Get ready to be bombarded this week with blog posts.
Provided I keep all the plates spinning.
It's been really busy here in Wichita.
First things first, the Shockers are in the Final 4!
It's been really fun to have the basketball team bring the city and school together.
Lots of fireworks were set off in our neighborhood the night we won our region.
Maia's birthday party is tomorrow morning, I'll let you in on all the details and projects later.
For now, I'm making a triple batch of pancakes between typing sentences.
Aleks is on a search committee to hire a new musicologist here at Wichita State and this week we have the candidates onsite for interviews, etc, which means that we don't really get to see much of each other.
That's been the norm this semester, however, since Aleks has also been training for a triathlon.
My husband is a man of big dreams.
He started talking about a triathlon over the summer and I kind of figured he'd lose interest as time went on.
But then he went to a Team In Training meeting (an organization that raises money for leukemia and lymphoma) and decided that he was going to go for it.
The team trains together 4 days a week and Aleks trains 2 additional days a week.
When they first started training, it was all indoors.
A couple of gyms let the team train when the rooms/pools aren't being used.
Which means that training starts around 7 PM.
Each chapter of Team In Training has a hero patient.
This is JC, the hero patient for Kansas.
He has leukemia for the second time and will be finished with treatment in July.
His mom trains with Aleks' team, so JC comes to practice now and then.
According to Aleks, he and JC are BFFs.
When JC is there, they usually conclude swim training with a race.
Aleks comes home defeated every time!
The team is mostly women and they all seem like a great group.
On St. Patrick's day the team rode their bikes for 14 miles and then ran a 4 mile race.
It was the first time, for Aleks, that the rubber met the road, so to speak.
I spoke with him after the bike ride and he was hurting.
It was freezing and knowing that the run was still to come, I'm sure was daunting.
The girls and I came to the finish line to see him cross.
One of his coaches was there to cross the finish line with him.
I was so proud my eyes might have been watering.
I'm really proud of my husband for following through on this goal he's set.
The triathlon is in May and we'll all be in Austin, TX to cheer him on.
The money Team in Training raises goes toward research, advocacy, and patient support for those people dealing with blood cancers.
It's a really wonderful organization.
If you're interested in reading more about their mission, you can do so here.
If you'd like to directly help Aleks reach his fundraising goal, click here.
Many of you have already shown your support for Aleks and TNT.
Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts.
Because of you, Aleks is only $400 away from his $2000 goal!
I'm really looking forward to seeing him cross that finish line in May.
Not only because it means I get my husband back, but also because I love watching Aleks accomplish the goals he sets for himself.
It was really great to meet you and the girls at the race. It is tough being a triathlon widow as the saying goes but your support means a lot to him. Laurie decided to do the race this year so we could spend a bit more time together so maybe we can rope you into the next one:) it has been a lot of fun watching Aleks find his groove in this. He motivates me with his great attitude and drive. It will be such a great moment when he lines up for the race. His hard work will make sure its a great celebration!
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