For me, running clears my mind!

"I started running before finding Run a 5k in 2012, but the motivation to run, and the motivation to run with RA5kin2012 is one and the same.

For me, running clears my mind, keeps me sane and grounded, and sometimes is even a way to let me get all my emotions out at once.  I like to think about why I'm running. If it's a run with Team in Training, I think about my nephew and that usually motivates me to push through. I started with TNT in 2010 because of my nephew.  Our family and friends had done small events with American Cancer Society and LLS for years prior (Relay for Life and Light the Night Walk).  You see, my nephew CJ was diagnosed with leukemia when he was just 2 years old. After a long and painful journey filled with the lows of constant hospitalization and the highs of going into remission after a bone marrow transplant, he relapsed and lost his battle to the disease at the age of 3.5.  Every run is for him.  I found RA5kin2012 when I was at my lowest emotionally.  He passed away in 2002 and 2012 marks his 10 year anniversary.  I knew it was going to be a really rough year for me. After seeing the RA5kin2012 website and all of the amazing people getting off the couch to be active, I knew I'd get through it.  My strength gets even stronger after reading everyone elses story for 2012.

Thank you for creating this group.  You really have no idea the impact you can make with a gesture that seems so simple at the time."