Let me begin by saying....

Being a participant with Team in Training last fall season was one of the most remarkable experiences of my life. I did not start out a runner, and to be honest, I still don't refer to myself as one. I had never done a 5k (and still haven't) and had run my first race ever with K-Dubs last May...a 10K that almost killed me. But I felt an overwhelming draw to TNT because of the mission. My dad died 4 years ago this coming July 28th from complications of a bone marrow transplant that was meant to cure him of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Myelo Dysplasia. The transplant actually DID cure him...the cancer DID disappear…and was that ever a happy day hearing that news...however, pneumonia set in a few days later. He fought and fought for a few more heartbreaking and tortuous weeks and he ended up dying July 28th, 2006. He had just turned 66 at the time of his death and was still working at a job he loved. My son, about 21 months at the time, was the light of my dad’s life and it was torture for him not be able to spend as much time with him as he wanted because of the risk of infection due to his compromised immune system. He never got to meet my second son, who was born about 3 weeks after my dad died. My dad would have adored him too! Cancer is awful and his death was an absolute tragedy for us.

I had never before heard of TNT. One morning a year ago this past spring I happened to see a running group on River Road having a great time. My friend and running partner said they might be the “Team in Training” group. Of course I looked up TNT when I got home and was shocked to see that these people were running and fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! I felt it was a “calling”, if you will. It was fate! Anyway, perusing the TNT website and attending the information session brought me back to the countless hours sitting with my dad at the U of M Hospital. I vividly remember sitting and looking out the same window overlooking the Mississippi River watching the runners, bikers, walkers, etc, and thinking "do they have any idea that I am up here sitting with my dad who is suffering so?" I also thought, as I'd see many of the same people go by every day, "Who ARE these crazy people who RUN every day??? What on earth are they doing?" For some crazy reason I had always wanted to BE a runner. I envied people I’d see running on the sidewalks. At night I’d dream I was running. However, I had never exercised a day in my life, disliked sports in school because of the competitiveness and, to be honest, I loathed sweating. Since joining TNT I can honestly say that I know that "feeling" that running can bring...the feeling of escape, of challenge, and of appreciation that my body works. When I complete at run I feel absolute shock that I did it. Then I think, “Am I dreaming this?” Last season, one of the TNT runs was right under the same window at the U of M hospital. Of course I burst out crying and made a little point of giving a smile and a wave up to those windows for whoever was sitting where I was 3 years before. The TNT people I was running with that day were so great at listening to my blubbering. Every one of us has a story.

Joining TNT was so wonderful for so many reasons. It helped me heal both physically and emotionally. The team surrounded me with caring and uplifting folks ALL dedicated to the mission of helping people in need. During every team training I am reminded that there are good people out there wanting to do good things for others. Some people don’t know of anyone who has had a blood cancer, some people have lost friends or family to blood cancer, some people have battled cancer of their own, while others simply want to fulfill a goal of completing an endurance event. Whatever the reason for joining, everyone has a story.