Did I mention I'm taking a swimming class? One night a week it's a beginner triathlon swim class to teach me the basics of swimming efficiently. It's really going good! The teacher has broken a swim stroke completely and started off showing us how to do the most basic piece, then she adds to it each week.
First came balancing in the water, just learning that when your head is up, your legs go down... not a good thing. We had to learn to glide along the surface of the water (on our side) and kick from the hips, not the knees.
Next came switching from gliding on one side to gliding on the other side with one smooth movement. This was a little trickier, especially when we had to control our breaths to every third switch instead of every one.
This past week we learned the zipperswitch, which teaches us to bring our stroke hand up along our side and pierce the water. I'm still a little shaky on this, but we're getting there. I've practiced this twice so far this week and hoping to get in one more swim before class this Thurs (in two days).
This is turning out to be a lot of fun! I'm learning soooo much! I've already met people in my class that are well known in the community in multisport! I've seen these guys at every race I've been in so far!
I'm so ready to 'dive' right in to this multisport lifestyle! I'm loving every minute! I've signed up for my first Tri: April 18th, 2009 the Pioneer Sprint Triathlon in Petersburg, IL! It includes a "300 yd pool swim, a 13 mi bike ride on a rolling flat prairie road, and a 3.2 mi run through picturesque Petersburg," according to their website. It also says "The run will take you past century old architectural gems, past the Edgar Lee Master’s home, past the courthouse where young Abraham [Lincoln] practiced law and up and down the streets of Petersburg." Sounds awesome!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Running for Reason
On October 11th, 2009 I will be joining the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy RUN FOR OUR SONS team at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The RUN FOR OUR SONS team is a group of parents, grandparents, families, and friends who will proudly run the 26.2 mile full marathon to help raise funds and awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne), a devastating, progressive muscle disorder which slowly robs those diagnosed of their independence and eventually their life. I will be running this race for Carson DeMarse, who has Duchenne.
This year the RUN FOR OUR SONS team will represent thousands of young men diagnosed with Duchenne. I am participating in this great event because I can and because the Duchenne community needs my strength and endurance to move ahead.
Duchenne is the most common lethal genetic disorder diagnosed during early childhood, affecting approximately 1 out of every 3,500 boys and 20,000 babies born each year. Duchenne causes loss of muscle function and independence. Most young men with Duchenne only live into their twenties, and there is currently no cure.
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is the largest nonprofit organization in the United States focused entirely on Duchenne and is proud to lead the Duchenne community. PPMD strives to improve the treatment, quality of life, and long-term outlook for all individuals affected by Duchenne through research, advocacy, education, and compassion. They uphold the highest ethical and financial standards, and consistently receive high marks from watchdog organizations, including a seal-of-approval from the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance.
If you would like to sponsor my efforts, please make your checks payable to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy or PPMD and clearly mark my name and ‘marathon’ on the memo line. PPMD will issue you a tax deductible receipt for your contribution. If you would like to donate via a credit card, please use the space provided on the envelope to enter your information. (For those folks who are only receiving this letter by email, sorry no envelope for you).You can also visit my personal fundraising page at www. runforoursons. org. Click on the ‘FIND A RUNNER’ link in the left hand column, click the 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, then search for my name. There you will be able to donate via internet, and you can also see my fundraising progress as I get closer to the big event!
Thank you so much for your support and for helping me support the efforts of PPMD. With your generosity and my successful completion of the marathon (fingers crossed!), we will end Duchenne.
Ashleigh Handzus
This year the RUN FOR OUR SONS team will represent thousands of young men diagnosed with Duchenne. I am participating in this great event because I can and because the Duchenne community needs my strength and endurance to move ahead.
Duchenne is the most common lethal genetic disorder diagnosed during early childhood, affecting approximately 1 out of every 3,500 boys and 20,000 babies born each year. Duchenne causes loss of muscle function and independence. Most young men with Duchenne only live into their twenties, and there is currently no cure.
Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) is the largest nonprofit organization in the United States focused entirely on Duchenne and is proud to lead the Duchenne community. PPMD strives to improve the treatment, quality of life, and long-term outlook for all individuals affected by Duchenne through research, advocacy, education, and compassion. They uphold the highest ethical and financial standards, and consistently receive high marks from watchdog organizations, including a seal-of-approval from the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance.
If you would like to sponsor my efforts, please make your checks payable to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy or PPMD and clearly mark my name and ‘marathon’ on the memo line. PPMD will issue you a tax deductible receipt for your contribution. If you would like to donate via a credit card, please use the space provided on the envelope to enter your information. (For those folks who are only receiving this letter by email, sorry no envelope for you).You can also visit my personal fundraising page at www. runforoursons. org. Click on the ‘FIND A RUNNER’ link in the left hand column, click the 2009 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, then search for my name. There you will be able to donate via internet, and you can also see my fundraising progress as I get closer to the big event!
Thank you so much for your support and for helping me support the efforts of PPMD. With your generosity and my successful completion of the marathon (fingers crossed!), we will end Duchenne.
Ashleigh Handzus
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