Susanne Trowbridge's Team In Training Page

Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

I always figured that running a marathon was something reserved for elite athletes -- people who were born with the ability to compete successfully in sports. I was never the least bit athletic in school (I still have bad memories of gym class), but over the past couple of decades, I've done aerobics, yoga, hiking and long-distance walking at various times, and I'm ready to tackle something really challenging. Team in Training specializes in taking "non-natural athletes" like me and turning them into marathoners, triathletes and cyclists.

The main reason I decided to get involved with Team in Training is because they are affiliated with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. A friend of mine, Aaron Barnhart, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2000. Thanks in part to the research that's been conducted by the L&LS, Aaron is now in remission.

"One thing Diane [Aaron's wife, also a cancer survivor] and I have realized is that cancer is a normal everyday part of life, not just for us, but for many of our friends and neighbors," wrote Aaron in his journal. Maybe you have a relative, friend or co-worker who's been diagnosed with a blood cancer; maybe you just like the idea of helping motivate me to run 26.2 miles, which at this point seems like an insanely long distance. (I'm starting out with some smaller races: a 10K and a half-marathon.) In any case, I hope you'll help me meet or exceed my fund-raising goal!

Update, Aug. 9: I finished my first-ever race, the Alameda Run for the Parks 10K, on Aug. 7. It took me about 72 minutes, but I'm going to work on distance first, then speed. Anyway, I did it -- yay!

Update, Aug. 31: Here's a map showing where my donations have come from so far. (Current tally: 17 states and Ontario.)

Update, Oct. 3: I finished my 10-mile training run on Oct. 1. I think I'm ready for the big half-marathon on Oct. 23!

Thank you!

-Sue