Chuck Chopp's Team In Training Page
Racing to Save Lives
Welcome to my Team In Training home page.
***NOTE***
I've met my minimum fundraising goal. My girlfriend, Amanda Hodge, who was responsible for making me aware of LLS and TnT, is still actively pursuing fundraising activities to meet her goal before we both go on to run in Myrtle Beach in February 2006. We originally wanted to do our fundraising as a joint-effort, but there isn't an option for tracking donations in that manner. We've taken the approach of working on the effort jointly, though, so I'm asking that anybody who is willing to make further donations to LLS on my behalf please do so thru her fundraising site
Amanda Hodge's TnT Fundraising Page
I did it! On 2/18/2006, I faced the most difficult physical challenge that I've ever taken on. The last time I could remember running was over 20 years ago when I was still in high school. Then, 6 months ago, I started preparation for it. I put on my running gear, went out and crossed that starting line before sunrise in Myrtle Beach on Saturday 2/18/2006. And, 5 hours 37 minutes and 37 seconds later, I crossed that finish line after running 26.2 miles.
I can honestly say that I've never felt so physically worn out and emotionally drained by anything else that I've done in my life. Those last 4 miles were painful... legs tired to the point of numbness, back muscles fatigued to where they just burned with every movement, feet aching and swollen... and fighting the urge that a number of other runners hadn't been able to resist... to just give in and walk.
But giving up isn't an option... and it would have been a shame to give up and walk the last part of the race. Especially so considering that the cancer patients that we were running for can't just give up when their pain is too great to endure. For them, giving up means dying. Sadly, in the time it took to run that marathon, another 37 people died from a blood cancer.
For all the loved ones lost to blood cancers, this was an effort I was gladly willing to make and a challenge I was willing to see thru to the end. This one was for you, Grandma!
My deepest thanks and gratitude go out to everybody who contributed their support to my fundraising efforts on behalf of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You have helped to make a positive difference in other peoples' lives, even if you don't know it.
Special thanks go out to my parents for their support in this effort, especially for taking the time to drive down to Myrtle Beach, SC, to be there along the race course to cheer me on and for being there at the finish line.
Special thanks go to my girlfriend, Mandy, for getting me involved with Team in Training. We did it! We crossed the line after all those long months of training together... getting up at 5am on Saturday mornings to go running... dealing with sore muscles and aching joints... Thanks for encouraging me to test my endurance and find out just what I'm capable of if I set my mind to it.
Working with TnT's staff of volunteers and the other participants who ran with us in Myrtle Beach and in other marathons around the country has been one of the most meaningful & positive experiences I've had in my life. I'm seriously considering participating again for their next winter event season. There's more to do for LLS in terms of supporting their mission, and I want to see if in my 2nd marathon I can cut my running time down to under 5 hours.
