myTeam Triumph Powers Duos for TCM

An Athletes with Disabilities category that began with a father and daughter running a marathon together has grown into a team of Captains and Angels and is now powered by the nonprofit myTeam Triumph Minnesota

Long-time Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon aficionados will remember Mark and Amanda Brunsvold, the event’s original duo team. That team – Mark running and pushing his daughter Amanda who rode in a push chair – were an inspiring feature of the marathon for decades.

In recent years, the local chapter myTeam Triumph has been leading the way – and pushing the limits – for providing marathon participation to those who are unable to self-locomote. At marathon weekend in October, more than a dozen duo teams will participate across the two-day event, including four in the marathon.

Duo teams are one of four recognized and supported Athletes with Disabilities categories at Twin Cities In Motion events, which also includes push-rim wheelchairs, hand-cycles, and guide runners for the visually impaired.

Ben Delkoski, the founder and leader of Minnesota’s myTeam Triumph Minnesota, notes the spectrum of people who participate in the duo team category.

“They range widely in age—from young children to adults—and often have conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, autism, or traumatic brain injuries,” he outlined. “What unites them is a love for movement, a desire to be part of something bigger, and the joy of inclusion in a typically able-bodied space.

For many, participating in races is not just about the finish line, it’s about the relationships, confidence, and community built along the way.”

“For many, participating in races is not just about the finish line, it’s about the relationships, confidence, and community built along the way.”

With myTeam Triumph, duo teams aren’t a race-morning equivalent of an Uber pick-up, but a long-term, team-building process leading to a successful race experience.

“Our work begins well before race day.” Ben explained. “Throughout the summer, we host monthly training runs where our Captains and Angels [mTT nomenclature for riders and pushers, respectively] come together to run, test out equipment, and most importantly, build lasting relationships.

“This is where the heart of our program truly comes to life. Just like able-bodied runners, most of the hard work and preparation happens long before race morning.”

On race day, the various teams – each Captain typically supported by multiple Angels who rotate through pushing duties – plus the mTT support crew put the hard work into motion.

“Our incredible team of volunteers arrives several hours early to set up our meeting location and make sure all equipment is ready to go,” Ben described. “Captains and Angels also arrive early, giving them another chance to connect and make any final adjustments to the equipment to ensure every Captain is comfortable and ready.”

Duo teams, like push-rim wheelers, hand-cyclists and guided runners who prefer it, start their race five minutes before a race’s main field.

“This not only ensures safety for everyone but creates one of the most powerful moments of the race,” Ben noted. “For a brief time, it’s just our mTT teams on the course, moving together in a peaceful stretch before the rest of the runners catch up. When they do, it’s often with cheers, encouragement, and genuine support that uplift our teams even more. Along the course, spectators amplify their energy as we pass by, many stopping to take photos and celebrate the beauty of inclusion in motion."

But Ben notes, not surprisingly, that the finish line is “the pinnacle” of the day.

“Running past the cheering crowd and finishing with a medal around their neck is a moment our Captains remember and talk about for weeks and sometimes months after the race,” he said. “It’s more than a finish; it’s a celebration of every mile, every relationship, and every story shared along the way.”

Learn more about myTeam Triumph Minnesota here.

This article originally appeared in the TCM's weekly e-newsletter, The Connection. It's the third of four stories highlighting Athletes with Disabilities and the efforts Twin Cities In Motion takes to make its running events inclusive.

Subscribe to the Connection here.