The tiniest of foot prints can leave the biggest impressions...

I have been struggling with writing this blog for a while.  I never wanted to seem like I was exploiting the people who have been my source of inspiration so I decided to not post about them until I had reached my fundraising goal.  Thanks to your support, I have finally made it!  Now I invite you to get to know a little about sweet Allison...  A little girl who has made a big impression on my heart...

I first heard of Allison's story last summer.  Two of my friends from California were in the same play-date as Allison and her mom so they got to know them both very well.  Between my two friends, I stayed current with her story from their Facebook status updates and it was from one of those updates that I found her blog, which I followed ever since.  Allison was a smart, silly, and very healthy one year old when she was diagnosed with one of the rarest types of leukemia, Acute Megakaryocytic Leukemia.  She immediately began intensive chemotherapy, which lasted four hours each day for ten days straight (I couldn't imagine that type of treatment as an adult, much less as a little baby.)  The results of the chemo put Allison in partial remission but two more rounds were still required in hopes of getting her ready for a bone marrow transplant...  Now all they needed was a match.  Allison's friends and family held bone marrow drives all around Los Angeles and Orange County.  They got support from local news stations and vendors.  The drives were a great success- people showed their support in extraordinary numbers and out of 13 million donors, Allison finally found a match.  But it was too late.  The leukemia proved to be too strong for Allison's little body and was no longer treatable...

Sweet Allison went home to be with the angels on October 17th, 2009.  She was only 17 months old.  Although I had never met her or her family, Allison's story touched me far deeper than I could have ever imagined.  Maybe it was her sweet smile or soft curly hair that reminded me of Emira, or maybe it was the incredible strength her parents showed through it all.  Whatever it was, Allison's story will forever be embedded in my heart.  Rest in peace sweet baby and enjoy all of the snuggles from our papa God.

Click here for more of Allison's story:  http://teamallisonz.blogspot.com/

Moving on up!

Today was my team's second duathlon and I am proud to say that instead of coming in second to last...  I moved up one spot and came in third (to last that is- haha)!!!  I shaved 15 minutes off of my original time from last month's duathlon!  Woohoo!  I'm getting stronger with each workout and it's feeling so great!!!  Of course, remembering why I am doing what I'm doing is my biggest motivator!  I am determined to make a small difference in the life of someone battling blood cancer and so thankful that I have the ability to do so!  GO TEAM!

Mini Photo Sessions in Sacramento!

In an effort to help me with my fund raising, Torrico Photography will be holding mini photo sessions in the Sacramento area!  This is an incredible offer that's valued at over $200! 

• 45 Minute Session
• 10 Artistically Edited Images
• Date, Time, and Location TBD
• $75 MINIMUM donation
• $125 MINIMUM donation includes a CD of all images*

*All donations will go directly to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and will be accompanied by a tax receipt....  So you not only get fabulous pics but you get to make a difference too!

**Sessions can be booked from now until June.  All payments must be made by April 16th.

For more information or to book your session, email alvaro.torrico@mac.com

Goodbye DD

Lately I've felt like such a Debbie Downer, constantly questioning and over thinking even the most simple things.  I wasn't able to train for a few weeks and began to wonder if I could ever catch up or even worse, if I'd be able to finish the race with only seven more weeks to go.  This in addition to the preexisting concern over fund raising and I began to lose hope.  My vision was obviously skewed.

After some encouraging chats with my Team in Training coordinator, I began to see the light again.  I bravely went to my Saturday group workout this past weekend expecting the worst but hoping for the best (which for me was that I make it through the training without passing out or throwing up...)  Now, I'll be completely honest and confess that I did not ride the monstrous hills with the rest of the team but stayed on the smaller hills, which my coach laughingly called "The Flats."  It was challenging enough for me without trying to overdue it.  I did three loops on the trail which came out to about 18 miles, then I ran about 3 miles...  It felt great to be out there again!  Funny how a little exercise could lift your spirits!

Thank you God for endorphins- the natural pick me up :)  Goodbye DD, I don't plan to see you again in a very very long time!

Whew!

What a month this has been so far!  I apologize for not posting sooner, but the last few weeks have really been quite eventful.  I'll spare you the details and give you the reader's digest version instead:

February 23 - 28: Trip to Honolulu, which involved a workweek from you know where for Al, Emira catching a cold on the plane and developing a bad cough, and drum roll please...  A tsunami warning!  We did manage to squeeze in some nice family meals at Duke's, a few walks in Waikiki, a visit to the Dole Plantation, and a sunset dinner cruise...  I'll ignore the fact that I got horribly sea sick!

March 1 - 8: Trip to Em's doctor on Monday.  Al departs to Texas on Tuesday for work.  Em and I depart to Dallas on Thursday.  Emira catches a stomach virus that causes diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite (poor baby.)  Photography fundraiser on Saturday.  Trip to Urgent Care on Sunday :(  Depart from Dallas on Monday.  Get home at midnight.  Again, it wasn't all bad since we got to stay with good friends and catch up a little :)

March 9 - today: Emira is getting better slowly but we're playing it safe and keeping her home.  Her two front teeth have decided to come in this week too so poor Em has not been her happy self but we're all working through it ;)

I guess that's life for you, just a series of twists and turns.  I just thank God for renewed strength and healing!  Tomorrow is a new day!!

Second to Last

Today was my  team's first duathlon of the season.  What is this duatha-thing you ask?  A duathlon is a run/bike/run race that varies in distance depending on the event- Our race today was a 1 mile run, 15 mile bike ride, and 3 mile run.

Not only was this our team's first event of the season, this was my first athletic event...   EVER!  And although I was undeniably nervous when I got there, I was honestly thinking I'd get through it pretty easily.  After all, I had been running at the gym and taking regular spin classes for three whole weeks now!  (You can laugh at me now, I won't blame you.)  Needless to say, running and biking outside is very different than running on a treadmill and taking spin!!  Especially when you're dealing with a hilly uneven course that even Jen, one of our coaches who has not only done Wildflower numerous times but has also completed an Ironman, said was much harder than the one we'll be doing in May.  I quickly learned how to use the gears on my bike as I huffed and puffed up one hill after another and by the time I was on my last leg of the race (the 3 mile run), my legs felt like there were bricks tied to my feet...  They felt sooo heavy!  But you know what?  I did it.  I pushed through.  I survived. 

Well just barely.

Out of 19 members on my team, I finished the race second to last!  Yep, that means I came in eighteenth place!  And you know what, I'm okay with it.  I learned a lot today, which is far more valuable to me.  I'd like to share with you a few of my new found nuggets of wisdom:

• One:  Training outdoors is crucial in preparing for an outdoor race... (duh.)
• Two:  Just when you think you've given everything you could, push harder.  Chances are, you have a lot more to give.
• Three:  A supportive team makes all the difference!  In training and in life, make sure you have positive and encouraging people around you.
• Four:  As hard as today was for me (and it was hard), it pales in comparison to what cancer patients have to go through everyday, from just dealing with the physical effects of the disease to going through one draining round of chemo after another. A duathlon is a walk in the park.

Mini Photo Sessions in Dallas

I'm excited to announce that Torrico Photography will be holding mini photo sessions in Dallas, Texas!  And right in time for Easter and Mother's Day!  Here are the details...

• 45 Minute Session
• 10 Digitally Enhanced Images
• March 6th & 7th Only
• Time and Location TBD
• $75 MINIMUM donation*
• $125 MINIMUM donation will include a CD of all images*

*All donations will go directly to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and will be accompanied by a tax receipt....  How much better can it get?!

For more information or to book your session, email alvaro.torrico@mac.com