Komen Race for the Cure 2012

I'm finally getting around to writing about my second 5k.  I think i have procrastinated on starting this one because I can figure out what I want to say.
There's too much to say.
Yes, it was my second 5k in my monthly series of 5ks.  Yes, I got my best time ever.  Yes, I ran the whole thing without stopping.
But those things all paled in comparison to the experience with my friends and the fact that I'm still running for my Daddy.

My sweet, precious, faithful friend Cathy is battling breast cancer.  She is only 34 - too young!  She has 2 small children - too busy, too needed.
We are blessed to have a small group of families that we share our lives with.  There are about 10 families that meet every Sunday evening to pray, eat, and let the little kids play.  The women in this group are particularly close.  I don't even know how it happened - it's just God.  And thank God for each other.  We call ourselves Cathy's Chemosabes :)

As a group, we've been doing whatever we can think of to support our friend.  One lady has organized the meals that are provided, especially on the days following each treatment.  We all gathered in Cathy's basement to decorate for her daughter's birthday party when Cathy didnt' have the energy to do it on her own.  We've worn pink, made ribbons, and prayed on our knees for her healing.

This past Saturday, we joined together to show our support at the North Central Alabama Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.

Leading up to the race, we've had Pink Sales at church to raise money for out team.  We raised over $1,300!  That's enough for several mammograms for uninsured and under-insured women.

Pink Sale at church

Before the race started, there was a Survivor Parade.  All of the women, and men, who are battling or have battled breast cancer gathered in their hot pink shirts and paraded to the starting line.  Many were smiling and high fiving the crowd.  Others were so emotional that they couldn't hold back the tears.  It was the same for us in the crowd - not many dry eyes watching those brave warriors in pink!  Just as the parade started, we looked up to see our girl Cathy right in front!  She was smiling SO BIG!  She had just met her BC pen pal and was walking arm in arm with her.  So precious!

There were over 15,000 people there for the race and several other supporters there.  What a crowd!  We somehow got most of our group together for the start of the race.  Most of the runners started towards the front and the rest of us gathered around the block.  I wanted to start with Cathy, but I started running at the starting line.

And I kept running.

I ran uphill, downhill, around turns, between people, past people, to the finish line!!!

Once I crossed the line, I got my bottle of water, did a little happy dance, and called my friends who were still walking.  I re-entered the race and found my people.

Here they come!

We completed the last few blocks all together and crossed the finish line with Cathy!

Look at that smile!!!!

The first finish line of many that we will cross by her side!  She's the one doing the work, but we will be with her the whole way!

Silly girls with the PINK Sheriff's car.

I love this picture!

Love you, Cathy!

October Workout Calendar

I can't believe September is over!
I only missed one workout all month.  I've been working so hard and my running has really improved.  I've been spending a lot of time taking care of my very sick mama, so I just  needed a day off and a little extra rest.  Honestly, I think the workout would have made it better.
Here's what I plan to do in October.  I'm sure it will be another busy month, but I'm getting addicted to working out!

My 5k for the month is the Komen Race for the Cure.  I have a very dear friend who is battling breast cancer right now. She is SO loved by many that we have a HUGE team running in her honor.  Some will walk, and she will crawl if she has to, but we will all cross that finish line to find a cure and catch it early!  I'm looking forward to the 20th!

I have made some changes to it.  Instead of the Shred, I'm doing the 30-day May Challenge from BodyRock.tv.  I'm in week 3 of the challenge and it is still a challenge!  If I get results anywhere near what other people have gotten I'll be thrilled!
I'm using Hulu to find yoga videos.  I think I've done most of the available videos and I've found my favorites.  I can usually find just the type of yoga I need each Wednesday.
The AT runs are an Intermediate 5k Plan from Active Trainer.  It has been challenging, but I've taken almost 2 minutes off of my mile since I started running!

My Color Run Experience

Those of you who know me know that I've been training to run a 5k for a few months now.  My first 5k to tackle was The Color Run here in Birmingham.  I have been looking forward to this race since I first heard of it.  I couldn't wait to sign up.  I'm pretty sure I was one of the first to register here!
The idea of The Color Run is to start out clean and white and end covered in a rainbow of colors at the finish line.  There are people stationed at each km to douse you with a different colored powder.  Sounds fun, right?

Well, the week before the race I was out of town and caught a cold.  On the flight home, my ears protested to popping and I ended up with a miserable ear infection in each ear.

Not. Fun.

But, I went to the doc, got the booty shot and some antibiotics, and got as much rest as I could before the race.
The day of the race, I could actually hear out of both ears and my face didn't feel like it was going to explode.  I hadn't been able to run in over a week, but I was determined to do it!  My sweet friend Alice, who is a cross country coach, ran with me.  She's been sick too!
We met at her house with the rest of our team bright and early in the morning and made a quick drive over to Barber Motor Sports for the race.  The sky wasn't quite sunny, but it was clear.  We were an hour and a half out from the race and dressed in our new white clothes - ready to run!

And then it happened...the sky opened up...and the rain came down...

and came down....

and came down lots more...

Before we even started the race, we were standing in lakes and rivers of rain!

   

 We weren't really sure we were going to be running.  My fingers even got pruney waiting for the start!










The start was delayed a little bit, but everyone was still ready to go for it.  Some people got antsy waiting in the corral, so the color started flying a little early!

My first bit of color and I hadn't run at all!

And then it happened - we started running! The rain kept coming down, sometimes pretty hard, and we even heard a little thunder, but I did it!  

Driving rain and ear infections - who cares?  I was COLOR RUNNING!

The track was kind of hard - lots of hills, but I can say I ran about 90% of it - not bad for a sick girl who has never run hills before!  

It was so much fun!  I've never done this race when it wasn't raining, but I think the WaterColor Run was even more fun!

Our group saved our powder packets to throw at each other - and look, PURPLE AND GOLD!

It was a great experience.  Not only did I accomplish a personal goal (mostly), but I was part of a big fun event in Birmingham!  If you are thinking about doing it - JUST DO IT!

Our team, The Red Letters, worked together to raise money for Team 1Verse - a Bible translation mission.  We are raising money for the Rutara tribe in South Asia.  They've never had the Bible in their language, but they will with your help.  Please click here to donate a verse or a few!

My favorite picture of the day!

Before and After

After our team powder fight

Super thankful for a clean DRY shirt and Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Latte - my favorite!!!