WE DID IT.

I am a triathlete. Total time: 3 hours and 30 minutes. Total raised: $3,000 and change.


Especially grateful to my wonderful family and friends who came out at 9am and earlier to cheer me on when I needed it most. My dad and Jason for driving back from NJ - you guys being there meant more than you'll ever know. Uncle Howard, Aunt Mary & Gene for coming in from Yardley PA, to give me the warmest hugs and most encouraging words. Jimmy for always supporting me and moving your work schedule just to make it. Connie for the beautiful flowers and great pictures (of Jodie, hah). Thomas for being at the last mile when I wanted to faint, and for being so willing to drive me and Vincent and my bike back to Flushing. Vincent for flying up from VA, putting up with my sickness grumpiness all weekend, then treating me to Spa Castle.

So many other friends and family emailed or called to wish me luck and congratulate me... I am so grateful for friends like you; for your support, for your love.

It makes me believe I can do anything.

RACE DAY

If you can make it out, it would be amazing to see you and for you to see how hard we have worked to make your donations worth it. Afterward, we can do brunch near the race finish. Details all below, or call Vincent at 917-660-2497 to coordinate.

Where to watch:

The Yahoo/Team-in-Training supporters will be in Central Park near 72nd St on the WEST side, which is when racers enter during the run. Click here for a map with watching points. There is a shaded area with benches facing the course between the course and the lake, just a large trellis.

After you see me enter, you can walk to the race finish area, which is very close by (another point on the linked map). I will try to find you by the BANDSHELL if not the race finish once I'm done.

Timing:

Based on my race times, I should be going by that area between 9:05 to 9:15am. Given my current state, I may be entering later than I expect. I know, it is early, but I promise it will be fun. I am getting to the race at 4:45am, jump into the hudson at 6:20am, bike until 9am and run until 10/10:15am (here is the course map).

How to spot me

I will be wearing a light purple Team In Training (TNT) tank top, black shorts, maybe a white yahoo cap and a very exhausted smile. There will be close to 400 people wearing the same TNT Shirt, just to let you know. Vincent will be carrying a sign and "good luck" balloon.

Brunch

At Arte Cafe at 11:15am. Call me or Vincent if you can make it.

Never would I have thought I could raise $3,000 for leukemia and lymphoma society. Our Yahoo team (39 people) have raised $195,000 and counting! I attached an article that highlights our training and accomplishments as a team, all in thanks to friends like you. THANK YOU and wish me luck!

In gratitude, Jeanne

Baaaaaaack (and worried!)

Back from India and so excited about Sunday's race. BUT, I am sick! Of course, I expected this, but I expected to get sick EARLIER while in India, having a weak stomach and all. Instead, I lasted a full eight days without any problems, and on day 9, the stomach bug hit me and I came down with something awful. Oh, and I was bit by a dog.

So, I hope that my stomach/congestion/bite heals by Saturday night, which is when I'll make the call to race or not. Will let ya'll know.

If I do race, I plan to hit central park between 9 and 9:10am, and will email everyone details of where to meet.

It will crush me to not race. BUT, I have learned so much and gained so much from this experience that I know all is not loss.

KEEP YOUR FINGERS, TOES AND ALL ELSE CROSSED FOR ME!

Hiatus!

Well, we have 2 weeks until the race on July 18, and I will be in India until July 15! Will be on training and blogging hiatus until then.

I will email you guys the best locations to hang out on race day.. stay tuned.

Happy Tears

A very special donation just came through my email from TNT.

"Finish your goal, follow your wishes and do your best. We will stay by your side and encourage you.

Love, Mom and Dad"

No words, only some happy tears, can express what this means to me.

PS - the cardiologist cleared me of any heart conditions!

[Jason, I am sure you had something to do with this. Thank you for always believing in me and helping turn our parents around too.]

TNT Love

Since I'm in Richmond VA now, and will be until June 28, I am going to hook up with TNT down here to continue my training!

There is a crew training for the Nation's Triathlon and for the half Ironman, both of these races are in September.. therefore, I am somewhere kind of in between their training schedules. That being said, I'll figure out tomorrow morning, at 7:30am, 40 minutes away from Vincent's house, which team I'll train with.

Wish me luck - it'll either be a 24mi bike or a 120minute one!

FINISHED MY FIRST TRIATHLON!

Keeping this post super short because I am packing, cleaning, getting birth certificates last minute, and many other random things while I'm on vacation these next two weeks.

I FINISHED MY FIRST TRIATHLON ON SATURDAY!

The swim KICKED MY BUTT... not only because the waves were super choppy (and salty!), but because I swam perpendicular AWAY from the shore, twice when we were supposed to swim parallel. I finished the swim in about 18 minutes (including transitions).

The next part, the bike, was on road that was flat as a pancake, and I could not believe how my thighs were burning by mile 5.

The last part, the run, I am happy to say I completed within 26 minutes; that's the fastest I've ever run. Honestly, all I could think of was hurrying up to finish this race that was beating me up. That and pancakes.

This sprint triathlon was a reality check - I have a lot of work to do over the next four weeks. I have no idea how I'm going to do the NYC one, which is more than twice these distances.... wish me luck kids.