Why did you join TNT?
I decided to join TNT because of Marvin Tabangay, one of our current captains. He was in a previous season and seeing his progress and how much fun he was having, I wanted to experience this as well. Plus, I was wanting to do something for charity in 2008. I figured that TNT would be an excellent opportunity to take on to satisfy both. Also, shortly after I made the decision to join, my mother was diagnosed with cancer and by the start of the training, she was finishing her chemo treatment. So my commitment to TNT definitely had more meaning to it.

What was your best fundraiser?
My best fundraiser turned out to be a group effort. Byong Bark, Sheila Estaniel, Warren Perdon, Marvin Tabangay and myself decided to host a pub crawl along 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica called “So You Think You Can Drink.” We decided on hosting the event after our marathon event during the extra month we had to fundraise. It worked out very well because after all of that training, spending a lot of time together with everyone, people are eager to still see each other and hang out. We had an excellent turnout and had an awesome time running the show. It was such a success that people were anxious for our next pub crawl event which turned out to be America’s Best Pub Crawl (ABPC) which happened during our current season! Great times!

Most memorable TNT moment?
I would have to say that my most memorable TNT moment must have been the final 0.2 mile of race day. I definitely felt the pain from my calf injury and I just needed to push through to finish. During that last stretch… I swear… I felt the whole season flash before my eyes. All of the hard work I put into training, the effort I put into meeting my fundraising goal, the awesome people I got to meet, attending fun fundraisers, the helpful advice given to us by our loyal mentors, captains and coaches… As I was approaching the finish line, Coach Chris and Coach Kevin must have seen the agony of pain on my face and knew I would need the extra push to finish. “THE FINISH LINE IS RIGHT THERE! KEEP YOUR EYES ON IT! YOU CAN DO IT JOHN!” Thanks again coaches! I definitely needed that! Crossing that finish line brought the utmost feeling of accomplishment, something that would be difficult to match.

What would you have done differently during the season if you could start over?
If I could start the season over, I definitely would have started my fundraising earlier. With the efforts of fundraising I ended up putting in, it was difficult to balance out the effort I needed to put into training. So if my fundraising was at a better pace, I feel my training would have been better too. Another thing I would have done differently is to have attended more of the mid-week workouts. I know now that they definitely help prepare you for race day. There is a reason why they are in the schedule folks.

Do you have any other words of wisdom for our participants?
Wise words of wisdom… Definitely listen to your coaches, especially when it comes to the preparation before race day. No joke. All season long, as long as you listen to your coaches and follow the schedule, your training will definitely pay off. It will even make the long distance runs easier to tackle.

Also, try your best not to have alcohol the night before running! You are supposed to be hydrating! Not dehydrating!

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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 have done it before. If you’re a Team in Training Alumni, please fill out this form (or please spread the word).

Why did you join TNT?
I moved to Los Angeles in 2006 after college and found myself in a new place, thousands of miles from home and without many friends. After a few months of working in LA, I found myself longing to be a part of something bigger. I went to an info session in Santa Monica with a friend and found myself signing up for a marathon by the time I was leaving. (How could you say no after that video?)

What was your best fundraiser?
My best method of fundraising was sending emails and letters. I’m lucky to work for a company that does a generous 2:1 match, so I made sure to help my co-workers fill out the forms to maximize my fundraising. Definitely use matching gifts if you can, it’s a great way to help reach your goal.

Most memorable TNT moment?
There are countless moments that I’ll never forget along with a group of people who went from the people I was running on Sunday mornings with to the group of people with whom I now talk to on a daily basis and are now some of my closest friends. I’d say the most memorable moment for me was being at the pasta party with all of my teammates and seeing how huge TNT was. You may not realize the impact of what you’re doing, but at that moment it becomes clear.

What would you have done differently during the season if you could start over?
I would have done more of the strength training. I have since adopted more of it into my training and have seen enormous benefits from it. It can be hard to make every session and every run during a busy season, but do your best.

Do you have any other words of wisdom for our participants?
Don’t get discouraged. There will be bumps along the way but know that you can acomplish anything. Joining TNT was easily one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It got me into running (I’ve since completed multiple races), it brought me a group of amazing friends that mean the world to me and it also provided an avenue for me to help others. Go Team!

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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 have done it before. If you’re a Team in Training Alumni, please fill out this form (or please spread the word).

Why did you join TNT?
I had just graduated from college, moved to LA, and felt a bit lost meeting people in such a big city. I desperately wanted a more fulfilling hobby than ‘professional TiVo watcher/ beach bum’, so signed up for an info session as soon as I received a flyer. The thrill of running a marathon was just what I was looking for! It challenged me physically, provided the team camaraderie I lived for, and gave me incredible motivation knowing it was for a philanthropic cause. The perfect way to start off 2007!

What was your best fundraiser?
I actually had a hard time fundraising through emails/ letters. In a last ditch effort before final funds, I wrote an email to friends/family with the joking statement “I’ll even write your name on my a$$ and run through the finish line with my booty in the breeze for a few bucks.” It ended up being a big hit and my ridiculous friends started a bidding war to get me to write funny things on different parts of my body to be worn during the race. In essence, my best fundraiser was becoming a running billboard for my friends antics.

Most memorable TNT moment?
Oh boy. I could go ON and ON. Serenading Coach Kevin at the Firehouse after a lost bet, making a participant recite an Ode to Stanford after we beat Arizona in college bball, the RIDICULOUS costume run during the last practice of Summer ‘08 (…and the pictures that ensued), mimosas and the world’s most expensive bagel at Shutters after our 20 mile run Winter ‘07, my first TNT Pasta Party (I think I cried… what a baby), EVERY race finish– even the painful ones, watching my participants cross the finish line as a mentor… then watching them become AMAZING mentors and captains the following seasons (Erin, Gretchen, Lauren, and Marvin… I love you all!), costume run in Agoura Hills (Heine’s lady bug costume?? Wow!), the entire Honolulu race weekend, SD MUD RUN with my mentor group, jumping in the ocean after long runs, Bachelor/Bachelorette auction, the first TNT Pub Crawl, the post-race celebration after my first marathon in SD (who knew some of the participants/ mentors from that night would become my DEAREST friends), watching Social Captain Dan become part of world record history by running the SD Marathon ‘08 dressed as Elvis, and the convos/ heckling that took place during our West Hollywood 6am midweek runs.

… but most memorable of all is running the Santa Barbara Half Marathon with TNT dressed as PREFONTAINE!! The mentors decided to show off our TNT spirit by dressing in costume (Halloween was the day before), which started my favorite TNT tradition of costume runs!! Not only were we quite a hit with the crowd, we actually made the front page of the Santa Barbara Newspaper!! I’d like to emphasize that our picture was larger and we were quoted more times than the winners of the race. What can I say? That’s how we do!

What would you have done differently during the season if you could start over?
Planned a fundraiser early on instead of relying on letters/ emails. It’s a lot of work to plan, but has a much bigger pay out if planned well.

Do you have any other words of wisdom for our participants?
Rarely do you have an opportunity to be a part of a team, support a cause, and reach a physical goal AT THE SAME TIME. My advice is to soak it up while you have the chance! Life gets busy, but immersing yourself in the experience is worth the sacrifice. Whether you joined the team for the cause, the physical challenge, or both, don’t forget to maximize your return on investment by having an absolute blast! The more fun you have, the less you’ll think about pain/ fatigue during the race. GOOD LUCK and save a little energy for that finish line picture

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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 have done it before. If you’re a Team in Training Alumni, please fill out this form (or please spread the word).

Here’s a very heartfelt video by a Westside LA TNT (Spring) participant and a very talented musical artist, Kina Grannis, who trained for the SF Nike Women’s Marathon. The music in the video is original, and is written by Kina and Alissa Moreno. The video captures so much emotion, I gotta say, I had to hold back the tears… ok, ok, there were some waterfalls.

Did she look familiar to you? Well, you’ve probably seen this commericial a few years ago – Doritos Crash Super Bowl Commerial: Kina Grannis

Why did you join TNT?
When someone very important to me was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in 2006, I felt helpless. A colleague was training for the San Diego Rock N’ Roll Marathon at the time. She was so enthusiastic about the program as a whole, even though she herself had no personal connection to the disease. I thought TNT could be a great way to honor my loved one and do something totally weird and crazy (like get off my couch) all at the same time.

What was your best fundraiser?
Oh boy. The most humbling thing about TNT is discovering how readily people will give. At the orientation for new participants, I was the super annoying girl in the front row who asked question after question about the fundraising, because I was soooo utterly apprehensive about it. I was blown away when I met my minimum for Alaska ($4,800) by the third practice, simply by writing three email updates to my entire network of friends, family, and colleagues. My second season, I was reluctant to pester these same people (who had just been so generous) again, so I held a few events instead. I sold $730 worth of stuff at my mentor group’s silent auction; and I held an “Ice Cream Social” at Scoops, my favorite ice cream store, in Silverlake. The event was featured on Yelp, which led to a whole bunch of free publicity on other LA foodie websites. It ended up making $700 — plus, the owner wrote me a check for $500 (completely unsolicited), so that was a pretty lucrative day. I did learn that a bake sale is NOT the way to go. I spent $80 of my own money — and an entire day in the kitchen — only to make $120, even though every last item sold. In this economy, if a cookie is $1, people are going to give you $1 — not $5 and a “keep the change.”

Most memorable TNT moment?
When I met a woman named Virginia from the Pasadena team while taking the bus to the starting line in Anchorage. She told me that research funded by TNT led to the creation of a drug called Gleevec, which brought her from a 1990s “death sentence” to the completion of multiple half marathons over a decade later. Hearing her story on the way to the starting line was all the inspiration anyone could want before a race!

What would you have done differently during the season if you could start over?
I probably would have attended more social events in my first season. Friendship-wise, you really get out what you put in.

Do you have any other words of wisdom for our participants?
~ GO TO TARGET and get dry-fit clothes. They are cheap, and will keep you comfortable.
~ Do not “feel bad” about “asking people for money.” It’s not money for you. People really do appreciate the difference. Worst case scenario: people will just delete your emails. Best case scenario: they will respect you and what you are doing, and feel compelled to make a difference. EVERYBODY WINS. So stop with the self-consciousness, and let people surprise you with their generosity. The important thing is that you ask, and ask often, with humor, sincerity, graciousness, and gratitude.
~ If your body hurts, listen. Don’t power through and pay later. Our team isn’t so much about the athletic component. It’s more of a feel-good kind of place — so make sure that if you aren’t feeling good, the support staff knows about it, so we can help you feel better.

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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).

Why did you join TNT?
My cousin Jorge passed away of brain cancer when he was 45 (6 years ago) I started running on my own, found TNT by accident one day and decided to join. I had never spoken about Jorge until I saw the courage and love that my fellow teammates, mentors and coaches had about about their experiences. It was then that I knew what had brought me to the team. There is very little that can be done for brain cancers but there is so much hope for blood cancers. I wanted hope.

What was your best fundraiser?
I had a lot of success with letters, more so than emails. There is something about that paper reminder that made it easier for people, and especially large companies, to write a check and mail it back. I also coordinated a ‘turtle-a-thon’ with a friend from the triathlon team. We had a good turnout for the turtle races and were able to finish our fundraising.

Most memorable TNT moment?
When I ran 20 miles. I sat down, took off my sneakers and as I was nursing my tired feet I thought: “OMG I just ran 20 miles!”. Coach Chris just looked at me and smiled (after he gawked at my blisters!) If I could run 20miles, I could do this. And if I can do this, Anyone can. It gave me a surprising moment of clarity and hope.

What would you have done differently during the season if you could start over?
Aside from learning to love the GU from the beginning, figuring out which socks work, discovering about toe taping and finding out about bodyglide earlier, I guess nothing. It was an experience that I would love to re-live from the beginning, blisters and all!

Do you have any other words of wisdom for our participants?
Some of my best friends up to date are participants and mentors. I was never shy to reach out but getting to know them made the experience all the more memorable. This group has some of the most happy, kindhearted, wonderful and selfless people that you will ever meet. Reach out, they will be your friends for a lifetime.
If you want to hear more about my experience, you can email me at maria.toroortiz@gmail.com. I’m always connected!

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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).

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).

Why did you join TNT?
I joined TNT because I thought it was the perfect way to give my time to a charitable organization and do something good for myself as well. I had been receiving the mailings for a while, and one day I received a call from a TNT alum asking if I wanted to sign on the for the Nike Women’s Marathon. I said “Sure, sign me up!” and I’ve never looked back

What was your best fundraiser?
The fundraiser that made the most money for my campaign was having a party at a local venue. We had an event production company put on the event and they donated proceeds from every ticket for a total of $1,000. All I had to do was promote the event and get people there.

Most memorable TNT moment?
Crossing the finish line at the 2008 Rock N Roll Arizona marathon. It was my first event, and my family drove from California to cheer me on. It was also the weekend I really got to know my teammates.

What would you have done differently during the season if you could start over?
I would have done more fundraisers in the beginning and trained more midweek. There were times were I was lax about midweek runs but never missed long runs. Midweek runs are CRUCIAL to being ready for the long runs on the weekends.

Do you have any other words of wisdom for our participants?
Never forget why you are doing this. I’ve read in so many places that crossing the finish line will change your life, and it really did for me. When I was running Nike, I hit the wall around mile 21 and I was really feeling low. I was running with my fellow teammate and we just felt so tired. At that point, we came across a family of 3 spectators- a young couple and a little girl of no more than 4 years old. The little girl was wearing a TNT t-shirt that said “Honored Teammate.” My teammate and I looked at each other then back at her as we realized that this little girl was fighting for her health. Her parents looked straight at us and said “Thank you. You’re saving our daughters life.” It was surreal, and it was all it took to get us running again to the finish. I knew that no matter how I felt that I had to do it for the survivors out there because their battle is much harder.

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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).

Why did you join TNT?
Completing a marathon was something I wanted to cross off my life list. I joined TNT to help me prepare properly, and I also liked that they raised money for cancer research.

What was your best fundraiser?
We did a pub crawl, which was a lot of fun, but I had the most success with picking up the phone and personally letting family and friends know why I needed their support. Make sure to either get their credit card number on the spot or arrange a time to pick up their checks. The easier you make it for people, the more willing they’ll be to help.

Most memorable TNT moment?
Crossing the finish line at the 2008 Rock N Roll Arizona marathon. It was my first event, and my family drove from California to cheer me on. It was also the weekend I really got to know my teammates.

What would you have done differently during the season if you could start over?
Definitely attend more hill training and Sunday practices. I skipped one too many, and I felt the burn on race day.

Do you have any other words of wisdom for our participants?
Start your fundraising efforts EARLY! You don’t want to make those frantic last minute phone calls hours before deadline. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. And get to know your teammates. Some of the most inspiring people you’ll meet are part of TNT!

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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).

Why did you join TNT?
Previous to my first marathon, I completed the Long Beach half marathon without training and I felt I could do a lot better if I had a structured training program. I’ve always heard about Team in Training, so I gave it a shot. I was supposed to join the South Bay Team, but I chose the Westside Team because I wanted Sunday morning practices. I joined not knowing one person, but since then it has changed my life.

What was your best fundraiser?
So far my current fundraiser has been my best one
http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/anchor09/mtabangay

It was an idea from my friend from the New York Chapter of TNT. I contacted friends who own businesses, blogs, and websites and had a “Sponsor A Mile” fundraiser. 27 slots (26 + 0.2), each at $50 or more in exchange for their website links on my fundraising page. I still plan to mass market my site, and with their links displayed, it could be all worth it. So far I’ve made over $1900 from it.

Most memorable TNT moment?
Last summer’s San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon was my most memorable. I beat my previous marathon (Arizona Rock N Roll) time by 40 minutes at 5:08! I’m not really sure how I did it, but it really helped running with a good friend of mine the majority of the way. It was a great finish not only because of the time, but my parents and sister was there at the finish line – it was their first marathon experience, and they loved it!

What would you have done differently during the season if you could start over?
I definitely would have gone to more mid-week runs, and do more strength training on my own.

Do you have any other words of wisdom for our participants?
Make sure you have fun out there! Meet people outside of your pacegroup, meet people outside of your mentor group. Get involved in group fundraisers, support your teammates’ fundraisers. I believe the best part of TNT is the social aspect – take advantage of it.

Check out my running blog too
http://www.runningwithoutmusic.com

And follow me on Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/sketch678

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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).