2014 is a special year
for the North Texas Team In Training (TNT) campaign. It is celebrating 20
years of running, biking, and hiking to raise money for The Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society and it's mission to find a cure for blood cancers. Saturday,
Feburary 8th TNT will kick off a year of celebrating. To honor the
thousands of North Texas TNT alumni and the millions of dollars they raised in
that time, we are going to count down each year of the program leading up to
the TNT Alumni "Celebrate You" event on Feburary 8th.
2005
Robert Bateman joined Team in Training in 2005 to help fulfill his mother's wish. After just one season, he was hooked and has fully immersed himself into the North Texas program as a participant, mentor and coach. Read more about Robert and his affinity for Saturday morning trainings below.
What is your favorite memory of TNT?
Many
people would say the early Saturday mornings are tough but that’s actually my
favorite part. Each Saturday I get the opportunity to challenge myself,
enjoy the outdoors and exercise with some truly amazing people. I
actually get excited each Friday night because I get to train with the Team in
the morning. When the season’s over I feel like something is lost.
What brought you to TNT originally?
My mother
found out she had melanoma in 2000 and we went to MD Anderson for treatment. We saw a lot of kids and their families come through there who
showed incredible strength which encouraged us to fight and gave us hope.
She often wished that those kids could have their childhood back and not have
to experience cancer. In 2001 she lost her battle. In 2005 I got a flyer
for TNT in the mail and signed up to fight for her wish.
What about TNT makes you keep coming back?
The
amazing people I meet each season are what keep me coming back. TNT
participants, mentors, coaches and staff are a diverse group of people but each
share compassionate spirits and over the years I have gained many new friends
who enrich my life regularly.
What do you want to see in the next 20
years for TNT in North Texas?
Closed
down and working different jobs because a cure has already been found.
What was the best part of the 2005 White Rock Marathon?
The
support I got along the race was heartening. This was my first marathon
and I was very nervous about being in that race. Even though I’d trained
hard, Dallas White Rock is a large marathon and looking around at the other
competitors in my starting corral I felt like an imposter who didn’t
belong. Running in my purple Team in Training jersey there were so many
people cheering for me and yelling out “Go Team!” that lifted me through that
race.
How many events have you done with TNT?
Dallas
White Rock Half Marathon 2005 Participant
Disney
Full Marathon 2010 Participant
San
Antonio Full Marathon 2011 Mentor
Grand
Canyon Hike 2012 Coach
Yosemite
Hike 2013 Coach
Las Vegas
Cycle 2013 Participant
Currently
assistant coaching NW Cities Marathon and Grand Canyon Hike 2014
Go Robert!!!! It was an honor to meet you this season and I am sure we will see each other again. Like you, I am hooked.
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