Over the last five years I have found myself on some strange journeys. Despite my natural “couch potato” tendencies, I have twice trudged my way through triathlons. Last year my brother and I strapped on helmets and biked 100 miles around Lake Tahoe… in one day. And this year I have been spotted slowly… very slowly… running around town preparing for another challenge… the Twin Cities Marathon.
I’m not one who is inclined toward “endurance sports.” But I have gladly tackled each of these challenges after being a part of a much more difficult battle. Five years ago my wife started her fight against an aggressive form of Leukemia. Today, after chemo, radiation and a bone marrow transplant, she is cancer free.
Betsy’s fight is what led me to an incredible organization, the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, and one of the most rewarding fundraising programs I have ever encountered: Team in Training.
Team in Training allows people to sign up for, train for, and participate in endurance events around the world, while at the same time raising money to fight blood cancers. Participants receive training from coaches and mentors. They are provided with tools and guidance to help reach their fundraising goals. And best of all, they are a part of a team where each and every member shares a common goal, finding a cure.
When I signed up for my first triathlon four years ago, I had no idea what I was getting into. I showed up at my first “group swimming lesson” with a mix of anxiety and dread. What I learned right away (in addition to the fact that you should never scarf down a plate of pasta right before swimming laps) is that I was joining an amazing team.
Before each practice we gathered together to share “mission moments,” personal tales about what inspired participants to swim, ride and run for Team in Training. Many of my teammates had personal tales about friends or family members who battled cancer, some successfully, and some who lost the fight. Some of my teammates were cancer survivors themselves. Not everyone had a personal connection to cancer, but everyone shared a passion for the cause.
Each of my Team in Training adventures has had three things in common:
- I finished. (slowly… and not always gracefully… but I finished)
- I got to know great people
- I got to give something back to an organization that has funded groundbreaking research that helped save my wife’s life
Over the next few weeks, Team in Training will hold a series of informational meetings to help people learn more about the program. Whether or not you have a personal connection to cancer, it’s worth 45 minutes of time to check out this innovative program. For more information, email Courtney Spiegler or visit www.teamintraining.org/mn. Training starts Aug. 12 for a full or half marathon in Honolulu or Phoenix!
And this October, keep an eye out for me at the Twin Cities Marathon. I’ll be wearing my Team in Training jersey, with my wife’s name written on the front. I may not be moving very fast, but I’ll be proud to a part of an incredible TEAM.
Thank you for sharing your TNT experience! I joined TNT in 2006 as a way to get in shape and meet new people. I had no experience with triathlon or blood cancer, I just wanted the jiggly things to stop jiggling so much. The whole TNT experience: training, new friendships, exceeding my perceived limitations, and building my connection to the cause has totally improved my life! Go TEAM!