Things are getting busy!

In my last post, I said things would start to pick up - and I was right! In the last week I had another spin training, swam 1000 meters on my own, sent out over 100 fundraising letters, and sold about 20 Twin's tickets (with $6 going to my fundraising for each ticket).

I unfortunately had to miss the Tuesday night swim training with the team because of my night class. But today I made up for it by going to the YMCA and swimming 40 laps (1000 meters). I would swim 200 meters at a time, then do 50 meters slow with a kick board, and then repeat. My endurance is definitely increasing, which makes me happy. The goal I have is to build up my endurance right now and then hopefully work on my speed and brick training (where I move from swimming right into biking within the same workout) as the season progresses.

Thursday night we had our spin session and worked on our form some more. Although I've always enjoyed biking, I've never been very fast. Plus I have had two bike accidents (all due to my own clumsiness, not involving anyone else) in the last 4 years. The first crash I had was so bad I cracked my helmet and ended up in the ER with a concussion because I couldn't remember how I'd gotten from the crash site to my apartment. The last crash was just this past summer as I was biking home from work. Luckily I wasn't really hurt, but the dress shirt I'd been wearing was destroyed. Therefore, my main goal with the bike training is just to get more comfortable on the bike and with being in a big crowd of other bikers.

As for my fundraising, things are moving along pretty well. I was able to send out over 100 letters this week asking for people's support. And TNT was allowed to sell 800 Twin's tickets as a group fundraiser. Each ticket was sold for face value ($22) and $6 of each ticket would go towards our fundraising. The tickets went extremely fast and there was definitely more demand than supply. But I was able to place orders for about 20 tickets, so that should amount to $120 towards my goal. So thank you to everyone that ordered or donated!

Back in Training and Fundraising with TNT!

A new training season has started! After completing the Nike Marathon for the second time in 2009, I (or rather my knees) decided it was time to switch things up a bit. So this year I am back training again, but this time it is for the LifeTime Triathlon in Minneapolis on July 10th. And once again, my purpose is to raise money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Please help me reach my goal of raising $2300 to fight cancer!

Above is a photo from our season kick-off party -- I am located directly behind T.C.'s big head. Here is a quick update of what has been happening so far this season, which started about two weeks ago.

I am unfortunately having to do most of the swim training on my own rather than with the team because I have Tuesday night classes - which is when most of the swim trainings are. This has been a struggle since swimming is probably the skill I will need to work on the most in order to cross the finish line in July. But I am optimistic and enjoying the chances I do get to swim with the team. I've already met some really amazing people and am looking forward to getting to know my teammates better. We've also done some spinning and running sessions. From that, I've learned that I will definitely need to get a good pair of bike shorts. Enough said - ha.

As for the fundraising, it has gotten off to a slow start but things should pick up this week. I am hoping to send out over 100 letters in the next week, letting people know about my goals and asking for their help. Last Friday I also had a fundraiser that brought in over $100 in just 2 hours. Also, this year we will have the opportunity to sell tickets to the Twins game on May 8th and part of the proceeds will go towards our fundraising. If anyone reading this knows of other great ways to raise money please let me know.