Komen Race for the Cure 5K

It’s a wonderful thing that this race was for me all about the fundraising and not at all about time. I thought I had my game face on when I left the condo…but it wasn’t until I got my war paint that I really had on my game face!
I made it home from San Francisco by 11 on Friday night, then I had to make my fantastic shirt…and proceed to not sleep all night because I was worried about not hearing my alarm…and the three hour time change totally messes with my head.

At 5:30AM I walked the 1 mile to packet pickup and then walked back home to relax since the 5K wasn’t until 8:30AM. Around 7:45, I decided it was time to walk back and just take in the crazy scene that is a Breast Cancer run/walk with over 25,000 people. Yup that’s 3 miles of warm up walking :)

RACE TIME
Races like this are meant to be for fun. You have to know with 25,000 people and no wave start things are going to be fairly chaotic. The beginning of the race can most certainly be frustrating as a runner that is stuck behind thousands of walkers.

However, I was able to mentally check out of race mode and instead check in to what was truly taking place. People were walking in memory of or to celebrate loved ones and thus excited to be there and that’s why they have gotten themselves to the front. I read all the shirts that I could and took in the great groups and outfits everywhere, to really remember why we were all out in our pink that Saturday morning. It was disappointing to see other runners pushing people down (literally) or tripping themselves because they couldn’t pause for just a bit to get around the initial crowd.

In walking home, it was nearly 90 minutes since the race began and that photo is over 2 miles from the finish line…just a sea of people. It was phenomenal to realize how large this event was. The other thing I like about this Komen event is that over 50% of the funds will stay right here in Miami.

YOUNG SURVIVAL COALITION FUNDRAISING

Thus far with your help, in just 6 days we raised over $600 for Young Survival Coalition (there is still time to donate and be entered in the Oakley raffle)! I was so proud to wear your names and let everyone know my friends are amazing people who took time to donate $1 or $100 it didn’t matter.

David made his way through the maze of people to join me at the end. His knee has been acting up or I probably would have decorated a pink shirt for him . Luckily I already have an arsenal of pink gear because it turns out…I really like wearing pink! Pink Pearl Izumi Streak shoes, pink CEP Compression socks, pink RunningSkirt…pink Powerbalance bracelet, red/purple Oakley bands…seriously, I might have a problem.
————————————————–
Gratitude Journal
Oct 16
I am grateful for pink skirts
I am grateful for racing flats
I am grateful for colored markers
I am grateful for the spirit of survivors
I am grateful for the men wearing pink