Racking up some miles and climbing some hills...

I don't know about you, but I am loving and hating the weather this year.  It's actually been a very mild winter for us here in North Carolina, but it seems like the beautiful days are during the week, when we have to work, and the icky rainy days are on the weekends when we want to play.  This weekend was no exception.  Training was postponed from Saturday to Sunday because of the threat (and indeed there were) severe thunderstorms.  Saturday was a blustery mess of ick.  Sunday however, turned out to be a GREAT day to ride.  I wasn't sure when I got in my car to drive 45 minutes to our start place, but the day was really great.  Overcast and not to warm.  We rode from Kelly Road, up to Lystra (the infamous hill with an 11% grade in it) to 15-501, down Jack Bennett (that was fun!), I rode back up and down Jack Bennett, then back around to Kelly Road.  There were some good rollers in there, our big grade hill, and all kinds of different road surfaces to experience.  I watched one of my teammates really blossom on this ride.....it's so AWESOME watching people really start to enjoy and come into themselves while biking.  Another teammate who is just starting out had her first fall with clip in pedals. It's a right of passage, and we all congratulated her. You've got to get these things out of the way so you can get the fear out of the way and just bike.  I rode about 42 miles on Sunday, and all in all it was a wonderful day!

Coming up this week: I'm doing the Tour de Granville, a metric century (62 miles).  If anyone cares to join me I'll attach the info and you can sign up.  *smiles*  They have several riding options including a full century (100 miles).

I haven't gotten the numbers back from the Moe's fundraiser, but THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU....for going to eat at Moe's for me!  As soon as I know I'll send out $ we raised from that day!! 

I'm still making/ selling drink coasters, that if I do say so myself, are pretty darn cool!  You can get them directly from me, or at Trek Bikes of Raleigh.  They are a set of 4 coasters for $15.  What a deal!!

I also still have the beautiful Angel of Grace Cancer Awareness bracelets.  If you haven't seen them...they are AMAZING!!  I am selling them for $15 each.

There are only 17 spots left for the Wine and Painting Party on April 14th.  If you want to come join us for a wine tasting starting at 5:45 at Wine 101, and then a painting class (Painting Red Poppies), around the corner at Wine and Design Wake Forest, please sign up with W&DWF by going to the website and clicking on the painting of Red Poppies on April 14th, or calling them at: 919-843-0552.  Class Cost is $40.

I'll leave you with this little tid bit and story today:

DID YOU KNOW...Leukemia, Hodgkin Lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Myeloma and Myelodysplastic Syndromes are types of cancer that can affect the bone marrow, the blood cells, the lymph nodes and other parts of the lymphatic system.  These diseases are related cancers in the sense that they all result from mutations to the DNA of a single lymph or blood-forming stem cell.  The disease process can lead to severe anemia, bleeding, an imparied ability to fight infection, or death.

Jim Bond Long Term Survivor Story- multiple myeloma

In 2002, after three stem cell transplants had provided a decade of remissions, Jim Bond of Shaker Heights, Ohio, was running out of options. His multiple myeloma, a cancer of bone marrow plasma cells, was raging out of control, and Jim knew he was facing death. That's when he and his wife Kathleen asked his doctor about a new drug they had learned was showing promising results in early clinical trials.

Update from Jim Bond:  I hope you are doing well. I'm doing well. In fact, I recently rode 291 miles on my bike in a 4-day event from Cleveland to Cincinnati. Others affected by cancer were encouraged that 3 of us cancer survivors were able to complete this bike ride. Myeloma survivors seem particularly encouraged that I did this as a 15 year survivor, while taking daily cancer medication (Revlimid).

  

Chrissy Harlow

This year I've done the August 70.3 Half Ironman, and the Disney 26.2 Marathon, and now I am training for America's Most Beautiful Ride (100 mile bike ride in Tahoe) in June. All with Team in Training, raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Help me fund cancer research and patient services.  All donations are 100% tax deductible!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/ambbr12/dentalfriend

Another Week...

All kinds of fun stuff this week...good weather, crazy weather, rainy weather, apparently snow (but not here).

Beautiful sunrises, while walking my dog.

Went to see the Hunger Games with a friend.  Before hand we were looking through a kid's toy shop and what did we find?  A small cock.

More trying to figure out the weather.

After the 40 + mile ride, I got to hang out with the team a little. Some of us ordered these cool Team In Training sweatshirts.  One of our friends designed and is selling them as a fundraiser!!  *smiles*

My lunch after my ride...in the end it wasn't so great for my stomach.  My tummy has been upset from the chili (probably).  I should of known better.

Also I've been wasting a lot of time playing draw something.  Some of my friend's can really do a good job of drawing stuff.  My drawings are no so great.

STRESS!!!

Why does stress seem to get the best of us?  I try....I really really try to not let things stress me out.  However my personality type is one that is just drawn to stressful situations.  Sometimes I think I thrive in stress, but in reality, I just falter.  My body/mind can only handle so much.

What to do about it?  Hmmm.  Confront what's stressing me.  Sometimes easier said than done.  Been working on this a lot.  I am a people pleaser (personality type).  I don't want to hurt anyones feelings, and I want to be the one that people look to for help.  HA!!  I'm also fairly snarky.  (it's a word...I think).  That might be a good release, but sometimes it's just not nice.

Secret time....I sometimes, just HATE people.  WHAT???  However I'm usually pretty good at turning my attitude around and getting the smile back on my face (which in turns makes me feel better).  If I think good things, then the good things seem to happen.

But I'm stressed.  It shows.  Maybe not to everyone, but to those closest to me....maybe not even to them.....but I know.  My house is a disaster.  Like a tornado has come through, and I can't quite get myself to do anything about it. (sad).  Some of my relationships are having a hard time on the communication front....very sad.  I have lot's of goals and plans, and want....so many WANTS, but I don't have the ability to make these things happen.  I need to revise.  I need a space to re-think, re-figure, and get my happy thoughts back, and come up with a plan that will work, and still be happy.  I'm tired though, stress does that too.  I'm tired and unmotivated, and getting fat (even with all the exercising that I do....it's not enough).  Arrrgggghhhhhh.

I'm stressed.  I'm working on it.  I will pull myself out of this soon.  But right now, if you happen to see me, just know...I'm not quite me right now.  It's a new day though.  Fresh start, new beginnings, the first day of the rest of my life.  I'm going to work on making this life (the one I've been given), the best that I can.  We are not promised any length of time on this earth, we get what we get.  I'm going to try to make the best of it.

Green Love!!

So I've noticed that I haven't written an update in awhile.  Truth be known, I'm a little tired.  Not bone crushing tired.  Not knock down tried, just a little tired.  Training has been going well.  My cycling miles are starting to add up!  We've started climbing some hills, and are working towards the goal of riding 100 miles around Lake Tahoe.  I'm not tired from training (don't get me wrong, I do get a little tired after riding for 3 + hours at a time), but my life is busy.  Yep, I know....everyone's life is busy.  I'm so happy to have a busy life.  I'm truly blessed to be able to live this life I've been given.

Tomorrow is St Patrick's Day!  Which is also my Dad's birthday (Happy Birthday Dad), and my dog's birthday (he was actually born on 3/17....and he'll be 9).  I'll be attending a CPR class with one of my dental offices in the morning, which means I won't be able to ride with the Team tomorrow.  No worries though I've got plans to ride on Sunday!  *smiles*  So tomorrow the deal is don't forget to wear green, no need to get pinched.  Speaking of Green....it wouldn't hurt to donate some green to my fundraising for this amazing mission. (you can find the link at the bottom of this e-mail)

I'm a little behind on reading my emails, and updates.  I'm just now getting to them for the last 2 weeks really.  I want to share a story about my friend Vashni.  She doesn't have a blood cancer, but she does have cancer.  In fact this is her second time around with cancer.  It's sucktastic!  She has stage IV ovarian cancer.  Her world has been flipped, but she has the most amazing spirit of anyone I know.  I mean truly amazing!  Ohh and she can write.  Her blog (which was not started as a cancer blog...but turned into one because that's just how life goes), is an account of her feelings about LIVING with cancer.  That's right, she LIVING....she is not dying.  This girl is continuing her amazing LIFE!  I just read her latest post, and invite you take a peek at her life.

Fundraisers coming up:  This Monday the 19th is the day you should go eat at Moe's!  Welcome to Moe's!  Attached is the flyer you should bring, and hand out to your co-workers, friends, and family members to get them to go eat at Moe's!  All you have to is eat your lunch, or dinner, or both at one of the Moe's listed on the flyer (make sure you bring the flyer) and they will donate 20% of the bill to my fundraising efforts!

On Saturday April 14th, Wine and Design Wake Forest is having a painting party for us!  We will be painting the Red Poppies (which is beautiful).  No artistic ability required!  Really, it's so cool!  You need to go sign up for the class (which is $40) to reserve your spot in the class (there are only 28 seats available, and this is open to the public....so get go ahead and reserve your spot if you want to do this), by going the the website or calling 919-453-0552.  This even will start at 5:45 at Wine 101, where Joe will have a special tasting for us, and continue around the corner to Wine and Design to paint our Poppies.

 

Together we CAN find a cure!

Chrissy Harlow, RDH

This year I've done the August 70.3 Half Ironman, and the Disney 26.2 Marathon, and now I am training for America's Most Beautiful Ride (100 mile bike ride in Tahoe) in June. All with Team in Training, raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Help me fund cancer research and patient services.  All donations are 100% tax deductible!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/ambbr12/dentalfriend

March Madness

March Madness Jackpot Sweepstakes for Cancer!

JOIN THE TEAM!

 

Get swept up in March Madness, take a chance on winning a piece of the jackpot worth $500 and help to cure cancer -- all at the same time! 

And folks, you do not need to know anything about college basketball to have a chance to win the jackpot!!

 

Chrissy Harlow is hosting an online college hoops bracket competition for the NCAA basketball tournament at CBSSports.com.  The winner walks away with a cool $250 in cash.  Second and third place will take$150 and $100, respectively.

 

Here’s how it works:

All you have to do is make a donation of at least $10 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at Chrissy's fund raising page:

 

http://pages.teamintraining.org/nc/ambbr12/dentalfriend 

Your donation is fully tax deductible as a charitable contribution.  The prize money has been donated by that famous donor “Anonymous” and therefore does not reduce the generous contributions of the participants to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

100% of your donation goes to the Society to help fund the search for a cure for blood cancers.

 

A $10 donation gets you one bracket and $25 gets you 3 brackets, so go crazy and increase your odds!!!Be sure to enter a correct email address when you make your donation so we know how to get in touch with you!

 

Within 24 hours of making your donation, you will be emailed an invitation to our bracket competition by CBSSports.com (CalledSams Team).  The CBS email will have log-in information and the password to join our group.  You will be required to register at their site and then you can sign in with the team password.  At the CBS site, you will be able to submit your bracket picks, watch scores and standings update LIVE, talk among group members via message boards and more! Just sign in to our bracket group anytime to check your standings. This site is truly spam-free!

 

**The tournament is starting soon so you must make your donation no later than Tuesday, March 13^th  by midnight to play in the bracket competition.  You will be able to pick your teams between Sunday March 11^th and Thursday March 15^th at noon when the first games kick off**

 

This is a great opportunity to have fun and support the search for a cure!  The more people who play, the more money we raise for cancer research, so please take a couple of minutes to forward this invitation to your family and friends who enjoy a little competition for a great cause. 

 

Thanks for considering a contribution,

 

Good Luck!