I Signed Up For Team in Training

When my dad was going through chemotherapy, Ashley (my wife) introduced me to Team in Training. We both wanted to do it but we had different ideas about which endurance challenge we should do. Ashley wanted to start with a half-marathon since we hadn't done anything like it before. I wanted desperately to do the cycling century but I didn't have a bicycle. I hate running. Maybe I didn't emphasize that enough. I HATE RUNNING. Even with my immense hate of running, I was willing to do a marathon in order to support my dad. I've always thought that you should go all out or not go out at all. I know that I could train for a half-marathon in a couple months so I was unwilling to take on an event that I didn't think would challenge us enough. Ashley was unwilling to take on a full marathon so we tabled it and decided to get back to it later.

Later never happened. Life got away from us and every session I'd think about what Team in Training was up to but it didn't seem as though it was the right time. I'd think, if I wait till the next session, maybe that will be the right time. Maybe we wont have kids needing my time. Maybe Ashley wont be expecting. I have a bike now, maybe next session it wont be in Arizona. There were always excuses to keep me from taking part.

I brought up joining Team in Training this year and it wasn't right because we have a newborn at home. The time away for cycling would spread us further apart as a family. I'm always glued to the computer in the morning and evening. Ashley was not a fan of the idea and I signed up anyways.

There were all these reasons not to join Team in Training this year but on top of all of the reasons was an overwhelming sense that NOW IS THE TIME. None of us know how much time we have on this earth so I don't know if later will ever get here. What I do know is that I'm capable of doing something NOW. I can fight cancer by getting donations for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and their search for a cure. I can do this in support of myself as a survivor and in memory of the father that was taken from me. I can do this to support all those that are now battling cancer and for the families of those battling. I can do this so that maybe just one person wont have to know the loss I feel.