Training Update

It has been a very busy couple weeks with travelling, so I fell a bit behind on my training.  I did get a wetsuit from a friend and went for my first open water swims. A wetsuit makes a tremendous difference.  Some people have the ability to float if they lay on their backs in the water… I am not one of them.  I swam a half a mile and continue to wonder how I will manage swimming a mile with 8,000 people kicking me in the face.

I no longer have a gym membership, so all of my swimming will be in Lake Michigan from now on.  I am ahead on the biking and the running so I am really trying to focus on the swimming.  As always, any and all tips are welcome.

I have not given a fundraising update yet because it has not been going as well as I had hoped.  In the past, my bigger donors have been auto dealerships and family members.  Being from a place with 15% unemployment (the entire state of Michigan), the money has not been flowing into my charity account.  I am going to try hosting a bar night in early August, and continue to hope for the best.

LiveStrong,

Brian

Training Update

Triathlon training is going pretty well.  I have started to see some swelling in the leg that I had the cancer in, but nothing that a little ice can’t solve.  For those who have not been, the Chicago lakeshore is one of the most fun places to work out.  From my apartment, it is a 30 mile paved trail down and back.  The heat index in Chicago today was 95 degrees, but it was still a good 30 mile ride.

Swimming continues to be the toughest part, but I am getting a little bit better.  It’s tough because you can’t breathe the entire time as with running and biking.  The schedule I have been using can be found on the website for the Chicago Tri Club.  If any readers have tips, I could desperately use them!!  Thanks!

LiveSTRONG,

Brian

Training Update

Hi everybody!

Had a slower week of training last week while on cruising around the Caribbean.  My friend and I got in some good runs, the best being a 6.3 miler on the island of Isla Roatan off of Honduras.  It was hilly and 100 degrees, but it was a lot of fun.

Yesterday started the official triathlon training schedule, with 45 minutes on the bike.  I got my first flat tire about ten miles from home, and luckily a nice rider named Carlos from 2CC in Chicago stopped to help me and showed me how to change it.

Today will be my first time swimming in about ten years.  Hopefully it won’t be quite as hard as I think it will.

LiveSTRONG,

Brian

Quick Introduction

My name is Brian Pienta and I am a new contributor to the AG site.  I am really excited to be a part of this.  Who am I and why am I writing on this site?  I am not the best in the world at a particular sport.  I play sports, but I am definitely far from professional in any of them.  I am a 22 year-old cancer survivor living in Chicago and am trying to run the Chicago Marathon while doing some fundraising for an organization call Imerman Angels.  Here is a quick background…
When I was 19, I noticed a little lump in my left thigh after a ski trip to Breckenridge, CO.  I had it checked out and was told I had nothing to worry about.  Six months later, in June 2006, I looked down and the bump on my thigh had gotten bigger…  a lot bigger.
On July 7, 2006, I got a biopsy and was told that I had cancer.  I was diagnosed with a liposarcoma.  Luckily, it was low-grade and my treatment consisted of surgery to remove half of my left thigh, followed up with 35 rounds of radiation.  I started my junior year of college walking with a cane.  My radiation was done in October and I was declared in remission.
I bought a bike and started fundraising for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and that became my recovery.  By August, I had completed my first LiveStrong Challenge and completed the 100-mile ride.  The next summer I trained and ran in the Chicago Marathon for Imerman Angels, an organization mentioned in earlier AG postings.
This year, I am training again for the Chicago Marathon in October with Imerman Angels, and wanted to share my story of training and fundraising as a survivor.  Last years marathon was a challenge, my left thigh locked up after mile 18 and the rest of the marathon was pretty slow.  This year, I am not going to slow down, and I will finish stronger than I start.  I am PUMPED to be writing here.

Brian

Athletes for a cure

Scott Zagarino is one of the most philanthropic athletes on the planet. He is the Director of Athletes For A Cure, Because You Can and many other ventures that use athleticism to give back.

Check out this inspiring video to get an idea of what it is that he is a part of for this world. You’re a good man Scott.

Team Winter- 2008 Athletes for a Cure Triathlon from Athletes for a Cure on Vimeo.

F cancer

I recently received a package from a good friend of mine at Nike full of Livestrong product. Nike has a line inspired by Lance for the purpose of helping Livestrong. www.livestrong.org It prompted me to dig deeper. I have known of Livestrong since the beginning but always love finding inspiration from their site and their cause.

While cruising around their page, I was reminded that Livestrong is fueled by athletes with passion. They have always impressed me with their ability to provide outlets for athletes to connect with their passion of crushing cancer. This video shows how.

Be the best athlete possible. Start here! Start Now!

Part of being a philanthropic athlete is being at the top of your game and smart training is the way to get there.  There are so many new outlets for training these days that it can be hard to know where to start.  This is ALL you need to know.  www.crossfit.com  It has everything you need to be a smart, strong, well rounded athlete.  

The best of the best when it comes to crossfit is Kelly Starrett.  He is a PT, was a professional athlete, is a philanthropist, he’s in the process of writing a book, owns San Francisco Crossfit and has his own clinic.  Check out his blog  http://www.sanfranciscocrossfit.blogspot.com/

He has several specialized programs if you’re interested in getting some of the best training in the world.   I recommend the “ultimate athlete” package.  Your athletic life WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.