Last Sunday I participated in the 10th Annual LA River Ride. It was a 70-mile ride from Griffith Park to Long Beach and back. It was definitely not the most scenic route through LA and I’m not quite sure that there was ever a “river.” I did however see (and smell) cookie factories, warehouses, abandoned buildings, the LA County jail, incredible graffiti art, horses, a train, and oh yes, the Long Beach Harbor (home to Gunn/Jerkens)! I consumed four bottles of Powerade®, at least eight PowerBars® and a variety of other “endurance foods.” My post race meal consisted of matzah ball soup and a salami sandwich – yumm! It was long, hard and yes I did complain along the way, but at the end of the day I realized how very lucky I am… and how lucky we all are! I’m fortunate to be healthy enough to do this kind of training and to be able to give back in such a significant way.
As you may or may not know, I’ve been doing triathlons (swim, bike, run) as part of the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team in Training program for the past five years.
Since this is my fifth year training and fundraising for the cause, I’ve decided to kick it up a notch. In addition to the Nation’s Tri (1-mile swim, 26-mile bike and 6.2-mile run), which I’ll be completing with the team on September 12th in Washington DC, I’m committed to completing my first half Ironman (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run) and possibly a full Ironman next year. I refuse to put the Ironman distances in writing – it’s way too intimidating.
As we say at the end of every practice: “GO TEAM on three, GO TEAM on three …One, two three – GO TEAM!!”
Click here to donate or track my progress!
Tags: Ironman, Long Beach Harbor, Nation’s Tri, Team in Training, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
There is no way I could ever run a marathon – I think I would get bored. It’s so cool that you do this stuff, Jennifer. Keep up the training!
Congrats on the great job, Jen!
Way to go!!!!!!!!
AMAZING! I do not believe most people realize the dedication it takes, not only to with the training, but the diet as well. Good for you for all that you are accomplishing! So true that we are blessed with the gift of health to do WHATEVER goal we set out to do. Keep up the good work! You are such a great motivator!