what's in you wednesday

Charlie is scheduled to compete in the San Diego International Triathlon at the end of the month.

He will be part of my company's team which means he will be racing with my boss, Dave, and several of my co-workers that will be comprising a relay team. The larger picture here, is that my company will be competing against several of the consultants that do work for us and the smack talk that is flying around right now is unbelievable.

What is it with men and competitive sports?

As for me, I'm not planning to compete in this particular race because ... uh ... someone has to watch the kids. And that's as good of an excuse reason as any.

Even though I'm not participating in this event, I did get out this past weekend and go for a bike ride. At one point, I noticed that I was averaging five miles per hour and it felt like my legs were on fire. The next day, I took a stroll up a small hill to our neighbor's house and had to stop several times to lean against a tree or else I would have toppled over.

A week after the marathon and my legs feel like lead.

And my toes? Don't even get me started on my purple toes.

(You really should thank me for not posting a picture because I almost did.)

According to my boss, who can run a marathon in 3 hours and 12 minutes, it can take a full month for a body to heal after a marathon, even if that marathon takes a person almost seven hours to complete it.

Which honestly, I think that a seven hour marathon is more grueling to the body than a three hour marathon because remaining on the course for that period of time is brutal. Therefore. Without question. Someone who can tolerate four more hours of punishment, undoubtedly requires more time to recover.

(That's my logic and I'm sticking to it.)

Now, it is because I need a longer period to heal - that the next event I am planning to take on is the Ovarian Cancer Research Triathlon in October. And then, if I can get a team pulled together, (Jessica, Jeanmarie, Debbie, Dawn - I'm looking at you. Who else? Holly? Heidi? Terrell? Joy?) I'd like to complete the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in November.

That's sixty miles. In three days. But from what I understand, there will be rest stations and bathrooms along the route. So Lorie, you can just banish the thought if you think being heavy with child is your free pass out of this.

OK, let's see, what else did I have to write about?

Cancer sucks.

And for those that have been following our sweet Deana's Caringbridge site, you know that she is scheduled to go in for a stem cell transplant on June 19. They will be using Deana's own stem cells. However, this transplant is Deana's best and quite possibly, only chance for recovery.

Thanks to Jessie, I know that from June 8-22, the National Marrow Donor Program, Be the Match Registry is hosting a "Match Marrowthon" and are seeking to add 46,000 new members to the registry which gives thousands of patients a second chance at life.

While adding a new member to the registry costs approximately $100, during this campaign, the registration fee is waived for the first 46,000 new members. People who are interested need to sign up online and will be sent a simple kit in the mail to complete their registration.

I signed up to be a bone marrow donor 12 years ago, but Charlie registered tonight to receive his free kit and the entire process took about 10 minutes. You can follow this link and even though it tells you that you will need a credit card, you don't. IF you are one of the first 46,000 people to register.

(So quick! GO!)

I didn't know this, but only 30% of the people who need bone marrow can find a match within their own family. If you are on the fence as to whether or not YOUR bone marrow might actually save someone's life, please check out this post. And this one. And this one.

And this one.

And then, for the love of humanity, please go here and register for your free kit.

There was something else... I'm sure of it.

Oh yes!

Ice cream.

It is so good.