*re-posted from here.
To be honest, I began my Team in Training journey for purely selfish reasons. Some friends began doing triathlons and I wanted to join in but was overwhelmed. I was certain I couldn't train for them alone. After two seasons I was building my confidence, my health, and a growing list of races under my belt. It was great and to continue the challenge I joined IronTeam and decided to take on the beast that is the Ironman.
All of this hasn't changed, but something happened which helps me dig deeper than the idea of weightloss.
On January 28 2012 Richard Okamura passed after over a year of battling Central Nervous System Lymphoma. My uncle. My mother's youngest brother. My grandparent's youngest son. Father. Husband. Too young, too early.
Sometimes before practice people will come give speeches to remind us the real reason why Team in Training exists, why we are being trained, and why we raise money. I remember a teammate talking about how cancer patients didn't have a choice... but we do. I choose to do this so we can find a cure, for those who don't have a choice. Uncle Rich didn't have a choice about feeling sick, chemo, all the changes, discomforts, and struggles that came with the disease and the treatments. And my family didn't have a choice when they lost a loved one.
So now this isn't just for me. And I think about him when I'm struggling up a category 4 hill or enduring swollen blisters and worn out muscles. When I'm pushing that last hour on the bike. How I have a choice and he and countless others don't.
