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2011-12-13T09:29:00.001-08:00

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Look How Far I Have Come...

2011-04-11T12:06:00.000-07:00

Wow...the last 8 weeks have been crazy busy! I do apologize for not blogging sooner.

Over the course of this time, we have come so far...each one of us. Let's see the last time I blogged it was pouring rain and I got 2 flat tires in one ride. I am happy to report that I have not gotten another flat while out on a ride since then (knocking on wood) and well the rain has been still a wee bit of a problem. The first part of March we were faced with rain...and more rain...and more rain. Needless to say our training, especially hill training, as a team has suffered slightly. The training on my own however has been overall pretty good. I work hard to swim at least one of the 2 days on the schedule, spin class twice a week, track practice, and Saturday trainings. My hardest days are Sunday runs, I just can’t seem to get my butt out of bed after a week filled with training, work, more work at night, and the normal house routine. I am proud of my training though. I have become more comfortable in the pool and with my swimming, I feel more comfortable on the bike with clip-less petals, and while I am no gazelle my running is going well too.

The last weekend in March was Practice Weekend...Yippeee!!!! I was so excited for this weekend and to learn more about the course. Brian and I drove down Friday afternoon and set up camp ready for what was about to be the hardest two days of training either of us have ever had.

Saturday started out with an Open Water swim in Lake San Antonio. Wet suit and all I got into the water and thought to myself "I can do this". The water was cold, but not unmanageable. We swam out a little and then swam back for instructions. On the way back I decided I needed to put my face in the water....hmmmm, maybe I wasn't quite ready for that yet. (Start freak out) I panicked because I could not see the bottom or very far in front of me. Yes, seems crazy, but this is truly a fear I have. So...then I started feeling like I couldn't breathe, I was having an asthma attack, and this just wasn't going to work out. Brian came over to try and calm me down, but he needed to do his swim, so a coach took over. Richard stayed with me the whole time as I ventured out away from the comfort of land. He had me put my face in the water and take a couple stokes...success! Then I opened my eyes...damn it!! Back to square one. He sang songs to me to calm me down and made me smile. We were out there for about an hour and I did a few segments of swimming face in, eyes closed. The key is I can't open my eyes or I start to panic. Luckily, the coaches are FANTASTIC and have added more open water swims to the schedule for those who want additional practice.

After we were back to the comfort of land, we got ready to head out on the bike...56 miles here we go! This was the part I was most nervous about going into the weekend, but after that swim experience my thinking changed slightly. ;o) The scenery was absolutely spectacular, green fields, wineries, pastures, hills...gorgeous. It really took away from the difficulty of this ride. The support staff was awesome, too. Brian and I took up the rear and Robert was our sweeper. He was great....encouraging, helpful and great company. We were also joined by a coach, Barney, who is phenomenal as well. Together we rode the entire course, Nasty Grade hill and all. For those who don't know anything about the Wildflower course, here is a description of Nasty Grade via the triathlon website: "Nasty Grade, a nearly five mile grade which climbs 1000 feet from bottom to top" This hill is no joke!!! I rode the entire distance on my bike without stopping on this hill....YAY!!! So proud of that! By the time we made it back to camp my tushy was sorer than ever...going to the bathroom was a challenge. Ouch! I know this all sounds horrible, but in the bigger picture is I had just finished a day of 'firsts' and was so happy about that.

Sunday continued our adventure with a half marathon (13.1 mi). We ran the half in 2:50 and felt good about that time. There were a lot of hills, one of them pretty steep and on uneven trail terrain. When we finished we were exhausted, but so proud of ourselves and all our accomplishments of the weekend. :o)

This past week brought more hill training at track, swimming and a 53 mile bike ride on Saturday. Our ride on Saturday included the infamous Old La Honda road. Again for those who are not familiar here are some quick facts about Old La Honda:

Distance: 3.37 miles
Elevation gain: 1290 feet
Average grade: 7.2%
Max grade: 15%

I can now proudly say I have completed this climb...YAY. Will I ever do it again? I certainly hope not!!! However, you never know as it offers great hill training for cyclist and triathletes. I will say this; I will NOT be doing that climb again any time soon!! In fact, I don't want anything to do with that hill right now. I have bitter sweet feelings about this hill....on one hand I appreciate the training it provided me and am thankful for that opportunity; the mental and physical challenges I had to overcome to accomplish this was amazing. One the other hand, it is not something I considered fun and I just didn't like it. I did it and I am amazed that I did!!! Go Dena!

Fundraising Website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/wildtri11/dzlatunich

Back to work...Week 4

2011-02-25T16:12:00.000-08:00

Alright…Week 4…bring it!!! (2/17 & 2/19)

Since it was a torrential down pour on Thursday night….I opted out of track practice. However, I did not feel guilty about this because I had already gone to my spin class that afternoon during lunch.

We were at Gunderson High School again on Saturday…the weather was iffy, but we were goin’ for it. This week they split us up based on our events – Wildflower Olympic & Maui were one group & Wildflower Long Course was the other. Brian and I are training for and hoping to complete the Wildflower Long Course (1.2mi swim, 56mi bike, & 13.1mi run). So our group was in the pool first and at the time I was happy about this. We went through drills again – working on stroke, breathing, and kicking. I apparently swim with my head looking too far ahead of me. So, I have to keep my head looking down. Hmmmm…some how that was harder than it sounds. I started getting all out of wack…breathing in water, choking, stroke was all crazy. I guess I know what I will be focusing on during my Monday & Wednesday swims. Coach Caroline also had us count how many stokes it took us to get to the other side of the pool. Typically it should take about 14-16 stokes…I’m at 22. :o/ Make that 2 things I need to focus on! When all was said and done…we swam close to a mile. SWEET!

Alright, after changing it was bike time. Finally, some time riding….26miles of time. This was a BIG increase in miles for me. I was definitely up for the challenge, even in the light rain. I also decided to switch groups…I was now riding with the Elite group. We set out and it was definitely wet, but not too bad. Unfortunately as we got further out, the rain got heavier and the roads got worse. I kept telling myself to focus and that I could accomplish this…it was a great challenge for me both mentally and physically. That is until I got my first flat tire at mile 5. Damn it! Luckily Brian was with me and my coach was not far behind. I had not purchased any of my repair supplies so I had nothing to change the tire with. Coach Dave changed my tire for me as I watched and tried to soak in the process. Of course, we were in the rain freezing and getting wetter by the second. Luckily the SAG car came to get us and bring me to the front of the pack, who by this time was 7miles ahead. So, let’s see…26-7= 19mi bike ride for me. Ok, so now I am back on the road…yay! I ride about another mile with the group…another FLAT. REALLY??? 2 flat tires in one day? I yell out that I have a flat tire, but I don’t know the people around me by name, so I just yell” I have a flat”….no one stops. The two people I actually know are in the front of the pack and so far ahead they would have never heard me. There I am on the side of the road, thinking “crap, of all days to not have my phone. Now what do I do?” I knew I needed to be safe and not do anything stupid. I walked a little farther up the road to the parking lot of Calero Reservoir where I saw cars and people. I asked a man to borrow his cell phone and called Brian (who was still in the SAG car drenched and freezing)…no answer. I leave him a message letting him know where I am. While I am making this phone call I see him in the SAG car drive past me…Grrr! Okay…well my next hope is that another team member rides by who has the SAG car phone number. Lucky for me, someone else got a flat tire and Brian had to turn around. He saw me on the side of the road and picked me up. My ride was done for the day! As soon as I got home all the team phone numbers went into my contacts and I will never be forgetting my phone again. I also changed my tire, by myself! Yay me!

No drowning!! Bike 2 Dena 0

Fundraising Website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/wildtri11/dzlatunich

Wedding Planning Break....Week 3

2011-02-25T16:05:00.000-08:00

Not much training happened during week 3....as we went to Florida to plan wedding #1. It was a very productive weekend in that regard....not so much for the triathlon.

Definitely no drowning or falling off the biking!!!! :o)

Tri Training...Week 2

2011-02-25T15:47:00.000-08:00

Training week two looked something like this…

Thursday was track practice at Foothill College. We started out with a short 2 lap warm up. Then went through stretches as a team. After stretching we were split into 4 groups and had 4 different stations to go to. Brian and I were in the same group and went the Running Form station first. We had to pay close attention to our form and try to correct anything that was "off". Of course our coach, Dave, explained what we should be doing....and I can't remember what that was. HAHA!! Second station was the Leg Strength.....you guessed it - lunges, squats & balancing...oh my! After about 20min of continuous leg exercises, we moved on to the Arm Strength station. In this station we had to do push ups, arm/shoulder circles (you know the ones you used to do in 8th grade gym class), & dips. Finally the last station was core......planks, sit-ups, and more sit-ups. In between each station we ran around the track. Holy cow....the next day Brian and I were sore sore we were laughing at each other.

This week we were meeting at Gunderson High School in San Jose. This was great for Brian and I, as it is only 5 minutes from our house…woo hoo…& we were having a strength clinic first. A former TNT Tri Assistant Coach, Liz Feierabend, came to talk to us about stretching and strengthening exercises we should try to incorporate during our training. Most of the exercises are done using your own body weight…very cool. It was surprising to see what I could and could NOT do….kinda funny considering how much training I have done over the past 3 years. I guess my work is never done….but I think I knew that already. :o) If you are interested in giving it a “go” let me know and I will send you the exersices!!!!

After our clinic, to the POOL we went all 50+ of us. Gunderson has a very nice pool…and not too toxic smelling (chlorine). We swam for about an hour…totaling close .75mi!!! I was very proud of that when we were done. During our swim workout we did various drills to help with kicking, breathing, and our stroke….you know all the things that keep you from drowning. I didn’t drown!!

As I have mentioned before, I believe, there are 3 groups we divide into at times based on our experience/endurance levels – Age, Elite, or Pro. When it comes to the bike, I am still feeling a bit less than confident, so I went with the “Age” group. Those of us who chose this group were split in half to do a short clinic, before riding 10mi. Yay mileage!!! The other 2 groups had left already and were riding 14-16mi….bye Brian. The drills during the clinic were great – stopping and unclipping, handling the bike in a turn, practicing using one hand while grabbing water, etc. These are the things beginner riders have trouble with and rightly so. I would say the drills took about 45min. Finally, once we were done we headed out for our ride…..we got 1mile and had to turn around because we ran out of time. WTF!!! Needless to say I was a little bummed. I really wanted to ride longer and work on getting more comfortable on the bike. Oh well, next time…..at least we did the drills and I got some basic practice.

Week 2 complete….no drowning & no falling of the bike…SUCCESS!!!

Fundraising Website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/wildtri11/dzlatunich

Tri Team has begun.......

2011-02-02T14:19:00.001-08:00

So as it turns out the title of my blog doesn't quite fit my task this training season. I have joined the TNT triathlon team!!! I decided after 3 years & 7 seasons with my beloved Run team, I needed a new challenge. With this challenge comes not only the opportunity to train for and participate in my first triathlon, but to achieve this challenge with Brian too. Together we will be able to support one another at trainings, understand why exhaustion strikes mid afternoons on Saturdays, grow stronger as a couple and share in the accomplishments when we are done. We have never trained on a team together, so there will be some trial and error, but much fun will be had by all!!!

Tri team training officially started this past Saturday at the early morning hour of 7:30am. We met at Burgess Park in Menlo Park to embark on a morning of swimming and biking. Needless to say...I was SUPER nervous. I haven’t swam laps in years....and quite possibly never, so while I knew I wouldn't drown I didn't want to make a complete fool of myself either. Additionally, I can ride a mountain bike without a problem...now add clip in petals, a road bike with skinny tires, and the fear of falling down & getting hurt. My spin class has clip in petals and I have clip in shoes...works GREAT...the bike doesn't move!!!

Ok, so first up...swimming. They had us break into groups based on our abilities, Age, Elite, or Pro. Age is for people who don't know how to swim, haven't swum in a long time, can’t do the freestyle stroke, etc. Elite is for those who can swim but need some fine tuning. Pro is for those who were/are on a swim team, in a Master swim program etc. After hearing the options I wavered for a second between the Age and Elite groups...until I found out who was coaching the Age group. Caroline!!! I have heard nothing but great things about her and her coaching, that having her help me was the deciding factor. Age group I went! She was great....all the people in my group truly had unique challenges. I think overall I could swim the most efficient out of the four of us, but my stroke needs HELP. Caroline had us doing various drills and techniques to help us improve our knowledge of how the stroke is suppose to 'feel' and what kicking is suppose to look like. It was a bit comical at times. 40 minutes later we were out of the pool and changing to go on our first team ride, YIKES!!

Lesson One: When you think you are organized, think again. I need to rethink how I pack my bag for the days events. What a disaster I had. I brought two bags, one swim and one bike… and couldn't find anything.

After changing from our swimsuits into bike gear, we all met out on the grass field for a quick Biking 101 meeting. The coaches went over road etiquette, safety, proper alignment on your bike, and mileage. My mentor, Rich, knew how nervous I was and offered to ride with me after we made sure my bike was good to go. I needed to get the seat adjusted and practice riding on the grass to make sure I could get in and out of the petals comfortably. Once all of that was taken care of all the other groups had already left and it was just me & Rich. We set off and he led the way. We were riding 10miles out and back through Menlo Park into Palo Alto. All was going fabulously...I was clipping in and out of the petals without problem, traffic wasn't too heavy, and the weather was crisp & clear. Then we reached the intersection of Sand Hill Rd., Alameda de las Pulgas & Juniperro Serra. For those who know this intersection, my heart was pounding out of my chest with fear!!! We were making a left onto Junierro Serra from Alameda and in order to do that, you have to merge with the cars in the turn lane. Well, there was a truck that I believe thought I was going to cross over in front of him and decided to SLAM on his brakes almost causing me to crash into his rear bumper & fall....but I didn't, PHEW!! I did get a bit unsteady (remember I am clipped in), but regained my balance and all was good. We finished our ride and made it back safely. Unfortunately because I was the last one out, I was also the last one back...which I don't think has ever happened to me unless I was sweeping a course as a Run captain. SO, I missed the announcements and no photos were taken of me. :o(

Overall...my first training day was FANtastic!!! I am eager to learn more, get better, and NOT be last again. :o)

Stay tuned....track practice coming up!

Fundraising Website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/kingtri11/dzlatunich

A personal connection....

2010-08-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

When I first joined Team In Training I didn't know very much about blood born cancers or the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Through the first few weeks of my time with the team I realized that I...Dena....had a personal connection to this cause. In other words, I realized that I knew someone directly who had had a form of cancer that I was about to raise money to help cure.

It was Antoinette. She is the cousin of one of my very dearest friends and someone who I worked with for a short time in 2005. During that time we worked together Antoinette learned she had Hodgkin Lymphoma. I have known her since we were both young, as she would visit my friend and we would all spend time together. Never did it occur to me, that I would see, first hand her fight with cancer. Not only did I see her fight, but I saw her courage, her determination to move forward, and her prevail over cancer.

Here is her story:

I had just turned 25 when I found a large lump above my left collarbone – it was cancer. I had Stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma and my life came to a screeching halt. I never knew anyone my age with cancer and I was healthy! In fact, I had just run 5 miles the morning I felt it. In the midst of how unfair I felt the situation was, I knew it was happening to me for a reason and that I would be forever changed, but I would get through it. Looking back, I never once accepted defeat.

I quickly engaged the help of friends, family and resources from various organizations to equip me for battle. I found Fertile Hope, an organization that has a financial assistance program to help young adult cancer patients preserve their fertility, and decided to freeze oocytes (eggs) before starting chemo. My dreams of becoming a mother were saved! Then, through the help of the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society, I found everything I needed to know about my disease and an outlet for all my emotions. The local San Francisco chapter asked me to speak about my diagnosis and my fighting power to get through it. I loved every chance they gave me to speak in front of hundreds of people and inspire them to be strong in their own battles!

Now three years later I am proud to announce that my hair is back to its original length, I have a career with Fertile Hope, I’m married to prince charming and we hope to be parents in the near future. I still love sharing my story with anyone who will listen…

Antoinette is my motivation to get through all my races...both in her battle and now seeing her successes. I am very proud to call her my personal Honoree!!

Please help me continue to fight cancer and raise money to help find better treatments, more resources for cancer patients, and bring an end to their suffering.

To make a tax-deductible donation, click on the following link:
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf10/dzlatunich

Just some pictures....Weeeee

2010-08-13T16:40:00.001-07:00

Listening to announcements at track practice !!!

Cheese....

At Stanford Dish....running up a BIG hill....Phew!

Crunches....see me? I am wearing turquoise and grey.

Planks...SWEET!

And, we're off!!

2010-07-30T12:48:00.001-07:00

Last night was our FIRST track workout and it was great!!! It started out with not very many people, but we doubled in size after the first 10min. Our location was different this week, which was the cause in delay for over half of the group. Last night we were at Gunn High School. It was a light workout for those who are 'seasoned', but for the beginners it was a good way to ease into the rest of the seasons’ workouts. The coaches had us do a 10 min warm up around the athletic fields, stretch and then the drills came....we did toe walking, heel walking, low skips, butt kicks, and finished off with high skips. Once our drills were done, it was off to the grass for CORE...yikes!!! At first, everyone was so happy and laughing at Coach Chris' jokes....then the crunches started...1, 2, 3....10. Only 10...WOOOO HOOO. The whole time I am thinking.....just wait it gets harder as we go...HA!!! Core workout continued with planks, push-ups, and more crunches. To end the workout for the evening, Chris had us do squats and lunges (Amy's favorite!!!)

I decided during our warm up to "pick up the rear" to make sure everyone was doing ok. I happened to be behind 2 women Adrianna and Joan(?) who were run/walking. They were excited to be out and doing something good. Within their conversation, comments were made about just doing the best that they could for the 10min. I smiled. I tried to encourage them by saying they could do it and to take note of today, as they will soon be able to run/walk longer than they have before. Both ladies chuckled and said “we’ll see”. For me it is the best when you see participants progress throughout the season and then can reflect with them on how far they have come. Later this season, I will make sure to bring up last night and congratulate them on their accomplishments!! :o)

During our announcement section of track I took the time to observe everyone who was standing around listening to Cal talk about the team traditions, TNT housekeeping info, and fund-raising incentives. We heard about fund-raising ideas and what to expect at this weekends run. It was refreshing to see all the attentive and motivated participants. Keeping them motivated is the key…getting them involved and supporting their fund-raising efforts will help keep the attitude they have now going strong.

This is why I have come back season after season for the past 7 seasons....I love to watch everyone’s progression, I love seeing people accomplish their fund-raising goals and then some, I get motivated to do the best that I can to make their experience on the team as positive as mine, and most importantly I love to see the progress that your donations have created to help our Honorees over come their battles.

Thank you for taking the time to stay in tuned with my adventures.....and THANK YOU for your support, be it a donation or your company during my training.

MAKE A DONATION: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf10/dzlatunich

A Honorees special Thank you -

2010-07-23T15:06:00.001-07:00

After sending out my fund-raising email yesterday, I received the below response from on of our team Honorees...

" Dena.....Thanks for including me in this communication.....thanks for all you do for the team...... and thank you especially for allowing me to have the experience of watching my grandkids grow up (among the million other things that I am still doing on this earth).......you are welcome to cry with me for the happiness of knowing that you are doing marvelous things.....like watch fewer and fewer people lose their battles or stated another way.....helping those of us in the cancer community be successful at our fight to win our battle. You are making a difference.....you and your contributing family and friends are saving lives. Thank you from me and all of my fellow cancer patients. Good luck with your training and event this season. Sincerely, Doug"

His words say it all...he and others like him are why I do this season after season. They are why I raise money to fight cancer.

A simple message to start the Fall Season

2010-07-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

My Fund-raising Message/Email:

Dear Family & Friends….

As many of you know, I have been involved with Team In Training since the fall of 2007. This fall season marks my 7^th consecutive season with TNT and my 6^th season as a member of the volunteer staff. I will never forget my first season; Diane the mentor who was assigned to me, the coaches who were so helpful, the structure, the workouts, and all the things I learned I could accomplish. I was training to run my very first half marathon!

Now, as I get ready to start my 7^th season, I have accomplished 8 half marathons and 4 full marathons!! I have worked very hard; running anywhere from 10 to 40 miles per week, I’ve purchased approximately 10 pairs of running shoes, been injured, cheered on my teammates, and cried with happiness of what I had completed as well as in sorrow for the loss of life of people who have lost their battle with cancer.

My family and friends….I may work hard every day to be a stronger, faster runner, but nothing compares to the struggle cancer patients have EVERYDAY. I have remained involved with Team in Training and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society because not only do I get to do something healthy for myself, but I also have the opportunity to help those who need a cure for their cancer. YOU have the power to help them too!!

This season I am fund raising and hope to raise $2000 by August 31^st to help in the fight against leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and Hodgkins disease…this is where YOU have the power to help!!! Your donations will help me reach my goal and accelerate finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Below is the link where you can make a secure tax-deducible donation:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/nikesf10/dzlatunich

Additionally, last year I had created a running blog…..IT’S BACK!!! Check in regularly to see how my training, fund-raising, and TNT season are going.

http://denamzlatunich.blogspot.com/

I understand that the current economic state may be leaving some of you unable to contribute on a monetary basis, please know that your moral support is just as important to me and my goals. I can't accomplish this without YOU!! There are many ways to help me this season...lets go on a run/walk/hike/bike ride, come cheer me on at a team run, or share this message with others.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all your support!!

I appreciate your time and hope this has found you well…

GO TEAM!!!

Dena :o)

P.S. I would appreciate it if you would share this with as many people as you can to encourage them to donate as well. Thanks again.

Disneyland Half and Update

2009-09-15T19:42:00.001-07:00

The Disney Half Marathon was AWESOME!!! Definitely one I would do again.....although I may not stay out as late or walk as much the day before...oops! And I would definitely make sure I had food for before the race....double oops!!!

The run took us through both Disneyland and California Adventures, into downtown, across home plate at Angel Stadium and back through California Adventures. I...or should I say my alter self Cinderella (I dressed up) ran a great race. I started out slow, but steady and got faster as I continued each mile. Because this was a practice race for me I chose to do a run/walk method the entire time; a smart choice. By doing this I didn't have any injuries reoccur!!! Yeah!!

On the flip side....because I wanted to make the most out of my very short trip (total of 33hr.), I traveled early Saturday morning, walked all day (and night) at the parks, got only 4 short hours of sleep, ran the race, ate breakfast, found a cheap ride to the airport which only gave me 30 minutes to shower and pack, and finally traveled home. Needless to say I was EXHAUSTED when I arrived home and eventually caught a cold. Was it worth it...absolutely!!! Would I do it again....yes, but not the same way. :o)

Now, a little over a week later I am feeling better and went on a refreshing 3.8 mile run this evening. Time to gear up for San Jose Rock'n'Roll Half in 3 weeks!!!!

Fundraising Events Update:

Well the Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction was a SUCCESS!!! We raised $6500+ to help in the fight of cancer!!! The top bid of the night was for $2500 for one of our Bachelorettes. However, ALL of our auctionees did a GREAT job and we couldn't have raised that much money without each one of them!!!! THANK YOU!!
Saturday, October 3rd “Get Pickled While You Pickle”. That’s right...I’m having a pickling party. I will have everything you need to make YUMMY pickles....PLUS free food and drinks.

Please support me and my goals this season!!
I ONLY have $1300 more to raise to reach my goal of $4000!!!!
Whether it is moral or monetary....DONATE, DONATE, DONATE!!!!!
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/honolulu09/dzlatunich

2009-08-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

August 2 - 16th

Well as the training continues, so do the miles I run. Every week I am trying to run more miles in preparation for the Disney Half Marathon, SJ Half Marathon, SF Nike Women's Half Marathon, Cal International Marathon.

During the week of Aug. 2nd we had some high temperatures outside which created a challenge in my training. For those of you who know my history with running, I don't do well in the heat, so I either have to run early in the morning or late at night. Tuesday, Aug 4th I ran early in the morning with Brian and his South Bay teammates at Almaden Park. Getting up at the butt crack of dawn, aka 5:30am, is not my idea of fun, but once I was out there it was great....AND it was the first time Brian and I have run together! :o) On Thursday it was another HOT day, but I had to get a longer run in and I had track in the evening....so I decided to run right before track at Stanford. I was able to get in 3.8 miles around the Campus loop. Then Captain duties called and I was off to track. It was our second track workout and 2 mi. time trial. I ran another mile at track and then cheered on the participants as they ran for time. Everyone did such a great job and I got in close to 5 miles!!!

The following week (Aug. 9th) I was preparing for vacation, but needed to get in a few good runs. Tuesday I went out with Brian again early in the morning and ran 6 miles at Almaden Park. After my run I met with my teammates on the South Bay team to talk about our Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction. Wednesday I drove up to the woods (Cobb Mountain/Clear Lake) for some quality time with the family. This time of year means hill running for my training. Some stay away from hills, but personally I love them...hate them when I am running, but love how they train me, especially for Nike. While I was on vacation I ran twice, each time 4 miles. The route took me down one hill and then up gradual hills and up one very steep hill....now multiply that by 3 and you get my 4 mile route. I also played golf where I swung the club at least 4x more than everyone else and walked the course....great cross training if you ask me!! :o)

I have much more training to do, more fundraising to raise, more fun to have....

Please help support my efforts by making a donation to support cancer research in the fight against cancer!!!!

Fundraising Events:

I am having a Bachelor and Bachelorette Auction – “TNT Run At Love” on Saturday, September 12th. The venue is being held at the Zen Lounge in Mountain View and doors open at 7pm. Come out and bid on a date...you never know who you will meet!! There will be drink specials, too. $1 Coors Light, $2 Champagne, $3 Martini’s, $4 Don Julio Shots. More info to come. http://www.tntrunatlove.com

Saturday, October 3rd (still confirming date) “Get Pickled While You Pickle”. That’s right...I’m having a pickling party. I will have everything you need to make YUMMY pickles....PLUS free food and drinks.

All proceeds from my events will go towards my fundraising goal.

Online donations: http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/honolulu09/dzlatunich

2009-08-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

July 27-Aug 1

What a week...moving, training, interviewing....Phew!! I made it through a very busy week. My training suffered a bit, but I was able to manage a couple workouts with the TEAM.

We had our first official Track workout last Thursday at Gunn High School. It was SO amazing to watch all the new participants go out and try something new. Our coaches gave us a great core workout with lunges, squats, planks, and much more.

Saturday was an early day...I had a hard time getting out of bed. After moving all week, I was exhausted. I made my way to Stanford University for our very first regional run of the season...YEAH!!! We had to switch some things around, but it all worked out. This season I am in charge of getting volunteers out at our water stops. I was a little nervous going into this run because I wasn't sure we would have enough people. BUT we did!! Most of the participants ran further than they had ever run before and it was so inspirational to see the smiles on each of their faces when they finished.

The season is starting off GREAT!!! Next week is an on your own week for TNT, but not for me!! Disney Half Marathon training continues....my miles are increasing and I need to get back on track now that my move is complete!

To help me fight blood cancer check out my website:
http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/honolulu09/dzlatunich

2009-07-29T13:52:00.001-07:00

Hi Everyone....

Phew, what a week....and it's only Wednesday!!! :o)

This has been a slow week for running due to my move. However, Thursday night is our first track workout and then our first team run is Saturday at Stanford. So, I am super excited!!!!

It will feel good to run around the track...for more reasons than one. It will be great to release some pent up energy (aka frustrations). My move has been...well, less than smooth, so to run will feel AWESOME. Also and most important, we have a new set of participants, which means I get to meet new people who are just starting out with TNT and help support their goals. Supporting them always makes me feel good.

The rest of my week is jam packed, but I can't wait to put on my running shoes and get out there!!!

To help me fight blood cancer check out my website:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/honolulu09/dzlatunich

Season 5 - TNT has Kicked off!!!

2009-07-24T11:46:00.000-07:00

I have FANtastic news! I am at it again…this time I am going to run three half marathons and my fourth full marathon to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America. It’s true! I will be part of the Disney Half Marathon, San Jose Rock n Roll Half Marathon, San Francisco Nike Women’s Half Marathon in October, and the California International Marathon in Sacramento this December. None of these events will be easy. I have been fortunate with my health, my life and career and appreciate this chance to give something back. This will be my fifth season with Team in Training. I am a Training Captain and support the whole team. We all have coaches, a training program, and over 160 team members with a common goal and plenty of support. I’ve committed to the training program put together by the coaches and staff at Team in Training. I show up for the training, I run, I sweat, I hurt, I whimper, I take naps, I eat things called Shot Blocks and Sport Beans three times a week until it all begins Sunday, September 6, 2009. Then I run without stopping (much) for 13.1 miles…and then run again for 13.1 miles…and again for 13.1 more miles.....and then double that with 26.2 miles. I cross the finish line, and hooray!!! I did it!!

But that’s not all...The most inspirational part of this program is sponsoring a patient as your honoree. My honoree this season is Antoinette…here is her story:

“I had just turned 25 when I found a large lump above my left collarbone – it was cancer. I had Stage 3 Hodgkin Lymphoma and my life came to a screeching halt. I never knew anyone my age with cancer and I was healthy! In fact, I had just run 5 miles the morning I felt it. In the midst of how unfair I felt the situation was, I knew it was happening to me for a reason and that I would be forever changed, but I would get through it. Looking back, I never once accepted defeat.

I quickly engaged the help of friends, family and resources from various organizations to equip me for battle. I found Fertile Hope, an organization that has a financial assistance program to help young adult cancer patients preserve their fertility, and decided to freeze oocytes (eggs) before starting chemo. My dreams of becoming a mother were saved! Then, through the help of the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society, I found everything I needed to know about my disease and an outlet for all my emotions. The local San Francisco chapter asked me to speak about my diagnosis and my fighting power to get through it. I loved every chance they gave me to speak in front of hundreds of people and inspire them to be strong in their own battles!
Now three years later I am proud to announce that my hair is back to its original length, I have a career with Fertile Hope, I’m married to prince charming and we hope to be parents in the near future. I still love sharing my story with anyone who will listen…”

My commitment to Antoinette and others like her is to raise at least $4000 to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a non-profit health agency, dedicated to curing leukemia. To join me, please complete your donation at

http://pages.teamintraining.org/sj/honolulu09/dzlatunich by 10/1/09.

Of course, I’ll gladly accept donations after this date; however, the sooner I meet my fundraising goal, the better I can focus my energy on preparing for these events.

Your gift is 100% tax-deductible. 75% of the $4000 goal will go towards patient services and research for finding a cure; however, 100% of the amount over my goal will go towards patient services and research. Whatever amount you can give will help – it all adds up in the end.

I really appreciate your support!

Training for a race is a challenge. But my challenge is nothing compared to the ones that Antoinette and others have to overcome on a daily basis fighting these diseases. As I run each mile I will be thinking of her and others who are coping with a life-threatening illness.

Thank you for your support,

Dena Zlatunich