Here Is the Kick Off...

Tomorrow will be my very first training day this season for Team In Training.  I am both extremely excited and a bit nervous.  The excitement is because I know that this is exactly what I want to be doing.  I know that it is an amazing cause and to be a part of it is empowering.  Nerves are simply because it is something new.  Doing something new has always given me apprehension.  By tomorrow afternoon, this feeling will be gone because I will know what to expect until the next big step (most likely when we go into double digit running!)

I felt the same way going to the Kick Off for the season.  I did not know anybody and felt kind of awkward walking around, but there were so many mentors, coaches and staff that were full of smiles and kindness to get to know.  And eventually, I ended up chit-chatting with a few people.  I found out that one survivor was doing so well because of a pill they have to take everyday, but they then do not have to do chemo or radiation therapy.  The thing about this pill is that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society was the first to help fund it.  No one else wanted to give it a chance.  It gave me chills because you realize that this stuff truly matters to people's lively hood.

The greatest part about the Kick Off was a story from a survivor named Kyle Garlett. I must point out that any survival story is going to be amazing no matter if it was a quick fix or a long journey because life is precious.  However, Kyle's testimony was extraordinary, uplifting and emboldening.

I am a terrible story teller, but let me give you a short rundown as I remember it (Read his book Heart of Iron for the full story.)  It was about twenty years ago that Kyle found out, at the age of 18, he had Lymphoma.  He had to go through treatment of both radiation and chemo over the years. One of the biggest issues with these treatments at the time were the chemicals used because they are toxic to the body.  He developed Leukemia after the Lymphoma had remission because of the treatments.  During the time of therapies, he also ended up needing a heart transplant because one such chemical was heart toxic.  Suffering all the ups and downs of this and then having to wait and hope that someone will have a heart for you is life stripping.  Good news is that not only did he get a heart, the heart transplant worked.  He then was also inspired to do a triathlon (swim 750m, bike a 20K, run a 5K) through Team In Training.  After finishing the triathlon, he then decided to do an Iron man triathlon (Swim 2.4-mile bike 112-mile and run a marathon (26.2-mile.))  Holy Moly!  My thoughts keep getting me worried about a marathon and Kyle, a survivor of blood cancer, with a heart transplant, did an Iron Man Triathlon!  It makes me re-think possibilities!

For information on Kyle Garlett and his story check out his page: http://www.ironmankyle.com/

It is my greatest honor to be doing this for people like Kyle Garlett.  When I began to struggle, when I feel like possibly I made a mistake, I will remember and I will push through!