Marathons, Mudders, and News, Oh My!

Hello Everyone!

We are officially two weeks away from the Columbus Marathon!  As I am writing this, I plan to be writhing in pain, er, just having completed (yea, that's better) the race at this same time in two weeks.  It is crazy to think that this journey that started as a small idea has taken off and is officially beginning with the race in two Sundays.

With that being said, it has been a busy past month or so since the last blog post.  I raced my first triathlon and completed a 15k as tune-ups for things getting started.  The triathlon had a scoring error with my time chip.  All that means is that I have an unofficial time of what I think was about a 1:25 (.25 mile swim, 10 mile bike, 3.1 mile run).  It definitely got me excited for all the things that are to come, certianly!  I also completed a 15k with an official time of 1:30:01.  While it is harsh that I missed my goal by 1 second, I was thrilled that my knee did not bother me hardly at all the rest of the day.  It was a welcome sight considering all the issues I have been having.  I felt like I could have kept going very easily, and that is a good thing since the marathon is coming up fast...

Have you ever felt completely unprepared for something?  Or how about if you have felt like you can anticipate what something may be like, but know it will likely be worse?  That's my expectation going into Columbus.  Because I had been injured and hurting so much to the point that I could barely run a 5k just over a month ago, I have had barely any practice runs at long distances.  It is going to be pure grit and mental concentration that will likely get me through.  Most people have goals going into a race like this.  I am not even going to focus on time very much; I just want to finish.  The likelihood of doing another marathon about 3 months after Columbus is getting more appealing, because I would love to be able to do that for time.

With all the focus on the marathon, this little thing called the Tough Mudder is creeping right around the corner.  It is only 5 weeks away!  We have a team of almost 50 people doing this race, so it should be a lot of fun.  Of course I will be there with Kelly (and Seinfeld) on my mind!

I also want to update everyone on how great things with Tris4TN have been.  Despite going through a deeply painful disease, Kelly has been so encouraged by the people who have been alongside her.  Tris4TN has been an amazing way for Kelly to see the love and support people have for her.  So thank you so much for that.  We also hit over $1000 this past month, which is just incredible.  Remember, everything goes to Kelly, so you know your donations are going to a really great cause.

One final update: Trigeminal Neuralgia International Awareness Day is on Oct. 7.  Please show your support by wearing teal and letting someone know about TN.

Thank you all and Hang Tough!

Support, Awareness, Vacations, Injuries, and other July Updates

Good morning everybody!

I am sure you have all been diligently paying close attention to this blog, eagerly awaiting the next entry.  I promise it will get better! :)

July has been a crazy month for Tris4TN.  An idea has blossomed into a budding fundraiser and awareness for Kelly.  In just one short month, there has been 650 dollars raised, tons of love and support, a large group of followers, and even people helping Kelly with house work so she can rest!  What an honor it has been to watch everyone really around her!  We just spent a week on vacation as a family at the beach and she said numerous times just how blessed she has felt by all the support.  Simply put, you guys all are awesome and few realize just how much this means to her!

The support financially is a huge blessing and I would like to ask if you would consider supporting my four races.  All the proceeds go directly to Kelly in order to help her rest and remain part time.  This really means a lot.  If you are not able to at this time, would you consider sharing the facebook page?  Awareness for Trigeminal Neuralgia is incredibly low, and one of the main goals is to raise awareness for this awful disease.  We are at over 125 people in the Facebook page, but I would love to see it over 1000.  Share it out!

The biggest update to report is not very good.  The injury bug has hit me.  I have had a left knee issue for quite some time now and was just diagnosed that I have IT Band Syndrome.  The IT Band goes across the knee and, well, when it doesn't want to work - you're not going anywhere.  Training has been almost non-existent because I haven't been able to run longer than a 5k at a time.  With that, I have been hitting the pool and cycling (both recommended) very often and actually believe that I would have the endurance to finish, just not the knee...right now.  I start Physical Therapy Monday and am hoping and praying that the braces, PT, and other rehab will allow for 26.2 come October.  If you're the praying type, I appreciate it greatly!  As a result that Columbus is looking like it will be, bluntly, bad, I am seriously considering adding the Celebration Marathon to my slate of races.  Updates to come as to whether this happens or not.

Some other updates for you all:
-Kelly has been able to go Part Time!  It is a huge help as she is able to rest and do things to take care of herself.
-The Columbus Marathon is moving ever so close...89 days!
-Tough Mudder is right around the corner from that...110 days away!
-You guys are awesome.  Spread the word.  Encourage Kelly when you think about her - it goes a LONG way.  Pray for her if you are a praying person.  Let's encrouage and raise awareness and support for Kelly!

Hang Tough!

Welcome to Tris4TN!

Hello! Welcome to Tris4TN!

My mother, Kelly, was diagnosed with a relatively rare, unknown disease called Trigeminal Neuralgia within the past year. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain." This disease has been noted as one of the most painful diseases a human can endure. There is no cure and very minimal research has been devoted toward it since it is either unknown or the condition has been misdiagnosed. Because of that, there is very minimal understanding and awareness of Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Due to the painful nature of this disease, my mother is struggling to continue the basics of every day life. She currently works full-time, but TN causes so much pain and creates so much fatigue that she is unable to do much anything else except work. She is seeking to go part-time, but fears she will be unable to continue to make ends meet with my father due to this. Above all else, what she needs is the ability to rest and take care of herself, which is why I am starting Tris4TN.

My mom is one of the sweetest, most giving people you will ever meet. She genuinely cares about anyone and everything and will do anything for them. Now I want to give back to her. Because my mother is on the toughest endurance race of her life, I plan on competing in four of the toughest endurance events over the next year and a half to raise support for her. Those events include: The Columbus Marathon (10/19/14), The Central Florida Tough Mudder (11/9/14), The Half Ironman Triathlon (4/12/15), and the Full Ironman Triathlon (TBD, 11/2015). I will dedicate the next year and a half to training and competing in these races to raise awareness for my mother and those who suffer from Trigeminal Neuralgia.

This is where you come in. I am asking for your financial support over the next year and a half while I am training and competing. All proceeds, unless directly donated to the TN research, will go toward supporting Kelly as a way of giving back. Your support and help is greatly appreciated! To donate, go to https://fundly.com/triathlons-for-trigeminal-neuralgia?noguide=1 . Any support, prayers, words of encouragement, thoughts, or hope that can be sent to Kelly means more than you could possibly imagine. You are a part of the journey and you can keep track of my journey training and racing, my mother’s journey, and Trigeminal Neuralgia information on Twitter, Facebook, and Blogspot. Follow the journey on twitter @tris4TN, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tris4TN/, or on Blogspot. If you would like to donate to Trigeminal Neuralgia research, you can at http://www.fpa-support.org/make-a-donation/. 

"Remember, Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

Thank you all so much! Hang Tough!