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.
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!
