Why on Earth Did You Sign up to be on a ‘Running’ Team??

By Tammi Trout

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked this question since joining Team All Ears. You might ask me why people are surprised by my joining this team. That’s easy to explain – those who know me know that I’m lazy; I’m overweight; and I certainly don’t run. I am not an athlete, and never have been, and quite honestly – don’t think I ever will be, or ever will want to be. I’m more of a music person – I love to sing, and I love to dance. I go to football games to watch the band!! So joining a running team – seemed a little out of character for me. So they ask….”Why on earth did you join a running team?”

I pondered the question for a minute, and wondered…why did I join this team?? And then it seemed so clear –

First off, despite some struggles in my life, I honest to goodness feel very blessed to have what I have. I have a great job. I have a great family. I have great friends. My life is pretty darn good. I don’t have a mansion or a fancy car, but what I have is more than sufficient. And I know in today’s world, what I have truly is a blessing. So I can give back to the world. Be it leukemia society, breast cancer research, the humane society, or for the local high school prom committee…I can give back by walking. Its (usually) painless, it doesn’t take much time, and it doesn’t hurt the checkbook much.

Second, it’s Walt Disney World!! Do I need to say anything else on that front? I love Walt Disney World. I visit at least once a year, and any excuse I can find to squeeze in a extra trip works for me. 🙂 And if I get to hang out with some Disney-celebs (and you all are, whether you know it or not), that is just that much more awesome! Being a part of this team, well, it really is a very special thing, because from what I’ve seen – you all are very special people.

Third – as I mentioned before, I am basically a lazy person. I don’t like to sweat and I don’t like to exercise, and my body shape shows it. BUT….A few years back, I had gastric bypass surgery, lost over 100 pounds and decided to keep from gaining all that back – I had to set some goals for myself. Regular exercise, dagnabit, is an important part of keeping all that weight off – so running 5K races became a goal. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to ‘run’ because of the 40 years of abuse to my knees, but I certainly can walk. Something that just a few years ago, was getting more and more difficult to do for any length of time.

So now, I have done numerous 5Ks, and really challenged myself with the Twilight Zone, Tower of Terror 13K a few years ago. I finished it, I got the medal, and I will probably NEVER do that again! It was very hard, and I was very sore afterwards!! BUT, I was also proud of myself. And I wore my medal at Epcot the next day – and though it hurt to walk that park, I did it anyway – to show off my accomplishment. What a feeling!

Finally- cancer. I hate cancer. I lost my father to stomach cancer, my mother to lung cancer, and discovered that I inherited a gene (and passed it to both my kids) that puts me at a MUCH higher risk of certain cancers (specifically colon cancer). I haven’t had any breast cancer in my family (Thank You God), but I honestly believe if they can cure one cancer, they are well on their way to curing all cancers…so I will support any group that is fighting cancer. This evil disease has touched the life of nearly everyone I know in some manner. We simply have to win this battle. And it really is a win-win situation – cancer gets a little money, I get a little exercise (and make a few friends??), and we, as a team, make a positive impact on the world.

So why am I on this team? When they ask me why, I don’t hesitate to answer. I am on this for Deb, for Becky, for Tammy, for Thelma, for all the people who NEED this team. I’m on this team to give hope. And it doesn’t matter if I walk or run. Or if I win or lose because even if I lose, WE win. It seems so simple to me. Take action. Do something. Be somebody. Give hope. And have fun doing it.

And never, ever forget (especially when being ‘stalked’ by the race sweep truck) – Dead Last Finish is greater than Did Not Finish, which greatly trumps Did Not Start. Have the courage to Start.

“It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends.” A. Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone