Keepin' it Cool TNT Visors

In a little less than 3 weeks I have reached 52% of my fundraising goal...and I'm so excited! To help keep that momentum going I have a "FUNdraising" incentive for donors!

One of the BEST pieces of gear to have in the blazing Texas heat is a good running VISOR, so I have 16 embroidered headsweat brand TEAM IN TRAINING visors up for grabs! To snag these you can make a minimum $20 donation to my fundraising page.

Headsweat TNT embroidered VISORS!

If you are local I can bring it to training Tuesday evening or Saturday morning. If you need one mailed contact me and we can arrange that.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntx/rnrsav17/DBacon

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The Bacons are Back...Savannah Here we Come!

Huge news for 2017...Allie, my niece and first HONORED HERO, is getting married on November 25! As many of you know we celebrate big occasions in our family with Team in Training events in honor of her survivorship from leukemia.  And after three years of being out of running, I needed a push to get back in the saddle and this was it.

TEAM is more than yourself...and that’s why I’m asking you to donate to my TNT fundraising campaign for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program. Cancer patients need these cures TODAY...which means LLS needs your support today.  

Since its been three years since I've run my last marathon I will be tackling the HALF MARATHON (13.1 miles) in Savannah, GA on November 4...just a few weeks before the wedding.  I'm nervous, but I'm being coached by my first TNT marathon coaches David & Meg Burdette -- so I know they will help get me through this -- just like they have so many other times. And no matter if I walk or run...every single step and mile is for Allie and all my other honored heroes and honored angels I've met along the way.  I've never forgotten their battles and I never will.

Please make a donation in support of my efforts with Team In Training and help get us all closer to a world without blood cancers.  EVERY DOLLAR HELPS....no amount is too small. In the comments I also encourage you to write anyone you know that has been touched by a blood cancer or any cancer.  

Your donation will help fund treatments that SAVE LIVES every day; like immunotherapies that use a person’s own immune system to kill cancer. You may not know it, but every single donation helps save a life with breakthrough therapies such as these. The video in that link is absolutely amazing!

Dianna's Team in Training Page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/ntx/rnrsav17/DBacon

With Love & Gratitude,

Dianna Bacon

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#werunDC

This is LONG overdue - as in almost 2 months but we did it...we ran DC on Sunday, April 28, 2014.  It was a weekend full of emotions - lots of laughter and a few tears were shed along the way.

This was Will's first season as a coach for Team in Training.  Half our team participated in Rock & Roll Dallas Half marathon in March and the other half came to DC with us.  Of course there was tons of sight seeing - we have so many photos I can't post them all so I'll just stick with one of my favorites : )

Jessica and I ran the entire race together...and had #selfiesunday at every major monument along the course. But our favorite photo was by the Cherry Blossoms because it was the one photo Grant asked his mom to take : )

For LLS, the Nike Women’s Marathon Series attracted more than 44,000 participants in Team In Training (TNT), which is the flagship fundraising campaign that is celebrating 25 years as the original charity sports training program. TNT trained 1,500 runners this year for the D.C. race.  It was a SEA OF PURPLE to say the least.  We were proud to be a part of it...and even more proud to wear our Tiffany necklace.  The Nike DC race series gives a Tiffany necklace instead of a traditional race medal.

But the BEST part of the weekend was being there to celebrate Team Lainey.  Lainey was diagnosed on August 28, 2013 with leukemia and has undergone the last eight months of treatment...but still has roughly 18 months until treatment is complete.  However, two weeks before this event, Kelly (Lainey's mom) was diagnosed with breast cancer.   Kelly was surrounded by six of her dearest friends who also fundraised and ran the race.  

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Kerrville 1 of 3...check!

This post is a little late...who am I kidding...a month late!  But I have a good excuse...my ACDF surgery was done on October 7 and I'm recovering...slowly, but I'm thankful its over and I'm even more thankful for the support of my family and friends!

But more important is congratulating Will and the entire Team in Training FALL Triathlon season as they completed the Kerrville Quarter & Half Distance event on September 29. If you recall I was on this team until I learned about I would require surgery...so I lived in via Will : )

The weekend was quick but fun...as always we had a great time supporting our TNT athletes while also honoring those that have fought blood cancer.  This team had a rather large group of individuals called Bennett's Buddies - who trained in honor of a 3 year old little boy named Bennett. I had met Bennett's parents, Kirsa and Keith last year but was able to meet the rest of their team in Kerrville and we all had a good time. Bennett was diagnosed with high-risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in April of 2011 when he was 13 months old.   He is now two years into a three and a half year chemotherapy treatment that is extremely hard on his little body.  In addition to chemotherapy, he has received 16 blood transfusions, as well as numerous spinal taps and bone marrow tests.  Through it all, he has remained a courageous, strong, and resilient little boy, who has learned to walk and talk, all while fighting cancer.   Bennett's parents, who both completed the Quarter Distance, started participating in TNT events only 4 months after his diagnosis, and plan to continue their dedication to helping find a cure!  Below is a photo of most of the team below...the orange shirts are Bennett's Buddies. Bennett's Buddies raised over $70,000 as a team.

Bennett, Honored Hero

Fall Triathlon Team - Kerrville 2013

Will had a great race...he felt good and finished strong.  This was a training event helping him prepare for Austin Ironman 70.3 this coming weekend and ultimately Ironman Cozumel 140.6 in December.  I can't even begin to tell you the hours he has put in swimming, cycling and running over the past several months.  It is grueling and inspiring all rolled into one! The hours of training has definitely been a challenge for Will as a father and husband.  Balancing his time has been difficult and it doesn't come without some unwanted side effects like missing one of the kid's games or simply feeling like he is missing out on what the three of us are doing on a Sunday morning (even if that's just hanging in our PJs) but this is what we do...we train to keep our bodies and our minds strong...and we fundraise to find a cure for cancer....AND our kids know that!  And along that note... our daughter entered the Believe. Dream. Inspire. Reflections art contest at school...she is pretty artistic.  I knew she would come up with something beautiful. Little did I know it would be so simple yet powerful...this is what she decided to enter.  It isn't fancy and it might not come close to winning...but we are beyond proud (and blessed) that our actions and words are flowing into her heart. 

I've got one specific person to congratulate and that is our dear friend, Robert.  Robert and I actually completed Tahoe Century together in 2000 (that was my first TNT event).  Robert was also on the Captex Triathlon team in May of last year where Robert and I both earned our Triple Crowns.  Kerrville earned Robert his 2nd Triple Crown with Team in Training...that means he has fundraised and completed two full marathons, two century rides and two triathlon events. Way to go Robert!

Will & Robert at the start of the race.

This is my FAVORITE photo of the entire weekend...Will coming into the finish line! I can't wait to snap this same photo in Austin and Cozumel...get ready because here come the Bacons!

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The Bacons Want YOU!

It has been over four months since I've last trained...while at times it has been nice not to wake up at 4:45 am to hit the pavement or spin class...I've also missed my workouts terribly. The bad news is I still have another 2-3 months off...but the good news is when I'm ready to come back Will (my husband) will be the coach of the Spring North Cities Run/Walk Marathon team - so how exciting is that?! 

Speaking of Will...his training has been jammed back...two-a-day workouts consisting of running, cycling, swimming and strength training.  This weekend he will be with the North Texas Triathlon team participating in the Kerrville quarter and half distance triathlons.  Come late October he will be completing his first official Ironman event - the Longhorn Ironman 70.3 in Austin which will lead him right up to Ironman Cozumel 140.6 in December...that's a full IM event (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run).  It's a daunting task to train & complete that type of endurance event working full time and having two young children with endless activities on the weekends...at times it is hard to keep a good work/life balance but Will and I believe that all things fall into place as they should and with my time off this was the perfect time for him to achieve his Ironman goal. 

So back to what the original post was about...WE WANT YOU to join us for the Spring Run/Walk TEAM! Many of you have asked how to get involved with Team in Training or how to start running or train for a half marathon, well NOW IS THE TIME!  Team in Training is celebrating its 25th anniversary and in that 25 years over 570,000 participants have crossed the finish line helping LLS invest more than $875 million in blood cancer research. But the fight isn't over till we have a cure...and I do believe one day we will.

It's natural for all of us to only pay attention to the cancer that's impacted us or a family member and with October days away every store will be covered in pink...but I ask what about a cancer that primarily targets our children?  What about pediatric cancers as a whole who receive so little funding?  The fact is; we're all after the same thing: a CURE! Since none of us knows where the next breakthrough will come from or what society/organization will find it or how it can affect the cancer we care about...I'm putting my funds and my heart into the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and I'm asking you to do the same!  The scientists LLS funds are proving that a cure can be found...and you can see that in this video.

THE FACTS:  

• Collectively, the blood cancers — leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma — account for 9.5 percent of all cancers deaths, making them the second most common cause of cancer death, behind only lung cancer. Collectively, they also account for 9 percent of all new diagnoses in the U.S., making them the fourth most commonly occurring cancers behind lung, prostate and breast cancer.
  
• More than a million adults in the U.S. are living with a blood cancer. The incidence of lymphoma has more than doubled since the 1970s. Scientists don't know why.
  
• In children, leukemia and lymphoma account for nearly half of all childhood cancers. 

The Spring season is training for 2 HALF MARATHONS (season begins November 16):

1. Dallas Rock and Roll Half Marathon - Sunday, March 23 (fundraising $1700)

2. Nike DC Half Marathon - late April official date not released yet (fundraising $2900)

What does your fundraising cover...first and foremost you will be guided through a comprehensive 4-6 month training program that will help you reach that finish line - walking, running or a combination of both. You will receive a training jersey and a race day jersey as well as your entry into the event.  The DC event also includes your hotel stay while in DC (airfare is not included). Throughout your experience you will gain friendships and confidence and more important you will know that you have a made a difference in the lives of those affected by blood cancers or any cancer for that matter because drugs funded by LLS are now used to treatment many other types of cancer and diseases. 

You are invited to come to an information meeting and/or try out a training.  The info meetings are spread around the metroplex so you can attend one up North or closer to your work or you can simply give us a call or email and we'd be happy to explain more.  

We would be STOKED to have you on the TEAM!  I've said it before...you will not regret the decision to be a part of Team in Training and help support & fundraise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.   





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Beating Cancer to the Finish Line

Check out this AWESOME article on the website for Dallas Rock & Roll half marathon...then read below to see how we got there...Thanks for all the love & support!

March 24, 2013 marked the 4th annual Dallas Rock & Roll Half Marathon event...it was my 3rd time to run this half in Dallas and it has always been an INCREDIBLE race for me!  It was my PR course for over a year...my Garmin always locks up at the start (did again this year) and it is ALWAYS run with my closest running friends including a large group of TNT supporters. Last year Jessica coached the team and we ran in honor of Grayson and Noah.

This year was no exception...and proved to be even more special.  First I was asked to speak at the Inspiration Dinner on Saturday night for the North Texas TNT marathon teams.  This entails giving the mission moment which means sharing my story about Allie's diagnosis and our journey and involvement with TNT.

Allie & I -- NTX RnR 2013 Inspiration Dinner

Second, Competitor Group who runs & manages the Rock & Roll events is a supporter of Team in Training and asked if they could have a TNT alumni interviewed at the start line -- North Texas chapter asked Allie & I...what an honor! It was a COLD morning but we were surrounded by our TNT family -- thank you first to Will (my husband) for driving us down and dropping us at the start so we didn't have to wait around too long in the cold bitter wind...and then MUCH LOVE to Robin, Ken, Chad, Christina, Jessica, Tony, Coach Stephanie, Coach Joy & Kendall for hanging out at the stage and supporting us! GO TEAM!

This race was the first one back for Robin...who if you recall is my friend who I trained and ran MCM, Dallas and Chicago full marathons with.  She had to step away while she had her first baby (and boy is he a handsome little guy)...it was also her husband, Ken's first half - so we stayed together and Chad - a fellow TNT friend and lymphoma survivor ran with us too.  I have to say it was a great time...in the end Chad got the PR he has been training for and I was so happy & proud of him.  Robin had a PR and of course Ken had a PR : )

I can't forget to mention that Kalee, Grayson's mom, ran the event alongside Jessica & Tayla (two TNT alums) they were a couple minutes ahead of us and Kalee crushed her previous two half marathon times - third times the charm, right?!  For the past 6+ months we've been running or spinning together in the mornings...up at 4:30am three-four times per week and Grayson is still in treatment for leukemia - its maintenance phase so a lot of it is at home but still it is CHEMO  and she has three other kiddos to take care of and works full time.  I don't know how she and Lance do it sometimes or any other parents with children battling cancer.  So I'm officially giving Kalee the SUPERMOM AWARD! Looks alot like the GForce logo : )  Here's to one day Grayson & Kalee being featured in an article crossing a finish line together...like Allie and I!

In the end....I know the reason why I run isn't about time and PR's -- it is always about finding a CURE (by the way a PR is personal record -- best time).  There are races I run specifically for the CAUSE and races that sometimes I run for myself...to see improvement or to challenge myself.  Sometimes I need that...but I can tell you that 99% of the time my best times come on those races where there is a personal connection - a personal drive PUSHING ME TO THAT FINISH LINE!

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Will's Way to the Triple Crown

Written by Will...

After taking a little time off after the Cap-Tex Triathlon, and after watching Dianna run a few more marathons, I realized that I missed being out on the course ---- so I am back for another new season, with a new team, and for a new event – THE WOUNDED WARRIOR Half-Marathon!

Ever since Dianna got me started with Team in Training, I have enjoyed training with the cycle, run, and triathlon teams….but this season, as a fund-raiser for the run team, I get an even better opportunity to earn the coveted TRIPLE CROWN! What this means is I will have fund-raised for, and completed, a cycle event, a triathlon, and a run event – all with Team in Training!! I have always said that I consider Event-Day to be the “Victory Lap” for all the hard work we put in during the training season. This season’s Victory Lap will be even that much sweeter given that it will be the Triple Crown event!

Additionally, I have the honor of contributing to 2 great causes this time around:

Of course I am training and fundraising in honor of Georgia, our honored hero and friend who lives in Austin. If you recall, Georgia was diagnosed on her 10th birthday in December of 2009. Georgia is now TEN months OFF TREATMENT - what awesome news is that?! She has had some signs of bone loss in her left ankle that they are monitoring closely which required her to wear a boot for some time but it hasn't slowed her down. Dianna was able to see her in February at the Austin marathon and we hope to see her & the Moore family again this summer. Georgia provides the much needed inspiration we need when the miles get long, the water is cold, and the Texas heat is unbearable. When it seems easy to just quit, I always remind myself that if a youngster like Georgia can put up a fight in the face of a life-threatening cancer, I can make it through a few extra miles….the comparison isn’t even fair! :-)

Another reason this event is special is because of the event itself – The Wounded Warrior. The Wounded-Warrior half-marathon honors and gives a portion of its proceeds to the Wounded Warrior Project & Fisher House. Some folks know that my Dad (Bill Bacon) is a wounded warrior! It seems strange to say given that this is 2013 and most people’s reference and recollection of war starts with the first Gulf War, then Iraq and Afghanistan. My Dad was an Army officer in the late 60’s and early 70’s after being commissioned after graduating from Texas A&M University. During a tour in Vietnam he was hit by enemy gunfire leaving him with injuries to the shoulder and collarbone area. He was awarded a Purple Heart for sustaining injuries during combat and a short time later was medically, and of course honorably, discharged from the Army. Currently, he is retired and living in Central Texas and spends much of his free time working with the Military Order of the Purple Heart. This event is a great reminder that, while it is important to support our current military heroes, it is also just as important to remember that we have many oft-forgotten heroes living and walking amongst us after having served many years ago in wars that may not have always been very popular. In other words, let us not forget to thank and remember ALL of our military heroes who step up and serve with honor, without question, and without the need for recognition.

Myself, my daughter and my Dad in Austin after Captex Tri in May 2012

My fundraising goal for this event is $1150.  You've supported us through every event and we need your support again to help us reach our goal and help find a cure.  Please don't delay...the new slogan of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is "Someday is Today!" because LLS is committed to CURES TODAY! Every little bit helps so please know that even small donations add up.  You may donate by clicking this link or clicking on my photo to the right under donate. 

Thanks so much for your generosity – and let me know if you ever want to join us out on the course!
-Will

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Someday is Today

Have you ever said "someday I will run a marathon or a half marathon!" I know you have...because many of you have said it to me!

I'm telling you...

That's the new slogan of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society because LLS is committed to CURES TODAY...not someday.  That's the goal.  And you (we) are at the heart of it!

Did you know?

Team in Training funds approximately 30% of the LLS mission.

Team in Training is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013 and in that time has raised $1.3 billion and has trained over half a million people just like you and me

Over the past 60 years LLS has invested more than $875 million in better cancer treatments

In LLS's last reported year 78.1% of monies raised by LLS went directly to research, patient & community services, advocacy and education.

In fiscal year 2011 LLS invested more than $76 million in blood cancer research.  Read specific research successes.

How can you help?

Many of you have supported Will and I as we have trained and fundraised for the past 12 years on our wonderful & exciting adventure with Team in Training especially the past 3 years as we have gone full force into the world of marathons, cycling and triathlons.  Our passion is about helping others and finding a cure for the dreaded disease we call cancer!  Together we have raised $23,120.48 and we aren't about to stop because when you talk about cancer research that is pocket change.   We surely aren't minimizing our efforts...but if you look at the numbers above...cancer research is expensive.  And you can't put a price on a CURE...but we need your help!

SOMEDAY IS TODAY...join the TEAM!  Join the largest charity endurance training program of its kind and witness what all the hype is about!  Summer season is about to kick off February 9 and the events are below.  There are info meetings all over the metroplex...if you aren't in the DFW area...go to the TNT website...or call me, email me, FB me and I'll put you in touch with someone.

It is a decision you will not regret.  It will change your life and it will change other lives...it might even change the world.   And if you don't believe me...watch this 3 minute video...or full version 6 minute video...both are about the same little girl Emma & her cutting edge treatment...LLS funded $21 million of the research to make this treatment available and to save lives!

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