Hello again! After I wrote you from the hotel in Maui the afternoon before the event, I slept and continued to drink tons of miso soup. Chris and Jay helped with all the registration activities, picking up my packet and all the updated info. regarding the course. I had to go talk with the medic to be o.k.'d. He was happy that I no longer had my fever, since that morning. But, he wanted me to get off my bike at each of the four watering stations and drink a bottle while walking a bit. Plus, during the run, I needed to really drink and walk during the watering stations. After checking in with the medic, I went back to the room and got all my bike bottles ready, put my number on my jersey, checked all my equipment. I wrote out each of the names of people for whom I was doing this in their honor on red ribbons and pinned them all along the back of my jersey. Aiden and Olive's names I wrote in big letters right on the jersey. One ribbon is for a woman who lived in my neighborhood, but who I did not know. She diied two weeks before our event. Amazingly, she had been born the exact day, month and year that I was. I still have my jersey with all the ribbons on it, hanging on my door. So, slowly I organized my gear. I was concerned about my bike. It made a funny clicking noise. I felt so much better but still had plugged ears and an occasional cough. We met our team for a walk through of our various transitions with with our coach who gave us valuable info, such as : rinsing the salt water out of our mouth when we run through the showers after the swim, when and where to strategically rack our bikes, etc. That night we went to the pasta feed in the grassy field adjacent to the bike transition area. It was fun to finally be with everyone. We heard a very moving and powerful story from one of the honor patients about her treatment and cure from lymphoma. My daughter was so moved and insisted on meeting her after the talk. She gave her a big hug and told her she was so glad she was alive. They both hugged and criied. Later, she gave Jay a leii. Her story helped me the next day. Wade came to our room and checked my bike for me. I lay everything out for the next morning and set my alarm for 4:30 a.m.

The Story

So, pardon my writer's block the last two months!! Geez, I really apologize. It was such an intense experience for me in Maui, completing the triathlon after being so sick. I want to tell the story in detail and thank all the many people who helped support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Also, all who helped me complete the event It was very miraculous overall, an amazing experience!!! But, for now the library will be cutting me off the computor in just afew minutes. Jay is in listening to story time. She begins first grade in just a few days. I will be back soon to tell the storyof the Maui adventure. I still dream about it and am so inspired by the experience, all the people- all of you. Thank you again. Ciao for now.

Jay and Jean

Racing to Swim

The Start

The Swim

Biking

At the Finish Line

Jean Running...

Jean at the Finish Line

Jean and Jay at the Finish Line

15 More Hours!!!

Aloha! I have only a few more hoursw remaining. The early morning surf is very high. There is a great deal of wind. But, it is really beautiful here. I am taking antibiotics for bronchitis and an ear infection since I arrived. Ihad a cold at the beginning of the week. The week prior we dealt with emergency oral surgery for little Jay. She did well but it was very stressful. Our team did a mini tri. that weekend and it was very hard for me. I wasn't prepared and got a flat tire!!But, this is why we do the dress rehearsal. The next week we did more open water swim and I did my runs on myu own. We met for a final ride and packed our bikes after breaking them down and fitting them into the boxes. Thanks to Rob Dunn I, have fancy box for transport. They were unable to put on the granny gear and today I sea the "Wall of Death" and really wish I had it. But, really, I appreciate that I am here and thank you all again for your support!!! Our team of 50 participants are all so amazing. Together we raised an amazing amount of money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Now, my challenge is to continue to take care so I can do the event tomorrow. Before leaving, I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with benign positional vertigo, which is the bit of dizzyness I have been feeling. Also, I picked up a cold. When I landed here in Maui on Thursday, I had lost my voice and developed a fever, brochitis. I went to the clinic here and got meds. I"ve been in bed until this Saturday morning when we went down to check out the swim..Our team swam out amidst choppy waters as Jay, Chris and I watched. Then, I went for a 10 minute bike ride and crawled back in bed....until now at 4:00 p.m. or so. I found a hotel computer to write you all. I am determined to do this tomorrow morning,but only if I am considerably better. I feel like it is a possiblity. The event medical staff cleared me. Thanks to Chris and Jay for all there tender loving care and room service. Thanks to my coach for his guidance and support...to the team for their inspiration and for all of you! My ears are plugged a bit and I hope this makes sense. Now, I am off to finish sewing the ribbons on my jersey. We have a pasta feed at 6:00 and a team photo. There are people here from all over the U.S. I will check in tomorrow with an update. It is very peaceful here. Rushing waters and chirping birds, swaying palm trees and the sweetness in the air from flowers.I hope to be well tomorrow a swim out to those big orange buoys way out there amidst the turtles. I think I'll go lie down. Aloha mahalo nui,nui,nui!!!!!

Three More Weeks (and three days)

Hello!!!! We made the goal!!!!! Together all of you contributed to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society over $6,000 on my behalf towards patient services and research towards a cure! Thank you thank you thank you! I can't believe WE did this! Also, I am a bit shocked that there are only a few more weeks until the triathlon!! I attended a three day course this past weekend. We had long days into the late evening so I missed training with the team. On Saturday I woke up early before the class to do a 1 mile run, 25 mile bike and another two mile run! I finished just in time to shower, help with breakfast and get to my course. My bike situation continues to evolve as my team-mates have located a "granny gear". Jim Delara is very happy to let them add it on to help me spin up the two steep hills we will be doing in the triathlon! I am not proud. I welcome this "granny gear"!! I'm a bit nervous about getting used to it all before the event. It has been raining hard each time I head out for my training rides this week. I have missed a few swim workouts as well. So. I am nervous about it all. But, my goal is to complete before sundown and not hurt myself or anyone else! It will come together! Again, thank you for your support. My mantra now is in Swahili from one of my daughter's songs: "holi poli"- go slow, go slow. And, another is from an old high school cheer. "Take it easy, easy, easy. Take it slow, slow, slow. Take it easy, take it slow but, go,go,go!!"

5 More Weeks!!!!!

Hello everyone! I want to thank you all so much again for your generous contributions to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on my behalf. Also, thank you for your words of encouragement! Together we have raised nearly $5,400 to help researchers find a cure for these cancers and to support patients and their families. Multiply this by the rest of my team and we have raised much, much more!! Tonight we meet at the Madison Pool for our last swim practise as a team-indoors. We will now begin swimming in Lake Sammamish. Last Saturday, we met and rode around Mercer Island- 3 times! I bailed early because of an inner ear infection that made me feel dizzy and nauseated. All better now, I went out this morning after dropping Jay off at school and rode my bike for 10 miles; then I ran 1. Is it easier now because I am a bit stronger or lighter? No... it is this amazing bike Jim Delara has built for me to use!!! It is 6 lbs. lighter. It has an incredible gearing system and components. I don't yet understand what this really means, but no one has been zooming by me. My team and coach now say I no longer am on the "antique". This is the best bike on the team! I continue to be so grateful for this amazing opportunity. At times, I feel overwhelmed and awed by my team's dedication , by the struggle the people battling for their health go through every day to heal and by everyone's generosity! In 5 weeks, I will put all this together during the triathlon. Thank you so much for your support!