The gun sounds ...
Thomas Breen is a mentor,
coach, and marathoner with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in
Training, a sports training charity supporting research in the area of
blood cancer. This inspirational free verse poem was inspired by
Breen's experience mentoring a team of runners in the Walt Disney World
marathon in 2007. Breen ran Sunday, May 31, in the Rock -n- Roll
Marathon in San Diego, coaching a team from TNT. For more information
on TNT, please visit: http://www.teamintraining.org/
The gun sounds ...
By Thomas Breen
The gun sounds, the clock begins to tick
The starter shouts “and they're off!” This race has begun.
The shuffling of feet as the surging masses
Cross the starting line with the rising sun.
Setting into their pace, each foot falling
To the rhythm of the race.
Determination, excitement, anxiety mixed
With sweat covering every face.
We have come to run, to challenge our
Mind, body, and soul;
Determined to finish, steady in our pace,
As each mile bares its heavy toll.
For some it’s to win, for some to set a personal best.
For us a different calling puts us to the test.
We are Team In Training the LLS.
We run to fight blood cancer; we run to find a cure.
We run to raise awareness, and funding for this
Mission so pure.
We run carrying the names of our
Lost loved ones sadly placed upon our shirts,
Like badges of courage honoring our survivors.
Whose names obscure the hurt?
We run for our honored teammates like Joey, Luke, Jack, and so many more,
Whose courage in life and smiling faces
Inspire our hearts, empower our bodies to
Run each of these races.
I ran my fastest finish with Elliot Wang
Running at my side:
An honored teammate, leukemia survivor, a true hero
Keeping me in stride.
We run for Amanda who I never knew while she was here,
But whose purple bandanna will be worn on race day in her honor most sincere.
The gun sounds the race has begun
And off we go into the sun.
In a sea of purple as strangers we may have begun;
As a family united in our cause we will be when this race is finally run.
Awash in a rainbow of colors as each runner crosses the finish line.
Purple is the color of my hope, my inspiration, my pride.
Purple is my color,
My purple it is mine.
The gun sounds ...
By Thomas Breen
The gun sounds, the clock begins to tick
The starter shouts “and they're off!” This race has begun.
The shuffling of feet as the surging masses
Cross the starting line with the rising sun.
Setting into their pace, each foot falling
To the rhythm of the race.
Determination, excitement, anxiety mixed
With sweat covering every face.
We have come to run, to challenge our
Mind, body, and soul;
Determined to finish, steady in our pace,
As each mile bares its heavy toll.
For some it’s to win, for some to set a personal best.
For us a different calling puts us to the test.
We are Team In Training the LLS.
We run to fight blood cancer; we run to find a cure.
We run to raise awareness, and funding for this
Mission so pure.
We run carrying the names of our
Lost loved ones sadly placed upon our shirts,
Like badges of courage honoring our survivors.
Whose names obscure the hurt?
We run for our honored teammates like Joey, Luke, Jack, and so many more,
Whose courage in life and smiling faces
Inspire our hearts, empower our bodies to
Run each of these races.
I ran my fastest finish with Elliot Wang
Running at my side:
An honored teammate, leukemia survivor, a true hero
Keeping me in stride.
We run for Amanda who I never knew while she was here,
But whose purple bandanna will be worn on race day in her honor most sincere.
The gun sounds the race has begun
And off we go into the sun.
In a sea of purple as strangers we may have begun;
As a family united in our cause we will be when this race is finally run.
Awash in a rainbow of colors as each runner crosses the finish line.
Purple is the color of my hope, my inspiration, my pride.
Purple is my color,
My purple it is mine.
Posted by Annmarie at 5/31/2009 11:40 PM 
Categories: today's words, vox poetica originals
Tags: Thomas Breen inspiration free verse
Categories: today's words, vox poetica originals
Tags: Thomas Breen inspiration free verse
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