Peter's Team Diabetes Triathlon (and formerly Marathon) Blog

I am often teased about the connections I have made with people through this blog and/or the running discussion boards - Running Mania and the Running Room - that I participate in. Some of these on-line connections have ultimately resulted in meeting folks in person such as Derek (Kelowna), Angela (Edmonton), Peter (Toronto) and Dani (Oromocto). Others of these connections are unlikely to ever result in a face-to-face meeting but they are none the less what I would consider "friendships".

Through blogging I ended up in contact with a person who, like me, was running the Boston marathon. Colleen was participating as a member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma society's Team in Training program. When I mentioned to her that my dad had passed away from complications during treatment for leukemia she offered to honour his memory by placing his name on the jersey she would be wearing on race day. I suggested that she simply use his initials "JLM" but never gave it another thought.

Earlier today I checked in on her blog to read her race report. Embedded in the report were some pics, including one of her race jersey and there they were - the initials JLM.

Remember, Colleen and I have never met in person and probably never will. Yet, she still chose to honour my dad in this way. In the note that I left on her blog I said, While we may be "virtually strangers" we are certainly "virtual friends".