Mission Moments

A brief break from my cynicism...
Each week the coaches and mentors from Team in Training send along little quotes about training to keep us motivated. There is one phrase that sticks with me the most, and keeps me on my feet.

I complain about how sore I am after running 7 miles, or how I don't think I can make it at a full sprint to the next lamppost, or how unbearably hot it's been. Each time though, I repeat this three-word phrase in my head: Chemo is Harder.

It sounds odd and basic. Knowing what my Aunt Jackie went through, and so many others like her, keeps me pushing myself. To get through the physical and emotional strain of battling cancer takes an unbelievable amount of fight and courage, much more than what's required to get through a marathon.

One week a woman in the training group told the story about how her aunt was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. This trainee signed up for Team in Training to honor her. Her aunt was so proud of what she was doing on her behalf. Even as the aunt was getting sicker and sicker she asked about how the training was going, even on the day she died. Now, she runs to remember her.

Another trainee told the story about how her best friend's wife battled cancer and did the Philly Triatholon, along with her husband, to celebrate beating it. During the race, the husband (the trainee's best friend) had a heat stroke and is now in a coma. One battle after another.

The last story I'll share came in an email this week:
A little boy was battling a rare form of leukemia-(Acute Myelogenous Leukemia-AML) for the past year. He was diagnosed at age 3, remained in remission after a year of treatments, and lived a relatively normal life up until about 4 months ago. He was waiting for a bone marrow transplant, but he wasn’t able to fight any longer. He died on July 20, 2010.

I think of my Aunt Jackie and these stories every time I head out for a run (tears can pass for sweat you know), not only to motivate me to fundraise, but to motivate me to train harder in their honor. I hope that you will remember them yourself every time you hit a big hill on a run or a bike, or don't know if you can push out another rep at the gym. It's hard, but chemo is harder.