Inspiration

The only true source of inspiration is to be an inspiration...

inspiration

Please visit our Cancer Militia Blog for cancer tips, topics, humor and stories. And if you are interested in learning more about the founder and her inspiring accomplishments that she has shared with family, friends, and cancer warriors see below to learn more. Thanks for stopping by, we are happy you are here!

Founder, Shari Ellwanger with family and friends. Accomplishments 2003-2008 (you can click on the photos below for a larger viewing and easier navigation)

Accomplishments: In 2003, I trained to run a full marathon (26.2 miles) and raised $4600 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I completed my first marathon in Anchorage Alaska at the Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon. My husband and his good friend formed “Dorks on Forks” and they participated in the Race Across Oregon in the two-person relay division. My friend and I drove the support van for the race. The men rode their bicycles 538 miles through Oregon in 36hours and 43 minutes and ended at the finish line on Mt. Hood.

Founder, Shari Ellwanger with family and friends. Accomplishments 2003-2008 Continued...
In 2005, I completed my 2^nd full marathon, the Boulder Backroads marathon after only 5 short weeks of training for it. In 2006, I participated in my first triathlon. The Danskin Women’s Triathlon in Colorado. I met up with other women cancer survivors who were part of the Rocky Mountain Team Survivor program. I started the open water swim portion in the cancer survivor wave. Right behind the elite athletes. It was a really uplifting and humbling day for me. To see women who were in the middle of chemotherapy treatment for various types of cancer, swimming in open water a ½ mile, biking 12 miles and running 3 miles. They definitely had the fighter frame of mind. This is no small race with over 2,000 women participants. Starting the race in waves of over 100 people. It made for some seriously choppy water. And since swimming is not one of my strengths, I was praying the entire distance that I would get back to the shore safely!

Founder, Shari Ellwanger with family and friends. Accomplishments 2003-2008 Continued...

After sharing my experience of the triathlon, my husband and 2 of my neighbors were curious and maybe even a little bit jealous of my recent adventure. So, about 2 months later we all participated in the Fat Tire Triathlon at Horse Tooth Reservoir. We were all hooked. In 2007 we were able to recruit yet another neighbor, and we all participated in the Longmont Triathlon. That summer me and 2 of my good friends and neighbors decided to do the Danskin Women’s Triathlon and the men went to South Dakota, my husband’s home town to participate in the Iron Creek off-road Xterra triathlon. We all had great stories to tell and made a lot of good memories. Later that summer, my neighbor and I also teamed up together to participate in the Muddy Buddy ride and run series and we competed against our husbands who teamed up together. We came in 5^th in our age group and we beat the men by almost 1 minute! In 2008 my husband and I participated in the Longmont Triathlon again, and we both improved our time from 2007. Our names were in the local paper listing the top 100 male and female finishers of the race. My husband participated again in the 2008 Iron Creek Triathlon and he had a blast. I have not given up my love for the outdoors, and rest assured that sunglasses, a visor and tons of sunblock was worn and reapplied during all of the races. Look for Melanoma Militia this summer at an event near you, and please check our events page for updates and our progress.

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