ABOVE AND BEYOND

On Friday evening, I traveled to my daughter and son-in-law's house to deliver a personal best speech to a very special group of runners.

The group of about fifteen or so, is a part of the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Team in Training .

Team in Training's concept is simple and effective. Train and run a major race, raise a specified amount of money for Team in Training, from which the proceeds go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the organization will send you to a major race.

In 2009, my daughter Kelly called to informed me that she intended to run a marathon. I received the call in January, and her intent was to sun the San Diego Marathon in June. This was a fine plan, except my daughter had never logged a mile and training, and she didn't like to sweat.

Thanks to some excellent guidance from her Team in Training coaches, she did, indeed, run the San Diego Marathon, and she raised over $3,000 for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.She's been running marathons ever since.

In 2012, Kelly's husband, Mike, also a runner, lost his mother to leukemia. Mike and Kelly both ran the 2013 Chicago Marathon in honor of Mike's mother, Millie, and the both raised another $3,000 in her name for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

Now, they're at it again.

This time they're raising money to participate in a 100-mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe.

Needless to say I'm proud of them and proud to supprort their charitable efforts.

Runners are, for the most part, a kind, giving group. Today, more than ever, we can do what we love to do, and turn our performances into fundraising events.

It is another great way we pay it forward.

Support fundraising raises, or be a fundraiser for organizations like Team in Training. Support runners who are running to raise funds that assist charitable groups.

In the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, a fine runner, Mike Marstellar, founded the HCM Foundation, in honor of his father, who died from cancer at an early age. Mike's foundation helps cancer victims and their families pay their bills, and assists them in every day expenses. It is another great cause, initiated by a runner.

In 2015, run beyond yourself. Put your running efforts to work for others.

Your rewards will shine brighter than any medal.

www.muldowneyrunning.com