Marianne Rains 

Woman, Triathlete, Friend

Send a note with your memories

Marianne lost her battle against breast cancer yesterday. The funeral will be on Saturday 15th in Charlottesville, Va.-this is so that the children she taught can attend.
I have a request from the family at the funeral, Karen Garth, her best friend and training partner, would like to share a number of vignettes from you athletes/friends of how you remember Marianne, both on the field of competition and off. I know that some of you forwarded me your thoughts, and I need to have you re send these to Karen.
Thank you all for your overwhelming support and caring for this woman who fought so hard doing what she loved the most- triathlon.
We will miss her.
Please send those email vignettes to Karengarth@aol.com.
Valerie

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Before she died, Karen wrote

Karen Garth writes:
Marianne Rains is a triathlete who has accomplished a lot in this world of  triathlons.  She has been suffering with Breast Cancer for approximately five years.  She is a teacher, who continued to work during chemo therapy, and a  triathlete, who qualified and completed two Hawaii Ironman competitions  and one Boston Marathon during this period.  She has been an inspiration  and source of strength for many -- A female Lance Armstrong. 

My goal is have short notes and cards sent to Marianne during this difficult time.

 I thought a short note from fellow triathletes recognizing this Great  American and her accomplishments during her tough battle would be very meaningful.   This request is time critical because unlike Lance Armstrong,  she is losing her battle with cancer.  

Below is her address:
 Marianne Rains
1605 Redwing Lane
Charlottesville, VA  22906

 Please do not hesitate to call if you need more information.
 Sincerely, Karen Garth > 703/433-3822 or 703/906-6250
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Marianne is not only one awesome athlete, she is a wonderful human being.  We spent a lot of time together in Manchester, England (Tri Worlds 1993) and she was just full of fun and antics.  During the race, her seatpost bolt broke and she rode more than half  the bike course WITHOUT A SEAT!  She still placed well within her age group. 

She brought her mother to Cancun in '95 so she could watch her race in both the tri and du events.  As we toasted in 103 degree heat, her mother sat in the grandstands wearing a heavy sweater. So many memories, such somber news of a dear friend.
Barb Morgan
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 I met Marianne through Judy Flannery. She called me a few times when she first got sick. She is an A-1 all around human being."
Celeste Callahan
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I remember the energy and spirit of Marianne at lots of races in the South East.  After she got sick with cancer,  and was too sick to race for awhile, she was there at the swim start and swim finish, keeping us cheered up.
Sue Falsey
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When I first got into triathlon in the late 80's and early 90's I raced down in Charlottesville a few times and remember speaking with Marianne and congratulating her on her fine performances at all the races I completed in with her. She would always place real high in the overall female standings and I was always impressed at her ability and consistency, I also remember how she seemed so friendly and always had a smile on her face.
I will send her a card telling her this, thanks for letting me know about Marianne.
Tom Manzi,  Ultrafit Associates

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Several of us competing in her age group at Nationals last weekend were wondering how she was doing.  We were racing at Nationals in Columbia, Maryland 1997 when Marianne told us of her breast cancer diagnosis (Marianne did not race that day but came out to see us).  Right after the race we gathered the 40-44 age group and the 45-49 age groups together and took a group photo and sent it to Marianne along with $500 (20 individuals contributed $25 each) and told her to go buy herself something nice.  She spent the money on a dining room rug.  A year later at Ironman I cheered for Marianne as she crossed the finish line. 
We were hoping that Marianne had beat her cancer and I am sorry to hear that it is not in remission.  Of course, I'll be sending her a note today and I will forward this message to a couple of gals in my age group.
Missy LeStrange