Update!

Training is going well. I have and continue to learn a lot about riding a bike. It really isn't as easy as it looks. - Staying upright alone can be a challenge. Last weekend we did our first big climb. I know this is a big climb as now the hills will have names. This particular hill was named Oak Knolls and it kicked my butt!! After stuggling to keep going I ended up stopping and getting a SAG to the top. I could not catch my breath and was totally overheated - I was literally seeing stars. I did get to come back down and that was awesome! My top speed was 35 miles per hour. When the ride was all said and done I had completed 37 miles!

My weight loss efforts have been going great too. I am down approximately 15 lbs as of last week. Last I checked I had lost 11.5 inches as well. My body fat percent is down 2-3% and my muscle mass is up about 4-5lbs. I am starting to get some muscle definition and my clothes are starting to fall off!!

Fundraising is hard! It is so hard to stay positive when everyone just about everyone around me is so oblivious. I was really hoping that this season would not be as difficult as my last TNT season, but this one is proving to be more difficult. Yes, I understand that the economy is bad and money is tight for everyone. But what about the people who are relying on the money that is raised through charity to help them? For example, what about the families who contact the LLS office in need of assistance to pay for gas or transportation to get to Palo Alto for ground breaking treatments? What do you say to them? "sorry, no money was raised locally for patient services so we can't help you - Have a nice day?" Seriously, it only takes a minute to make a difference and to be honest, I know very few people that would face financial ruin if they donated $25.00. I guess it all comes down to appreciation. People don't appreciate the charities that are out there everyday changing and saving lives until they are faced with a hardship and need the help of that charity. I will just keep working hard and everything will work out.

New features for my blog. I will be keeping a running list of honorees, for both those that are survivors and fighters and those that are in our memories. If you want me to add some to my list, please send me a message.

Honorees:

Nancy D. - Survivor
Bryna N. - Survivor
Nasim R - Fighter
Louie R. - Fighter
Zak P. - Fighter (newly diagnoised with Leukemia)
R.L. - in Memory
Orbie R. - in Memory
Richard R. - in Memory

Here I go again!

After an awesome season with Team in Training which was wrapped up by my completing of the Nike Women's Half Marathon I have decide to return to Team in Training and this time I am doing a century ride. What is a century ride you ask? It is 100 miles on a road/racing bike! Think Tour de France and Lance Armstrong - but I will be going around Lake Tahoe and I will be no where near as fast as Lance. Why am I doing this? Well, they still haven't found a cure for cancer therefore they still need help raising money and awareness so I am back to raise another $2500 and hopefully more - while learning a new skill - cycling.

I have already ridden 12.5 miles on this journey and I am sure I will ride at least 500 more before the event. Please check back often as I will be posting about training and more importantly I will be posting about fundraisers! I need your help to make a difference!

First Fundraiser: COOKIES for CASH!!
Details are as follows:

1. Now through Feb 13th donate to the cause and get cookies in return.

2. Donation break down:
-- 25.00 - you get a dozen homemade cookies
-- 50.00 - you get a two dozen homemade cookies
---100.00 - you get two dozen cookies for the next three months!!

3. Cookie flavors are: Chocolate Chip; Double Chocolate Chip; Snickerdoodles; or Oatmeal Raisin.

4. How it will work: You go online to http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/ambbr09/cdolliver and make a donation or contact me to get a donation to me. Once I have confirm your donation I will contact you and find out what flavor cookies you would like. I will make and deliver the cookies to everyone the weekend of the 21st of February. If you are a $100 donor your first batch will be delivered that weekend and the follow batches will be delivered in March and April.

5. AS A BONUS - THE 1ST PERSON TO DONATE $100 WILL ALSO GET A $20 STARBUCKS CARD TO GO WITH THE FIRST BATCH OF COOKIES!!

COME ON PEOPLE! HELP ME RAISE THE MONEY!!

Update

Okay, last weekend I did a little over 7 miles. It was a pretty good run - just some issues with my hips and lower back. During the week I have gotten in about 5 miles so tomorrows 8 miler at Shaver will probably kick my butt!! At least it will be nice and cool for the run - actually it will only be it the 40's when we start out! WOW! My hubby and baby boy are coming up with me to help run a aid station so that will be fun. Tonight we have dinner with our coach - so that will be fun too!

Fundraising still sucks!! I still need to raise $1800 and no one seems to want to help. I am at a total lost on how to proceed.

I do have two more events planned. On Sat 8/30/08 I have a charity yard sale - people have been nice enough to donate their stuff to me to sale - so I hope it goes well and I make lots and lots of money!!! On 9/6/08 I have a boutique planned with a friend and I hope lots of people come out and buy our stuff (cookies, jams, toys, and bows)! On 9/11/08 I leave for LA for two weeks in Hawaii and when I get back there will only be 4 days until the deadline of Oct. 3, 2008 to have all our fundraising money in.

I NEED HELP PEOPLE - JUST $10 WILL MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE!!!!! http://pages.teamintraining.org/cca/nikesf08/cdolliver

BUNCO!!

BUNCO!!!

DETAILS:
SUNDAY JULY 20, 2008
TIMES: 3:00 PM & 6:00 P.M.
SUGGESTED BUY IN - $20.00
(OR MORE IF YOU LIKE)
WHERE: 1244 E. STUART AVENUE
FRESNO, CA 93710
RSVP BY JULY 18, 2008
JENNIE: 559-708-8940 –
csutwirl@yahoo.com
CHANDRA 559-284-4770 –
cmdolliver@yahoo.com
FIND THOSE LUCKY CHARMS AND RSVP TO JOIN US AS WE ROLL OUR WAY TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE LUEKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY TEAM IN TRAINING. THIS EVENT IS PERFECT THE BEGINNING BUNCO PLAYER – NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED,
JUST THE ABILITY TO COUNT LITTLE DOTS!
WE GUARANTEE GOOD TIMES, GREAT FOOD AND FUN FOR ALL. THERE WILL ALSO BE GREAT PRIZES TO WIN – WHICH INCLUDE LIA SOPHIA JEWELRY, AVON, STARBUCKS AND MORE! 100% OF THE PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT TEAM IN TRAINING!
CALL OR EMAIL TODAY TO RSVP!!

WEAR SUNSCREEN!

I just returned from my doctor's office where they cut out two moles on my upper arm. The doc is pretty sure that one of them is cancerous (It is a mole that had scabbed over and would not heal.) I now have two holes with 4 stitches each. I am only 30 and this is the second time I have had moles removed (the last one was a Melanoma).

I just wanted to share this with you all and remind you to WEAR SUNCREEN!!! The higher the SPF the better! and remember that you are supposed to use a shot glass full every 3 hours at least!!!!

Last night we did a gel tasting at Sierra Running Company - very interesting. Most of the favors were pretty vile in my opinion but I think I found some I could live with. I will be trying them out on my next long run.

Tonight I have a yoga class and then I will do a 4 mile run tomorrow and then another 4 mile on Friday. Greg will be home to watch Logan, so I can actually get my runs in. On saturday I am supposed to be doing another 5k race for the Rotary here in town. Which means I need to do more running on Sunday. I also have a fundraiser this weekend and I will post the details next.

Fundraising

I just drop the first of the checks I have received towards my fundraising goal in the mail. I have received 5 donations today for a total of $282.40. It is going to be a long hard journey raising the money - but I will do it! I am off to work on some letters to businesses asking for donations. If anyone has any other ides for fundraising please share them!

BTW - tonight is a 4 mile run!