#6 - Power is Teal Walk for Ovarian Cancer September 21, 2013.
This started poorly. First, I realize that I have no teal clothing. I do have the shirt for the event, but after participating in a number of walks, thus far, you really need to have the chosen color for all accessories. (Boas, gloves, hats, shin guards, whatever.) Light blue simply will not do.
Secondly, it is raining. Actually, I should be grateful. It had been pouring. Now it's only raining. After arriving at the Lunken playfield, we discover a muddy mess. And it's chilly.
(Yeah, I know....first world problems.)
By the time the walk actually starts, it has stopped raining. We (a group of neighbors, friends and family) are walking in honor of Martha. Martha, a 3-year survivor, is in charge. (of course, she is.) She is on stage, making announcements, herding survivors over for a photo, announcing that raffle tickets are still available, reminding folks that the auction takes place after the walk, etc. Her family is volunteering for this event serving on the set-up committee, registration booth and "whatever-else-needs-to-be-done" committee.
The ovarian cancer walk is significantly smaller than the walk last week to support breast cancer. According to various studies, breast cancer will strike 1 woman out of 8. Ovarian cancer will strike 1 woman out of 67. Often called a "silent" cancer, some of the symptoms of ovarian cancer (persistent indigestion, low back pain, loss of appetite or quickly feeling full, persistent lack of energy) are often ignored or attributed to digestive discomfort.
While not as populated as the breast cancer group, this teal group is equally as fervent as their pink counterparts. The edict to "Know Your Body" in order to detect ovarian cancer early, comes through loud and clear.
Again, I am touched and amazed by the teams of supporters that surround these individuals in their moment of need. This supportive walk is just the tip of the iceberg for the legion of family and friends who organized dinners, arranged for carpool pick-ups, ran errands, and sat in doctor's offices with her because there was a need.
Power IS Teal.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
#5 September 15, 2013 Children's Hospital Heart Institute
Because this Fifty 5K challenge has been going so well, I decided to "double up" this weekend and complete two 5Ks. Today, I was joined by my daughter, Lauren, and together we walked a 5K at Voice of America Park in West Chester. The sponsoring organization was Children's Hospital Heart Institute and they were raising money for summer camps for children.
I need to point out that my daughter is not a morning person. She wanted to come with me, but was lured out of bed only by the promise of breakfast out after the walk.
The walk was an easy flat course, two times around the lake on a paved path. Easy, peasey, lemon squeezy.
The runners started first, followed by the walkers. One runner, took of like a shot and rapidly gained the lead. We hung out near the end and meandered our way around. About halfway through the first loop, we were lapped by the leader, a young woman. I was tired just watching her. Then we were lapped by the next runner. And the next.
I was starting to feel the effects of the walk from the day before. Sore feet, aching knees. Maybe this "double up" wasn't a good idea after all. Lauren was starting to fade. We took our time at the water stops, finishing in just over an hour.
Others kept running. We had though that we were the final participants to cross the finish line, but we were wrong. Several teams were doing a relay run. Tagging in and out, each team member would run several laps, then swap places with another. I inquired as to how long they were running.
6 hours, was the reply.
I cannot make the stuff up.
For the remainder of the day, I would look at the time, and think to myself, "They are still running."
Wow. Commitment. Good for them.
Because this Fifty 5K challenge has been going so well, I decided to "double up" this weekend and complete two 5Ks. Today, I was joined by my daughter, Lauren, and together we walked a 5K at Voice of America Park in West Chester. The sponsoring organization was Children's Hospital Heart Institute and they were raising money for summer camps for children.
I need to point out that my daughter is not a morning person. She wanted to come with me, but was lured out of bed only by the promise of breakfast out after the walk.
The walk was an easy flat course, two times around the lake on a paved path. Easy, peasey, lemon squeezy.
The runners started first, followed by the walkers. One runner, took of like a shot and rapidly gained the lead. We hung out near the end and meandered our way around. About halfway through the first loop, we were lapped by the leader, a young woman. I was tired just watching her. Then we were lapped by the next runner. And the next.
I was starting to feel the effects of the walk from the day before. Sore feet, aching knees. Maybe this "double up" wasn't a good idea after all. Lauren was starting to fade. We took our time at the water stops, finishing in just over an hour.
Others kept running. We had though that we were the final participants to cross the finish line, but we were wrong. Several teams were doing a relay run. Tagging in and out, each team member would run several laps, then swap places with another. I inquired as to how long they were running.
6 hours, was the reply.
I cannot make the stuff up.
For the remainder of the day, I would look at the time, and think to myself, "They are still running."
Wow. Commitment. Good for them.
#4 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
#4 - Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure September 14, 2013
Big and Small, Save them all.
Save the Ta-Tas
Walkers for Knockers.
Saving Second Base.
Tough enough to wear pink.
Save the Treasured Chests.
All of the above statements were found on t-shirts at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This is a BIG event. Held in downtown Cincinnati, the walk follows a route around the baseball stadium, over the bridge to Kentucky, around Newport on the Levee, and back to Ohio via another bridge, ending at Great American Ball Park.
I was joined by my friend Margaret and together we walked in memory of our friend, Bev. Bev didn't have breast cancer, but she did have cancer, and anyways, you are not the boss of me, so I can walk for Bev whenever I want.
Many runners/walkers had pinned commemoration badges on their t-shirts. They were walking for Mom, Grammie, Nana, Aunt Janet, Aunt Sue, Aunt Barb, Brenda, Mary Anne, Tanya, Joan, Mommy, Cousin, Sister, Sister-in-law, Natasha, Victoria, Andrea, Sylvia, Dolores, Co-workers, Neighbors, Friends, and on and on it went. Some badges listed one name, others were filled with names.
Before participating in this walk, I was more than a little concerned. I thought it would be sad. A walk in memory of all those women who lost their battle or who are fighting this hideous disease. Surely this could not be a good time.
But it wasn't sad. It was a celebration. It was a time to remember those who lost their battle, but also a time to celebrate who they were. And to offer support to all those who are currently fighting.
I was amazed at the number of young girls at the race. Growing up, I remember a time when you did not say the word "breast" in polite company, much less discuss methods for prevention or detection of breast cancer. It just wasn't done.
I was amazed at the number of women at the finish line who proudly announced how many years they had been survivors.
I was amazed at the number of bald women, wearing pink boas and survivor t-shirts, laughing with their teams of supporters.
She fought like a girl...and won.
Big and Small, Save them all.
Save the Ta-Tas
Walkers for Knockers.
Saving Second Base.
Tough enough to wear pink.
Save the Treasured Chests.
All of the above statements were found on t-shirts at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This is a BIG event. Held in downtown Cincinnati, the walk follows a route around the baseball stadium, over the bridge to Kentucky, around Newport on the Levee, and back to Ohio via another bridge, ending at Great American Ball Park.
I was joined by my friend Margaret and together we walked in memory of our friend, Bev. Bev didn't have breast cancer, but she did have cancer, and anyways, you are not the boss of me, so I can walk for Bev whenever I want.
Many runners/walkers had pinned commemoration badges on their t-shirts. They were walking for Mom, Grammie, Nana, Aunt Janet, Aunt Sue, Aunt Barb, Brenda, Mary Anne, Tanya, Joan, Mommy, Cousin, Sister, Sister-in-law, Natasha, Victoria, Andrea, Sylvia, Dolores, Co-workers, Neighbors, Friends, and on and on it went. Some badges listed one name, others were filled with names.
Before participating in this walk, I was more than a little concerned. I thought it would be sad. A walk in memory of all those women who lost their battle or who are fighting this hideous disease. Surely this could not be a good time.
But it wasn't sad. It was a celebration. It was a time to remember those who lost their battle, but also a time to celebrate who they were. And to offer support to all those who are currently fighting.
I was amazed at the number of young girls at the race. Growing up, I remember a time when you did not say the word "breast" in polite company, much less discuss methods for prevention or detection of breast cancer. It just wasn't done.
I was amazed at the number of women at the finish line who proudly announced how many years they had been survivors.
I was amazed at the number of bald women, wearing pink boas and survivor t-shirts, laughing with their teams of supporters.
She fought like a girl...and won.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
#3a - Buddy Walk September 7, 2013
After careful thought...I cannot count this one as a 5k. Even if I include the walk from the parking lot and back, I still don't think it was 5k.
But it was fun. The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati has been doing the Buddy Walk for 12 years. It is a fantastic organization that has helped my family tremendously throughout the years.
We walk this year (as we do every year) in memory of Lindsay Smith, a young girl with Down Syndrome who died at age eleven and a half. Melinda, Lindsay's mom, and I became good friends shortly after our daughters were born less than a month apart. Lindsay's mom has a "don't mess with me attitude" that is evident in every part of her life. Often, when I am struggling with something in my life, I tell Melinda about it, and she "cuts through the crap" and asks me rather pointed questions about the problem and everything becomes very clear as to the path I should take very quickly.
Years ago, I made Melinda accompany me to the first Buddy Walk. She wasn't interested in going and was quite verbal about it. She did relent, and then began to formulate a idea about having a "team" of walkers in memory of Lindsay. The next year, over 100 walkers, all wearing pink hats, walked in memory of Lindsay. That year, the team raised over $7,000 for the Down Syndrome Association. each year is a different cast of characters from Lindsay's life. Aunts, uncles, cousins, former teachers, neighbors, and now, newcomers who never got to meet her participate in a grand leisurely stroll around Sawyer Point park. At the end, we release pink balloons for Lindsay.
All in all, a good day.
After careful thought...I cannot count this one as a 5k. Even if I include the walk from the parking lot and back, I still don't think it was 5k.
But it was fun. The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati has been doing the Buddy Walk for 12 years. It is a fantastic organization that has helped my family tremendously throughout the years.
We walk this year (as we do every year) in memory of Lindsay Smith, a young girl with Down Syndrome who died at age eleven and a half. Melinda, Lindsay's mom, and I became good friends shortly after our daughters were born less than a month apart. Lindsay's mom has a "don't mess with me attitude" that is evident in every part of her life. Often, when I am struggling with something in my life, I tell Melinda about it, and she "cuts through the crap" and asks me rather pointed questions about the problem and everything becomes very clear as to the path I should take very quickly.
Years ago, I made Melinda accompany me to the first Buddy Walk. She wasn't interested in going and was quite verbal about it. She did relent, and then began to formulate a idea about having a "team" of walkers in memory of Lindsay. The next year, over 100 walkers, all wearing pink hats, walked in memory of Lindsay. That year, the team raised over $7,000 for the Down Syndrome Association. each year is a different cast of characters from Lindsay's life. Aunts, uncles, cousins, former teachers, neighbors, and now, newcomers who never got to meet her participate in a grand leisurely stroll around Sawyer Point park. At the end, we release pink balloons for Lindsay.
All in all, a good day.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
5K #3 - Cheetah Run
This 50 5Ks is a horrible idea and I should not have told anyone about it.
I am thinking this as I climbed the steep hills around the Cincinnati Zoo this morning. Then careening down the opposite side...praying I wouldn't fall down.
As with many things, the Cheetah Run sounded like a good idea in theory. Walk around the zoo, see the animals, get another 5K under my belt.
In practice, it was a rude awakening. We arrived at the zoo before the animals were awake. Jo, my intrepid walk companion, had no coffee. Rocky was.....energetic. She was going to run the 5K. We were going to walk.
I should have known that something was up when other race participants were discussing finish times and heading to the front of the pack. Jo and I hung out in the back near the stroller crowd.
The gun went off and the crowd surged forward. It took about 20 minutes for us to meander the route through the zoo. As we are exiting the zoo to circle around outside, the leaders of the pack are re-entering at the same point.
Kinda demoralizing.
Lots of steep hills and water stations later...we finished in 1 hour. We were passed by numerous strollers.
Then had breakfast at the waffle place. Yum. So worth it.
I am thinking this as I climbed the steep hills around the Cincinnati Zoo this morning. Then careening down the opposite side...praying I wouldn't fall down.
As with many things, the Cheetah Run sounded like a good idea in theory. Walk around the zoo, see the animals, get another 5K under my belt.
In practice, it was a rude awakening. We arrived at the zoo before the animals were awake. Jo, my intrepid walk companion, had no coffee. Rocky was.....energetic. She was going to run the 5K. We were going to walk.
I should have known that something was up when other race participants were discussing finish times and heading to the front of the pack. Jo and I hung out in the back near the stroller crowd.
The gun went off and the crowd surged forward. It took about 20 minutes for us to meander the route through the zoo. As we are exiting the zoo to circle around outside, the leaders of the pack are re-entering at the same point.
Kinda demoralizing.
Lots of steep hills and water stations later...we finished in 1 hour. We were passed by numerous strollers.
Then had breakfast at the waffle place. Yum. So worth it.
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