annette-bio-pic.jpgANNETTE MEDRANO

Hello team . . . 

      My name is Annette Medrano and this will be my 2nd experience w/ TNT. I am SO VERY excited to be a part of the SPRING 2010 season!  My first event was the San Francisco Nike Women's Full Marathon this past Fall  & I will never forget the feeling I felt when I crossed that finish line!!  It was by far the most exhilarating experience and I enjoyed it so much that I couldn't say "no" to coming back for another season.   

      When I initially decided that I wanted to join Team in Training I was living in Barcelona, Spain with a couple months to go before I moved back to the States.  At that point I had been living abroad for a year. The big objective for joining was EXERCISE and the chance of meeting new people when I returned to the area.  But I received A LOT more than that! Throughout my experience, I met lifelong friends and MOST IMPORTANTLY made a difference in someone’s life.  

      Despite the tears, pain throughout MY WHOLE body after long runs, paid massages, ice baths and doubts of reaching my $3,300 fundraising minimum . . . . I LEARNED it was worth every second!!!  Honestly, I couldn't have done it without every single person on the team! Everyone on the team had some part in helping me reach my goals as a runner and fundraiser.  During the season mostly everyone would say "Why would you do that?!" I would be lying to you if I didn't tell you that I've asked myself on many occasions the same question. And my heart still palpitates when I think about ALL the money I raised within 3 1/2 months (cause I missed the first 2 months in Barcelona). I knew that it would be hard for me to raise the funds, especially since everyone else is like me, poor, or struggling with this downturn of ours, but then there was this idea of a greater good and helping those in need.  (As Kiley reminded us often . . .) Imagine those who are in hospital beds trying to push through chemo therapy to just be able to fight through the disease and survive. That's why we are doing what we are doing.  Because when that CURE comes around the corner (cause it will) . . . we can honestly say that we were part of making that happen! 

 

A little about me in general: 

I was born and raised in Whittier California. After graduating from Whittier College in 07' with a degree in Child Development, I moved to Northern California.  Then I had the urge to live abroad, so I moved to Ansbach, Germany where I had a teaching internship. I couldn't bear to leave so I decided to move to Barcelona, Spain to teach English.  Currently, I toned it down a bit and now reside in Hacienda Heights. What drives me is experiencing everything that I can while I can and stay as active as possible! I have always considered myself an athlete, however I never really considered myself a runner until I actually crossed that finish line at Nike this past October.  I have played soccer since the age of 5 and also picked up playing softball, basketball and even Dodge-ball. Yet I have never felt anything compared to the accomplishment I felt when I finished my first marathon this past season.  So thanks to the "TEAM" I am officially addicted to it AND I am never turning back!

On that note, I want to help you in any way possible to get you cross whatever barriers you have this season and BEYOND!  As a mentor . . . I am your information slave so please contact me for anything that you may need!  

Stay positive and keep pounding away on that pavement! 

GOOOO TEAM!

 

Mentor, 

Annette Medrano

annettemedrano@gmail.com