Race for the Cure -- The Finish Line!

I didn't want to take time away from visiting with my Aunt while she was here to do things like fussing with posting a blog entry. Now that we are caught up from a family focused week, it's time to let you all know what a GREAT experience we all had at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Boston. I am very happy to report that I finished the Race for the Cure with a time just over 32 minutes! I ran the race in 32:21! That is way faster than I expected to do! My Aunt Melissa also completed the course as a walker with my husband Stuart and my Mom with her the whole way! She did great! And I was so very proud of her, and my family for doing the race along with me. The week before, I made some nice pink sequined wrist bands for us to wear as our team emblem. I made them with fabric glue and they had velcro closures. It was easy to do, and they were surprisingly comfortable and cozy warm on a brisk morning. Instead of wrist bands, Stuart had a pink sequined hat band for his straw hat. You need 10 people to make an official team, but the four of us certainly still had team spirit! The race was held at the athletic center at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The event volunteers were very well organized, and helped us every step of the way! The day was beautiful, crisp and just the right temperature. The course was mercifully flat, and snaked up a main road, and then looped back to the athletic center. As we did the U turn in the race, and I saw the sea of pink t-shirts for the runners and walkers who were "behind me" still heading into the turn, I couldn't help but think that we had become the iconic pink ribbon. It was extremely moving and motivating to be literally face to face with my reasons for running the race. Every time I glanced down at my GPS, it said I was going faster than I expected. Still I had trained well enough to carefully pace myself, and towards the end, as some of the other runners became walkers, I was able to keep running towards the finish line. I even gained speed at the end. I ran the entire race, which was my personal goal for this event! I am also extremely happy that I was able to EXCEED my fundraising goal for the event! The Race as a whole has raised over $450,000!! It is so amazing how everyone's efforts and contributions add up to be such a significant amount. Many thanks to the Susan G. Komen organization for their dedication and to everyone who contributed both financially and with those positive messages of support. The support here was truly a key component in doing this. Thank you! I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to do this event to support my family, and to apply my efforts of body, speech and mind to benefit families everywhere. I know that together we will ultimately find better answers.