Disclaimer: The following is a sponsored post for The Motherhood, in conjunction with Team In Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Though statistics and training tips were provided to me to share with my readers, the purple admiration and opinions of TNT are my own.
Last fall, I joined thousands of other crazy runners running The Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco. This race was by far my most fun race to date! The crowd support was amazing and the energy was high. It was so much fun.
One of the things I noticed right off the bat was the sea of purple. There were hundreds (if not thousands) of people running for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. These runners raised money to help promote its mission to find a cure. Tears. Emotional. Amazing!
I loved the cheer support over the course of the race from the coaches. They were cheering for everyone wearing purple (which made me wish I was a part of their team wearing purple too). The support was amazing… and again the energy was high!
These runners have a passion for helping others. They train for hours and run the grueling hills of San Francisco with a smile on their face… all for the love of helping someone else.
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. As the leading global non-profit organization dedicated to curing blood cancers, LLS has invested nearly one billion dollars since 1954, bringing us closer than ever to realizing the possibility of a world without blood cancers.
Team In Training (TNT) is the flagship fundraising campaign of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and the world’s largest and most successful charity sports endurance training program. At its 25th Anniversary milestone this year, TNT has trained more than 570,000 people and helped LLS invest more than $875 million in research to discover and deliver breakthrough cancer treatments that are saving lives today.
A program that runs throughout the year, TNT gives participants a choice of more than 200 accredited national and local events in the United States and abroad.
Thinking about running an endurance race but are scared to do it alone? Don’t have the training background to follow a training plan? TNT has certified coaches that help you with your training program. In exchange for raising funds, they receive four to five months of personalized training by TNT-certified professional coaches.
Team In Training Quick Tips
Below are a few tips from TNT coaches that have been useful for TNT participants:
· Make the most of your warm up and cool down: remember that the purpose of the warm up is to slowly elevate your heart rate and respiration, while the cool down does the opposite
· Treadmill training – especially padded ones to reduce injury – is an effective way to train for a race if weather or safety is an issue
· Prevent injuries by making sure your shoes aren’t worn out and you have the right model for your foot type and running style, and replace your running shoes every 350-400 miles
· Hydrate, but don’t overdo it: drink to your thirst and no more than about 6 ounces every 20 minutes; check the color of your urine throughout the day (dark means you need to drink more; clear means you are drinking too much)
· For nutrition, take in about 100 calories after about an hour of running and then another 100 calories every 40-45 minutes after that
· The clothes you wear while running will vary with the seasons, but in general, you will need technical fabric clothing that will wick away moisture from the skin and keep you comfortable and dry
· To prevent blisters and chafing, avoid 100% cotton. Make sure your socks don’t have irritating seams and wear correctly sized shoes
I haven’t run a race with TNT (yet) … although my sister and many of my friends have had amazing experiences joining the TNT team! I am thinking that when I run my first FULL MARATHON it will be with Team In Training. Good cause. Good information. Good fun.
Have you ever participated in TNT? Share your story in the comments section below. Are you inspired to cross the finish and train with TNT for your next race?
To inspire and motivate you to cross the finish line with Team In Training, I have a TNT prize pack for one lucky reader. As pictured below, the bag includes a shirt, pens, mug, sunscreen and other TNT goodies. Contest ends July 20.
Check out the TNT website (www.teamintraining.org) to find a race near you and become part of TNT.
Kat says
What an awesome way to train – love training for a charity and cause!
Rachel says
Awesome! Have you run with TNT before?
Amy Givens says
I ran my 1st marathon with TNT. I was on a team in Las Vegas and we ran (well, I….I was the only team member!) the LA marathon in 2002. I ran for a dear friend who was recently diagnose with non Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The fundraising couldn’t have been easier since Cindy was/is so loved. The best part of my experience was about the last .2 where Cindy was…..fresh out of the hospital, fresh scar on her chest….holding a poster that says, ‘Amy rocks and runs to beat cancer’! She proceeded to come out on the course having people cheer me in to the finish, I was crying so hard, I could hardly see the finish. That was my TNT experience…..despite being the only runner from LV, I did have support, a coach and met people to run with who had done previous marathons. I ended up becoming a mentor thru TNT and helped coach a friend thru the Portland marathon…..the guest speaker at the dinner the night before? My friend, Cindy.
Rachel says
Awesome! Yvonne was telling me that she ran her FIRST marathon with TNT also. I really want to run a FULL marathon… and having the coaching, training and running group to train with is a HUGE plus for me 🙂
Debbie @ Live from La Quinta says
I ran for TNT in my first marathon (Honolulu) a long time ago. Prior to that my husband ran for them for 5 or 6 years. He always raised way over the minimum. Still love seeing the sea of purple out there. Go TNT!
Amanda M (@mommygorun) says
I’m training for the Spartan Beast in December and the Houston Marathon in January. I would love to partner up with a charity