Gilroy resident Francisco Rodriguez has more than one reason to
train
for a marathon
If you see a man making his way around a track with a permanent smile on his face no matter what lap he’s just completed, it could very well be Gilroy resident Francisco Rodriguez.
A carefree personality constantly cracking jokes and captivating with positivity; Rodriguez, 45, and about 70 fellow running enthusiasts, gathered at the track on the campus of Los Gatos High School on Tuesday night. The group went through the beginning stages of three-months worth of training.
Running isn’t a foreign activity to Rodriguez. As a student at Coachella Valley High School, he was on cross country team. The sport continued to be a means to stay in shape during his time at the University of California at Santa Cruz, where he majored in political science.
In 2009, Rodriguez discovered Team in Training, or TNT, a program designed to organize and facilitate the conditioning process of those interested in taking on the task of running marathons, triathlons and other extreme races.
According to its mission statement, TNT, established in 1988, is “The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) leading endurance sports charity training program.” Members are asked to raise money by collecting donations prior to their event.
The gear may be pretty sleek, the coaches’ encouragement keeps him going and the beautiful locations of the running trails are justifiable excuses to get away for the day.
But there is a lot more to it than that.
Rodriguez, who said he grew up with parents that always instilled the morals to help others, jumped at the opportunity to join, seeing it as a way to give back by doing something he is so passionate about.
“They always said to help people,” recalled Rodriguez, who runs marathons on an annual basis and is aiming to raise $6,000 dollars this year.
Although, his love of running and drive for humanitarianism originally attracted Rodriguez to TNT, it wasn’t until halfway into his second season with the team that the cause he was diligently supporting hit the closest to home.
“My mom had been sick for a period of time and she never told me the truth about it,” Rodriguez said.
The news came as a shock last July, and Rodriguez said he never saw her death coming. Within one week of his mother’s Leukemia diagnosis, she died. The ironic, cruel twist doesn’t bring about bitterness just a sense of sadness, which is noticeable when Rodriguez recollects the events that led to and the eventual loss of his mother, Rafaela Rodriguez.
However, with TNT as his platform, Rodriguez runs to celebrate his mother’s life and strives to honor her, and the many others that are continually affected every year. And that effort fills the void left by his mother’s death.
“[Cancer is] something that gets personal,” Rodriguez said, his voice quieted. “You never think about it until it does. You just keep going and trying to do the best you can. You never know who it’s going to hit,” Rodriguez said. “It hits kids, young kids, poor kids, everyone, and you just have to sit there and explain that this is something we need to find a cure for.”
His contribution to finding a cure doesn’t stop at running. Rodriguez donates blood every eight weeks.
“There’s no thought process to it, there’s the saying, ‘Give blood, give life.’ And that’s the only thing that I know,” Rodriguez said. “Some people help people in different ways. Some people give charity, give money, give donations, this is my way of giving back to people, my way of helping someone I truly don’t know. Here is my blood, here is a part of me, hope it helps you.”
Since its formation, TNT has raised $1 billon to support blood cancer research and patient services, according to the program’s statement.
“You raise money for a good cause and you get to travel,” said Rodriguez, who has a picture of his mother on his fundraising website, which comes with the Team and Training membership.
Tim Schmal, coach of the South County team, which consists of participants from as far north as Redwood City to as far south as Hollister, and is the team on which Rodriguez participates, said he encourages all sorts of levels of runners to come out for the team. Schmal said what makes the program standout in many ways is how many cancer survivors or those who are battling the affliction stay connected and train with through the program.
“One of the amazing things that is kind of unique, is that we have a bunch of honorees that actually train with the team and do the events with the team,” Schmal said. “I would find that so motivating to be next to one of those people on a run.”
An encouraging atmosphere gives the team a feel of summer camp but for adults. Though the core of why the organization was formed in the first place remains as the true essence of TNT, the rewarding part is being able to celebrate life with others who share a common bond. TNT does provide quite a few perks along the way as well, taking some of the stress of the training process.
That positivity and encouragement cannot only be found coming from Schmal’s words but the atmosphere surrounding the members and everyone involved.
“I really love the energy and dynamic we have going on,” said Schmal about this summer’s team after a practice Tuesday.
Schmal added that he thinks Rodriguez would be a great ambassador for the program one day.
“He is a real positive guy,” Schmal said.
Fresh off of his first half-marathon in Victoria, British Columbia last year, Rodriguez is now in his third season with TNT and has his sights, and feet, set toward his first full marathon (26.2 miles) in Portland in October.
“There’s no better way of celebrating another year of life by completing a marathon,” Rodriguez said.
To donate, visit teamintraining.org and enter Francisco Rodriguez in the Find a Participant section.
