My brother, Rory, was the reason that I and the Brooklyn Landsharks decided to start our quest to cure blood cancer through triathlons. He wrote a little letter that I wanted to share:

Dear supporters and future supporters of the Landsharks,

Training for a triathlon is an arduous task. Swimming. Biking. Running. Repeat. What the Landsharks are setting out to do (again) should not be taken lightly. The only thing to get you through these workouts is to keep your eyes on the prize: finding a cure for blood cancers. Yes, finishing the race will be nice for them too, but that’s only a small part of why they have banded together with Team in Training. This year, almost 140,000 people will learn they have a blood cancer. That represents close to 10% of the newly diagnosed cancers nationwide. On June 20, 2008 I became one of the newly diagnosed.

I was shocked. Just a year before I myself had done a triathlon with Team in Training. How could I have lymphoma? But like the 10k run to finish a triathlon I knew I just had to face it and beat it. I began my treatment, but by November it became clear that the treatment I chose wasn’t working and I needed something stronger. Luckily, there was a great chemo therapy treatment that with the help of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society had just won FDA approval—not that it was pleasant. Oh, what I would’ve given to swap treatment for a long, hilly bike ride. Then one year ago today, March 27, 2009 I was given the best news of my life: I was in remission.

Your donation to the Landsharks will not make their race any easier, but it will help fund research, patient and community assistance, education, and generally contribute to finding cures for blood cancers. I am not cured yet, but the treatment did its job of keeping the cancer at bay. When the Landsharks take the water and road on May 2, please remember that it’s not about whether they set a personal best or even just finish their first triathlon, but rather it’s about advancing the mission to find a cure for blood cancers. Please donate if you can.

With gratitude,
Rory

Have you noticed that most yoga studios are closed on Sunday evenings, just when you’re looking to wind down before starting the work week? Well, here’s your chance.

Bend and Bloom (Sackett St. between 4th and 5th Ave) has graciously offered us both their lovely space and their talented instructors.  That’s right.  You get a great yoga class AND all proceeds go directly to Team in Training.

$25 for one class–$80 for 4 classes

Sundays at 7 p.m.:

March 21

April 4

April 11

April 18

Spaces are limited.  RSVP to www.brooklynlandsharks.org/yoga

BYOM(at) if you can.

All of you out there stockpiling the original Landsharks t-shirts in youth smalls in anticipation of your newborns and toddlers growing into them fret no longer! Brooklyn Landsharks onesies are here!

When your baby wears his or her new Landsharks threads, printed on lovely Bella Infant Ringer Onesies, to the next play date, there will be no question who the coolest baby is. And, as we all know, the coolest baby always belongs to the coolest parents. So order yours today! While you’re at it pick up some of the 2010 shirts for mom and dad.

On Saturday we had our first BRICK, or bike immediately followed by a run. This Landshark was nervous about biking outside for the first time, especially when wearing bike shoes and remembering how to change gears. I called Jed the night before for a little advice on what to expect and what to wear.

Good thing we have such a helpful mentor who could tell me about his first BRICK last year in which he was stuck in the hardest gear the whole time and didn’t know it. He was going so slowly up the hill that a mediocre runner passed him. Now look at him moving along like Kermit the Frog, along with the rest of the Landsharks who are quite a force.

Now let me tell you about MY first BRICK. I bought my first bike the night before practice and took it home on the subway. I couldn’t bear to leave it in the basement with all the other bikes, so I brought it up to my fourth floor apartment. The next morning, I dutifully walked my bike across Grand Army Plaza at 7 am (following my mom’s sage advice, “Honey, I’ve seen you ride a bike. Just stick to the park, okay?”). When it came time to actually ride it, I couldn’t get on. The seat was adjusted for riding height, which means you can’t expect to sit on it and still have your feet on the ground (but then, you probably know that already. I didn’t). I was stuck.

After a moment of struggle, who should I spot walking toward me but someone wearing a red t-shirt, not unlike those sported by TNT Coaches. Phew, it was Ed. He stabilized my bike the way my mom did the day she took off my training wheels and away I went.

Bike practice was so fun. Jed was kind enough to ride with me for the first loop around the park. While I was no speed demon—I’m pretty sure all of the Landsharks lapped me—I successfully stayed on the bike for seven loops around the park and even changed gears and handlebar positions as needed. Next time I hope to balance well enough to reach down for my water bottle to actually drink while riding.

After biking, running feels more like shuffling while wearing Mafioso shoes, which is, perhaps, the other reason for naming the workout BRICK. But then you’re done and you have a whole team around you to stretch and eat and chat with. I’m actually looking forward to the next one.

The Landsharks are also on a fundraising roll. Be sure to keep checking our Web site for the arrival of the 2010 Olympics-inspired Landsharks t-shirt! It’s pretty rad. We also have onesies this year for all the tiny Landpups out there (Mirabelle, for one).

In addition to t-shirts, we’re putting together a yoga and Pilates series featuring talented Brooklyn-based instructors including:

Toni Melaas

Fran Darnell

Kara Martin

Check back for details and prices.

Thanks for continuing to spread the Landshark love!

Imagine It Filled With People

This past Monday, the Landsharks piled into the pool to do the infamous “Snake Swim Drill”.  We had to a 1/2 mile continuous swim.  We would go up one lane, and down the next.  We would do this until we went from one end of the pool to the next.   And then we would swim back the other way.

The ‘Sharks were looking strong.  But we have a long way to go if we are going to swim the .93 Mile swim that is awaiting us at the Wildflower on May 2nd.

……..

This coming Saturday is our first BRick (Bike + Run).  It will be the first time our LandPups will get to feel what it’s like to run with concrete legs.  And it’s going to be a great time!!

……..

And here’s another LandShark that is working to keep us safe…

…until Skyet becomes self-aware.