An 8 year old should not have to write a letter like this

My previous blog entry included a reference to Alex Lemonade Stand Foundation and Ishani - the young girl that has twice battled with pediatric cancer. Just after posting that, Ishani's mother posted a video on Facebook of Ishani standing in front of a crowd at a local pageant, reading a letter she wrote. I asked her to send me the text of the letter... There's not much I can say or add, other than to post the text of that letter:

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My name is Ishani. I am 8 years old. I got cancer when I was 3 years old. I had surgery and radiation and chemo. I got cancer again when I was 6 years old and had to do it all again. The reasons I hate cancer are:

1. Having to go to the clinic lots of times.
2. Having to get lots of shots.
3. Having to go the hospital lots of times.
4. Having to feel sick and not being able to eat.
5. Having to miss school and playing with my friends
6. Having to lose hair from the medicine
7. Having people make fun of me from losing hair.
8. My legs still hurting when I run
9. I missed playing soccer for 3 years.

I DON”T WANT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER CHILDREN!
That is why I am collecting money for childhood cancer.
PLEASE JOIN ME in fighting childhood cancer one cup at a time.
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If you feel led, you can donate HERE or HERE 

What I'm up to lately...

Anybody that tells you that you can do full Ironman training and have a normal life is just not being honest (in my humble opinion...). It's not just the training time and the prep/recovery time; but in general it just leaves you a little more fatigued and less energetic, which makes you less likely to do things like cleaning the house, taking care of the yard, etc. For me, it seems to also have affected the frequency and depth of posting to my blog (that, and I don't want to be the guy in the "I'm training for an Ironman" video...).

Of course there are other factors, like the time I'm putting into coaching. Add that in to the mix of IM training, regular job, family/home, and other things like planning for the Haiti trip later this year... and you get tired JD. Not complaining, I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy what I got out of it, just a fact of life that's on my mind at the moment.

In more upbeat/happy news, next week I head to Boston for the Boston Marathon! I did it once before, in 2009 (race report here); and I'm really looking forward to the trip this year. Due to it being 5 weeks out from IM Texas, I'll definitely be looking for just a steady, training type of day; this will NOT be a PR type of run for me. I will be sporting my Alex Lemonade Stand Foundation colors, though - maybe even carry a couple of leaflets with me...

Back to coaching for a second... I'll be one of the coaches for a new triathlon training program starting next week. I'm really looking forward to that - it's geared towards new triathletes and I really enjoy seeing someone accomplish that first triathlon that they never thought they could do : )

OK, time to get back to training. Getting in one more 100 mile plus bike ride tomorrow, since I'll be traveling next weekend. Hopefully I stick to my moderate race plan in Boston, and then I can recuperate quickly and get a couple more good weeks of training in between then and my taper for the IM.

JD

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Help the kids!

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: to find a cure for childhood cancer for kids like Ishani ... Please help them by donating HERE

Hope For Kidz: program to help educate children in Haiti
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