In October, when I was one of three members from my sorority selected to represent my sorority, Kappa Delta, in THON, the only emotions that I had were sincere appreciation, gratitude, and utter joy. I had worked hard for this. I had put in a large amount of time and dedication, and I, as well as the other three women, was very well-deserving of this honor.
When you’re selected to dance, you spend the first couple of months with it just in the back of your head. Then, winter break hits and when you return back to school it is one fast-paced roller coaster ride that speeds at an unstoppable rate until you reach THON weekend. You realize that it is not just an honor, it is real.
As someone who works out on a regular basis, the physical preparation was nothing new for me. I picked up a few extra spinning classes to increase leg strength and endurance. I upped my cardio. I cut out, or at least tried to cut out, all caffeine and alcohol.
Aside from that, one of the most exciting parts of THON preparation was undoubtedly when I received a bright, cheery, and very colorful email telling me who my moraler was. He was fun and passionate and was eager to get to know me, which always is a great feeling. When you dance for a greek organization, you essentially are dancing with a group. There were three of us from KD and three men from Beta Sigma Beta. Together with our six moralers, we really became a close knit group, and even ventured over to the downtown Laser Tag spot (the moralers beat the dancers consistently but anyway…).
Then, there is the moment of all moments – THON weekend. Nothing can prepare you for this, no amounts of advice, words of encouragement, or inspirational videos. You enter the Bryce Jordan Center through something called, “the human tunnel.” This tunnel is comprised of moralers, committee members, community members, and Four Diamonds families, all cheering you on and pumping you up for the unbelievable journey that you are about to embark on, and, it works. I would be lying if I said that I didn’t tear up as I ran through the tunnel and entered the BJC. It moves you and shakes you and tells you, yet again, “this is real!”
No amount of spinning classes or weightlifting, or even running, can prepare you physically for the toll that dancing in THON takes on your body. And mentally, it is so much more than you could have ever predicted. But, you find yourself doing anything and everything to distract you. Everyone in the stands rooting me on kept making fun of me because I claimed this one toy as my own and it did not leave my side for the entire 46 hours, and I mean that. From the time I stood until the time I sat, that small toy got me through, as crazy and weird as that sounds. It is all apart of a strategy: find one thing you can count on (sometimes that’s a fellow dancer, sometimes that is a bouncy toy) and do not let it leave your side.
For me, the physical pain was not the hardest part. Moralers and physical trainers did an excellent job with ankle wraps and calf massages. They also give the option of ice baths, but I found that I truly did not need it, and that those who did opt for the baths often regretted it.Â
What was the hardest part though, was without a doubt the last four hours. It is awesome that the stands are packed, and family hour and Go-Go Gadget are absolutely unbelievable. But before the band takes the stage, I found myself actually drifting off while standing and even while in mid-conversation. You are so tired and so delirious that the biggest physical battle then, is not just your feet, but actually straining to keep your eyes open.
Dancing in THON is an experience that I am honored to have had and one that I will remember for the rest of my life. It is so captivating and memorable that it is almost impossible to put into words. You feel pain and exhaustion and then you take a second to look around the BJC and see over 700 people who are in the exact position as you are and it is then, looking at the fellow dancers and the small children and their grateful parents, that you realize that THON has nothing to do with your aching feet. It is in that moment that you are able to push past any pain because you are quickly reminded that aside from all the other things THON gives you, THON gives you the opportunity and the gift to be something bigger than yourself. And there is no other gift in the world quite like that.