Riding for a Cure: Lake Tahoe 2011 {Team In Training}

In 3 short months, my life is going to change…again.

My legs will ache. My shins will burn. My hands will tingle. My shoulders will be tense. My heart will pound. The tears will flow.

With that description, it doesn’t sound like a pleasant experience at all. But actually–it’s one of the best experiences of my life!

On June 5th I will be biking 100 miles around Lake Tahoe, CA as part of Team In Training to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

This will be my second year to complete America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride with Team In Training, and I’m already looking forward to the range of emotions I will feel in the next 3 months.

The season typically starts out with me feeling anxious, nervous, and thinking–can I really do this?!

By April I’m feeling more calm, but not overly excited yet.

By May I am all out wanting June to be here.

And the day before the ride I feel on top of the world. At least…that’s how last year went.

This year I have a new confidence about me, as I know I can do this. So my goals are much like last year’s–finish the ride and not walk up a hill, but in addition–not spend as much time at lunch (ahem, Coach Grant) and enjoy Spooner Hill a wee bit more. 😉

In addition to training for Tahoe, I am mainly doing this event to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As many of you know, my full time gig is doing cancer research. Through clinical research trials we at Novartis have found some pretty amazing treatments, like Gleevec and Tasigna for CML (chronic myelogenous leukemia).

True story: Last year during my bike ride I was leading a pack on the route out to Truckee. I was wearing photos of my honored patients (family members) on the back of my jersey, and the lady behind me asked about them. We started talking about leukemia and lymphoma, when she asked about Novartis (also on the back of my jersey). Then she said something that brought tears to my eyes…she thanked me for giving her a drug that would essentially cure her. If it weren’t for the lovely downhill and 20mph pace we were at, I would’ve stopped on the spot and given her the biggest hug. Here she is, a cancer fighter/survivor (thanks to Gleevec), biking 100 miles, fundraising for others, and she’s thanking me!?! I was beyond humbled and in awe of a real life inspiration.

And during the 10 hour ride I passed & was passed by other cancer fighters and survivors, and heard of so many honored patients we were riding for. Thinking back I still get goosebumps and choked up.

I will be sharing snippets from last year’s ride as I train this year. While I’m still in the anxious mode, staying positive and optimistic will get me to June!

{Day after the bike ride last year. Photo taken by Dad at sunrise above Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe}

If you would like to make a tax deductible, online donation, you can visit my fundraising page.