100%

 Everyone, you have helped me raise $3,700 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society! It means so much to have the support of friends and family. Not only does the money raised mean a lot to LLS, but a friend of mine who has survived Lymphoma said that spreading the awareness is just as important. If you would still like to donate, you can! The more money I raise beyond my goal by 9/12 (race day) means Team In Training will give me cool stuff like duffel bags and workout gear. So, click here if you'd like

6 Things You Can Do In A Wetsuit
I got my wetsuit yesterday! I'll swim in this on race day in the Potomac River. It keeps you warm and buoyant. I learned a lot after I squeeeeeeezed into my new wetsuit. For one, do not put it on unless you plan on getting in some cold water...I was dripping sweat just wearing that bad boy. Two, don't fart in it. The gas finally leaves only after you unzip the wetsuit like opening a centuries old mummy tomb. Wearing it inside led me to wonder: WHAT ELSE CAN I DO IN MY WETSUIT?

1. Prepare Kiki.

2. Use the bathroom

3. Use the bathroom while watching TV

4. Teach you how to Dougie

5. Honor our heroes

6. Creepy guy in creepy basement

Cedars of Lebanon- my next race

My final tuneup is this weekend in Lebanon, TN at the Cedars of Lebanon Triathlon. 

 

Welcome to the 7th annual Cedars of Lebanon Triathlon!  

Team Magic is excited to to be working with the great folks at Cedars of Lebanon State Park once again. The event consists of 300 yards in an awesome, newly surfaced in 2005 outdoor 50 yard pool, a 16.5 mile loop of beautiful, rolling hills around the park, and a 3 mile run completely within the state park.

Pretty excited about this short sprint race. In my first race, the Music City Tri, I felt like I had a lot more to give. That's expected though, I was saving energy because it was my first race and I didn't know quite what to expect. This time, I'm going harder and I want to do well. I want to do Top 10 in my age group. I REALLY want to do Top 5. We'll see..

H.T.F.U

This is the last week to donate! We are at 90%- oh so very close. Want to help? Click here to visit my fundraising page! It's easy to donate by credit card.

During our ride Sunday, I was taught a new motivational saying: H.T.F.U, or Harden The Fuck Up. I'm sorry if that offends you. If so, perhaps you need to HTFU.

I did not want to run Sunday, especially not 7 miles. When my stomach was cramping during miles 2, 6, and 7 I quit my inner-complaining and told myself to Harden The Fuck Up! When I think to myself, "I should just turn around now", or "I need to stop for a minute", or "perhaps this person laying on the street needs my help" that's when a big HTFU is in store! Enough with the excuses and negative self-talk. Get it done. HTFU.

Leiper's Fork 
For the past few Saturdays, the midpoint of our ride is a stop at Puckett's Grocery in Leiper's Fork. It's a pretty cool historic district that I never knew existed. We stop to talk and suck down gels with about 20 other riders taking a break.

Inside Puckett's. You can see I wore my jean shorts that day

The donations last week were unbelievable! I had probably 22 come in. WOW. Thank you all so much! If you haven't donated then it is about that time! As of Monday at 9:30am we have only $387 left to raise... that's over $3,300 raised so far. Holy crap, that's amazing! 

Keep it up! Donations can be made with credit card right here

Gaining Steam- 11 Days to Help Save Lives

Donate by clicking here.

Training is picking up and I'm now doing things I never thought I could....
Saturday: We met at 7am at Edwin Warner Park and rode 33 miles followed by a quick 2 mile run. Note: We passed a dead armadillo- I had no idea these existed in Tennessee.

 My dead armadillo tour bus

Sunday: After training on Sat., I drank beer all day at the Tomato Festival in East Nashville so I wasn't sure if I'd be up for running Sunday morning. I woke up early and ran longer than I ever have- 7 miles! The good part was that I could have run longer. It was a big confidence booster as my running has concerned me.

Interesting Video: Lance Armstrong was doing triathlons at 15. Here he is in 1987.... Let's pray and thank God that I don't have to wear Speedos.

AWARDS:

The Floyd Award: Thank you to my Aunt & Uncle, Jim & Mary Ann Floyd! So, so nice of them to support me and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I really appreciate their kind donation.
The Mother Award: Very few people are even eligible for my Mother Award. Vicki Floyd takes this for her awesome donation on Saturday! Thanks, Mom!
There are 11 days to donate: Click here to do it!

Gel Junkie

We have $1,500 to go! Click here to donate, my pretties.

During training and races, triathletes are supposed to take in liquid, carbs, and even salt to keep up energy and hydration.

Here is Chris Legh. He talks funny.

Chris Legh was fist-pumping waaay before The Situation

In the Water Bottle

I actually don't usually drink Gatorade, but that video demonstrates the importance of hydration and carbs in a long race. I prefer Nuun, which comes in the form of a tablet. Drop it in your water bottle and you've got a drink that keeps you well hydrated without all the sugar of Gatorade. Here is a review from lovingthebike.com

I’ve only used Nuun a few times; about 7 times on the road...each and every time, I have had an incredible ride. If I had to sum it up in one sentence, I would say that when I use Nuun, it honestly feels as if oxygen is being pumped into my bloodstream. I’m serious. I have visions of the O2 cells pumping through my veins. And of course, more oxygen in the blood means higher performance from the body. This is the experience I’ve had using Nuun on outdoor road rides.

 That guy and Nuun should get a room together. I always ride with Nuun in my water bottle. A tube of 12 tablets is about $10. Visit Nuun.com.

GEL

Our training group does "bricks" every Saturday, which is a bike then a run. Last Saturday we rode 20 miles then hopped off the bike and ran 4 miles. A couple miles before the end of the bike ride, I'll take a Hammer Gel or Powerbar Gel. They provide you with carbs which provide you with energy! Rip the top off and suck it down. The taste is surprisingly not bad! Powerbar and Nuun have been kind enough to supply our Team In Training with products during training. Thanks! Below you can see where someone taped a line of gels to his bike. During the Music City, I taped one to the bike. Person in photo below is gearing for a half-Ironman. This enables you to rip it off the bike and it's ready to eat/drink/slurp/hack-up.

An old Gel Junkie living by a bridge, chasing the dragon.

AWARDS:

The Surprise! Award: This one goes to the most surprising donation. I didn't know, and I'm still not sure, if I emailed Becca Booth but she managed to make an incredibly kind donation this week! Thank you, Becca! Now if we can only get your friends Tina & Victoria on board...

Can you believe we've raised $2,200 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society? The deadline to reach our goal is Aug. 27th. That's really soon! Click here 

Just like Eastwood

$1,600 to go! Click it and get your donate on.

 So before I've even completed the Nation's Triathlon, I'm planning my 2011 schedule. I want to take on a race outside of this area. There are two main factors in determining where I go:

1. Fun Location 
2. Free Place to Stay

With those in mind, I am looking at the Alcatraz XXXI Triathlon Escape From The Rock. Assuming it's not on the same weekend as The Music City Tri, then I think I'm going to do it. Here is a map of the swim:

E

Just like Eastwood. The swim from Alcatraz is followed by a run, bike, and another run. This just sounds cool and swimming from Alcatraz is something I'd like to say I've done. I'll also mark the occasion by getting an anchor tattooed on my chest and neglecting to treat my scurvy.
These videos make this swim seem a whole lot more real.  Jumping off the boat at Alcatraz.

Then, it gets real Titanic-lookin'... Where's the band?!


AWARDS: 
Future Half-Marathoner Award: Jana Hampton came up big with a sweet donation! She put us over the $2,000 mark and I'm so grateful! Jana has started training for her first half-marathon which will be the Women's Half Marathon in September.
The Clam Award: Doug and Missy Sargent! I share an office with Doug and I've learned that he calls everyone "Clams." Fair enough. I've been called a lot worse. Thanks to Doug and Missy for their kind gift!

5 Weeks To Go!

It is officially CRUNCH time. The deadline to donate is August 27th. Click here- we need your help!

 I think all I did was train this weekend. I rode my bike Sat & Sun for a total of 60 miles, I ran both days a total of 6 miles, and I lifted both days in the gym. Trying to fix some issues in my biking. For those of you who bike- my cadence is way too high and I'm pedaling more than I should have to. This seems to be part of the reason I continue to be so slow on the bike.

I received a donation from my friend Jimi Rroxx late last week. Jimi is not just a Lymphoma survivor, but he also began The Walk to Defeat ALS in honor of his sister who is living with ALS. Jimi started the walk almost 10 years ago. He and 6 friends walked around the neighborhood to raise $2,000. Now, the walk that Jimi started not only raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in Nashville, but it has spread to more than 150 cities and raises millions of dollars and much needed awareness. Here is a video they made a couple years ago.


So glad to see Jamie Yost following the blog! She sells merkins on the black market. Don't tell anybody. 

AWARDS:

The Larz Puppy Award: Thank you, Cindy Marino for the kind donation! That put us just a breath away from $2,000. Soooo close. Thanks Cindy!

 Larz, sailing the 7 seas

The Survivor Award: Jimi, who you saw above, stepped up and gave such a kind gift late last week. Thank you, Jimi! He says it's not even the money that's most important... it's the awareness of such diseases and helping those who don't have someone to help them. 

My fundraising page- tell your friends!