Team Up for a Cause!

By Sue Ritchey

A small team of Portland walkers participated in the first annual Nike 26.2 Women’s Full and Half Marathon. This wonderful event was held this past October in San Francisco, and it was dedicated to the accomplishments of women and the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society. As members of the Society’s Team in Training, participants raised money to fund research, education, and services for blood cancer patients and their families. In return, team members received five months of professional training as well as a trip to San Francisco with the team. During marathon weekend, the team enjoyed a pasta party with inspirational speakers; the support of coaches, mentors, and Team in Training staff along the course during the event; and a victory party the evening after the event.

This marathon was a class act from beginning to end. The pre-marathon health and fitness expotique included massage, manicures, yoga, and fashion shows. The course itself was breathtaking, passing by San Francisco’s most stunning landmarks. There were bands, dancers, and entertainment throughout the marathon, and Ghiradelli chocolates and Nike socks were handed out at stops along the way. The event ended at Ocean Beach on the Great Highway. As ladies crossed the finish line they were greeted by young men dressed in tuxedos. They presented each finisher with a turquoise box containing a sterling silver finisher’s necklace designed by Tiffany.

Even more motivating than the considerable support participants received were the importance of the cause and the power of teamwork. As participants grew weary they were inspired by the courage and strength of each team’s Honored Teammates, who are survivors of leukemia or lymphoma. Many Honored Teammates were on the sidelines cheering the team throughout the day. Despite the fact that our four participants walked at significantly different paces, they chose to walk the entire marathon at the pace of the slowest member of the team. They crossed the finish line holding hands! They shared both a life-changing and a life-saving experience, and along the way they became heroes.

Team in Training will be recruiting for the next Nike Women’s Marathon beginning in late April and throughout the month of May. This year’s event will take place on October 23 in San Francisco. The training season will kick off on May 19. For more information on how to become a team member call TNT at 503-245-9866 or 800-466-6572 ext. 17, or visit www.teamintraining.org/or.

May is Arthritis Month

Participate in the Arthritis Walk in your area and show your support of the 2.5 million people in Washington, Oregon and Alaska who have Arthritis. Arthritis is our Nation’s #1 cause of disability and affects 66 million people, including over 300,000 children.

The Arthritis Walk is the Arthritis Foundation’s annual nationwide event that raises awareness and funds to fight arthritis. Events will be taking place in: Tacoma, Silverdale, Skagit, Portland and Spokane throughout May and June. Invite your friends and family
to join you in forming a team. All of the walks are 5k with a 1-mile option and are pet friendly.

For information about supporting the Arthritis Walks, visit the Arthritis Foundation website at www.arthritis.org or call 1-877-232-2898.

Sybilla,left and friends.

Whidbey Island
Marathon and Half-Marathon

By Sybilla A. Cook

Friends said this was the most beautiful marathon anywhere. Climbing off the shuttle bus at Oak Harbor’s Olympic View School, I pulled my hood tightly around my face and joined an equally bundled-up group waiting to start. It was only 48¼, the clouds were low and the south wind was blowing hard. The familiar “what am I doing here?” gloom wrapped me as tightly as my rain jacket. I knew my friends were wrong.

But shortly after reaching the “Scenic Beach Walk” on the waterfront, my mood lifted along with the clouds. A windmill stood on the highway side of the park, and tulips were everywhere — signs of Oak Harbor’s Dutch heritage. A concrete golf cart with stone wheels welcomed us into the Flintstone Park children’s area and the first water station of the day.

This was the event’s fourth year and the organizers did a great job providing rest and water stops every two miles, and cleaning up any trash. They routed us mainly on the quiet streets paralleling the Puget Sound. Gold Wing motorcycle riders patrolled the course regularly to make sure there were no problems, while volunteer marshals manned each turn, making sure no one went the wrong way.

The course was scenic and rolling, with hills and flats pretty evenly spaced. One turn would show snow-capped Olympic Mountains, while the next might display the snowy Cascades. Though the wind kept blowing, spring was springing. Cherry trees, lilacs, daffodils, and Oregon grape bloomed in gardens and along pasture edges.

The full marathon runners started passing us shortly after we sighted Coupeville on the other side of Penn Cove — still about six miles away. Huge rafts in the waters marked the largest commercial mussel farm in the world. The walk continued through the woods outside Coupeville, and the sun came out just before mile 13. A small jog; then downhill to the finish in the Coupeville town park. Medals, tulips, food, and drink greeted the nearly 2,000 entrants. I had to agree — it was truly a beautiful marathon.