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Mike and I were in Colorado last week visiting family, attending his professional meetings, connecting with friends, touring this mile-high region of thin air and low humidity, drinking deeply of God’s good creation.    On Thursday we were sitting on the big, old time porch of the Chautauqua dining room in  Boulder, looking at the [...]

Mike and I were in Colorado last week visiting family, attending his professional meetings, connecting with friends, touring this mile-high region of thin air and low humidity, drinking deeply of God's good creation.    On Thursday we were sitting on the big, old time porch of the Chautauqua dining room in  Boulder, looking at the "Flat Irons," an unusual panorama of rocks that resembled their name.    We were ready to eat an early dinner and go for a hike with the remainder of our last day in this spectacular setting.  Still, I stole a few moments to check e-mail on my  phone.  Before me was the sad news that our long time friend had passed away just an hour before.   This delightful man that graced our lives and loved us all would now be spoken of in the past tense.  J.D. Stahl was someone whose keen intellect and zest for learning and life went way beyond the norm.  We average folks use about 10% of our brain capacity, but I think J.D. used everything God gave him and generated more along the way.   He was charming, thoughtful, and insightful...and he loved sharing life with people of all walks of life, from all over the world.  How privileged I feel to have been a small part of his life and that of his family.  Ten years ago, J.D. was diagnosed with a chronic form of leukemia.  I'd already been to blood cancer school, having experienced my father's long "relationship" with myeloma, and losing him at age 73.    It comes like a Ninja in black mask, wraps you up in duct tape, and stays stuck to you forever.  While J.D.'s illness never defined him, it changed his life and its parameters.   My reaction was to stomp my feet in utter disgust that the thief had struck again.  And that's when my world got a little bigger and more challenging.  If J.D. was willing to fight for life, I was willing to fight for a cure by raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society while enduring the challenge of preparing to run marathons, cycle events, and triathlons...  His life changed forever and so did mine.   J.D. graciously allowed me to share his image and his story far and wide as I cast my net to rake in thousands of dollars for each event I entered.  In the past 9 years, I've completed twenty Team in Training events and raised more than $80,000.  J.D. did his part, too...he followed the protocols and endured the treatments, always making the best of any good day while taking the bad ones in stride.  He allowed us to help...which helped us cope with his reality.  On Monday, over 400 people gathered to worship and celebrate J.D.'s remarkable life...scripture, hymns, tributes, letters, poetry, affirmations, prayers, and sermon all illuminating his beliefs, his love of words, life, and people.  J.D., may you rest in peace, and may we all remember the promise we've made individually and corporately to care for your wife Sarah, and your sons Daniel and Hans.

Remember how much we all looked forward to SUMMER?????  When will winter ever end, we whined!!!!  Well, we’re learning to be careful what we ask for!!!  It’s been a barn burner summer so far, so for those of us in training for an event, that means going to bed with the chickens and getting up [...]

Remember how much we all looked forward to SUMMER?????  When will winter ever end, we whined!!!!  Well, we're learning to be careful what we ask for!!!  It's been a barn burner summer so far, so for those of us in training for an event, that means going to bed with the chickens and getting up before the rooster crows to beat the heat of the day.   But it's worth it!!!

As I prepared to do St. Anthony's Triathlon, my Team in Training coach, Mike Morris, asked my age.  "Sixty" I reported proudly.  His eyes lit up and without hesitation, told me I needed to sign up for the Quad Cities Triathlon in Davenport, IA, which is a qualifying race for the World Championship Triathlon event in Budapest, Hungary.  I was  dubious, since I've only done five triathlons, and I'm not known for my speed.  Team in Training has been my reason for doing endurance events...and this smacked of focusing on myself.  I waffled for a good while, but the race director told me I could sign up without fear of losing the entry fee.  He would gladly give it back if I decided to pull out.    Challenging as St. Anthony's was,  I still wanted to do Quad Cities - and set my mind on training for it.

Flying to IA seemed a lot more comfy than spending 15 hrs. in a car...so Bella Bike traveled with those who were driving and I got up in the middle of the night to catch a 6 AM flight, avoiding the typical mid-western late afternoon storms.  There were three of those between Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning's race!   Memories of living in Iowa in the early 70's came tumbling back as I watched the sky blacken, the KA-BOOM!!! of thunder,  lightning streaking across the sky, whipping wind and side-ways rain.  And YET - race day dawned sunny and dry as we took our places in the transition area.

Those gathered for Quad Cities were a collection of serious athletes who owned every bell and whistle known to make you faster and more streamlined for triathlon.  Svelte wet suits that peel off in seconds, tri bike shoes and aerobars for the bike, tri racing flats for the run.  I felt like a clunker!  Unlike St. Anthony's, which featured some 4000 participants, Quad Cities was small and intimate in comparison with only 715 competing.  Instead of swimming in Tampa Bay or the Potomac River, we were swimming in a lovely lake.  The best part was meeting the other women in my (advanced) age group.  They were so fit, friendly, and fun!

So here are my results:  Swim: 14:18, T-1: 3:31, Bike:  55:21, T-2: 1:47, Run: 34:10 for a time of 1:49:07.  I placed third in my age group, so I was happy - but I learned a lot about where I need to improve.  I have all summer to train - but the big prize is that I qualified for the USA Triathlon Team going to the World competition in Budapest this September!!!

My goals are very practical:  work hard to improve swim, bike, run, and transitions - and to begin raising the necessary funds for the trip.  I'm a pretty good baker, so I'm beginning to turn out batches of Budapest or Bust Buddy Bars - healthy energy bars chock full of nutritious ingredients, no refined sugar, and no preservatives.  Let me know if you want some!  So far, there are three flavors:  Breakfast Berry, Oat & Raisin Wonder, Oat & Chocolate Apricot Athlete.  Two for $5, or $35 for a whole batch of 30 bars.

Donations are easy:  just hit the Donate button on my web page and use PayPal.  Checks can be made out to Jan McGilliard and sent to 305 Country Club Dr., SE, Blacksburg, VA  24060.  Anything beyond my basic expenses will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Happy 4th of July everyone!  Budapest or Bust!!!

A wavy swim, a windy bike ride, and a hot run characterize this year’s St. Anthony’s Triathlon.

[caption id="attachment_391" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Waiting for the Swim!"][/caption]After months of training, fundraising, anxiety (pulled hamstring), and anticipation (yay!  the weekend is here!), I joined 4000  other particpants in St. Petersburg, FL for the St. Anthony's Triathlon.   Armed with my new soccer bag that holds all my tri gear and my new Kindle (for my 61st birthday), I flew south and   met up with the Richmond team at the Tampa airport for the ride to the Vinoy Hotel in St. Pete.   After the long Virginia winter, we were about to get our just reward in sunny Florida!  I was reunited with Bella bike, who had been trucked down the east coast with many others for this event.  We had only to cross the street from our hotel to enter the race expo where we picked up our packets and shopped for sunscreen, CO2 cartriges, and great items brought by a bevy of vendors for our retail therapy.

On Saturday we met early in the morning to walk to Spa Beach to check out the water and our wet suits in Tampa Bay.  It was a bit choppy...can't say my fears were gone after the practice swim, especially since I'd been in open water just once all season.   We racked our bikes in the huge transition area and memorized where they were among thousands of others that would be there next morning.  That evening, all 362 TNT participants, friends, and families gathered for the inspiration dinner where we laughed, ate, visited,  and applauded the many accomplishments represented there....top fundraisers, first-time TNT participants, Triple crowners (those who have completed marathon, century ride, and triathlon), research, coaches and mentors, and most of all, survivors of blood cancers - many of whom were competing with us the next day!  Over and over again, we were thanked for making a difference.

Race Day!!!!!!  The day began at 4:40 AM as we rolled into our Team in Training jerseys and out the door with our gear, into the dark morning to find our bikes and arrange riding and running gear in careful order on a towel, hoping it would stay where we put it.   We spent an eternity waiting on the beach for our swim wave to be called.  We were one of the last.  I paced and pondered, watched the swimmers, got in the warm up area, and slowly began to believe I could swim Tampa Bay.  The water was calmer than the day before.  And then, everything stopped as the race director announced they would pause for 20 min. to reconfigure the buoys to make it safer out there.  My fears came rushing back...and once again I had to convince myself I could do this.  I have never before expended so much energy before ever stepping into the water! It was a three hour wait!

Finally, it was our turn and we we cheered and splashed our way into Tampa Bay for the swim.  Now to swim and keep sight of buoys, and  avoid being kicked by all the bodies flailing around you!  I gained confidence as I passed one, two, three, four buoys...and finally the yellow turn buoy was in sight.  Make a hard left and head toward "home" - but uh oh...the waves are so big it's nearly impossible to see the buoys.   Never mind, I can see the huge Gatorade bottle that marked the swim finish.  I've never been so glad to grasp the hand of a volunteer waiting to help me up out of the waves and onto the steps.  She never let go of me until I'd gotten hold of the railing.

T1:  Start peeling off the wetsuit, run through the sand to your bike, and prepare to ride!  The sound of clicking bike shoes all around as we ran w/our bikes to the mounting line.  Off we went, still dripping wet, to ride the 40K  course (26 miles).  It was hard going in heavy wind, but at least the bike is my strength.  I kept pinching myself:  "I finished the swim!  I'm on my bike!"  as I began picking off young men and women in their 20's and 30's (age is marked on your calf).

T2:  Back in transition, it was time to rack the bike, lose the helmet and change from bike shoes to running shoes.  One shoe on, I couldn't find the other...it had been knocked to the side under another bike.  Drat!   But soon I was on my feet running...for awhile anyway....until reality set in and I realized my legs were destined to feel like lead and the sun was beating down.  So - I knew I'd alternate running and walking for the 10K portion of the race.  We were snaked through a beautiful neighborhood where we could soak in the unique architecture and see Tampa Bay off to one side.  Encouraging words sailed through the air, even when folks looked like they were about to drop.  Quitting is not an option - and the far-off cheering kept me moving in the right direction.  Coach Steve high-fived as I passed toward the finish line, where my name was called out and where cold water and a finisher's medal awaited me.

I finished St. Anthony's in 3:31, wind and sunburned, sand scratched and famished.  I think this was the hardest event I've ever done.  When the going got tough, I thought about J.D., my team honoree, and what it takes to get through just one treatment for blood cancer.   I thought about Jane Thibault, who is currently cancer free and back to work.  I thought about Kaye Kriz and Mike Houston, Sarah Chandler and so many others who have lost their race with cancer.  THEY were cheering too, from a place without pain and suffering.

Thanks to all who have made contributions to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Thanks to all who allow me to talk about them as they navigate treatment, remission, fears, and cures.  Because THEY are hopeful, I am hopeful.  If you're reading this and haven't yet made a contribution, there's still time.  Just find the donate button and it'll take you to my fundraising page.   This will likely be my only Team in Training event this year, so now is the time to help me to help others in the race for a cure.

I couldn't wait to do Rambo early this morning, meeting friends at the stadium at VA Tech to run stairs.  It's great to resume Spring in Virginia, to dig in the dirt, and to count my blessings.  The wet suit is drying on the line, wondering when I'll put it on again.  For now, I'll settle for the Lions Club ride along Wolf Creek this Saturday when I'm reunited with Bella bike.   Thanks for reading, and for going on this journey with me!!!  Jan

Pictured here is J.D. Stahl, my long-time Team Honoree for Team in Training, and most definitely, my hero.  When he was diagnosed with CLL, I could no longer  ignore the call to action.  He was entering into a fight for his life, and I was determined to fight along side him.  His illness and our [...]

[caption id="attachment_352" align="alignleft" width="120" caption="My hero!"][/caption]Pictured here is J.D. Stahl, my long-time Team Honoree for Team in Training, and most definitely, my hero.  When he was diagnosed with CLL, I could no longer  ignore the call to action.  He was entering into a fight for his life, and I was determined to fight along side him.  His illness and our respective responses to it have taken us to places unknown and untried.  He had never been in treatment for chronic leukemia...and I'd never trained for an endurance event or raised money for a cause.  We were in for some surprises!!!  J.D. and I both learned that others wanted to help us.  His colleagues at VA Tech, his church family, neighbors, family, and friends practically ran over each other offering help, prayers, and support.  I took a stab at writing my first fundraising letter and sent it out to folks I knew, and started training for my first marathon.  There were many days of doubt and darkness....that gave way to life and a great outpouring of support for our efforts...J.D. to see the other side of treatment and improved quality of life, and I to see the finish line at Disney World after hoofing 26.2 miles for the first time, having raised $4,000 for the privilege.

Today, J.D. is in treatment once again, experiencing all that entails.  And I will leave next week for St. Petersburg, FL to participate in my 20th Team in Training event, St. Anthony's Triathlon.  It's one of the biggest olympic distance triathlons in the country.  Thanks to you,  I'm at $6500 and counting for this event.  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society funds the research of some of our top specialists...and over these 21 years, Team in Training has provided $1 billion toward their efforts.   Thank you for your faithfulness, your generous hearts, and your support of J.D., of me, and so many others working for effective treatments and cures.  One mile at a time...I swim, bike, and run.  Please go with me to the finish line by donating today!!!!

One mile at a time, I’m swimming, biking, and running my way to my fitness goal, living out the mission of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: T = Train   E = Endure   A = Achieve  M = Matter I make this my mantra as I swim lap after lap after lap, training for endurance [...]

One mile at a time, I'm swimming, biking, and running my way to my fitness goal, living out the mission of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society:[caption id="attachment_369" align="alignright" width="198" caption="DC heat is wicked!"][/caption]

T = Train   E = Endure   A = Achieve  M = Matter I make this my mantra as I swim lap after lap after lap, training for endurance and speed, envisioning the long swim in Tampa Bay at St. Anthony's Triathlon next month.   I'm biking outside almost exclusively now, serenaded by loud peepers as I ride past their swampy habitats!!  A group ride to the New River last Saturday tested our legs as we climbed familiar hills.  Running  requires the least preparation....lace up the shoes and go!  That's when I encounter self-doubt, and the mantra becomes mental exercise.  Eight years ago,  husband Mike asked why I needed to do a full marathon.... I answered, "Because I can."  Well,  I'm still repeating those words:  I'm doing this because I can.   As you well know, training and participating in events is only part of the story - the most compelling story is that the funds we raise as Team in Training support the most advanced cancer research anywhere.   Education and family services give families hope for diseases that have no permanent cure.   Please know that YOU are making a difference when you donate to this cause. It's always win-win when we give something away.  We get it back many times over.  Thanks for being part of my TEAM!!!  If you prefer to send a check, make it to LLS and send to me at 305 Country Club Dr., SE, Blacksburg, VA  24060.