Boston

As always, thanks for registering if you have already done so.  If you haven’t yet, you will find the registration information at the end of the newsletter.  Anyone who registers for our team by May 1^st is eligible for the early registration gift.  Also the deadline for VIP race packet delivery (Packet Delivered to your desk) is May 15^th.  So please keep those two dates in mind. 

Boston

We would be remiss if we didn’t talk about the Tragedy that unfolded in Boston this past Monday.  While many of us know or heard of the Boston Marathon, many people don’t know what it takes to get there.  The Boston Marathon is the Super Bowl of marathons.  Almost everyone who has ever toed the line at a marathon has the lifelong dream of a BQ (Boston Qualifying Time).  In order to get into Boston you must run a qualifying marathon the previous year.  The qualifying times are based on your age.  For example a 35 year old man has to run a marathon in 3:10 (That is a 7:15 min mile over 26.2 miles!) and a 35 year old woman has to run a BQ in 3:40 (8:24 min miles!).  As you can see, this is an incredible achievement and for many runners this lifetime dream was shattered by one cowardly act. 

For everyone involved though (runners, friends, family, spectators, volunteers, staff, and of course the first responders) finishing or not being able to finish that race is pretty close to the last thing on their minds.  At this point we have all seen the newscasts and the videos of the events that day so we don’t need to relive that.  Many lives were changed forever that day.  It is hard to fathom any good out of all of this, but if you have ever had the thought what is the point of all this, with so much evil and hatred, know that the people responsible for this attack are the minority.  Just a small, minuscule percentage of the people in this world.  The stories of courage and hope are beginning to emerge.  It may seem cliché to say, but runners are one big family.  You can see that represented in the stories of runners finishing their race and going directly to the hospital to donate blood.  Watching the footage, even seconds after the explosions, without knowing if there would be more, how many people did you see run TOWARDS the smoke and flames.  The stories like this are countless and stand to remind us what courage is and that humanity is not lost.  Unfortunately, senseless tragedies like this happen far too often so I do ask that to honor those who are involved, dedicate at least one of your training runs to the victims. 

“As the numbness starts to wear off, we owe it to ourselves, to each other and to the immediate victims of the bombings to get out there and run. Even if you weren't in Boston, have never run Boston or aren't a marathoner. Run easy. Run hard. Run short. Run long. Run alone. Run with a group. Just run. The familiar feelings of running -- even the fatigue and achiness -- will help each of us return to normalcy, even if it is a decidedly new normal. Focus on the good, not the bad. Spread the joy and indulge on endorphins.”  -- Taken from an article written by Brian Metzler of Competitor.com.  Read the full article HERE. 

Christian Jensen, the Wisconsin myTEAM TRIUMPH Chapter’s founder and President, was in Boston that day running as an Angel for one of the captains.  Your donation to this organization can help make sure that he and others can continue to do these events in a time when perhaps, running means more than ever.

HERE is a link to the newsletter about our fundraising effort for myTEAM TRIUMPH.  Please contact me with any questions, and please consider a donation.  Your donation is used locally and will go a long way in helping someone achieve something they didn’t think possible.