Why We Do It

As March wanes into April and the number of weeks until our Lake Tahoe adventure dwindle to single digits and we rachet up our training regimen, I stopped to remind myself the other day why we train so hard for Team In Training. Of course it is the ride. The opportunity to challenge our bodies and minds (and bikes) and push them to new heights, figuratively and literally. Without pushing our personal envelopes beyond their limits the 100 miles through and over the Sierra peaks around Lake Tahoe could prove to be beyond our abilities to overcome.

A little over two months ago I sat in a runners store with dozens of other extreme athletes who wanted to learn more about Team In Training. We heard about the accomplishments of alumni at various marathons, tri's and centuries. We heard about the friendships that develop as runners, swimmers and cyclists work as a team to prepare themselves. And then we got down to business.

Team In Training is afterall a fundraising activity of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Team In Training participants pledge to raise funds to fight Blood Cancers and help LLS provide services to patients, survivors and the families of those who have contracted these cancers. Each participant is asked make 2 commitments. To complete a training plan that will prepare them for the event they have chosen, and to raise money for LLS. Each competitor is required to reach a minimum amount of money by a certain date to remain on the team and then to reach a goal amount as the event approaches. As all of this was explained to us I could feel the energy levels ebbing in the room. I saw looks of concern on the faces of some people as it was explained that we each need to personally guarantee some of these funds. And then I saw my teammates. Those marathoners, triathletes and cyclists who listened to the details and picked up thier paperwork as they reached for thier credit cards. To thse people the financial aspect was just one more challenge they expected to overcome!

As we head into the second half of our training I am proud to say that the teammates we started off with on that cold morning in early February are still all together. We have all met our 'recommitment' amounts. Just as the pace line has grown tighter, the gaps between riders have gotten smaller and the hills seem to be getting a little easier because of the shared determination of our group, the Leukemia Lymphoma Society is being provided the funds it needs to continue its mission of helping blood cancer patients and thier families cope with these illnesses and providing researchers with additional funds to help us find a way to Cure Blood Cancer!

As a team we face challenges ahead, but can look back already on those we have overcome. And we are reminded each step along the way that no matter how tall our challenges seem to be, no matter how difficult that next climb is, no matter how far it is to the finish, our journey is far easier than the one faced by those who have heard the words"You have a blood cancer".