This was my team. These were my people. Imagine my surprise when saw them again yesterday. Okay, okay, so I didn’t see these exact same people. Maybe some of them were there. I don’t know. But, I saw their colors of royal purple and kelly green and I recognized their cause. Running either 13.1 or 26.2 – it didn’t matter. New Hampshire or Florida, I recognized them and cheered them on just the same.
Here’s the thing. Before getting to FL not once did I think about Team in Training. Not once did I consider their presence in the Gasparilla. I didn’t think of them at all. Out of sight, out of mind. Really. I was there for one reason and one reason only – to cheer on my friend in her first 13.1. So, when I saw the familiar purple and green I was taken by surprise. My heart caught in my throat and I felt tears well in my eyes. The Cause was here. My own run came back to me mile by mile, minute by minute. Without warning I was overcome with emotion. Seeing their decorated race bibs and TNT decals I couldn’t help but yell words of encouragement. Calling their names, yelling Go Team in Training! You. Can. Do. It. With every thumbs up I felt it wasn’t enough. Something was missing. The run. Bottom line: I wanted to run with them. There’s something else I learned – I will always be a TNT runner. I will always have a place on the team.
Reunion
~*LunaSea*~ 
What I great picture! I was there the day the picture was taken. I remember a lot of the faces in the picture and still see some of them to this day. While I am not in the picture (because I was taking pictures from the stairway) I have a similar copy in my den. I have been with TNT for over 6 years now and still get choked up when I hear some of the stories from runners and walkers about why they are doing this.
Like you, when I go to an event other than one I have trained others for I LOVE to see purple shirts. It lets me know that someone is doing this for something or someone else, other than themselves.
thank you, thank you, thank you! I have wanted someone to understand my love for the purple and green! Too bad you aren’t in the pic – I’m the 2nd one to the left of the person in yellow.
Congrats on being with TNT for 6 years. You absolutely rock! xoxo
you are an amazing person. i believe that you will always be a TNT member, someone we have not seen the last race from.
you will always be a runner period! i saw that clearly this weekend. and what you’ve managed to inspire in me only proves that point more. thank you for the support, the hugs, the motivation, the friendship, the laughter, the tears … thank you for my run!
Sarah~ thank you. I’m realizing the damage to my knee damaged my heart more than I knew. I’m going to fight my way out of this funk!
Bec~ don’t thank me because i owe you one. Big time.
Ahhh … the heart of a runner returns! Not that it ever went very far, it simply took a silent time out when you were not looking.
With a lot of soul searching, crying and carrying on, I learned the runner is never that far behind.