External Markers

Like junior high school dances the key issue of bone marrow transplants is avoiding rejection. Most of the cells of the human body are labeled with protein markers that are coded on major histocompatibility genes on our sixth chromosome. When the immune system discovers cells that don’t have the correct markers it can uses a variety of the methods to attack the intruder. For another tissue transplant (say a kidney) it is important that these markers match or the immune system will try to destroy the new tissue. With bone marrows transplants this issued is doubled because the new cells might unwarily attack the host – similar if you tried to relocate armies to foreign countries. These proteins are the truce between parts of ourselves.

Even though these markers are genetic and the best chance to get a match is through a family member, there are plenty of people who don’t match with their parents or siblings and desperately need bone marrow. A great thing you can do is to get tissue typed. The tissue typing procedure isn’t any more difficult than getting blood, and to put it bluntly could save a life of someone. The more complete bank of possible external matches the better. It is a great thing do in addition to the wonderfully appreciated raising of funds and awareness. Who knows? You might get to meet a genetic cousin or histocompatiable friend.

Granted this isn’t the only way to identify comrades. (In a fascinating research project it was discovered that folks preferred the smells of the people with different histocompatibly proteins. Opposites do attract, but similarity saves lives.) Cells aren’t unique in using external markings to signal identity. Peacocks have their plumage, flowers have their petals, and runners have race t-shirts.

Other than watching the occasional Project Runway episode, I am not that much of a fashion expert, but let's examine the taxonomy of endurance shirts...

A key element is degree of difficulty. If on a start line you see a runner with perhaps a quadruple Dipsea t-shirt (something April’s husband actually did) this will strike a deeper level of fear than someone wearing a Muffy’s run five-mile fundraiser (something I did).

I do also believe the following about t-shirts:

1. If you don’t finish a race you can’t wear the t-shirt. This rule is unbreakable. There is a Wildflower t-shirt that I am not allowed to wear, but that is another email about hydration.
2. If you get a t-shirt prior to the race start you can’t wear the shirt beforehand (see 1).
3. You are certainly allowed to wear a shirt for twice the time you spent training for the race. This gives you almost a full year for wearing your marathon shirt.
4. You probably shouldn’t wear a t-shirt unless you can do at least half of the race distance (unless in rule 3 grace period).
5. There is nothing better than passing someone with a macho t-shirt. When in doubt dress modestly and run strong.
6. You are always allowed to wear the same race shirt from an earlier year if you are entering the event again. Huge bonus for showing up in race expos with prior year shirts. It is a great way to strike up conversations. “Boy, it was hot” or “how about that mile six?”
7. The best time to wear a race t-shirt is when no one has any idea how hard the event is. “Catfish crawl, now what did you have to do for that?” Perfect times are work parties and class reunions.

Like all of your coaches I have seen a ton of race shirts from Ironman champions to someone doing a half marathon in a Spiderman suit. But out of all of the coolmax and cotton combinations I have watched during a race or at the parties the best t-shirt wasn’t the one that said “Finisher.” It was the one a friend wore that said “Cancer Free.”

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