Finally getting around to following up the Eugene Marathon experience with a short discussion about the whole Team in Training part of the run.
After first deciding that I really wanted to run my first marathon in Eugene, I then looked at all the different ways to register. They included the easy, pay your fee and then find a room and run route, or something new to me, Team in Training. So I looked into Team in Training just to see if it was something that appealed to me. Team in Training is a arm of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They raise money to help find a cure for blood cancers and to help support folks that already have it.
I filled out a on-line form and in a day or so I got a email back from Team in Training. It seemed that there were no local (Reno) chapters of the team but they would see who was organizing for the Eugene Marathon and get back to me.Another couple days past and I got a call from Kelsey, she was in the offices in Oregon and was spearheading the whole group training and raising funds for the Eugene Marathon. Kelsey explained that the team was well underway training but I was welcome to join and train in what TNT calls Flex Training. I would not have a live coach to talk to or meet with, but I would follow his training plan via email. I would also contact a mentor to help me get going on fund raising. I thought it over and signed up. I was going to run my first marathon in Eugene on April 28th.
I was already training for a marathon on my own and with my running group but checked in with the flex coach to get his feedback. His training plan was along the same lines I was already on, but he did think I should cut back on my running miles to avoid an injury.
I got a couple emails from my mentors but that stopped after a while as they indicated they were pretty busy. After a while my contact with them ended as I guess they just got busy with other projects.
Kelsey was an amazing contact for TNT, she was always available to answer one of my newbie questions or clear up a concern. She was worth the cost to register alone. Full of energy and encouragement. She also kept me posted as the race got closer regarding all the where and whens.
The hardest part of going the Team in Training route was the fund raising. Now that I got that out of the way... I needed to raise $1500.00 to fulfill my obligation to the team and I succeeded and was able to add a couple extra bucks to the total too. I think you need to be pretty much a self starter if to reach your goal or you might be starting with a handicap. It might be different if you get plugged into a local group that actually meets and trains together. There you would have more support from the rest of the team. I started on my own after reading through some online materials and was able to get my own idea of what I needed to do. Team in Training does give you some blog space where you can jot down thoughts to share that might inspire others to donate. Then you share the web address with your friends and they can hit the donate button and you are on your way. I used the TNT page at first but soon realized it was not going to be as effective as just starting a blogger blog and buying a domain that would make it more fun and easier too for folks to find. GoDaddy had this domain www.rundonrun.com for about $15.00 and the blogger page was free from Google. I had my shingle hung out and I was heading to Eugene.
I hit everyone I knew up via Facebook and Twitter as I documented my training and running adventures every few days on Run Don Run. I could see the hit counter I installed recording visits and knew folks were interested in what I was doing. And all over Run Don Run was information about TNT and donating. If you are planning on going the Team in Training route let me know if you need any help with this.
Months past and I was on my way to Eugene... And what a culture shock. I am pretty quiet and mostly run alone on the streets so my first experience with this rowdy group from Portland and parts unknown was at first interesting and then totally exciting. They went around giving high fives and shouting "Go Team!" everywhere they went. See another TNT runner in the lobby "Go Team." Run into another TNT runner in the mall ... "Go Team!" You might be starting to get the picture by now. But they were fun and they were all totally onboard with the concert of making a difference by running and raising a few dollars while they were at it.
Then reality finally caught up with me when I went to the team meal the night before the marathon. It really hits home when you look into the eyes of a young girl with cancer and hear her Mom tell the story about how her little girl at 5 years old learning about what cancer does. I can tell you that made all the difference in the World to me. I was so happy to have been a part of this "Team" and the effort each runner had put in to raise money and change lives. I wish I had heard this on the first day. It might have changed the way I talked to people about what I was doing. Or not, I really don't know.
Marathon day we did everything as a team. We rode to the race as a team, took team photo's and all during the race there was someone next to you asking how you were doing and if you needed anything at all. After the race there was more support in the form of ice bath in a kiddie pool and a couple friends from the team took photo's for me of me in front of coolio things I wanted to be seen in front of.
So would I run with Team in Training again? YOU BET I WOULD!!!
Go Team!
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