This is what we’re in for. Starting 6:30 am on Friday until somewhere between 2 and 4:30 pm on Saturday one of 12 Landsharks will be running these roads as fast as our somewhat-ready legs can take us. The other 11 of us will be squished in a van, passed out on some grass, cheering from the side of the road, or explaining to Don where we are and how much longer we have to go.

As always, we do this in the name of defeating blood cancers– an issue that has affected many of us personally through friends and family and that we know touches lives far and wide.  Our fundraising goal this year is to reach the $100,000 mark in this our third year. Running almost 200 miles will be an accomplishment, but reaching that in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is far more important, and we can’t get there without you!

Last week when I sent an update email to my friends and supporters, I had to choose between two topics on my mind: taking action (as opposed to speaking words) against cancer OR all of the various set backs and injuries the Landsharks have stuggled against this season. I chose the former.

The following morning on my way down the stairs and out the door I fell and broke my fifth metacarpal in my left hand (now it seems like I was just saving the latter until I had a better story!). I thought for sure it was just bruised, but it hurt like hell and my pinky was sticking out an odd angle, so I went to the ER. When I learned it was broken I was devastated. The race was less than 6 weeks away and the doc said I could be in a cast for 6 to 8 weeks. So I decided to believe 6 and find an orthopod who treats athletes. A couple days ago I went to see him and got better news.

I got a cool waterproof cast, which I should be out of in three weeks, pending good healing, and while I can’t bike outside since I can’t hold the handlebars, I can swim, run and spin at the gym (all of which I have tried in the last couple days and feel good about). It still remains to be seen if I’ll really be able to race, but right now it feels possible.

I’ve been thinking a lot during this process about setbacks, perserverence and positive thinking in my own life and in the lives of those living with cancer. I can only imagine how hard it is to get that first diagnosis, but then along the way there are inevitably good days and significant moments of despair. It is cliche (though also true) to say that we use the stories of those fighting this disease as motivation to train and fundraise, but for me this has become even more crucial now. Sweating through a spin workout, trying to find a comfortable place for the cast on the handlebars, I think about how small my struggle is and I am inspired to keep going in the face of discomfort. The other Landsharks have faced shin splints, foot and shoulder problems, bruised ribs, and persistent respiratory problems. What we have control over is the way we deal with these inevitable setbacks– and what we give back in the way of funding for research and care. Please show your support and give.

Thanks to all who came out and celebrated with us again this year! All told we ate 18 feet of sandwich, 300 wings, endless chips and dips, drank two plus kegs of beer and raised close to $4,000 to beat blood cancers.  That is awesome.

If being an “everyday philanthropist” weren’t enough for Jed, he is also a “blessing.” We couldn’t agree more Sally– and happy birthday Jed!!! Good Housekeeping down. Triathlete Magazine next.

A couple months ago Jed was honored as one of last year’s top New York donors for Team in Training and he took me to the celebration dinner. Before the dinner I had been thinking that, as much as I loved the experience and feel proud of our accomplishment, I would not be ready to commit again this year. It’s too hard to ask people for money again… making time for the training was challenging with work and got in the way of my social life, etc. etc.

But then we sat at a table with a guy whose son had been diagnosed as a teenager and he and his wife had been training and fundraising for a decade. And heard from another that started his corporate team years ago and was hoping to meet the million dollars raised mark this year. And then from the Director of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society who talked about how the research they do is different from other organizations because they look specifically for scientists who think outside the box and who are willing to share what they learn with others—this means that even if their work doesn’t lead to the result toward which they are working, other research may benefit.

So, okay, here I am again. And now that I’ve committed, I’m really happy. Last winter was one of the best I’ve had. I was outside all the time, getting great exercise and meeting great people. And we – I mean the Landsharks and all of our amazing donors—raised almost $35,000 to kick cancer’s ass. The race was challenging, but the journey was well worth it.

More of what your donations have wrought: the Landsharks seem to have caught the tri bug. And thank god, because what would we do without fascinating correspondence like this every day.

Jed: I created a spreadsheet of some of the tris we were talking about doing this summer. I don’t think we all need to do everything together, but I thought it might be good for us to eep track of stuff.

Don: I think I am going to sign up for Harriman 1 today. Anyone else??

Aa: I’m down for that. Also, if you register for Brooklyn Half before May 15^th its only $17 for NYRR members. I’m leaning toward doing it (even if its at 10:00 pace)

Don: I’m out on the bklyn 1/2 but in on harriman 1. Who else is in?

Jed: I am probably in for Harriman in June (want to confirm some things).  BK.5 less likely.

Nems: I’m out for Harriman but just signed up for the bklyn 1/2 and the NYRR Dash & Splash on 6/13 (6.2M).

Jed: I’ll be able to commit later this week to one of these.

Don: anyone doing this?

Nems: I’m interested. I might also join Dodge and put an end to the coin sucking sound that is Equinox. If I join Dodge, does that give me city-wide access to other Ys?

Jed: I think the Y does have some city-wide membership options. If we do this, we can keep emailing each other here all the time!

Emily: (simultaneous with Jed): i’m interested in brooklyn tri club. and probably brooklyn 1/2 (running again, already!?) and other races to be determined. will go to gts tomorrow night. see some of you then…

Nems: Totally. Who’s in for emailing all the time and checking to see if other landsharks are in for potentially several things each day? Aa, can you develop a form for that? I’ll get to work on the logo for continued landshark communication and then send you all something conceptual and weird at first and then something that actually looks like a logo after that. Deal?

Don: this is exciting! it brings me back to a time long ago (circa 6 months ago) when everything was fresh and new…..

Today the countdown begins in earnest. One week from right now we will be passed out after having successfully completed the 1.5k swim, 40k bike and 10k run, eaten an already planned dinner of steak, greek salad and pasta, and drunk more beer and whiskey than the last 3 months combined. can. not. wait.

In this training process, it’s sometimes easy to slip into just doing the workouts and forgetting the bigger picture. The struggle to swim, bike and run, even many miles, is nothing compared to the struggle to survive a cancer diagnosis. Just last year an estimated 138,530 people were diagnosed iwith leukemia lymphoma or myeloma in the U.S. This year approximately 894,500 people will live with the disease. 

But we have numbers on our side too.

1 Poseidon
4 Blue Whales
4 Great Whites
14 Tunas
49 Marlins
98 Barracudas
59 Minnows 

= 229 fish in the Landshark sea = almost (almost!) $25,000 for cancer research and patient care. Get your t-shirts. Show your pride.