Millennium Running Has Made Running a Fun and Enjoyable Experience

I am sending you this letter to share with you my 10 month journey and it’s connection to running. I share this with you as a thank you for what your company had done for me.

Let me start by saying I have never considered myself a runner. I am an active person who loves to be outside. In October 2012 a few friends talked me into trying the Zombie Run in New Boston, NH. This was the first event I had ever “trained” for. I had a great time and I reached my goal of crossing the finish line. This was the first time I had heard of Millennium Running. About a month later I decided to try The Thanksgiving 5K at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. (Since I work at the ballpark in the summertime, this race seemed like a good fit for me.) Again the goal in this race was to cross the finish line, it did not matter to me how long it would take. After entering the stadium and running across the finish line I felt a great deal of pride for this accomplishment. I was starting to become a runner!!! There again was Millennium Running!

On January 1. 2013 I decided to celebrate the new year with my friend Karen by running the Millennium Mile. This was a great way to celebrate the new year. After the race I spoke with my brother, who is a runner, on the phone. As I was bragging about my New Years day accomplishment, he offered up the challenge of the two of us completing a half marathon sometime during 2013. My brother suggested the Mohawk Hudson River Half Marathon in October. This would be a great way to celebrate turning 50 this year! I figured a great way to train for a half marathon would be to complete as many Millennium races over the summer.

Knowing about Millennium Running, I accepted his challenge.

In February with my running buddy Karen, we ran the Snowflake Shuffle, another race under my belt! Next race in the plan would be The Shamrock Shuffle. Here is where my journey takes a detour. Three days before the Shamrock Shuffle I was diagnosed with Lymphoma. Due to medical testing I was not able to participate in the race. I was more upset about not being able to do the race than the diagnosis.

At this point I add another goal along with my running goals, beating cancer.

In April I started the first of six rounds of chemotherapy. During these next few months I decided what ever race I registered for, I would complete. In May I ran the Cinco de Miles 5K and in June I walked the Rib Fest 5 Miler. (I also walked two other races, Ladies Night Out and The Manadanock 5k.)

I finished up chemo at the end of July and it took the month of August for my body to rebound. After Labor Day weekend I decided I really needed to focus on training for the goal I had set with my brother, the half marathon. So I laced up my running shoes and started training again. Short walks become short runs and short runs became longer runs. On September 8th I decided to run the Friends Fighting Cancer 5k in Manchester to see how my body would handle a 5k. This race was incredible on so many levels, as a runner and also as a person managing cancer. Again your company was there!

At the end of September and the beginning of October I reached two of my goals for the 2013 year. I survived chemo and cancer and along with my brother and a very good running buddy Karen, we crossed the finish line of the half marathon in Albany, NY on October 13, 2013. This year has been a life changing experience.

I send you my story to say thank you. Millennium Running has made running a fun and enjoyable experience. From the pre-race bib pick up/expos, the festive atmosphere at the start of the race, your Facebook page posting, and charitable contributions, you have created a positive atmosphere around running in New Hampshire and given people like myself the opportunity to say, “Yes I can, no matter what.”

Keep doing what you are doing! I will be at the start line of the upcoming races!

Thanks!

Theresa