Survivor in Seattle!

When people you do not even know and will never meet took actions 20, 30, 40, or even 50 or more years ago that ended up saving your life in 2002, how do you thank them? How is that even possible?

That is the question I started asking myself eight years ago when I survived Hodgkin lymphoma. Of course, I could thank the doctors and nurses who dealt with me in the oncology room 16 out of every 20 business days for six months. But how could I thank the medical researchers? How could I thank those that donated money to fund research? How about patients who came before me, suffering incredible illness and pain, and often dying, but not until medical science learned a little more for the next time? What about the doctors and nurses who treated them? And how about the companies that turned hard-core research into the delivery of life saving products? For without all the pieces of this puzzle coming together, one very stark fact emergences: I would have died a slow and miserable death in 2002.

But I didn’t die, and so I had this dilemma – how do I say “thank you?” Well, when I was so ill that summer and fall, I swore that when I was healthy again, I would find a way to do just that. And the way I have come up with is to pay it forward – to try to do something positive so that my good fortune results in good things for others.
Starting in 2005, and continuing every year since, I have been involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by raising money for their mission with my participation in Team in Training. 2010 was no different: I signed up for the summer team and after a lot of thought, picked the Seattle Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon. After months of fund raising in every way I could come up with, and training in weather from snow and cold to summer heat and everything in between, I headed to Seattle in late June, along with Richmond coach and teammate Chuck Smith.
It was my first time in Seattle, and I made the most of it in the time available, seeing several parts of the area from land and water. But the most important aspect of the trip was being there with Team in Training to finish what I committed to in all my fundraising emails: to do my part and run the race. So there I was, running and walking13.1 miles on June 26, racing for a cure as a cancer survivor for the fifth time for TNT. It was an incredible feeling. I thought of all the names on my shirt and what each of those names represented - the collective suffering from cancer just by those people is colossal! I thought about how ill I was eight years ago, and here I was running another long distance race - something I had never done before having cancer. And I had met and exceeded my fundraising goal, so I dyed my hair purple for the race - or at least a semblance of purple. It all felt amazing!
After hearing our inspiration party speaker talking the night before about the horrific time her infant daughter and family had dealing with leukemia as a baby, it reminded me that the toughest foot race is not as difficult as these diseases. I thought of this little girl several times during the race when a hill seemed tough, or my muscles felt tired, and a few times, my eyes filled with tears as I ran while thinking of the things her mother had told us and the photos she shared with us.

When you have had a serious illness like cancer and survived to come back to do a half-marathon or marathon or something similar, it is difficult to express the emotions one feels coming down that home stretch towards the finish line. It is an unforgettable experience and an amazing feeling. On June 26, in my purple TNT shirt and sporting my semi-purple hair, I ran as a Survivor in Seattle! When I crossed the finish line, I couldn’t help think that we are just a little bit closer to the ultimate finish line: a cure! And I couldn’t help think that I had made one more little step towards something I can never completely do: say thank you!

Virginia Heroes Land in San Diego by Kristin Koch

Our little Charlottesville Team flew to San Diego this past weekend to truly rock the Rock ‘n Roll 1⁄2 Marathon and Full Marathon.  In training, you never really get to see the full scope of an organization like TNT.  The local races and events give you an idea, but in San Diego, the mission came into full view for us.

We traveled to San Diego on Friday with the excitement brewing.   After many months of training, the realization was sinking in…we’re going to run 26.2 miles on Sunday!  Yikes!  We arrived at our hotel to discover TNT had our weekend completely set.  No worrying about transportation, race morning, or logistics.  Team In Training had everything taken care of for us.  We were “heroes” this weekend, so they said.

Saturday began with a quick run to loosen up.  This didn’t seem like work because we ran along the boardwalk and saw marinas full of yachts, including one with a helicopter on the back!  The expo was only steps away from the hotel (thanks, TNT!), so we browsed the expo and picked up our race packets. 

Our inspiration event was so large, TNT needed 3 seatings!  San Diego welcomed 4,000 TNT participants and together we raised $12 million dollars for cancer research!  It was amazing to learn those figures at the Inspiration Lunch.  Things were really starting to sink in learning about the families who are dealing with these cancers and the survivors who were in the audience (some participating the next day!).

Sunday morning we were up bright and early at 3 AM.  The routine began and we rode the elevator to the lobby at 3:45.  My husband and I started to get emotional because our hard work was going to pay off and it was about so much more than us.  I pinned on my “In Memory of” bib because I got started in all of this because we lost our greyhound to lymphoma in February of 2009.

The race was amazing but kind of a blur.  I remember so many people and coaches screaming my name and Go Team!  We ran through downtown San Diego, the famous Balboa Park, on a major freeway, and through the Padres stadium!   Pretty neat.  For me, the race was wonderful, without stomach trouble, and right at my goal to finish a marathon.
 

Our San Diego trip was full of amazing memories, but the biggest memories will be of all of the people.  All of the people affected by these blood cancers.  The many people who are trying to find a cure…the many people fighting.  We are all part of a bigger picture in the TNT family and in life.  Working hard to do what we can on a small scale to make a huge difference on a grand scale.  We work hard and sometimes ask why.  Team In Training teaches us the why.  Finishing a marathon was just icing on the cake!

Thank you again, TNT!  Go Team!

TNT Coach Mike Arrington featured in the paper!

Here's an article about TNT Va's very own coach Mike Arrington, written by Ryan Arnold for the Collegiate Times:

Mike Arrington recommends chocolate milk after intense exercise, but on Tuesday he drank an Arizona peach iced tea following his 50-mile, three-hour bicycle ride.

Executive sous chef for the Inn at Virginia Tech, Arrington chomped on a sandwich at the Blacksburg Public Library for nutrients the sweet beverage lacked.

The quick meal preceded an information meeting about Team In Training, the world's largest charity endurance sports training program. When his kitchen apron comes off, Arrington is the coach for local TNT participants.

Started in 1988, TNT is part of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The two decades of individual fundraising for marathons, half marathons, triathlons and 100-mile bicicyle rides has yielded more than $1 billion for cancer research.

Arrington assumed the coaching role in 2005, several years after joining TNT in honor of a friend who died of Leukemia.

The regimen for the fall season beings next monthm, and the six runners - a roster Arrington hopes to see grow - will ultimately compete in either a marathon or half marathon.

The three event locations are distant. Athletes can stay close in Virginia Beach and Washington, D.C., or make the trek to San Francisco.

Having completed 16 marathons - he wore a 2007 Boston Marathon hat - Arrington aims to compete in a more challenging half Ironman, which is a 70.3 mile triathlon. He'll t ravel to Augusta, Ga., in late September after raising his $3,000.

Arrington sat with the Collegiate Times to discuss his running origins and the motivatiosn that TNT provides.

Read the rest of this article, including Arrington's interview, here: http://bit.ly/coachmikearrington

Tornadoes Can't Rain on a TNT Parade! - By Elizabeth Merce

The trip started with a belly full of butterflies and a carry-on full of running gear. Arriving in Nashville, my hopes were high for a beautiful weekend. The first night in Nashville included a dinner at the Big River Grill, $5 cowboy hats, and drinks at Tootsies. The weather was perfect! Blue skies and the temperature was just right.



The second day in Nashville started with my favorite activity- running! My group had the chance to take a short run with the group from the National Capital team. We ran through Honky Tonk row to the river and back to the hotel. While we only went a couple of miles I was relieved to find the hills were not the challenge I originally thought. My husband and I spent the rest of the day exploring the city on foot. We were pleased to find how pedestrian friendly Nashville is.


Friday night we attended the Inspiration Dinner. I ate so much amazing food I even had to take pictures of it so I could believe it later! The dinner was so emotional. We heard stories of amazing fundraisers and even more amazing fighters. Hearing about how my little acts of fundraising have made a difference in someone’s life moved me to tears. Those little efforts I put in really help find treatments! To top off such a great dinner I got to take a picture with the MC of the night- the PENGUIN!!!


Saturday morning started off with clear skies and warm temperatures. The forecast was for strong thunderstorms including the chance of tornadoes. I was nervous about the weather, especially since I’m terrified of lightning. Aside from the weather I felt more prepared than I had for anything I had done in my life. Coach Bob transformed me from a hesitant runner into a marathoner!


The support on the course was phenomenal! Everywhere I looked there were Team in Training supporters. Even those in their yards were shouting “Go Team!” The hills seemed to disappear as I heard the cheers of the supporters and remembered just how many people rely on what Team in Training does.


By mile 9 I was feeling great, the sun was still shining and I felt as though I might be able to beat the impending storms. As I approached mile 10 the clouds really started to roll in. Mile 11 met me with course marshals telling me that the full course was closed because of the weather and I would only be allowed to complete the half course. I began to feel moisture on my face. It wasn’t rain, but tears. I worked so hard for so many months only to be told that I wouldn’t be allowed to even try to reach my goal.


I understood what they did was best for the runners, supporters, and staff on the course. I was torn between knowing that I reached the more important fundraising goal while feeling disappointed that I own a marathon medal for completing a half marathon.


Partying at the Wildhorse Saloon with my fellow Team in Training participants helped alleviate some of my unhappiness. By the time I landed on the ground at home I was much happier about the entire trip knowing that I had accomplished my main task- raising money for an amazing organization.

Country Music Marathon: The Best Marathon Story Ever By Coach Michelle Browning

Where to begin...let me start by saying we had great time and we enjoyed each others company with everything we did together.


The Virginia Team which included some really amazing Marathon friends; Misha Anthony, Tracie Beacham, Lisa Furguson, David and Debbe Harless, Elizabeth Merce, Jessie Orozco and Jayme Reed. All of whom finished their own kind of  Marathon in a fascinating and exciting way.  And I cannot forget the special spouses Scott Merce and Vernon Tally, whom I happen to know did some running along side of the course themselves. I said it before, they are two great guys!


The story begins with the news, the National Weather Service in Nashville had issued a hazardous weather out look for Saturday.


"It's not just going to rain," warned meteorologist Mark Rose. "There will be storms, some of them severe" bringing with them a chance of lightning, hail and tornadoes.


Everyone had a plan, the city, the race directors, Team In Training, and the coaches. The race would go on with perhaps, a few changes made along the way. One plan was to divert the full to the half if the storm progresses, that was not good news as you can imagine.


On race morning, no rain, it was a little overcast with some light sprinkles. I noticed some lightning in the air but it seemed miles away. The race started and all was well, in fact by 8:15 the sun was shinning and it looked so promising. Everything appeared to be similar to many other great marathon days. Like running with your participants, this is a highlight for any coach so I am thankful to have run along side of almost everyone, except Misha and Jessie, sorry I missed you. Now I am thinking that everything would be fine.


Okay, it is now 9:45 and the clouds are moving fast and the cool air is starting to blow, the optimist in me was thinking, maybe this will pass! As I started to see more of our running friends for the second time, the warnings from Team in Training  began to come in. The coaches and our  staff coordinator Cate Summers were all communicating with  each other, things were changing constantly with each minute. Then another call, it was official the full marathoners would be diverted to the half marathon if they did not reach 11.2 at a certain time.


At 10:15 it was raining harder and the wind is blowing the rain in every direction. With every minute passing it looked impossibly worse than the minute before. Within another 5 minutes  more official news, the full marathon course was closing, all runners who made it past the cut off were now being stopped at 20.5 and diverted to the finish line. For the half marathoners staying ahead of the sweepers became the biggest concern, with the threat of the storm hanging over their head, literally. I found our Virginia Chapter friends from Richmond David and Debbe just before the finish and we ran together for a while almost to the finish line. David you ran and you kept yourself moving as if it was not raining, I  was impressed with your focus. I believe part of this motivation came, because of the story you shared with me about your beautiful wife and the Teams new friend Debbe. This special person we now call our friend is a “Survivor”! How amazing is that!


This race, on a spring day in April turned out to be a unusually surprising event. An event everyone will remember with a story, a funny moment, a bite me moment or perhaps two and a little disappointment. But one thing I am certain about,  you will never regret what you gave to the cause and the people you helped before this day and many days to come.


Thank you!
Now, let the great fish stories begin!
Coach Michelle

A beautiful shiny ShamROCK of a surprise - By Tina Elam

When I joined TNT I could barely run a mile.  Seriously, I struggled with a mile which was incredibly embarrassing for me.  Here we are several months later and I have just finished my first half marathon.  It was definitely not an easy journey for me but it was absolutely worth it. 

A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I traveled down to Virginia Beach so I could run the Yuengling Shamrock Half Marathon.  Since this was my first endurance event, I didn’t know what to expect.  The day and night before my half is kind of a blur.  I was so nervous and excited that it all passed fairly quickly.  I do know that I went to the Inspiration dinner which was as promised, inspirational.  I ate dinner with the people that have become so dear to me and we heard a survivor’s story.  His story was amazing.  It was funny, moving, sad and uplifting all at once.  I feel grateful that I was able to hear him speak and am so impressed that he was able to tell it so eloquently. 

After the dinner there was much pacing and fretting before I finally fell asleep.  Then, at 5:30 a.m. I got my wake up call (even though I was already wide awake in bed just waiting for it).  I quickly threw on clothes, slathered on Body Glide, wrapped my toes and ran down to the lobby.  There we were in all our purple glory.  As a group, we began the walk to the start line.  We dropped off our gear, used the port-o-potties and found our corrals.  At this point I was just freaking out and laughing hysterically at everything, including when Barb started dancing to Britney Spears' "Womanizer."  Finally, it was time to run.  After about 50 feet I completely calmed down.  It just felt like a normal Saturday morning run and I thanked my lucky stars.  I realized that I could absolutely do this and just needed to enjoy myself.

And I did enjoy myself.  I was able to run the entire race with my mentor, Ann-Marie.  She took my mind off the fact that I was in the middle of running 13 miles which was so helpful.  Along the way we had various TNT coaches jump in to see how we felt.  I had one coach jump in around mile 3 to see how I was hanging.  At that time I was still in great shape but jokingly told him to come back at mile 10.  Much to my surprise right around mile 10 that same coach fell into a run beside me.  It’s things like that which make me so happy my first endurance event was with an organization so committed to getting people across the finish line.  With coaches like him and the other TNT Teammates that stand along and cheer you on, it would be pretty difficult to not make it.
 

Miles 10-12 were tough.  I was ready to be done and just wanted to cross that finish line.  With help from my mentor and spectators yelling my name (thanks to duct tape and a sharpie) I just dug deep and kept going.  Finally we hit the last mile.  We were being cheered on, music was blaring and soon we rounded the corner to the boardwalk.  The finish line was in my sights.  Slowly but surely we gained ground and the finish was getting closer.  I did remark at one point that it didn’t appear to be getting any closer, however Ann-Marie assured me it was.  Just before finishing I saw my boyfriend, Nathan, and a large group of friends standing to the side screaming my name and cheering for me.  Right after waving at them I crossed the finish line.  I was absolutely exhausted but had a gigantic smile and was ecstatic.  We walked along grabbing bananas, granola, shirts and anything else being shoved our way.  After checking in at the TNT tent I made my way to Nathan  and friends.
 

This is where I got the most incredible surprise.  As I walked up to my “posse” I saw that they were all facing opposite me.  All at the same time they turned around to face me and each had on a green shirt saying a different word.  Together, the words spelled out “Tina will you marry me?” and Nathan got down on one knee.  I made an audible gasp and burst into tears.  Finally I squeaked out a yes and there was clapping/smiling from surrounding people.  After much hugging and photo taking we started walking back to the hotel.  I loved this part because my friends left on the shirts and people kept yelling out “What did she say?!?!” 
 

Looking back, this was the best weekend I’ve ever had.  I was able to accomplish a goal  for myself and had the most romantic and creative proposal.  Nathan was so supportive of me during my training and fundraising and I’m happy the weekend ended up being about both of us.  I can’t wait for my next race, I’m looking forward to how he’ll top the proposal!

Warning! Joyful Experiences Ahead! by Art Ritter

Warning - do not get involved with Team in Training if you don’t enjoy joyful experiences, for there are many of these to be had.  These include, but are not limited to, having a great time training with friends, having amazing memories at your events, kicking butt with your fund raising goals, and the glow you get from making a positive difference in the world as you become a part of the enormous battle against cancers.

A week ago, I had another kind of joyful TNT experience when I joined friends Nicki, Jenn, and Faith to cheer at the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach.  Had I never gotten involved in Team in Training, I would not know so many long distance runners and walkers, and it would not have occurred to me to be there.  But I did and I do, so it did!

There is a tremendous joy, sometimes tempered by exhaustion, of being in a race and seeing the other participants running along, and the crowds of people cheering for everyone.  It is hard to describe if you have never experienced it, but it is pretty amazing.  But one thing I learned a few years ago (when I missed a half-marathon after catching my heel in a storm door) is that cheering for people you know, and even strangers, is quite joyful as well.  And being open to that led to last week’s fun experience along the Shamrock Course.

The four of us got to the half-marathon six mile point just a little after 7AM.  Nicki, Faith, and I are blood cancer survivors, so we made a sign – OK, Nicki made a sign – thanking Team Richmond from us.  Then she wrote all the Richmond participants’ names on the sign.  And then, we cheered lustily for everyone that went by, whether we knew them or not.  But our cheers were louder and lustier for anyone wearing the TNT purple, and when people we knew went by, we could barely restrain ourselves.  These included first time half marathoners Tina, Claire, Mike, Mindy, and Barbara – the latter two recent multiple myeloma survivors.  We also saw veterans Ann Marie, Kathy, and Suzanne, the latter two of whom set new personal records.  Later in the day, we about went nuts when first time marathoner Karen was coming down the stretch at 25.9, her smile bright enough to provide electric power to a small city.

After that point, I walked up to about the 25 mile point to cheer for the last people coming in, and specifically to say hi to Cheryl, the course sweep as a walk coach.  Cheryl and I did our first marathons together for Team in Training in 2005 in Anchorage, Alaska, and I have seen her only once or twice since.  So it was well worth hanging around out there for a little while to see her, and to see my Richmond teammates and coaches Vicki and Kristi as they escorted the last participants in. 

 

The final few dozen participants kept thanking us for waiting to cheer for them after everyone else had long finished.  And that felt good – by giving a couple extra hours of my time, maybe I could help give someone who was exhausted, wondering if they can finish 26.2 miles, a little extra lift coming down the stretch.  Maybe the people bringing up the rear need cheering and encouragement even more than the ones who are in the front and the middle of the pack.

So if you are thinking about getting involved in Team in Training, I encourage you to do so.  But be forewarned: you will have a lot of amazing memories, meet incredible people, and undergo joyful experiences, so be prepared for these.  They will enrich your life!

Honored Teammate's First Silent Mile by Katie Powell

On Saturday, February 20, 2010, Team In Training held a Silent Mile. The silent mile was held in honor of those people who have lost their lives to blood cancers, and for those who have fought and won the battle against cancer. All Team in Training groups from Fall and Spring participated. Runners, walkers, cyclists, and triathletes all joined together on this special, and very chilly, morning to hear survivors speak and then walk/run 1 mile in silence. We had a terrific showing: over 50 people participated. Before starting the silent mile, we all gathered in a circle and listened to a few survivors speak about their experience fighting blood cancers.

It was truly inspirational, and a reminder about why being a part of Team In Training is so important. Nobody has to wake up early on a Saturday morning, put on running/cycling gear, and exercise in freezing cold winter weather…but we do. We do it because we believe in a cure, and we believe that we can make a difference in the ability to cure blood cancers.

As a survivor myself, I believe that the money The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has raised, through groups such as Team In Training, has saved my life. Nothing makes me prouder than to be part of such a wonderful group of people willing to sacrifice their time to help people like me live longer and healthier lives.

The Silent Mile was a reminder of why we all are training…we are training for a cure.

Richmond Residents Honor Cancer Patients with Silence

Local Team In Training Teammates pay tribute to blood cancer patients

Contact: Cate Summers
catherine.summers@lls.org
804-627-0400


RICHMOND, VA, Feb. 20, 2010 — Every Saturday morning, a few dedicated Richmonders wake up with the sun and prepare for another early morning of physical activity in the name of a worthy cause.

You may have seen them running passed your house. Usually clad in purple or white jerseys and often running, cycling or power walking in packs, these inspiring athletes dedicate at least four to six months of their lives to preparing to complete an endurance event. In exchange for expert coaching, travel and lodging accommodations, commemorative souvenirs, and not to mention the experience of a lifetime, Teammates in the Virginia Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program (TNT) agree to raise money in the name of LLS while being trained to complete a full or half marathon, 100-mile century bicycle ride, or triathlon.

On Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010 at 8:30 a.m., the Richmond Team will meet at the Direct Buy parking lot on West Creek Parkway to pay tribute to its local patient honorees and all those experiencing blood cancers. Cyclists, marathoners and triathletes will ride or run their first mile as one unit, in complete silence, reconnecting with LLS’s mission and reengaging with the personal stories of their local Honored Teammates.

Founded in 1949, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is dedicated to raising funds to find a cure for blood cancers. Its mission, to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families, is the driving force behind the efforts of all of its volunteers and employees. Every four minutes, a person is diagnosed with a blood cancer. Every ten minutes, someone loses his or her fight, resulting in a loss of 146 people a day to blood cancers. As of June 2008, a total of 388 active LLS research grants support scientific studies at academic centers in the United States, Canada and 14 other countries. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society awarded a $600,000 grant to Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center researcher Steven Grant, M.D., to develop a new laboratory-based strategy for the treatment of advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and related acute leukemias. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the third-highest ranked volunteer health organization in the country, committed to putting 75 cents of every dollar raised toward their mission. Investigators supported by LLS have helped advance molecularly targeted treatments like Rituxan,® the first FDA-approved, targeted anti-cancer antibody drug, that can kill blood cancer cells without harming normal cells, and continue to develop cutting-edge treatments for patients with blood cancers, many of which can also benefit patients with other diseases.

So often, people are asked to raise funds for a charity with very little understanding of how valuable their efforts are. LLS’s patient honoree program connects Teammates with individuals who have battled or are battling a blood cancer so that Teammates may create their own connection to those facing these diseases. Some patient honorees are also TNT alumni themselves. Teammates may compete in honor of a patient they know personally, or in honor of someone from the area who has volunteered to share his or her story.

Before embarking on their route, patient honorees like Nicki Patton will speak briefly, sharing their stories and setting the mood for the morning, “Anyone of any athletic ability can complete an endurance event, while raising money to improve the lives of those affected by blood cancers,” said Patton. “As a Teammate, a mentor and a patient honoree, it has been a life-changing experience for me and one I will never forget.” Other local patient honorees include Ed Stone, Art Ritter, and Katie Powell. Stone, a seasoned TNT alumnus, was training for the St. Anthony’s Triathlon in St. Petersburg, FL. Ed has completed 17 events with TNT since undergoing whole-body radiation to fight leukemia 20 years ago. Ritter, a TNT alumnus and mentor, has been in remission from Hodgkin’s lymphoma for seven years. Ritter has completed four marathons with TNT and serves as a first connection volunteer for patients who are newly diagnosed with blood cancers. He has also begun training and fundraising for his fifth event, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon on June 26, 2010. Powell is in training for her first TNT event, the St. Anthony’s Triathlon. Her sister Erin raised over $7,000 in Katie’s honor for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach in 2007. Powell survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 27.

Teammates in Team In Training have athletic abilities ranging from novice to very experienced. Some Teammates have never done an endurance event before and do not consider themselves athletes or runners, while others have seen the notable purple jerseys while participating in past events and have sought out TNT specifically. Others join the team in an effort to lose weight or get in shape and, in the midst of their training, develop a heartfelt connection to the cause. Marathon coach Chuck Smith joined TNT in 2006 to lose weight, “Original goals of fitness and weight loss selfishly motivated me to join Team In Training. Those thoughts have long since been replaced by the passion for victory in the war on blood cancers fueled constantly by stories of hope and survival, tragic loss, and amazing results through funded research,” said Smith.

Triathlon coach Steve Griffith has been involved with TNT for four years and attests that, “by the end of each season, it's the connection to LLS’s mission that binds the team, motivates the spirits, and energizes the body to accomplish something previously unattainable. I'm touched by the caring and giving of every Teammate, every time.”

For a complete list of upcoming information meetings and events or to find out more about the patient honoree program, visit the Virginia Chapter’s Web site at www.teamintraining.org/va.

 

Patient Honorees at the Aug. 22, 2009 Silent Mile

About Team In Training:

TNT began in 1988, when Bruce Cleland of Rye, NY formed a team that raised funds and trained to run the New York City Marathon in honor of Cleland's daughter,, a leukemia survivor. Since then TNT has raised over $950 million for research, patient aid programs and community outreach programs. For more information visit http://www.teamintraining.org/.

The goal of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is to cure Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin's Disease, Myeloma, and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org or call the LLS Information Resource Center (IRC), at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET

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TNT is Dy-No-Mite! by Cate Summers

Being a staff person at a Team In Training (TNT) event can definitely feel similar to an out-of-body experience. You are surrounded by all of these amazing people who just raised thousands of dollars and trained for months on end to complete a challenging race.
There’s nothing simple about it. Granted, some people are natural athletes and excel during training and some have a sixth sense when it comes to fundraising, but both aspects of this program present some level of difficulty.
I’ve heard people tell me, “It’s unnatural to run for 26.2 miles,” or “asking people for money isn’t easy for me,” which is why I have the utmost respect and admiration for the hundreds of people I have met through TNT who have accomplished both of those feats, as well as the people whom they honor or remember in doing so.
I came to work for the TNT program just two days after graduating from Virginia Tech last May. I was already aware of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, having two uncles affected by blood cancer. I became acutely aware of TNT last spring when one of my sorority sisters took on the challenge of fundraising for the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Marathon and asked all of us for support. Erin planned fundraisers like car washes, pizza and Krispy Kreme sales in the heart of campus, and bake sales outside the most popular bars in town. She did it and she crossed the finish line in San Diego a few weeks after I had made my cubicle a home at the LLS office.
I quickly learned that the TNT family is a diverse one. Knowing little about the program other than TNT was the world’s largest endurance training program, I’d imagined everyone involved to be a svelte athlete with an Olympic physique and record-breaking speed. But when I showed up to my first training, I was relieved to see that everyone looked pretty normal, including the coaches. I wasn’t intimidated at all because there was an immediate welcoming spirit. I had only been on the job for 5 days but these people were happy to see me and made me feel like part of their Team.
As I continued to fall in love with my first “Big Girl Job,” I was introduced to more and more Teammates and was privileged to become a part of their chosen extracurricular activity I traveled to Virginia Beach with all of the Richmond staff for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon for my first event weekend experience. I may or may not have shed a tear or two during Honored Teammate Ed Stone’s speech at our Inspiration Dinner. I was way more wide-awake than I ever expected at 4:00 a.m. when I went to the lobby to see the Teammates off to the race start. Watching the sun rise on the beach with my coworkers and our exceptional volunteers wasn’t a bad way to start my Sunday either. But it was sitting at the check-in table, screaming and clapping for each and every participant (from every participating LLS chapter) and handing them their 13.1 mile finisher pin that was my favorite part of the day.
I ran track in high school, but those finish lines were nothing compared to this one. I was just happy to be done with the 1000-meter run; these people were sweaty and exhausted, but on an endorphin high I had never seen before. It was an honor to hand each of them their pins because they had completed something much more meaningful than just a race. They’d raised over $500,000 to support cancer research and patient services.
Just a few weeks later I was preparing to travel with the Team to Augusta, GA for Ironman 70.3 Augusta. Now, they say triathletes are a breed of their own. But these people were just like you and me (maybe with a little more stamina in a wetsuit). The Augusta Team had a bond with each other that I had not seen yet in my short tenure with TNT. They all knew each other so well and had created their own special friendships. About 30 of us successfully crammed into what seemed like Augusta’s tiniest Italian restaurant and I had a great time getting to know more about the people I sat with. One of the best stories I heard all weekend was over my fettuccine alfredo from Amy Williams about the students who tried to blow up her mailbox when she was a teacher in Alabama. Now here she was preparing to blow these 70.3 miles out of the water (pun intended).
But it might have been the sugar cube-crazed little miss Emma McFeely who made me laugh the most that weekend. A survivor of infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Emma was there supporting her mom in the triathlon. Emma’s adorable smile is enough to give anyone enough strength for 70.3 miles. Everyone had his or her own motivations for being in Augusta, but having Emma there was the extra tangible push for a lot of the Teammates.
That Sunday morning we got up with the team at 4:30 a.m. and traveled to the transition area. I was in awe as thousands of bikes were lined up in precise detail, individual to each athlete. We waited at the swim exit and photographed each of our Teammates exit the water. Then we made our way to the run course and set up our mission boards, poised to cheer for the next 5 hours or so at every green and purple tri top that strode past us. There Emma and her grandparents joined Amber and I with their homemade mission boards featuring Holly’s face on the Ironman’s superhero body. Emma knew every Virginia Teammate who ran past us and screamed their names as they waved back. She knew why they were running, and even at 10 years old, was thankful for what they had done for LLS and for her.
I watched and blew my horn as Emma’s mom ran over to us on the grass, gave her a big squeeze, and went back on her way down the road. We are reminded every day how unfair it is for a child to have to go through cancer, and it is another reason why all of us are so invested in this cause. But it was truly amazing to see how proud Emma was of her mother, and I can only imagine what a brave child she must have been…and still is.
Every day at work I find new inspiration. Whether it’s a new Teammate who just signed up three weeks ago and has already reached her fundraising minimum, a novice triathlete who can’t wait to get in the water, convincing a friend to join her local chapter, learning of the passing of my first boss from ALL, or another mission moment that reminds us that the fight is not yet over, I never find myself short of motivation. As we begin our summer season, I can’t wait to get to know a new group of Teammates and learn about what motivates them. It is truly an honor to encounter so many people with some of the biggest hearts and selfless intentions. Good luck to our newest Virginia Teammates, may you get the most out of your TNT experience!
As Emma’s sign said, TNT is DY-NO-MITE!

Don't Hit Snooze by Jacob Castello

 

    There is no sound more annoying than the alarm clock in the early hours of the morning. This brain-splitting disruption is made all the more heinous by each moment of sleep lost from a normal routine. Normal bedtimes being midnight or later and normal waking times being 10 o’clock or (much) later means that a 6 a.m. alarm may need to fear for its life should it peal its ear-splitting cackle within reach of an instinct-driven hand. In my case, the cell phone that actually woke me was two steps from the bed and was spared my wrath because of the few moments those steps allowed my head to clear while I sought out my wicked oppressor.
    Of course it wasn’t oppressing me, just reminding me that my first swim practice was at 6:30 and I had better get a move on if I was going to be there on time. After all, I had already started fundraising, and wouldn’t it just look terrible to have to report to everyone that I missed my first practice because I was up too late chatting with Monique and her gorgeous friend after the TNT dinner last night. Once my feet hit the floor I began to vaguely connect with that Christmastime feeling of excitement about new things in store and I got going pretty quickly. In one fell swoop I put some pants on gathered the bag I pack the night before and headed out into the cold tundra that Richmond Proper had become.
    I made it to the Northside Y with plenty of time to spare, walked in the front door, and in a still slightly sleep-addled monotone managed a raspy, “Team in Training?” before being shown the locker room door. Once changed, I spilled out into the pool, arms folded against what I was sure would be a cool blast of air coming off the top of that water. I stared dumbfounded at the lanes for several moments before the lifeguard on duty took pity on me and pointed out a lane I could swim in. Once again I threw up a “Team in Training?” and hoped it would opensesame my way into looking like I was, in fact, allowed to be there. He smiled and pointed out Steve who pointed out a lane and pointed out that I should get in and warm up. So I walked over and after a moment of psyching myself up I jumped right into the water, which I was sure would be an icy seizure. Surprise, surprise it was fairly warm. After a very short warm up (apprehension of being out of shape) I hopped out and saw other TNT’ers begin to congregate at one end of the pool.
    As I started to break the ice I met some people training for an Olympic distance triathlon fast-approaching in the spring. We chatted about fundraising and their reasons for getting involved, and I began to have flashbacks to the night before…

Flashback to the night before:

    The TNT dinner at Capital Ale was populated not by a bunch of 6’2” guys dressed still in their lycra talking about what hair-removal products work best, but by a bunch of ordinary-looking folks hanging out in a bar. It’s all an act. None of these people are ordinary by any stretch of the imagination. Take Paul for instance, a man 20 years my senior diagnosed with a benign form of leukemia who had done more century races than I have fingers. He laughed off my shock about hills coming from flatland Tidewater to Richmond. Those weren’t hills for him. Apparently this was a man who got his jollies from hills that were really mountains, that pushed your bike to speeds over 50 mph and ran your legs down to speeds less than 6. Imagine my shock when a salt-and-pepper headed man walked over and Paul introduced him as the man who could drop him without so much as a thought.
    Then there was Sarah. She had already done over a dozen races and helped raise over $40,000 for the LLS! Her stories of fund raising cut my puny $1,500 goal down to size very quickly. That’s not to say she wasn’t extremely helpful. She was always quick to support and give advice, I even got a great template for some business cards I will be handing out with my website and info on them. These, however, were just appetizers for a red-headed fireplug who probably came to this planet wrapped in a blanket emblazoned with a giant “S.”
    Susan Ann Glass was a woman whose personality was clearly dunking from the foul line in a package that was more at home in a Sicilian kitchen. Having the brief conversation I did have was like being train robbed by a bandit on a rocket horse with ADD. She kept flitting from person to person as they said one thing or another to her. She would launch into soaring overtures of conversation only to be diverted quickly and take aim at another person caught in her maelstrom of pep. But when she did finally focus her fire for a moment at the targets I presented I was blown away like that hapless goat next to an abandoned house in New Mexico.
    Many times she stacked marathons on top of each other like normal people making quadruple-stuffed Oreos and she bit them with just as much gusto. She was grateful for a more than 6-hour time limit on one of her races, but only because she ran it on a broken foot. I said I was lamenting the trainer time, she had the solution: five drills I wasn’t doing but better start. She sent me that drill from one of her 9 email addresses. All this while holding a great career managing the helpdesk for all of Virginia, lobbying for a smoking ban, raising two kids, and making TNT just one of the multiple charities she was involved with.
    I had to scoop myself off the floor. However, I had never felt better equipped to take on a challenge than I had right after that dinner. There was a euphoric sense of purpose and inspiration walking out of that room surrounding me. I was ready, I could do this, I was heading home to get some sleep so I could get up easily in the morning.
    Of course with any quest there are some detours and mine were a pair of sparkling brown eyes sitting at a booth on my way toward the door. My conscience facepalmed and I spent a couple of hours plying charm to two beautiful women who laughed politely all night. I knew I’d pay a price to see them smile some more and I did when that alarm hit my ears in the early early o’darkthirty.

Back to practice:

    Having gotten a little more winded than I would have wanted to during warm-up, I was relieved to hear Kia, my coach, tell Melody and me it would be an easy day today. Melody is doing the same race and is one of those super heroes in training. So we did some interesting drills like one where you lay on one side and kick for a length before switching to the other side and kicking. My goal during all of this was to gauge what, if anything was left of my swimming skills since I had stopped about 2 years ago. I am fairly proud of my performance, Kia told us both that we were good in the water, and I only swallowed about two large mouthfuls of delicious pool water.
    All in all, it was a solid practice, but I was really floored by all the people I met along the way. This human perspective I keep getting is really interesting. It’s very hard to frown around these people because they are all working so hard for such a great cause, and also they are high on endorphins from all of the exercise. Really that and the light workout made it a relatively easy day. When Melody and I obliquely alluded to this we momentarily saw a fire light in Kia’s eyes. Her tone got serious and she told us in a tone heavy on the understatement that she will be making it hard on us soon enough.
    Looks like ear-splitting alarms waking me from my lucid fantasy worlds are going to be some of the least painful aspects of this process.
    I can’t wait.

Why I Joined the TEAM by Ann-Marie Schell

I joined Team In Training in 2007 because I needed help training for my first half marathon. I had no personal connection to the Mission but knew I was going to sign up minutes in to the informational meeting, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I not only completed my first endurance event, but I also developed a life-long love for running, not to mention learning how to run properly! More importantly though, I made life-long friends and learned about the fight against blood cancers. I was hooked after my first season; I wanted to keep running, stay in touch with my new friends and continue the fight, so I signed up to be a mentor. As a mentor, I logged more miles and watched as my teammates raised more and more money.

I took a year off from Team In Training while I lived overseas. I signed up to mentor straightaway after coming back and was so excited for our first Saturday morning run. It was great to see old friends as well as meet new teammates and old alumni who were back for more also. At some point in the season, something changed though. The more time I spent with Team In Training, the more I began to feel surrounded and overwhelmed by the pain that cancer causes. It seemed everyone I talked to had a sad story to share about loved ones who endured horrific and crippling treatments while trying to overcome these diseases. And although survival rates are higher than ever, beating the initial disease is just the beginning of the fight, because many survivors have to endure life-long side effects from the treatments that saved their lives. I might have become discouraged even, were it not for the amazing people running beside me every Saturday. No matter how hard I try, I cannot even begin to imagine what it must be like for people who have struggled with blood cancer, and I am beyond inspired by their positive attitude and determination not only to find cures but to find more humane treatments. Every story is a sad one and upsets me just a little bit more, but every story I hear is a reminder of why it is so important that we all keep fighting. So, I'm back at it again for the summer season, and I could not be more excited!

GO TEAM!

"Look! There's One of The Leukemia Society People!" by Art Ritter

I had a brief magical moment in Nashville last April, the kind of instant that makes you want to smile and cry all at the same time. I cannot get this out of my mind, and decided to share it with the world – at least the small portion of the world who reads my Racing for a Cure Blog from time to time, or this brand new Team In Training Virginia blog now! I decided to take a walk from the hotel to the Cumberland River the afternoon our team arrived, get a bit more of the lay of the land of downtown Nashville. I was wearing a Team In Training shirt. As I rounded the corner by the convention center, two young women and two young girls passed me walking the other way. The girls were about six to eight, I would guess. I barely noticed any of them, given that I didn’t see them until I rounded the corner, and as quick as I walk we passed each other in less than 2 seconds. But then I heard one of the women speak to one of the girls: “Look! There’s one of the Leukemia Society people!”. I turned my head – they were now about 25 feet behind me – and looked at them. She was talking to one of the little girls, who happened to be bald with just a hint of hair growing back. And in an instant it hit me – “My God! This young girl has leukemia!” I smiled at her and waved, and she gave me a shy, sweet smile back. Then we went on our separate ways. For a second I thought that I would go back and chat with them, tell them that I am a survivor and that she will be, too. I felt like I might be intruding, and decided to keep on going. But as I walked along, choking back tears for a short time, I thought of her. I thought about her as I sat by the Cumberland River a little later. I thought of her during the Inspiration Dinner the next night, and again during the race the day after that. And of course since then, which is why I am writing this now. I know I will wonder about her for a long time. Will she ultimately survive? Will she graduate from high school and college? Fall in love? Get married? Have her own children and maybe grandchildren someday? Maybe do a marathon herself with Team in Training for LLS? Discover a cure for cancer someday or invent something that helps the world? And I thought “This is why I do this.” Why I get up at 4AM and 4:30AM to run and walk miles alone in the dark before work. Why I give up Saturday mornings when sleeping in and then relaxing with a cup of tea might sometimes be easier. Why I train so long at times that I have to soak in a tub of ice water from the waist down. Why I am willing to run and walk 13.1 miles two days later in the heat, and 26.2 miles three times before. Why blisters and blackened and lost toenails are tolerable. Why I am willing to ask people, many whom I barely know, for donations over and over and over, until now and then one of them will email back and say “Take me off your mailing list.” And it is why my teammates, thousands of them at any given time around North America, 650 of us in Nashville that weekend alone, do all of these things, too. It is so this young girl, and others like her, can have a future. Nearly eight years ago, I received the gift of life when I survived a form of blood cancer that was treatable only because of much medical research and clinical trials. So to do what I can to help others have this same chance now and in the future feels like the least I can do. Whoever you are, young Nashville girl with leukemia, I hope you survive. I hope you have a long, productive, healthy and happy life! And I am glad that our lives crossed for a brief, bittersweet instant last April.