Picture yourself crossing the finish line of a race. What emotions are you feeling? Are you smiling or embracing a loved one or maybe giving out high fives to fellow runners? The finish line of every race is full of joy, excitement and celebration. It’s a place where confidence is high, self-esteem is elevated, and goals are achieved.
What if you were able to give all those positive feelings to someone else who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience the joy of race day? I’m here to tell you that you can through an amazing organization, myTeam Triumph MN.
myTeam Triumph MN brings together our community to help individuals with disabilities experience the joy of race day. I’ve had the honor of volunteering with myTeam Triumph MN since 2019, running many races while pushing disabled athletes in race chairs.
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
My most memorable volunteer experience was pushing an amazing young woman in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in 2022, helping her finish her first marathon. Hearing her name shouted along the course, watching other runners cheer her on, and ultimately witnessing the finisher medal placed around her neck was a moment I will never forget.
At the finish line of a marathon everything hurts. But what hurt most after that memorable race was my face, because I’d been smiling the entire 26.2 miles. The joy we experienced together that day is difficult to put into words. Perhaps Mahatma Gandhi put it best when he said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Are you ready to find yourself in the service of others? Join us on Saturday, July 20, for a Meet and Greet with myTeam Triumph MN from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. at the Twin Cities Motion Center (355 Randolph Ave., St. Paul, 55102). The Twin Cities Motion Center will be open starting at 6:45 a.m. in case you’d like to get a run in before the meet and greet begins.
Register here for this free event. We’re excited to see you there!
Katie Mark is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who owns On the Mark Therapy, LLC. Katie provides mental health therapy while running and / or walking with her clients in nature. She is one of the team of Motion Experts TCM has gathered to help its subscribers and participants get the most out of their running. You can contact Katie about her private therapy practice at [email protected] .