Race for the Cure

Today I ran my first ever 5K! It was so amazing, and I am feeling very good right now! Today was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and a record number of over 42,000 people participated in it! Can you believe that?! That is amazing! I felt so overwhelmed at times, and quite emotional, too...it was exhilarating to be a part of something so spectacular, and so rewarding. I got to feel a bit of that spirit and feel like I gave a part of me to this cause. I am grateful for this experience, and look forward to supporting this great cause again and again!

So, the day started out a little cool, so I was layered up, but by the start of the race, the sun shone bright and it got warm! I was pleasantly suprised, and despite weather forecasts of lots of rain throughout the day, we never got any! That was amazing too! I was a bit nervous for this run, I must admit, but once I got going, it was okay...I ran with Stephanie and Ron (a guy my Aunt Lori works with), and I let them run ahead for a time, since I was feeling a tad overwhelmed and needed a minute or two by myself. (I was also exhausted, so the reprieve was good, too!). Here we are at the beginning, with my cousin, Michael, who left us in the dust, and ran nearly 10 minutes faster than us!- That's okay, we understand, why would he want to run with 2 thirty-somethings?- when he is just a baby of 18!!! We couldn't keep up with him if we tried, so we didn't!!This was taken when we were at the 6 minute mile starting line...as if!!! We started with the 8 minute mile runners...yeah, didn't quite make that, either! It was both Stephanie and my first race ever! I convinced her to run, and she never stopped, I was impressed- she was fantastic!

After the race began, it took about two minutes before we made it to the start, so it was easy going then, but it did get harder, and I was tired by 1.5 miles! I was only half way- this couldn't be happening! But I didn't stop!! I kept going till mile 2- then by 2. something, I slowed a bit and tried to absorb all around me- seriously, it was so thrilling and so full of emotion, everywhere. There were bands playing all over, there were cheerleaders, there were crowds of strangers rooting on everyone! I felt like I had my own personal cheerleader nearly the whole time! From about 2.5 on to 3, I got a surge of energy from all the Harley Davidson Bikers that lined the last leg of half mile- they had their engines revving for us, and probably 150 hands out to slap as you ran by, and I hit nearly every one of them! I was in awe- so many Harley men out on their bikes wearing some piece of pink! I loved it! They kept me going, and if it weren't for them, I probably would've been walking by this point! They saved me! All of a sudden, I see the huge clock running and I realize I am at the end!

33:20 was my official time!

If you take off the starting slow down, it was a tad better, but I am happy nonetheless! I usually run a mile in 9:30 on my tread, but outside with this crowd, I was off, but hey, it was fun! I am actually looking forward to doing one again, soon, perhaps! I loved it! I really did, though I do have to work on staying running for the whole time. If it weren't so darn emotional, I probably wouldn't have slowed down, but I really needed to regroup, for myself.

Here are some pictures of the crowds, and the unreal amount of people in that space!

These are a little blurry because I was actually running when I took these, but you get the idea!

This is Team Lori!! My Aunt, the one in the pink shirt, kneeling in front, is a survivor of over a year!! Everyone in this group did the 5K walk, except Stephanie, Ron, Michael, and me (who isn't in this, since I am taking it!). What love and support for her from all these individuals, for her, just goes to show you what an amazing person my Aunt is- we love her and are so happy she is doing so well! I told her we are already gearing up for Team Lori 2009- and my kids want to participate too! She is inspiring!

This is a view of just the 5K walkers! Seriously, this is simply amazing!This is me after the race, (pay no attention to the sweat and crazy hair)- though do notice the smile, since the race was over!- my signs of Celebration for Lori and my sign in Memory for Peggy. They and so many others that I know and love, this one was for you! And at the end, this is Stephanie, Ron and I...our first 5K completed and in record time!! Check out the sun behind us! It was a perfect day for a run, and even the breeze was nice- we couldn't have asked for a better day- one to remember!

To other survivors I know and love: my grandmother, my aunt Barb, Vickie, Sherry.

Statistics show 1 in 8 women will be affected by Breast Cancer. That is a staggering statistic, so the money raised in this race will help find a cure- so race on!