Racing to Save Lives

Last year I was training with Team in Training to participate in the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon when I learned that I was expecting my girl. It was a difficult transition at the time to postpone my personal wants for my darling girl's needs, but now sacrificing anything for her is easy. :) The good news is that I still get to participate in the race to meet a personal milestone while also raising funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in memory of my uncle David.

We began training again this past Saturday, which was cold and wet. I woke up early after a long week at work and did NOT want to get out of bed. I didn't want to miss another morning with my baby (her favorite time of day) and I really didn't want to run in the rain. I laid in bed for a few minutes and asked myself if I meant what I said about wanting to finish what I started and the importance of physical activity. So I shot out of bed and got dressed.

I made it about three miles down the road when I realized how many things I forgot and turned around to get them. So easily could I have blown it off and gone back to bed because now I was going to be late, but I didn't. I hopped back in my car and drove to Buckhead to meet the Team.

The meeting lasted way too long but was inspiring. I have a number of survivors and people with loved ones or friends effected, including one mother of a seven year old survivor. Their stories reminded me of part of the reason I got up on a rainy day to run outside.

After the meeting we went on our first team run. Wow, have things changed. Last year I didn't even stop at the first water break and this year I had to push myself to make it there. Last year I was at the front-middle of the pack, and this year I found myself all alone for most of the way. I'm a pretty competitive person and it was really starting to demotivate me that I could not keep up and that I was by myself. At about the exact same moment that I had this thought, two girls came jogging up behind me and were going at my speed. I told them how thankful I was for them and how they gave me the boost of morale just when I needed it.

When I got home I was able to relax with my family and enjoy the rest of my Saturday. The road to getting back in shape and completing my triathlon will be much more difficult this year, but if I continue to take a few more strides every day I know I will get there.

To follow and support my Team in Training page please visit me at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/watertri10/jbuerger