COMMUNITY SPORTS: Run for a cause as age 60 nears

Editor's note: JoAnn McNiel grew up in Ohio and worked in Cincinnati until meeting Robert (Mick) McNiel and moving to Cedar Rapids in 2001. She is employed by Trees Forever. If you'd like to help JoAnn break a fundraising record, and assist other leukemia and lymphoma patients and families, go to: http://pages.teamintraining.org/vtnt/tinkerb12/jmcniel

By JoAnn McNiel, Community contributor

Many of us are driven to athletic endeavors not for personal competitive reasons, but because we believe doing so can benefit others.

Why else would a 58-year old woman decide to start running to prepare for a half-marathon? Certainly not to break records and win money.

I used to run short distances for exercise, but since moving to Cedar Rapids 10 years ago my running has been hampered by cranky knees and the decreased energy that's accompanied my waning hormones and aging skin.

But as my family and friends will attest, I've often said, “I'd like a physical challenge for my 60th year.”

I was thinking more along the lines of hiking the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trail, but then, of course, I've never backpacked or camped out more than two nights in a row.

But as I slipped into more despair about my changing body, I knew I had to focus on my physical and spiritual strength, nutrition and overall health as the more important traits to live and model.

This is a great ideal when we believe we're in control. But sometimes we aren't. Sometimes life challenges us with detours and circumstances that test our physical and spiritual stamina and flexibility.

For a variety of reasons, sometimes we can't directly help people. So we turn to indirect ways to honor their struggle and courage.

My 60th-year goal emerged from this, through the unexpected challenging circumstances of a couple of friends. When I learned about the Team in Training events that raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, I knew this was the answer to my challenge.

The inspiration

As she approached the end of her teaching career, a friend since childhood was diagnosed with Stage 4 aggressive lymphoma and, without going into detail, her first chemo treatment landed her in a six-week coma followed by about 14 months of hospitalization and rehab. I'm happy to report she is now doing well and took her family to Ireland a few months ago - a goal that helped guide and sustain her.

A shining victory

About the time of her diagnosis, the adult son of friends was diagnosed with leukemia. After some treatment and remission and recurrence and a bone-marrow transplant and horrendous complications from a severely compromised immune system, he was taken from his struggle by viral meningitis. He was a bright, loving, gifted young man with so many hopes and dreams. A stinking, unfair loss.

On days when I feel challenged by my petty concerns, physically or emotionally, I just think of Beth or Morgan and their families, and their willingness to keep trying, to take that next small step toward long-term recovery, and I am inspired, and reminded of my many blessings and the relative insignificance of my issues and decisions.

The journey begins

A serendipitous meeting of a local Galloway Run/Walk/Run coach provided my training path. Training to run 13 miles is nothing compared to the day-in, day-out physical challenges of the thousands of leukemia, lymphoma and other cancer patients and their families.

But my training brings attention to these diseases and funds to support the research and possible cures, so fewer people have to endure what Beth and Morgan and their families endured.

When I'm tired and don't want to do the work, or when I'm running and start feeling tired and achy, I think of Beth and Morgan, as well as my sister-in-law who decided on a mastectomy after her breast cancer diagnosis, and all that followed.

Now 59, I am inspired, and grateful for my health and ability to do my small part. I'm enjoying this so much that after the TNT half-marathon Jan. 29 at Disneyland, I will keep training and run for breast cancer research next year, and maybe my sister-in-law will run or walk with me.

Come to think of it, I guess I am running to break records, a fundraising record, and to win prizes, the prizes of new running friends (my age), enjoying my family and friendships and my good health, wrinkled skin and all.

Join our growing community contributor team by emailing J.R. Ogden at jr.ogden@thegazette.com