2015 Tri to Beat Cancer Newsletter

SIXTH ANNUAL

TRISPRINT TOTRIATHLON BEATDUATHLON CANCER AQUA BIKE About Tri to Beat Cancer

The sixth annual Tri to Beat Cancer sprint triathlon, duathlon, and aqua bike will take place on Sunday, August 23rd at Sandy Creek Park.

Expecting 600 – 800 participants and over 150 volunteers, USA Triathlon, the governing body of the triathlon sport, sanctions this event, heightening the participation of more serious and competitive athletes. To sign up for Tri to Beat Cancer, go to cfnega.org. Tri to Beat Cancer is

presented by Power Partners.

Parking

Tri to Beat Cancer Packet Pick-Up: Endurance House: Wednesday, August 19th, 11:00 am-5:00 pm, 11800 Haynes Bridge Rd. Suite 1, Alpharetta, GA 30009

Georgia Cycle Sport: Thursday, August 20th,

3:30-6:30 pm, 1029 Baxter St, Athens, GA 30606

Holiday Inn: Saturday, August 22nd, 2:00-5:00 pm, 197 E Broad St, Athens, GA 30601

All race particpants, volunteers, and spectators MUST be in Sandy Creek Park by 6:30 AM on Sunday, August 23. The park's entrance/exit gate will be closed for the duration of the race. Do NOT park along Bob Holman Road--it is private property! If you need to leave the park early, tell the front gate parking attendants and they will direct you to park in the early departure parking lot.

All event proceeds benefit local, Northeast Georgia cancer patients.

2015 TRI HERO

RENEE ADAMS

On August 5, 1996, at age 34, Renee was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her world was still as the words echoed in her ears. Ovarian cancer… at 34… with a husband and a 2-year old daughter.

Renee at the finish of the NY City Marathon.

"Central Park never looked so good to me as it did on that day!"

As I lay there on the recovery room table frozen with fear, I weighed all the scenarios. I may or may not see my daughter grow up. I knew the odds, being an RN myself. I thought of the best and worst case scenarios. I dwelled on the worst-- two more years, give or take a few months. I will not see Mary Catherine’s first day of Kindergarten. I had a dream in my grogginess from the anesthesia of my sweet husband getting her ready for her first day of school--just the two of them. It was a vivid image and one of the saddest moments of my life. Four days later, the pathology report revealed the best case I could have with a cancer diagnosis: it was confirmed to be in the early stages of the disease.

I remember receiving that news, giving thanks to the Lord for an answered prayer, hugging my family through tears and making a promise to embrace and enjoy life. I recall the words I said to my husband, Tony: "We need to just live life deliciously!” What I meant was we need to embark on each day with joy and gratitude. We need to have fun with even the simplest things in life and look at the positive in any situation.

In the months that followed my surgery and recovery, I searched for a way to repay my gratitude. A combination of events led to my decision. I was listening to a motivational series on tape and the speaker told the story of Wilma Rudolph. While I had heard of her, a famous Olympian and world record holder in her day, I did not know her story pre-Olympics. She had many ailments as a child and wore braces from polio. In her early years, she watched children run on the playground and noted how the faster runners ran differently. In junior high, she took her braces off and struggled to run, but kept at it, never giving up. Ultimately, she earned a track scholarship to attend college in Tennessee and later the Olympics, where in 1960, she broke the women’s world record to become the fastest woman ever. Her story amazed me. I remember stopping the car, backing up the cassette tape and listening to her story again so that I could focus more intently. That very same day in the mail, I received a letter thanking me for a donation I had made to a colleague. I knew it was for charity, as I had pledged my donation earlier in the year; but, did not remember the whole story until I read the letter. He ran the Chicago marathon to raise money for the American Cancer Society in honor of his father, who had sadly lost his battle to cancer. I made my decision: I was going to train for a marathon! I wasn’t much of a runner, but I was going to train for one anyway!

The following week, I spoke with an internist in my primary care physician’s office, who runs the New York City Marathon every year, and asked him how long it would take a novice runner to train. I had run off and on in years' past, but never more than two or so miles at a time and had not run in quite a while. I had only walked pushing a stroller since the birth of my daughter. I was amazed when he told me to start on my treadmill (the one I hadn’t used in a long time in the corner of my basement) and run for two minutes and walk for two minutes repeatedly to build my strength. He told me not to worry about how far I could go in distance, but to stop when I got tired and build slowly from there. If I could make it to four miles of alternating running and walking by April, it would be enough to start training with the Jeff Galloway Marathon Training Group in Atlanta. This is the way Jeff Galloway (former Olympic Marathoner, editor of Runners’ World magazine and owner of Phidippides athletic shoe stores in Atlanta) that teaches people, even novices like me, to safely train for marathons. (continued on next page)

2015 TRI HERO ( c o n t i n u e d ) I went home that day with my internist's advice and got on my treadmill. It was around Thanksgiving of 1996. I ran for two minutes and walked for two minutes for a total of 20 minutes. I was still exhausted from my surgery and recovery, even more than I knew. It did not matter to me how slow I was for it was a starting point. By New Year’s Day of 1997, I had built up to one mile. I was so excited that I called my manager and good friend to share the news. It was a milestone for me, no pun intended! Indeed, by April of 1997, I had built up to the four-mile minimum to join the Galloway Running Group. I ran “short” runs of 30 to 45 minutes three days per week, and one long run on the weekends with the group, as we were segmented based on our pace. I ran the Peachtree Road Race for the first time in my life that year--what an experience! And the biggest feat of all: in September of 1997, just 13 months after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and ten months after that first half-mile stint on my basement treadmill, I completed the 26.2 mile training run with the Galloway Running Group!

My first marathon race was December of 1997 at the Rocket City Marathon, in my hometown of Huntsville, Alabama.

The 8-mile marker was two houses down from my parents’ home and it was a joyful moment to pass that mark, knowing that I was well on my way to completing the race.

Throughout the years, I trained and completed other marathons, doing it the same way. The last marathon that I ran was the New York City Marathon and it was quite a treat! My family has been there for each and every marathon that I have ran, and their support has been instrumental in keeping me focused and happy during the race. The spectators’ support, cheers and words of encouragement are truly uplifting too. It’s amazing how these competitions are as much mental preparation as they are physical preparation. It’s very, very true.

Speaking with Dr. Glen Wiggans, Dr. Mark Vrana, Kimberly Liebowitz and others in March, I was inspired by The Cancer Foundation's mission. After all, it reminded me of my own passion of raising awareness and donations for ovarian cancer research by running marathons! It is an intensely personal mission for me. I have never competed in the Tri to Beat Cancer, The Cancer Foundation's annual sprint triathlon fundraiser. So when I spoke with Drs. Wiggans and Vrana, this competition and the great cause behind it made me really want to compete again! I will do the swim leg of the three-sport race while Becci Hauser has graciously agreed to do the 14-mile bicycle leg, My daughter has agreed to “be my legs” and run the final leg of the race for Team Adams-Hauser.

As with my previous experience and after speaking with triathletes, my focus for success will be what it always has been: When you mentally picture the cause for which you are competing, it gives you so much energy, even in your most weary moments. I will push myself, but I also know my physical limits. My goal will be as it has always been: Keep a steady pace and finish strong. When you cross the finish line with a smile on your face, the feeling is amazing and the reaction from the crowds is too! In the past, my personal goal was realistic: I knew I would not finish first, or even anywhere near the top, so my reality was to complete it, and my stretch goal was to sprint the 26th (and 0.2nd) mile! It made for a fantastic finish and photo every time! Most of all, remember the cause. It will give you amazing energy.

Get in Touch with The Cancer Foundation!

P. O. Box 49309 Athens, GA 30604 www.cfnega.org 706-353-4354

Transition Clinic

The Cancer Foundation and Tri Coach Georgia (tricoachgeorgia.com) are teaming up to once again offer a FREE transition clinic and swim practice for Tri to Beat Cancer!

Ryan Wolfe of TriCoach Georgia give transition tips at Sandy Creek Park

Held at Sandy Creek Park in Athens, the clinic begins at 7:30 am with an informal talk, where questions and concerns are addressed. We then proceed to practicing what we’ve learned. Equipment, safety and technique will all be covered to help you get comfortable with triathlon challenges. For the swim portion, the boundary rope will stay up and participants will have to cross. All attendees are eligible to receive a FREE training plan from Tri Coach Georgia!

All experience levels are welcome to attend. Contact Ryan Wolfe ryan@tricoachgeorgia.com) or Harvey Gayer (slayer@tricoachgeorgia.com) with any questions.

Date: August 16th, 7:30-9:30 am.

This clinic will offer a guided run with Fleet Feet Athens on the Tri to Beat Cancer run course after the swim.

Pre-Race Showcase

See you at Holiday Inn from 2:00-5:00 for local packet pick-up and last-minute registration.

Vendors: Fleet Feet Athens, Georgia Cycle Sport, Journey Juice, Tri Coach Georgia

On Saturday, August 22nd, The Cancer Foundation will host the Pre-Race Showcase from 2:00-5:00 PM at Holiday Inn in downtown Athens.This is where packet pick-up will take place and last minute registrations can be made. Pre-Race Showcase is free to attend. You are also able to shop local fitness stores and try free samples of great products. There will also be a triathlon rules and regulations Q&A session led by Sherrie Gibney-Sherman at 3:30 PM. in the Holiday Inn Athena Room.