Race Day

So today was the day!!! My first 5K organized run...that I even paid for! I will start out by thanking my sister, Kristin who was my #1 moral supporter! Even though she's a super duper runner who's been blessed with long fast legs (and long skinny arms I might add) - she ran WITH me at a slower pace so we could do this one together! And although she was the #1 moral supporter, I cannot forget to mention that we also pushed Owen in the Bob jogger the whole time also! That would be an additional 35+ lbs around town! Owen was our very own personal cheering section - he'd flash us the occasional thumbs up, and when I needed to take walk breaks (yes, there were a few) or trade with Kris so she could push him for a little while - he'd quickly pipe up from his comfy seated position..."Come on Mom, you can keep running..." or, "Mom - go faster - come on!" It was so fun! 

So I haven't even mentioned what we did - All 3 of us were a part of the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.  What an amazing event with incredible energy and love all around.  The 3 of us also attended the Health Expo last Friday to pick up our tee shirts, numbers and some freebies - and while we were there, we noticed a booth called "Dragonfly Tails" - there were beautiful ribbons in pink, purple and white all hanging with decoration - of course, Owen wanted to do this craft immediately - and he chose pink! As we were busy drawing and placing stamps and stickers in various spots - the woman behind the table mentioned that these were ribbons that would be hung outside on race day to remember someone you've lost to breast cancer, or to celebrate someone you love with or surviving the disease.  Kristin and I both looked at one another and realized instantly we are so lucky to have not lost anyone we love to this disease - nor do we personally know anyone affected by it - yes, we all know someone through someone etc - but when we really tried to think about it - we couldn't.....how lucky are we! So, because we know it doesn't mean that we won't ever know anyone - Owen continued to decorate that ribbon and we hung it with hope! We hung it because of all the people we know through someone - and because he did such a good job! 

I think this will have to be a yearly tradition now - as a Mom I think that being a part of this day is so important - and as a Mom to a daughter now - I feel it's my responsibility to do everything I can now to insure that Elise will hopefully never have to worry about breast cancer in her adult life time! (yes, I realize this affects Men as well - and I did this today as much for Owen to have hope!) Perhaps a BIG hope - but my hope...Owen says next year he wants to run with me, and that he's really really fast! Do you think I could get him to push me? 

Much love to you all - and as our favorite signs and tee shirts said today - "Save the TaTa's!" Because really, if we don't have humor in life, what do we have?