Today is Not Just Valentine's Day by Alex Strickland

My name is Alex Strickland, and I am a survivor.When I was four years old, I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Luckily, within six months my wonderful doctors had battled my cancer into remission, but I then went through another two and a half years of maintenance chemo therapy.

At age five, I was admitted to the hospital with a bad case of chicken pox. Normally that wouldn't be so dangerous, but the chemo I was previously on had taken a harsh toll on my immune system. The doctors were unsure I would make it.

While I was in the hospital, I  had the privilege of being an Honored Hero for Team In Training's triathlon team. My best friend, who I went through chemo with, went to the triathlon with me and we cheered as his mother crossed the finish line.

My health did come back, and I'm alive and well today in large part to research funded by organizations like The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  So today I am carrying on what they've done for me. I've signed up for Team In Training myself, and in June I will be completing America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride, a 100 mile ride around Lake Tahoe, raising funds along the way to give back to the cause that I've benefited from.

So why is this post titled "Today is Not Just Valentine's Day" you ask? Well, today is something much bigger for me. February 14, 2000 was the day I took my last chemo treatment. Today I celebrate 12 years of health, 12 years of being a survivor, and 12 years since I put cancer behind me.

Join me in celebrating survivorship and the advances we've made in cancer research by donating $12 to LLS today to give today and tomorrow's kids even better treatments than what I had and to make cancer a thing of the past. That way we can focus on the little things, like Valentine's Day, instead. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

TNT participant and Honored Teammate, Alex Strickland, is currently training and raising funds to participate in America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Lake Tahoe this June. Alex is a freshman at North Georgia College & State University studying pre-med and aspires to be a doctor.

It's Time to Ride by Julian Cowart

Coach Julian with his wife, Catherine,
and son, Lawrence.

“Daddy, it’s not wake up time. The sun is still asleep”, said my three year old, momentarily befuddling his intensely drowsy father. He was right, and sitting on the side of a strange bed in Peachtree City, I was overwhelmed by the urge to heed his advice. But a glance at the desk brought my jersey into focus, the Team In Training jersey soon to be on the backs of so many remarkable friends. It was time to ride.

I have had the good fortune to wake up next to my beautiful wife most mornings for the past six years as well. More mornings than I care to recall, however, the rail of hospital bed separated us as she fought through her latest treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But on the morning of August 29th we rose together, along with our son, to be a part of the Team In Training that has meant so much to us, that has raised, nationally, over $1,000,000,000 for blood cancer research.

After overwhelming the stunned breakfast steward at our hotel, the green and purple swarm rolled south, to East Coweta Middle School. Local and regional rides generally abound with warmth and energy, and the Wilson 100 proved an excellent example from the moment we were shepherded though our arrival by the multitude of volunteers. The team coalesced on our blue minivan, a mix of multi event veterans, century virgins, supporters, and one tricycling three year old. Our venerable coach called the team to order, and following the reading of “Close the Door When You Leave”, our traditional inspirational poem, we were off. As the team turned right and headed out for mile one, my son implored his mother to push him along with us on his tricycle. His mother later informed me of his immense disappointment when he could not keep up.

Our ride followed some roads southwest of Atlanta, roads we had seen in our training. As the miles passed by we settled into the pace groups forged over the season and passed the miles singing badly and telling bawdy jokes.

When hunger or thirst arose, we soon found ourselves under the care of locals wielding water and peanut butter sandwiches. After chattering along the chip seal from Greenville to Warm Springs, team members glared at the Warm Spring Wall that had proven such a formidable training foe, enjoyed the support of the Team In Training SAG stop, and turned for home. Enduring a torrential downpour at mile 65, a flat tire soon after (the changing of which was truly a team event), an uncooperative rear derailleur, and an unplanned extra hill climb, we powered through the closing miles of the ride. As made our last turn towards the finish, our first time participants moved alongside each other at the front of the pack, and we followed these newly minted century riders across the finish.

Barbeque, beverages, hugs and pictures closed our Wilson 100. Following my group’s arrival, our teammates rolled in to rousing cheers until our final participant, struggling through injury but unbowed, turned left into Coweta Middle School. She too was feted with hugs and pictures, testament to the enduring power of fellowship and support.

Close the Door When You Leave


I never asked you to visit ... at least I don't believe I did
Maybe...I don't know
It's so confusing


At any rate, you're a rude guest
You take my energy, rob my sleep, and with a stick
You swirl and distort my dreams


All right, you are here --- for now
But understand
There are two places that are forever off limits


You may not tread on my spirit
You may not occupy my soul


I have heard of your visits to others
I know the damage you leave in your path
The wanton disregard for innocence, value, and what some would call fairness


Also, I hear that laughter confuses you; that good foods make you feel bad, and
That nothing causes you more distress than an autumn sunset, the forever blue of a summer sky,
Or the unconditional radiance of a child's smile

Listen and understand
You might pilfer my closets, empty all the drawers, and trash my house
But there are two places forever off limits


You may not tread on my spirit
You may not occupy my soul


Do not mistake my nausea, weakness, and pain as signs of your victory
They are simply small dents in the armor I wear to fight you
Instead, look deeply into my eyes


They will once again remind you that there are two places forever off limits


You must not...


May not...


Will not tread on my spirit


You must not...


May not...


Will not occupy my soul

Copyright © 2000 by Michael Hayes Samuelson
Author of "Voices from the Edge: Life Lessons from the Cancer Community"
Longstreet Press, www.TheNationalCenter.com



Julian Cowart first joined Team In Training in 2005 and has completed almost a dozen events with the Team. Now a coach for the cycling program, Julian is leading the Team at the 2010 Six Gap Century Ride.

Four Men, Four Bikes, One Cause!

This Saturday, four local men will start riding across the country—on two wheels! With a goal of cycling from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland in less than a week, the dedicated men are participating in Race Across America (RAAM). Beginning June 12, Dave Armento, Frank Fuerst, Tony Myers and Jerome Rossetti, will ride through 16 states, rotating shifts 24 hours a day.
This is the second year the men have participated in this event. In 2009, they crossed the finish line in seven days, eight hours, six minutes, first in the four-man 50-59 age group, and fifth among all four man teams.
Known as the Georgia Chain Gang, the team is using the event to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The men are supported by a team of ten crew members, including two time Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor Warren Bruno, owner of Atkins Park Restaurant in the Virginia Highlands area of Atlanta. The team’s fundraising goal is $160,000 but they have already raised more than $90,000 even before the race has started!! Having Warren on their team and others in their hearts, serves as an incredible inspiration to continue to fundraise even harder.
Cyclist Dave Armento lost a sister, uncle and father-in-law to leukemia. "I am looking forward to the ride itself again but I am also looking forward to making a difference," he says. "Research has come a long way in treating blood cancers—there are now 85% success rates---so hopefully we can help raise awareness and success rates even higher."
The four men are all avid endurance athletes—having completed marathons, Ironman triathlons and long-distance cycling events. To prepare for this race, the men have trained inside about 7-10 hours per week and have completed multiple 60-100-mile rides outside averaging at least 300-400 miles week.
"We wish these committed and dedicated men the best of luck on their race," says Dick Brown, executive director of the Georgia Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "But most of all, on behalf of the 900,000 Americans now living with a blood cancer, we thank them. They are making a tremendous difference in the lives of so many people—one every four minutes—that are diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma."

Learn more about the Georgia Chain Gang at http://www.gachaingang.org/
Learn more about Race Across America at http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/
Donate online at http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/raceacro10/GeorgiaChainGang
Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gachaingang

Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/gachaingang

Demon Deacon and Doc Take on Tahoe by Jim Osterman

With no children of his own and the desire to make a difference, Atlanta physician Richard Ellin reached out to Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Gwinnett County. In 1996, he became big brother to 7-year-old Aaron LaRue, who was being raised by his grandmother. While the average BBBS relationship is about five years, Richard and Aaron stayed close, even when the youngster moved to North Carolina.

“Richard is definitely part of my family,” said LaRue. “He was really a great influence. I always looked forward to a day we could do a bike ride together.”

Richard has done America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride with TNT several times, and was actually thinking about passing on the 2010 edition. But late last year Aaron, now a junior exercise physiology major at Wake Forest University and top high jumper on the Demon Deacons track team, told his big brother he wanted the two of them to do a cycling event together.

“When he said he wanted to join me on the ride I changed my plans,” Ellin said.

So while Richard is training with the Atlanta Team In Training cycling team, Aaron is putting his miles in with the Western North Carolina Team In Training chapter. “Demon Deacon and Doc” will take on the America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride at Lake Tahoe on June 6.

An avid cyclist for several years, Richard Ellin saw the opportunity to use his avocation to raise money to fight leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. He joined Team In Training in 2004 and has ridden the America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride every year with the team since then. Check out team Demon Deacon and Doc's TNT web page here.

I Get It Now by John A. Dapper

During my first Team in Training event, the 2000 edition of America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride around Lake Tahoe, I finished over 40 minutes ahead of every other participant of the Palm Beach chapter I was on. If I was an archer with my back to the target, and directing my arrow to the open blue yonder, I could not have been more off the mark.

It’s sad to say that my being obtuse about the real point of TNT did not start with the shallow glory of the strong finish on that Tahoe event day. Oh no, I missed the mark even from the beginning of the season. I showed up to the training sessions with just enough time to get myself ready. I would usually ride alone. When I returned to my car, I would not stay to enjoy post ride camaraderie with my team mates. Oh no, in fact, I usually just waved to the riders who were finishing their ride as I drove on home. To make matters worse, I did not attend any fund raising events nor honored hero parties. My loss.

It gets even worse. I’ll just lay it out quickly to get the self flogging over with. On event weekend, I did not take the team fight. I stayed in a different hotel than the team; consequently, I missed the team photo (probably fitting), I missed the team strategy meeting, and I missed the team starting time. I rode on my own. When I finished I went alone straight to my scheduled massage. Lastly, I did not stand with the early finishers to cheer in the later finishers (my biggest regret).

Before you amass the villagers to gather their torches, steel rakes and pitch forks to hunt me down (though I wouldn’t blame you if you stopped reading and began to gather the crowd), please read on. I do get it now. I had my George Bailly, “It’s a Wonderful Life” moment. That moment occurred in Seattle.

I stayed involved with TNT after the 2000 Tahoe trip doing two to three cycle events per year (clearly I wasn’t a completely daft as this was one of the best decisions I ever made). Worked moved me to Seattle where I joined the Washington/Alaska Chapter of TNT. There I joined the El Tour de Tucson team and met our honored hero, Patrick.

I didn’t know the roads in Seattle so I stayed with my fellow riders while we trained. I got to hear about Patrick while riding with his mother who was also on the team. I met Patrick at an Honored Hero function I agreed to attend. What a great kid. I remember that he was into Star War action figures and enjoyed playing with his brother. Having a child of my own, I could not imagine what it would be like to deal with such an uncertain future of one’s child. I was amazed by the apparent grace, courage and maturity with which Patrick dealt with his trial and tribulations, with his ups and his downs and at such a young age. I was as impressed with his family. Amazing people.

My “moment” finally occurred on one of the training rides while pedaling next to Patrick’s mother and hearing about challenges with Patrick’s health. It hit me, Team In Training is not about riding bikes, running marathons, competing in triathlons and adventure races or doing hikes. Not even close. Team In Training was about participants, coaches, LLS staff, and family supporters, all tied together by the purpose of raising funds to eradicate blood cancers and better the lives of our honored heros and the too many people they represent. The training and competing we do as part of the Team In Training family are the means to bond us together for the purpose of bettering the lives of others while serendipitously bettering our own (not the other way around as I had once thought). If I wasn’t on that training ride I would not have seen the light and I am now a much better person that I did.

I continued to ride with my teammates for the El Tour de Tucson. I got to know my fellow team mates. I joined them at post ride meals. I flew with them to the event. I stayed in the team hotel and I cheered in the last rider.

That moment has stuck with me. Work again moved me, this time to Atlanta. I joined the Team here. I was again poignantly reminded that the battle continues a few years after meeting Patrick when I received a note about his health turning for the worse and passing.
There is much, much more work still to be done...done together, as a Team.

Proud to be your teammate,
John

John Dapper is currently coaching the 2010 America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride team and has been involved with Team In Training in a number of roles including participant, mentor and now coach. John brings extensive experience from having participated with various chapters of Team In Training. John has a strong passion for the cause and a tremendous love of cycling.

Riding with Flat Carol by Jim Osterman

Brand names are wonderful creations, but we usually don’t imbue great expectations on them. I am not surprised to see five male musicians if I go see Barenaked Ladies in concert.

In my time with Team In Training I do not habitually ponder the word “team”. Thank goodness for people like Debbie Buckland.

Last year she was training for her second go at America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, a 100-mile excursion around Lake Tahoe and a staple for TNT cyclists. On her team was my wife, Carol.

The event is in early June, but the team had been preparing since February. That meant they peddled in freezing cold, heat & humidity, pouring rain – just about everything but snow.

And when you ride through all weathers with people you start to get close through shared experience/fatigue. But you never know how close.

May 12, a few weeks before the event Carol was diagnosed with a brain tumor. If you know her you would not be surprised that, after the neurosurgeon explained how he would remove the tumor, she asked how that would affect her when she did her century bike ride.

But inside she knew her season would end in the operating room and not Lake Tahoe. Her team would have to go without her. Wouldn’t they?

“She had worked so hard -- it wasn’t fair,” Buckland said. “Then I started thinking – just because Carol couldn’t go didn’t mean she had to be left out.”

She secured a headshot of Carol, increased it to life size, laminated it and mounted it on a stick. If real Carol was not going, Flat Carol was.

“Flat Carol was in my carryon bag for the first leg of our trip,” Buckland explained. “But when we got to Houston to change planes I got everybody together for a group picture and Flat Carol came out to be in the pictures. People in the airport starting coming up to ask us what was up.”

Flat Carol was a fixture at virtually every stop the team made from that point – the plane to Sacramento, the bus to Tahoe, bike pick up, packet pick up, the inspiration dinner, the victory party – she was ubiquitous.

She also made the ride, attached to Buckland’s bike but scandalously sans helmet.

Back home Buckland used a software program and created a hardback photo book about Flat Carol’s escapades. The book was given to real Carol at the reunion, along with a certificate for having “the best excuse for missing an event….brain tumor.”

It is that kind of caring and effort that serves as an ample reminder why the word “team” comes first in TNT.

"I kept telling them that I was with them in spirit the whole ride and that the day of the ride I thought of them all day," Carol said. "When they started, as they were climbing the big hills, when they were finishing. And it moved me so much when I found out that they actually took me with them. And I'm looking forward to being there in 3-D this year."

Real Carol has recovered from having the tumor removed and will indeed be back this year with the Tahoe team to ride her century, but Flat Carol has retired. Fear not -- Buckland said the 2010 squad would likely have another two-dimensional team member.

And Buckland assuredly knows what a team truly is made of.

[Note – Last October at the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco I fell in step with a woman from Minnesota, like me a TNT runner. As we ran out of Golden Gate Park we swapped stories of other TNT events we had done and she mentioned she did Tahoe the previous June. I told her what Buckland had done and she yelled: “I KNOW FLAT CAROL!” The world can be strikingly small some days. – J.O.]

Accomplished and veteran Team In Training alumni, Debbie Buckland and Carol Osterman are both set to ride in the 2010 America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride. TNT'er extraordinaire and author of this blog entry, Jim Osterman is training and fundraising for the 2010 Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon. Check out Jim's blog and be sure to give him a big "Hell Yeah!"

Team In Training Georgia Chapter is now recruiting for the America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride at Lake Tahoe on June 6th. Contact the TNT staff for details, (404) 720-7842.

Four local men embark on world’s toughest endurance event for LLS

Once is not enough! After cycling across country last year—a feat that took them more than seven days—four local men are training for yet another cross country race in 2010. The men----Dave Armento, Frank Fuerst, Tony Myers and Jerome Rossetti—are gearing up for the event, Race Across America (RAAM), this spring. This will be Frank’s first time participating in the event since an injury last year forced rider David Dowdakin to take his place.

The race, which begins in Oceanside, California and ends in Annapolis, Maryland, has been named the world’s toughest endurance athletic event by Outside Magazine.

Known as the Georgia Chain Gang, the team used the event to raise more than $82,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LL S) in 2009. But this year, their goal is to more than double that amount —they plan to raise $200,000 to benefit LLS.

The average age of the four Atlanta men is the fifties so they will be entered in the 50-59 age bracket. In addition, their crew members, who volunteer their time to travel and assist the team, will also raise a minimum of $4,000 each for the cause. Two crew members have already been named: multiple Team In Training cycling participant Jane Eastham and Warren Bruno. Bruno, owner of Atkins Park restaurant in Atlanta, is currently undergoing treatment for a Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

The RAAM route climbs more than 100,000 feet and runs through16 states as teams ride in rotating shifts 24 hours a day. In 2009, supported by a team of ten crew members, the group was forced to finish the race as a three person team. Dave Armento suffered an injury on the course on June 25th and did not finish the race with the team. Even so, the riders and crew were overcome with emotions when they finished the race. “For riders this will undoubtedly be one of the greatest achievements of their lives, something they will never forget. For our crew it was an incredible experience as well, nothing like anything any of us have ever done. We won't ever forget it either,” they said.

The four men are all avid endurance athletes—having completed marathons, Ironman triathlons and long-distance cycling events. The men are training inside about 16-20 hours per week and doing multiple 60-100-mile rides outside on the weekends.

They were all looking forward to the challenge and adventure of the race but, with a goal of raising money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, they saw the event as a way to also raise awareness for blood cancers--- a disease that now affects nearly 900,000 Americans. Cyclist Dave Armento lost a sister, uncle and father-in-law to leukemia. “I am looking forward to the ride itself again this year but I am also looking forward to making a difference,” he says. “Research has come a long way in treating blood cancers—there are now 85% success rates---so hopefully we can help raise awareness and success rates even higher.”

Learn more about the Georgia Chain Gang at http://www.gachaingang.org/
Follow the Georgia Chain Gang at www.facebook.com/gachaingang or www.twitter.com/gachaingang
Learn more about Race Across America at http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/
View pictures of the 2009 RAAM: http://picasaweb.google.com/georgiachaingang4

Donate to the Georgia Chain Gang in support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at http://pages.teamintraining.org/ga/raceacro10/GeorgiaChainGang

Team In Training 2009