Race Weekends are the Best!

A year ago was Teddy's first race with myTEAM Triumph (MTT). Since then, he's crossed the finish line 5 times with angels by his side, including the Fox Cities 5k this weekend. Although he was still plenty distracted by the cheering crowds of people, it's amazing to me how much his walking has improved throughout the past year. He also has become well known among MTT where so many people know him. He can get away with just about anything because he has them wrapped around  his finger.

Case in point, there were three big motorcycles by the MTT group that immediately caught Teddy's eye. When I told him that they weren't his motorcycles and that he couldn't ride them, one manly biker said, "Oh, yes he can. He can ride on the gray one." So Teddy (and AJ) spent some quality time driving a motorcycle both before and after the race.

Teddy and AJ both enjoyed riding the chopper.

As much as I loved that, I loved even more that three rough and tough bikers were angels for a first-time captain who couldn't communicate verbally and needed assistance drinking her juice. They took amazing care of her and made sure she had an awesome time, including getting the local police department to flip on the lights and sirens for her. One of them said, "We may be fat and we may be slow, but we sure know how to have fun!" Those type of moments are what make MTT so special for everyone.

Team Teddy is all smiles at the Fox Cities 5K!

Another example of Teddy having people wrapped around his fingers it that not only did he get to explore the back of the MTT truck, which he loves, he also got to "drive" the truck. He honked the horn with his head when he was trying to press on the gas ... that child!

Teddy is ready to drive the MTT transport truck!

Teddy crossed the finish line with his Aunt Lindsay and Uncle John (who ran despite the heat and injuries). He also had an angel named Kevin, who jumped in at the last minute when more angels were needed. Kevin was a great sport keeping our pace and causing my brother to tell him there were support groups to help people like him ... because he's already ran marathons in 18 different states. One of the neat things was we discovered Kevin had been in a costume the night before at the kid's run ... and we have AJ's picture with him!
 

Kevin & AJ from the Kid's Run, which Teddy also did.

Kevin also was volunteering on the half marathon course the next day and told us he'd be wearing a T-rex costume. I guided Kevin across the group of runners, so my MTT team could get our picture with Kevin in costume. So Kevin was a key part of our weekend whether in or out of costume.

Kevin with Team Tom for the half marathon.

I always say I don't know how the next race will be able to top the previous with MTT because it seems like each race is so special in its own way. All I know is that I'm so grateful our family is a part of this organization!