Aquinas College is committed to its heritage and the Dominican charisms of prayer, study, community, and service. These ideals are present in every endeavor, outside the classroom as much as within. Just ask Nicholas Thelen, a senior at Aquinas and member of the College’s Track and Field program. For the past four years, the Track and Field team has participated in myTEAM TRIUMPH, which partners individuals with disabilities with talented athletes in a competitive race-to-the-finish.

By taking on a racing partner, people from a variety of backgrounds are given the opportunity to participate in an exciting athletic effort. This serves many in the Grand Rapids community who would otherwise be unable to race. Thelen sees this as one of many avenues taken in the unending dedication to serving others that characteristic of Aquinas College. “I think a lot of [Aquinas] athletes have an idea that they’re part of a community,” said Thelen. “I think over all the whole athletic program does a pretty good job of trying to reach out.”

For these races, a lingo has developed that goes as follows: Captains are the participants with disabilities, people of all ages and from many ways of life. Angels are the athletes who push their Captains to a thrilling victory. myTEAM TRIUMPH, which has chapters in other states as well, organizes several different types of races - from triathlons to marathons and beyond.

Thelen’s fall 2011 experience through the Aquinas track and field team was in the Grand Rapids Marathon. He has participated in the program three of the past four years that Aquinas has been involved. “It’s mostly our way that we share our enjoyment of running,” Thelen said while reflecting on the impact of such a program on a potentially overlooked segment of the community. In this, the program becomes a shared experience, honoring the charism of community.

Thelen described the build up to the race, including meeting the Captains and preparing to run. While some of the Captains are familiar faces each year, Thelen says at least one person in the recent race was new. The night before the race is an opportunity for Captains to meet or reunite with their Angels and discuss the upcoming run.

The next morning at 5 a.m. all parties arrive to prepare. “We’re just training all year,” Thelen said. “Then we divide up that morning into teams of three. Each team will run a seven-to-ten mile leg, hand off the cart to the next team - and that’s how we get through the whole marathon.” The race itself is 26.2 miles, which takes teams about three hours to complete. Thelen reminisces about the excitement of crossing the finish line with a Captain to receive a finisher’s medal: “We have been competing for so long. All of our races are special, but [the Captains] only get to do this once or twice a year. It’s really exciting for them, and that makes it really exciting for us.”

Following the race, Captains and Angels socialize over food and conversation, taking in the satisfying moments after completion. When asked about how he feels about this service, Thelen offers a thoughtful commentary: “It feels a lot different than just regular running, because you’re actually doing it for someone else now. Running is an individual activity for the most part, but when you’re doing this, you’ve got the team aspect. It just has a whole different feel than just going out to run. There’s definitely a different idea behind it.”

For more information about myTEAM TRIUMPH, visit www.myteamtriumph.com.