alone thinking I will never run another marathon. I drew on the inspiration of my hero Kelly to make it to the finish line that day. Kelly had relapsed a month prior to the marathon. Her fight was just beginning again. Little did I know how long a fight it would be and how much fight she had in her. That is one thing that no medical procedure can tell you. How do you measure someone's heart? No test exists for that.

I rode 28 miles today with the TNT fall cycling team. The race to find a cure for blood cancer goes on.

Love you Kelly!

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