Mission Monday: Motivation

Often times TNT participants are asked what their motivation is for their training and dedication to the program. What gets them to run mile after mile without taking a break? What stops them from pressing the snooze button in the morning for that early training? Each season, to help make Team In Training a more personal and meaningful experience for all participants, we have our beloved honored patients. Some of our participants have a personal connection, maybe they are a survivor or have someone close to them who has been affected by blood cancer, while others have no connection to LLS and want to help the cause. Team In Training's  honored patients serve as a beacon of light to all participants, reminding us why we train.

Our Disney World Marathon Team's honored patient this season is Maya Spadano, who, at only 4 years old, has been battling leukemia for over a year. Her strength and courage has inspired us all here at TNT, as has her father, Bob, who is running the half marathon in Disney for the Team. Yesterday at the group run training, members of the Disney Team got to meet Maya and her big sister Juliana, putting a face to their cause. Meeting Maya and Juliana, seeing them laugh and crack jokes (mostly at Bob's expense), really meant the world to the Team. It was the best reward after finishing their long run, to see the smiling faces of the little girls they were running for.

{Some of the Disney Team with honored patient Maya and her big sister Juliana!}

TNT Takes the West Coast!

Is there any greater feeling than crossing the finish line of a race? Yes...when you know there's a Tiffany necklace waiting for you there. NWM 2012

{Bria and Ari sneak behind the NWM Run sign}

{Sea Lions resting up before the race!}

Last weekend TNT sent a spirited group of 16 participants to San Francisco to take on the Nike Women's Marathon and Half Marathon. Full of excitement and led by the fearless Kayde Wagner, the Team made the most of their trip by exploring the city in the days leading up to the race. From scenic bus tours around the city, to lazy sea lions lounging at Pier 39, the group had an unforgettable adventure. Pre-race jitters were no match for the incredible Inspiration dinner the day before the race, where leukemia survivor Kelley Cohen told her story to thousands of TNT participants before running the race herself!

The morning of the race came, fuel belts and all, and the moment our amazing Nike Team had been training for all season was finally here. Along the course they had a lovely view of the Golden Gate Bridge...and some handsome men in tuxedos!! At miles 10 & 25 was Kayde with her cheer team, the fiercest women on the course! Giving our participants one last boost before the end of the race, Kayde and her cheer team were greeted with smiling faces and "Go Team" cheers from the crowds of runners and walkers. Our little Ocean State sent 16 participants, all of who conquered the race, beaming as they crossed that finish line. And finishing the race has its perks: each finisher received a custom Tiffany necklace, some of the famous Ghirardelli chocolate, and a Nike Women's Marathon finisher's shirt...all given out by shirtless fireman and tuxedo-dressed gentlemen...needless to say we will be back next year.


{Kayde's Fierce Women cheer Team!}

Congratulations to our incredible team, you are an inspiration! A special thank you to our participants, who's hard work and dedication was exceptional since day one of training: Amy Shah, Anne-Marie Flaherty, Arieana Carcieri, Bonni Kirkwood, Bria D'Amico, Christine Pierce, Donna Drew, Jo-Anne Serydynski, Kathryn Taylor, Kim Sadowski, Linda Dagesse, Lisa Baccari, Marybeth Van Winter, Nicole Zelenak, Peggy Clarke, and Tammy Poisson.

A thank you to our coaches and staff who went as well! Alan Barrington, Bob Dagesse, and Kayde Wagner

GO TEAM!

{Pre-race with Team Nike!}



TNT Visits Lake George at Peak Season



{The view from our hotel of Lake George}



For most New Englanders, we find fall to be our favorite of the seasons. The colorful leaves paint our streets and lawns a beautiful array of red, orange and yellow, and the crisp autumn air provides the perfect training weather for all of our TNT activities. Runners and cyclists alike rejoice when the picturesque peak season arrives!

{Colleen, Coach Jim, Jarod, Julie, and Joan}

Last weekend I had the pleasure of traveling with our TNT cyclists to Lake George, NY for the Peak Season Century Ride, a ride named in light of the scenic time of year at the popular northeast vacation destination. Our four participants had been training since riding America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride in Lake Tahoe earlier in the summer, gearing up for their second century ride of the season! Despite the ominous forecast, our riders experienced two short hours of rain during the day and were able to finish the ride fairly dry with smiles on their faces! The ride took our cyclists all the way around Lake George, providing participants with a beautiful scenery of the lake and the towering mountains in the background. With rolling hills throughout, the course provided our riders with a challenge, but they were able to tackle the 100 miles without a problem (of course, they're rock stars!). The efforts of our Peak Season participants, Julie, Joan, Colleen, Jarod, and Coach Jim, are what makes Team In Training thrive. They dedicate so much time and focus to train for these distance events that seem impossible to most, and fundraise thousands of dollars for LLS simulatneously! If you're in need of a hero, look no further than our inspiring TNT participants.

                        Go Team! ~Alex           

{Still standing after 100 miles of cycling!}

TNT Does the Maine Marathon!



{Alex, Kari, Jamie, and Paula at the Pasta Dinner!}

Alex here! This past weekend I had the pleasure of accompanying four amazing TNT-ers to the Maine Marathon and Half Marathon in Portland, Maine. We couldn't have been more excited for this trip; Maine in the fall! Could their be a more beautiful location for a late-September race? Unfortunately, as some like to say, when it rains...it pours. What looked like a promising forecast the morning of the race turned into a torrential downpour for the majority of the day; New England always finds a way to outsmart the weatherman. Despite the monsoon conditions, our four participants and thousands of other runners crossed the finish line with a smile on their face and a spring in their step!

This is what all their hard work had led up to.

{Jamie requested no flash photography post race...}

For the last 3 to 4 months, Kari Marchetti, Jamie Samons, Paula Skowron, and Eva Thompson bled purple and trained their hearts out with TNT all season. In addition to training for an endurance event, these four women raised nearly $8,000 for LLS all on their own! They are the definition of a rockstar, and an inspiration to all of us here at LLS. It was an incredible experience to see them all through their event and surprise themselves with their amazing finishes, in light of the unfavorable weather conditions! I offered my umbrella to Jamie countless times after the race, and her response was always: "I don't think it's possible for me to be any wetter!"

Eventually everyone had a chance to dry off and reflect back on what a great weekend we all had at the Maine Marathon. Go Team!!!





{Kari showing off her medal!}