How A Nurse-Led Running Club Supports Each Other - Through Cancer and Life

"I truly believe life is better when you can experience it with others," says runner and two-time cancer survivor Mike Trinidad.

When Maxine Robles, a nurse and manager of physician outreach at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute in Sandy Springs, GA, decided to try running for the first time, she had no idea that it would not only change her life but also the lives of so many others around her. 

After training for her first 5K, Robles joined other colleagues to form an unofficial running club, and the "core three" (now extended to a fourth) began meeting monthly to run 5K races together. Soon, that running club would extend to Robles' close friend and neighbor, Mike Trinidad, a two-time cancer survivor and Northside patient. 

While Trinidad underwent chemotherapy last year, Robles was able to run the Peachtree Road Race in his honor, but this year, Trinidad was ready to hit the road once again with his friend. He and Robles were able to run his first post-treatment 5K together. Side by side, Robles and Trinidad took on the physical representation of what inner strength and friendship are all about: taking life together, step by step, through challenges and celebrations.

Race-Ready

The truth is, Robles was never a runner. Growing up with a self-proclaimed "sedentary" lifestyle as a "latchkey kid eating processed frozen meals" and "cruising through college on pizza and beer," Robles tells Nurse.org that she only decided to take up running in 2018.

After losing over 50 pounds, Robles decided to begin training for a race. "Now that my body was able to move and bend, I took on the challenge," she explains, adding that her mindset was, "Now that the weight was off, now what?"

She used the Couch to 5K app to learn how to train and run and set her sights on her first race, a 4-mile fundraiser in her local community, Peachtree Corners. Her training was so unprecedented that she laughs that a friend saw her one day running in my community and texted her, “Did I just see you running, or did I see pigs flying?” 

Pigs did not fly that day, but Robles did, kicking off what is now a five-year and still-counting stretch of running, training, and a slew of races that includes her first half-marathon. 

"I still pinch myself when I see my collection of running bibs and medals from recent years," Robles says. 

All-In

Robles runs with two co-workers and another former nurse through the Atlanta Track Club. After trying a race for the first time, Robles found she "thrived" in the crowd setting and decided to challenge herself to do one run a month. 

Now, the three runners have been running a monthly 5K for over three years.

"The three of us who are consistent have been friends dating back to 1993, when we all stumbled upon each other in our oncology nursing careers," Robles shares. "Life has happened—marriages, children, divorce, grandchildren, life events—we have been through it all, and now, we are just three middle-aged women mixing within a much younger generation, but proud of our ability to show up." 

The group has encouraged all of its members to show up for themselves—Robles says running is how she stays "committed to her health"—as well as for others in their circle. For instance, she explains how meaningful it has been to support Trinidad through his cancer journey. She notes that joining him in his first post-chemotherapy 5K race was "hard to describe."

"I ran beside him for a while, behind him for a while, and ahead of him for a while, and felt so proud," she says. " I didn’t stray too far away. I was more of a mama bear that day." 

She also likens supporting Trinidad and her friends to her role as a nurse. "I think once a nurse is always a nurse," she explains. "I don’t practice patient care anymore, but still find myself helping others navigate and advocate, so it never leaves, no matter where your path takes you!"

Better Together

Trinidad, who is also the Director of Training at Camlin Energy, Peachtree Corners, GA, describes Robles as his "dear friend" and notes that the running group is part of the support that has been crucial to his cancer journey.

"They are key to lifting your spirits or helping you 'smooth out' everyday life by providing meals, running errands, helping with yardwork, and reminding me I can keep going, to name a few," he says. "What I had to learn is to let people help me instead of trying to do it all myself. I discovered that people genuinely want to help out, but sometimes don't know exactly what to do. So I had to be specific and intentional and be willing to sit back."

Trinidad explains that in going through cancer twice, support like the type he received from the running group was part of the two key strategies he learned that were crucial to making it through:

1. Worry about the things you can control. 
2. Surround yourself with good people.

"I leaned into my faith and constantly told myself, 'Let my story be God's story,'" he says. "I concentrated on the things I could control: my actions and how I took care of myself, my thoughts and my outlook and attitude of everything, how I spoke and treated everyone."

Running also became a physical form of self-care for Trinidad in the midst of his cancer journey. He explains that he first took up running with his initial cancer diagnosis as a form of preventive healthcare. Despite never being a runner before, he set his sights on running the Peachtree Road Race the year he turned 40 as a "bucket list" item. 

"Ironically, every year after that, with the exception of one, I ran every year," he says wryly.  

He admits that while running and training for the race are not his favorite pastimes, he "absolutely loves" racing. So when he missed the Peachtree Road Race last year during his chemotherapy treatment, he was determined to make the race again this year. Run it he did, accomplishing not only his goal, but reminding himself that the support from true friends can make all the difference. 

"I truly believe life is better when you can experience it with others," Trinidad says. "The love and support they provide for not only me, but everyone, is such a positive reinforcement! It makes the grind of running much easier to deal with, knowing you have a group of people who have your back.”

As he continues his recovery, Trinidad adds that he wanted to share his story as a way to reach others who may need support, especially if they or a loved one has been impacted by cancer. 

"I have a strong sense of faith that God has given me this situation to show His love and healing through it," he says. "The reason I willingly share my story is not to put the spotlight on myself, but to use this platform to bring awareness, hope, and healing to those who are affected by cancer."

🤔Nurses, what do you think about Robles’ and Trinidad’s story? Share your comments down below!