 | TJ's Turf: Brochman Determined to Battle Cancer |
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4/7/2009 - by Teri Dwyer |
 I’m a little late to the game on this story. Many of you have already heard that one of our own in the running community, Cynthia Brochman, (right, at 2009 St Patrick's Day Human Race) is battling cancer. I first heard the news when I was traveling and proceeded to spend the next hour or so reading her online caringbridge journal and the comments in her guest book.
I, like many others, am struck by the strength Cindy has been exhibiting since her initial awful diagnosis last December. She has vowed to keep fighting - exploring options for her care including conventional medicine like chemotherapy but also things like alternative healing and nutritional components. She is also keeping up with her always-herculean exercise routine - although she’s had to mix it up a bit these days.
I first met Cindy back in 1991. Over a period of a couple of years she dragged me along on long runs, tolerated my presence for track workouts and listened to me whine during hill workouts. Through the years we even dabbled in some shorter runs and threw in some plyometrics exercises.
Cindy helped me run some of my first long runs, back when I considered 5-7 miles a long run. The two of us, along with former Armstrong High School and St. Thomas standout Lisa Czech, once ‘helped’ Janice Ettle train for 10,000 meters by doing a human relay with her as she ran repeat miles. (I recall Cindy, Lisa and I took turns running 200-400 meters with Jan during her miles. I know I couldn't hold the pace longer than that.)
Many in the MN running community know Cindy as a fixture on the USATF-MN team circuit for the past two decades. (We briefly ran for the now-defunct Racer’s Edge - the old GBS/The Sporting Life team before Cindy signed on with Run n Fun.)
Those souls brave enough to dabble in cross country know that August in MN means a couple of things: hot steamy weather for MDRA cross country relays and Cindy’s hellacious tan as she faithfully runs just about every Wednesday night relay throughout August.
Back when I first met Cindy I was amazed at the pace she kept up in life. She was not only managing to train and race at a very high level for local road races, with some track races and cross country thrown in for good measure, but she was also competing on volleyball teams. I remember one particular weekend where she'd been playing in a tournament all day. When she come home on Saturday night she was barely able to stand from playing all day but she was still out for her long run bright and early Sunday morning.
In the years since I first met Cindy she’s added many things to her competitive resume. She’s a top-level snowshoe racer and even brought the sport’s national championships event here to the Twin Cities a few years back. She’s competed in cross country ski races since meeting her husband Kevin Brochman - skiing such illustrious races as the American Birkie in Hayward, WI. She’s also continued to compete in road races, cross country and added trail running to her regular routine many years ago.
And, I believe it was just in the last few years that Cindy started competing in triathlons.
Whew. I’m tired just trying to reconstruct it all.
For those who don't know - Cindy graduated from St Olaf in Northfield, MN where she competed in both track & volleyball. She is on St. Olaf’s women’s indoor track Top 10 list for the 1000 yard run (5th - 2:48.6 in 1987). She’s 6th on the list for 1000 meters (3:03.53 in 1987).
That’s just a very, very small glimpse into the life of Cindy the athlete.
I don't think anyone who knows her would argue with me when I say that Cindy is a strong, assertive person who knows what she wants and goes after it. It’s those great skills and instincts that I believe are helping her fight this current fight.
I would just ask everyone to send all of their best thoughts and positive wishes to Cindy as she is in the competition of a lifetime. She has noted in her caringbridge journal that people have been asking about how to help. There is a fund set up for her at TCF Bank. Donations can be made in the name of: Cynthia Brochman Benefit.
Also, she and Kevin are welcoming cards and well-wishes. I’m re-posting the address she offered in her journal:
Cynthia Brochman
1758 Lakewood Drive
Maplewood MN 55109-4919
Cindy is one of the strongest people I've ever met. I can't imagine even a disease as brutal as cancer will get the better of her.
Source: Teri J Dwyer writes and runs in St Paul, MN. |