Yesterday I learned that I was selected to mentor walkers on behalf of the Oregon/SW Washington chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society' Team in Training (TnT) for the Seattle Rock n Roll marathon in June.
This will be my ninth marathon and my fifth time as a mentor. I'm more excited about this one than any of the other times I've mentored. I'm not sure why but I'm going to take advantage of the feeling!
Why do I Mentor?
First and foremost, because I believe in the cause. My mother died in 1987 of Leukemia. She was only 50 and died 11 months after the original diagnosis. Funds raised by participants in TnT go to grants for research into life-saving drugs and therapies for cancer patients. I believe that had my mother gotten sick even 10 years later, she would still be here. The strides that have been made over the 21 years of the program have been incredible.
Second, I have the marathon bug. I love training for marathons. Although it takes a lot of time, I feel so much better both mentally and physically when I am in training. This article also gives me reason to keep moving: Exercise May Keep Your Cells Biologically Young
Third, I love to walk. When I say I walk, I don't mean stroll. I'm getting my heart rate up for an extended period of time. I can walk and walk and walk. I don't enjoy running, it makes my knees hurt. But I know I will be able to continue athletic walking for a long, long time.
Fourth, the coaches involved with the program are outstanding. They are dedicated to the cause and to making you an athlete, no matter what your skill level.
Last of all, I meet some of the most amazing people by doing this. Usually the participants have been affected by some form of cancer, either personally or someone close to them, and have never done any sort of long distance event before. It's thrilling to me to help them reach their goal of doing a marathon or 1/2 marathon. It's very life-affirming. And raising money for a good cause at the same time makes it all the more satisfying.
Challenge
Just as I took this challenge to blog for 30 days straight, something that is really out of my comfort zone, I challenge to you do something out of your comfort zone, too. Something you think you can’t do. We all put up artificial roadblocks that stop us from achieving. Stop saying ‘some day’ and start saying ‘today.’ Join me for the marathon. I guarantee that you will not regret it and you’ll get some of the BEST training available.
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