Westside LA Team In Training - Summer 2009 Marathon & Half Marathon Team

Name: Rachael Burnson
Team: Westside Marathon (Greater LA)
Number of TNT Seasons: 2
Last TNT Event: Honolulu Marathon

Why did you join TNT?
My boyfriend became very involved with TNT after his mother was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. After watching him train for a few marathons, I finally agreed to join the Team myself. I signed up to complete a half-marathon, but after about a month of training I switched events to do the full marathon.

What was your best fundraiser?
I was most successful with letter writing and emails. But, I do enjoy attending the karaoke contest nights.

Most memorable TNT moment?
Probably the last .2 miles of the marathon–that’s when the enormity of what I’d done (all the fundraising and training and physical therapy to recover from my injury) really came into focus and I could just enjoy the moment as I approached the finish line.

What would you have done differently during the season if you could start over?
Ideally, I wouldn’t have gotten injured. Other than that, I would have done more of the midweek workouts–strength training, hill training, and speed training. They really make you a much stronger runner.

Do you have any other words of wisdom for our participants?
Reach out to your mentors, coaches, and captains. Get to know the other participants. Most people will never run a marathon, and certainly won’t have the opportunity to do so with so much support and in the company of such great people. Now that you’ve committed to the Team, get the most out of it that you can.

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This will be an ongoing series, where we will feature an alumni so you, our readers, can learn some new things from people who has done it before. If you’re a Team in Training Alumni, please fill out this form (or please spread the word).