Happy New Year and a New Challenge - Wildflower 2009

Happy New Year to everyone out there in cyberspace and beyond. I've been very lax on updating the blog, but like my training I plan on improving that in the new year and becoming a little more regular. The new year always seems like a time for reflection. Three years ago I signed up for the NYC triathlon after receiving an email from my gym with an offer to register early. While, I had never done a triathlon, nor open water swimming or a bike race, this seemed like a good idea at the time. Current and future readers of this blog may notice a recurring theme.

Anyway, once my registration was accepted and committed the realization hit me that I would be swimming for close to a mile in the Hudson river, biking for 25 miles on the West Side Highway and then running over 6 miles to finish in Central Park. Needless to say, I should figure out how to train for one of these. After doing some research, I attended an information meeting for Team in Training. To paraphrase a well known movie quote, they had me at hello, or at least after the highly inspirational video. For those of you not familiar with Team in Training, they provide coaching and training for people to complete endurance events such as marathons, century (100 mile) bike rides and triathlons. In exchange for the coaching and training, athletes raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

That first year I completed the 2007 NYC Triathlon and raised close to $3,400 to support the mission of Team in Training and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to fight blood cancers. The next year I was back and completing not one, but two Olympic Triathlons with Team in Training. Through the help of many amazing and generous people, I was able to raise $4,900 in the fight against cancer by completing the 2008 Capital of Texas Triathlon and the 2008 NYC Triathlon.

This year I decided to once again help in the fight against blood cancers by raising money with TNT to support the mission of the Leukemia Society. This year my goal is to raise $5,000 to support the fight against blood cancers. I understand that this has been a difficult year for many of us, so I am also raising the bar for myself. This year I am training to complete my first half-ironman distance triathlon. I will be completing the 2009 Wildflower Half-Ironman Triathlon in Monterey, Califonia. This race will require me to swim 1.2 miles, bike a hilly and challenging course for 56 miles and then run for 13.1 miles. I am willing to put in the work of swimming, biking and running countless miles, training outdoors in the freezing northeast winter and waking up early on the weekend to train while most people are still sleeping or deciding on their weekend brunch. While I would enjoy the company of anyone out there who would like to join me in training, I am not asking you to do any of that. What I am asking is that you take a moment to visit my page at http://curecancer.herbzoota.com and make a donation to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in their fight against blood cancers. Any amount you can give will enable the society to conduct research into new treatments as well as provide valuable services to the current patients and their families.

I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year in 2009!