Fall Season Week 9

Men do less than they ought, unless they do all they can. - Thomas Carlyle

Fundraising Tip
Email your monthly update reminding others to donate. This is a great way to keep people up to date with your training and fundraising progress. It's also a great time to update your potential donors on your honored patients status.

Training Tip
Wow! We're very proud of all y'all for how well you are doing in the training. More importantly, you should be very proud of yourselves.

As we get into longer times on the road, many of us have concerns and questions about our progress. One of the concerns is "How in the world am I going to be able to be out there for 4 to 6 hours, or more, when I'm barely able to make it 2 hours?"

This question enters everyone's mind at some point of the training. No worries, mate. We've been watching all of you, and believe me, "you look maahvelous!"

This is the reason we increase the length of training a step at a time. This is the reason it is important that you keep up with and keep coming to the training. It's difficult to do long trainings on your own. It's difficult to go from 1.5 hrs to 3 hrs, having missed 2 long trainings. When you're with the other participants and the mentors and coaches you get a lot more support and it's easier.

Another of the concerns is we may still be experiencing some soreness a day or two after a long training. I'm talking about general muscle soreness in the quads and calves. If you're experiencing chronic or sharp, localized pain, that may be something that needs to be attended to by a specialist.

Approximately every other week, we're increasing the time we spend on the road by 30 to 60 minutes. Should your muscles be sore? Of course. Expect them to be sore, plan for them to be sore, look forward to them being sore. This kind of pain is weakness leaving the body. Muscle soreness is a result of working the muscles more than they're used to. The muscles rebuild, stronger, over the next day or two of rest and recovery. Active rest the next day helps prevent you from stiffening up and keeps blood flowing to the muscles so they get the nutrients they need. The harder you work now, the more fun you'll have during your event. 4-5 hrs of fun vs. 6-8 hrs of misery; you choose (that's for runners, walkers extrapolate).

What can you do to minimize the soreness?

Stretch - Not just after the first mile and at the end of training, but whenever you can. When you're watching TV, pull a knee up toward an opposite shoulder and hold it for 30 seconds. Then the other one. When you're riding an escalator, hang your heels over the edge of the step and stretch your calves (easiest to do one at a time). If you have to bend over to pick something up, make that an opportunity to stretch your hamstrings. Stretch all the time.

Ice - Do an ice bath as soon after training as you can. Ice periodicly (about 20 minutes on, 45 - 60 minutes off).

Massage - Whenever you can, massage the sore muscles.
I have no doubt that each of you is capable of accomplishing your goal and completing your event. You're reaching levels of fitness that you may not have ever had before in your life. You are becoming stronger, in body and mind. Believe it.

Mission Moment
Mother of Eddie Jr. Velasquez
Owings, MD
Living with AML for 2 years, 3 months
Age: 24

I am here because I was just doing a little research on support groups, etc. I came across this site and think it's great to be able to share your stories. My son was diagnosed with AML on November 7, 2005. He has fought very hard and the treatment has really taken a toll on him. But overall he is doing well considering, and he is currently in remission a year as of December 7, 2006.

He is 23 now, and this was one of the most difficult times in my life as a mother. I try so hard to help him and be there for him now and always, but he is a grown man and doesn't always want my help. I wrote a poem for him when he turned 23, because a year ago I didn't think he was going to make it to 23. It was the hardest battle of his life and on my heart. He is strong willed and just a beautiful person. I Love him so much, I just pray everyday and thank the lord for blessing me and allowing me to have my son in my life another day. I know with faith and love that God and my son will prevail!

Here is my poem for my son Eddie on his 23 Birthday:

With Me

My son Eddie has turned 23, and I didn't think this day I would see.

He's been through hell, I know this to be, and with God's blessings, he is still here with me.

I remember that moment, the nightmare came to be. I sat and watched him through the night and prayed to God to let him stay here with me.

I called his Daddy and my sister and cried so hard with pleas, I couldn't understand how this could happen to my baby.

My world had come to an end and completely stood still, the day I found out my son was very ill.

I questioned my life, my God, and my heart, how this could happen to my son, with whom I knew I could not live a part.

All around me the world continued on, but I couldn't focus, and felt my life was gone.

He is so young, he has so much to give, he is so handsome and strong, but in my mind, still a kid.

He's barely done anything much in his life, like see the world, dream a big dream, make a lifetime friend, or even have a wife.

I asked God to please, please, please let him stay here with me. I could not be here on this earth today or tomorrow without my baby.

I felt selfish, angry and hated the world. I wanted my son here with me and his family; I would have sold my soul to make it a reality.

After some time, as the word got out, there were people from near and far, praying for my son with out any doubts. They knew with God's power, he would be alright, and all they had to do was join forces and pray for his life.

From the love, and the prayer and my son's will to fight, it ended my shock that kept me from life.

He fought this disease hard and long, and had many setbacks, but he remained very strong.

Next thing I knew, he decided to come home to be with his Mama and my heart sang a song.

Many prayers were answered during his fight, many friends gathered around, from his hometown that night. They gave their support through laughter and cheers, at the close of the bash we all shared a tear.

It's these unbearable things that can go wrong, that make you realize it's the love of our family that keeps us strong. It's not money, nor material things, but the love for my child that makes my heart sing.

It's God's blessings, and the miracles he performs, the same type of miracle as when my baby was born. God was there for me then and he is here for me now, I know he is with me when I see my son's smile.

My days are much brighter as you can see, the blessings of love I have with my family. The biggest blessing of all, and I'm sure you'll agree, is that I have my son here with me, and he's now 23!

Thank You God, for letting me keep my baby here with me and for this special day I didn't think I would see.