Student Shout-Out: Triathlete Abbey Lee!

I asked Abbey to fill us in on why she wanted to train for and complete a triathalon.  Here’s what she said:  “I’ve always wanted to do a triathlon, it just seemed like an ultimate way to test my mental and physical capability, but I didn’t quite realize what I was getting myself into this past January when I signed up with Team in Training.  Just a quick shameless plug here, Team in Training is an incredible organization that not only prepares you for any kind of endurance event, triathlon, marathon, cycling, hiking, but it also gives you an opportunity to give back by raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for cancer research.  In these past four months, I’ve learned more about my mental ability and my body than I ever thought possible.  I knew I’d get into good shape, but I didn’t realize how important the mental component of all this training and fundraising would be.  There were moments, as I stared at the wall-of-a-hill in front of me, on my little white hybrid bike, and I thought, ‘Mmmm nope.’  BUT, then I would remember there are people on my team whizzing by, currently in remission, or who even have cancer.  And I would push forward, and I would finish the course, finish the work out, and realize that quite honestly, my body is much more capable and intact than I thought humanly possible.

It’s truly incredible what we are capable of as human beings, and this though process has transcended into all aspects of my life. I’m much more patient when I feel frustrated or bored in certain situations, and I take more time now to appreciate my surroundings. I’m trying to really treat my body the way it deserves to be treated, because I’ve found, it really, truly appreciates sobriety, and it’s the happiest after a hard work out and a healthy meal. These little discoveries may seem obvious at first, but to actually experience this first had has been one of the greatest lessons of my life. I can’t wait to continue training! I’m thinking about signing up for the summer team too!

Please let me know if you’d like any information about Team in Training. Info sessions for the summer team are going on right now in San Francisco. What a fantastic way to spend a summer, no?!”

A big congratulations to Abbey for completing the triathalon and raising $3,704.50 for cancer research!  You can find out more about Abbey’s journey here: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sf/wildtri11/aleezx