Weekend Recap

As predicted on last Wednesday, I had an absolutely wonderful time running with my daughter-in-law at the Cooper Young 4 Miler on Friday night. We ran/walked to a finish of 49:42 which was well back in the pack, but it was a fun time together. I am so blessed by this wonderful new addition to our family.

I love the Cooper-Young neighborhood of Midtown, Memphis. There were happy, rowdy crowds almost entirely along the route, cheering us on as we made our way past the decorated homes with bright, white lights in the trees and strung along porches. Some yard parties had bands with horns, guitars, and drums. And of course there was copious amounts of alchohol keeping the spirits high!

My son had a PR in the 4 miler, and admitted it was largely due to the boisterous crowds that spurred him on. We're not used to that kind of special treatment during our usual early Saturday morning 5K's. But, I told him, come December at the St. Jude-Memphis Marathon, it will be even more inspiring as we run by the nearly non-stop crowds. They'll be cheering us on, waving signs and banners for kids in their families, or kids they know, who've spent time at St. Jude. It will be just the thing to keep the adrenalin flowing. I'm very excited as this will be his first 1/2 marathon.

Saturday morning, on my long run, I was at the nine mile mark at the turn around point to head back to do the final 4 miles to the car. It was about nine o'clock and already 84 degrees, quickly ascending to an eventual 99 degrees. My knees were aching and my legs were kind of shaking, amidst all the other aches and pains creeping in. Did I say it was hot??? As I turned around to head back to the car, I wondered to myself if I could actually make it home...or would I have to walk it out. And then I thought of the kids down at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital that very moment, who were undergoing all kinds of cruel and difficult procedures to rid their small bodies of cancer and other childhood diseases. At that point, my pains subsided and the miles ahead all of a sudden seemed short and insignificant. Thinking of all those kids were going through, I surely could make it back down the dusty road to my car. And I did.

I have to say it turned out to be the easiest 4 miles of the day. As I ran I considered: I'm so thankful for my two grown children who never had to experience anything like a devastating childhood disease.

And so I continue to run, toward my goal of running my first full marathon, and to raise money for St. Jude Children's Reearch Hospital. Maybe someday that beautiful structure will be empty, with cobwebs in the patient rooms and doorways, because there will be no need for their services. But until that day, let's work together to put them out of business, by contributing to help them cure all the kids with cancer.