Team in Training

I have been a participant with Team in Training since January 2009. Around new years time I decided that I wanted to train for a mini-marathon to help motivate me to get into shape. Shortly into the new year I received some information in the mail about Team in Training. I attended one of their "recruiting" meetings to see what it was all about and I decided to give it a shot.

Team in Training (TNT) began in 1988 when a man from NY formed a team that raised funds and trained to run the New York City Marathon. The team of 38 runners raised a total of $322,000 (To read more of the back story click here.) TNT has trained over a half a million runners, walkers, triathletes, cyclists and hikers that have come together to raise over $1.2 billion for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Over the course of the past three seasons I have met some wonderful people from my teammates, honored heroes (those that are a survivor of a blood cancer or those that are currently undergoing treatment) and their families, to the office staff. Some of these people have become my closest friends.

Before every race TNT puts together a Pasta Inspiration Dinner where ALL TNT participants and their families come together to listen to the touching stories of those who lives have been forever changed because of blood cancers. I have come to realize that cancer does not discriminate; however, the cancer has an extreme battle to overcome as I am always amazed of how little kids and even adults can face such a horrible thing but face it with a smile on their face. This dinner is a reminder of what we set out to do and its what keeps us going at mile 12 when all we want to do is stop. I always remind myself that that little kid doesn't have a choice to not get treatment, doesn't have a choice to not have cancer, so I don't have a choice to stop running. I fight for families so they don't have to fight - so they can focus on the care and supporting their loved ones.

I have been blessed to be able to participate with such a team while I give back to those who need it the most and I have no plans to stop pounding the pavement to train for events until a cure is found.

If you are interested in being involved with TNT, please visit their website to see what you can do to help!