The Lahey 5K

I am writing this sitting in my coveted survivor t-shirt from today's race. The Lahey Health 5K Cancer Walk and Run is a great event. They have lots of food, tables under a giant tent, bouncy houses (which we did consider going on) and even better lots of people! The organizer's said that this year had more participants than ever and were very close to hitting their goal for fundraising. People were very generous with there donations and my awesome co-workers decided to put the money from our bake sale under my name, so my official total was over $3,000. Amazing. My goals was $400. Part of the money goes toward survivor programs, so you could say I had a personal interest in it.

Here is me and my parents. I have already put my survivor t-shirt on. Mom and Dad are post walk. 

Last year, I ran the Lahey 5K to support the organization I didn't know that much about and it poured rain the entire time. I went by myself. There were only 120 people running and I ended up winning; running 20:32.

This year I ran to support the Cancer Center and all it's programs and the life it has given me. It was 85 degrees, humid and triple the amount of people running. I came with an entourage; my parents, my friend from the 3rd grade who ran with me through chemo, her fiance, and one of my friends who is a high school/GBTC teammate (I think we've been teammates for 11 years).  I ran ONLY 4 seconds slower than last year! 20:36 (6:39 min/mile) pace. I would have beaten it too, but apparently the heat training I did in Arizona did not pay off. I had to stop for a few seconds to dry heave half a mile from the finish line and ended up getting passed by another woman.  I regrouped I ended up 4th woman overall! I will take it. I am really excited about how well my body has recovered and the fitness that I have gained.  I ran into my oncologist and nurse practitioner at the walk. The were both really happy to hear that  given the year I nearly ran the same time.

Thanks to everyone who donated and offered encouragement, it was greatly appreciated. I'm off to drink more water and dream of the pool I swam in everyday on vacation.

This is often a song in my head why I run. I definitely need some Warriors Code with half a mile to go.