Let's Give Em Something to Run About

Another Saturday, the long runs are slowly getting a little longer. Yesterday I was feeling a little soreness from being GI Jane the day before, but surprisingly not as much as I was expecting, or secretly hoping for. Just a little pec soreness from all the freakin pushups - I have to say incorporating those little suckers into my daily life wouldn't be a bad idea. (let's see if that actually ever happens...)

Anyhow, we met at Lake Merritt today. My first time to visit this lake in the middle of Oakland that EVERYONE raves about. My only comment: It aint no town lake, that's for sure! (correction regardless of how much I resist it: Lady Bird Lake) I am sure this lake has it's days, but it's basicaly a 3.2 mile loop around a generally cirucular lake - so you totally see where you are needing to get to, you know? The weather was gray, which means the water was gray, even the trees looked gray. Nevertheless, Sue and I joined forces and took off, intermittenly tagged by different mentors along the way. I mainly recall squashing lots of goose poop with my shoes for the majority of the run, not to mention the geese themselves refusing to move out of my way. Literally like 30 geese took over the path and honked and flapped and all the sudden the run turned into hopskotch. (I have to just note that as a child I was actually attached by a Mother Goose, really a mom protecting her babies) In the end I made it, letting the geese know I didn't want their lake and pleaded with them to let me through. I had to loop the lake almost 2 times, completing 5.5 miles in 53 minutes. Finishing: Gray.

Following the run, we had an Honoree Potluck with lots of yummy Starbucks coffee, scones, fritattas and fruit. Our honorees presented their stories, shared their battles with diagnosis, chemotherapy and for some, recovery. There were tears, laughs and definitely appreciation. As I was leaving, I realized the impact of my running, our fundraising, and the research I had the opportunity to hear about in action as a result. I left inspired by their strength, my strength, and the strength in numbers.