Anyone familiar with Team in Training?

[jjsooner73]

It is part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. Spelling might not be right but you get the
idea. Here is the web site where you can read about it and see what you think. http://www.teamintraining.org/hm_tnt

They provide coaches who help you train for a specific event, and they also provide transportation to your event, given that you pledge a pre-set amount of donations funds. It sounds interesting, is for a good cause, and would have health benefits for me as well. My boyfriend and I would be doing it together. He'd be likely to do a marathon while I would probably walk due to feet problems (plantar fascitis).

Anyone have any experience with this organization?

[RGreen]

Hi Jennifer,

My mom just finished her Team in Training walking marathon at Disney World this last January. She lives down in San Antonio. I also have a friend who ran a marathon with them in Dublin, Ireland last October... she trained with the Dallas group (would this be the group you'd train with since you're in Lewisville?).

Overall, both of them had really good experiences with the organization. It is a lot of work and a whole lot of money to raise (more depending on the marathon location you choose). But Team in Training helps you out with all aspects of the event. There are details on the web site, but they hold meetings where you can learn more about what you'd be doing and how you'd be raising the money... you can decide whether you want to join after you've heard all of this info and had a chance to ask all of your questions. You should probably look into going to one of these meetings really soon... I know they have certain training seasons and I think one starts around this time.

My friend who ran her marathon received a lot of support from the group. She had an injury a month before she was suppose to run, but they helped her overcome it.

My mom, who recently beat cancer (Yea, Mom!) and is 50, decided to walk her marathon. She found that her training team didn't give her all of the attention she would have liked... she found that they focused more on the runners. She had a lot of foot problems and didn't get a lot of advice about that. But she had a rewarding experience overall.

I've been considering this myself. It is such a great cause and this is the Leukemia and Lymphoma society's # 1 fundraiser.

Good luck!!!

- Rebecca

[Lynno1975]

I myself just signed up in Indianapolis for the Honolulu Marathon in December. I was worried about raising $4800 at first, but now I'm sucked in and I'm happy about it. I think it's a really good program. I have a grandfather that died of lymphoma in 1988 and a friend of mine is a leukemia survivor, so I'm a little closer to it than I first anticipated. I want to see how it goes (mainly with raising the funding) this year and see about doing it every year. So far I'm really happy with it. My running coach owns a shoe store and has trained olympic gold medalists in running events, so I feel very lucky to have found this. I wasn't much of a runner until a few years ago and last year I ran the Indianapolis Life 500 Mini Marathon. It was my first mini, and I've never done a full. I decided that I wanted to and if I was going to I might as well go big. Boy, did I ever. Let me know what you decide on and what you think of the whole thing. I'm glad you posted this because I was thinking of doing the same thing!

Lynn :-)

[SusanMac]

I've heard really good things about TIT, but definitely suggest looking into the specifics of how much of the money raised goes to research vs. program management. There seems to be a big difference from program to program. I understand it takes a lot of money to manage and promote these things, but also feel it's important that if you raise money you're benefiting research to the fullest extent.

With that said, the people I know who have done TIT absolutely love the group support and training schedules they get with the program. This is both for running and biking events.

One of the regulars on the Virtual Running Buddies thread is a coach for TIT, I think. Might want to hop onto that thread and ask more about it.

[Natasha]

I volunteered for TnT for a while as a volunteer co-ordinator and so on. I enjoyed it and the cause was very close to my heart as my dad had leukemia and also because I love running. I haven't done their events yet, though (got injured pre-marathon). I don't know specifics about the U.S. fundraising requirements though. I do know that, at the time I was volunteering, the requirements were very different in the U.S. from what they were in Canada. The U.S. organization at the time required a much higher minimum amount of funds to be raised, but conversely, the Canadian participants usually raced closer to home than the U.S. ones did.

Anyway, I think it's a great cause, but then I'm biased. :) Since there's the opportunity to raise funds for diabetes, arthritis, etc. as well, I'd see which charity speaks to you, and then find out more about it and whether the charity suits you personally.

Good luck!!

Natasha

[jjsooner73]

Well, the informative meeting was tonight and my DBF and I both registered, but for different events. :rolleyes:

He will be doing a marathon (or half) in Austin in Feb. and I will be doing an Olympic Triathlon in Oxnard, CA in March. I must be out of my mind! The $$ to raise is $4,200, which I am a bit floored at, but I guess I'll give it a shot. If I have to make up a large difference in the end, then so be it. At least at that point I'll be in a lot better shape than I am now! If I'm healthier, then can I really put a price tag on that? :) OK, so I am rationalizing.

Lynn, have you started your fund-raising efforts yet? How are they going? Any suggestions?

[Lynno1975]

Jennifer,

Congrats on you and your DBF getting into this. I completely understand about the money thing. I have to raise $4800 for the Honolulu in December. I was sweating it at first, but I'm doing a little better. LETTERS, LETTERS, LETTERS!!! To anyone and everyone you've ever met. I have 58 other homes in my subdivision and I've lived there over 2 years. I wrote them one, too, and I extended the invitation to come over in person so that I could meet them and thank them in person. That hasn't done too bad. I hit up all my old grade/ jr high and high school teachers and staff (my Dad's best friend's wife works in the administration office and has interdepartment mail). Everyone that was in my address book got one. I went through every family memeber that I could think of, people my parents work with, doctors at work. I also am having a Pampered Chef party next month. One of them at work is having a party for the charm bracelets (the Italian ones that are stretchy, the new ones that I don't have), so I'm going to check on doing one of those as a fundraiser as well. I also put out a fishbowl at home (I live in Indy, my parents are in Vincennes in southern Indiana) where Dad has lunch a lot (it's a small farm community where everyone knows everyone) and that has helped, too. I'm going to check into where I can go to do bucket shakes (stand out somewhere and panhandle basically). Keep me posted on how you're doing! I have a bulletin board on DelphiForums that my family can keep track of me on since I live away from home. If you want, I can email you more info on that if you want to check it out or start your own.

Lynn :-)

[jjsooner73]

Wow Lynn. You sound like you are really on the ball! I did talk to my dad briefly this morning about him helping organize a benefit bike ride (Harley bike). My parents both ride, so maybe some of the people they ride with...
I'm from a small town as well, and don't really know a lot of people there anymore.

I did make a spreadsheet of 'potential donors' and I have 60 names/couples, with 2 more categories-neighbors and camp people that could add to that. I'm unsure about sending a letter to camp people (I have been a volunteer counselor at a cancer camp for kids the past 2 summers), but since this supports a cause they are near and dear to, it might be worthwhile. So, that increases my numbers quite a bit. But, it still makes me nervous.

And I would be interesting on the Delphiforums. I've heard of it, but am not sure what it is?

Thanks, and good luck! Happy training.

[Lynno1975]

Jennifer, I sent you a pm.....

Lynn :-)