A rewarding day as a spectator.

We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by. -Will Rogers

I have done a couple races this past year. And I always appreciate the spectators on the side lines, cheering like no other, on those early mornings. I always remember the hilarious and motivational signs they hold up-- especially at those moments when the legs are getting tired and the going gets tough. Sometimes all you need is a little cheer from someone, whether it be someone you know or a complete stranger to get you moving and help you make your way to the finish line.

This past Sunday, I had the opportunity to cheer on participants at the Disneyland half marathon. My foot and back had been hurting me, so I declined the opportunity to run the race, and instead decided it would be the perfect race to cheer at. 

I knew it would be a good time, for many reasons.
1. I would be spending time with support staff cheering on our TNTers. 
2. I get to cheer and scream, and root people on all morning. What's not to like about that?! 
3. I get to cheer on strangers and hopefully bring a smile to their face! 
4. I get to see my teammates, who have trained for months, run their race
5. I get to see a swarm of people, running a race, many in crazy costumes.
... and the list goes on and on.
But something I was really looking forward to was seeing the smiles on my teammates faces as they pass us, give us high fives, and make their way to the finish line of 13.1 miles. 13.1 they would have accomplished, for such an incredible cause.

So I met up with support staff at 6am, and we headed to around mile 5 to cheer on participants, and once all our participants passed us, we would walk to mile 11, to catch our TNTers once again, for more cheering! It was definitely an eventful morning. What a joy seeing teammates running with all their might! It is always exciting seeing TNTers, but that moment you see a TNTer from your team, the energy rises, arms are stretched out, and we cheer our hearts out. 

It was a rewarding experience, being on the sidelines. It was especially inspiring standing in the midst of our honored teammate Virginia, as she held up her sign "Thank you TNT from a Leukemia Survivor", for all to see. The looks on participants faces as they saw her standing there was priceless. She got hugs galore. From participants, as well as from other marathoners. We had people coming up saying they were survivors as well, or people saying their loved ones are survivors.  
What we are doing, taking an active role with Team in Training, is truly impacting lives. We are saving the lives of those cancer, with the life saving dollars we raise, but we are also changing ourselves in the process. We are becoming endurance athletes and Cancer Killers in the process.

Like I said before, it was a rewarding day as a spectator. I cheered, screamed, yelled "GO TEAM" hundreds of times, sang some songs, and just had a blast! I came away from the race, with a new found appreciation for spectators. As well as a lost voice. But it was totally worth it! 

Here is to more races. To more cheering. To more smiles on the faces of others. To more finish lines

GO TEAM!