Running on the (fire)fly

I ran the Firefly 5K Saturday night.
I ran it its inaugural year with my friend Rachel, and this year my friend Angela wanted to do this race.
It was fun to see Angela and run into fellow Mizzou alums Karen and Kyle. Angela went to Mizzou as well, so we almost had a Tiger Team!

Angela, me, Karen and Kyle

The race started around 7:45 p.m. but it really wasn't all that dark like the first year I ran it, when the race was in October. Angela got blinking earrings for herself and me. They were cute! I went to Michael's to buy glow in the dark bracelets and wouldn't you know it, I must have gotten a package that had been there for three years. Those things did. not. glow.
Angela and I, for various reasons, ended up walking most of the race, which was entirely contained in Piedmont Park. That made it kind of a tough course, since parts of it are really narrow for the number of people who showed up for the race.
Despite that, this is a race Angela and I will laugh about later, you know, on the fly.

Komen at 10 Years

I ran Komen Race for the Cure Saturday as a 10-year survivor.
What was nice about this race is it really never even occurred to me. I never thought 10 years ago that I would not really thing about cancer. It's a wonderful feeling.
It was a great race morning. Low humidity and temps weren't so bad. Nice for Atlanta in early May!

This is what 10 years looks like

I ran the race, which is pretty hilly. Although I thought I hadn't do pretty well, I did better than last year.
I also ran into my friend Carolyn, also a survivor, who is running a marathon in all 50 states.

Carolyn and me

Two running buddy survivors. Thankfully, I think of Carolyn as a running buddy now, not really as a survivor. It's a nice place to be. Runner rather than survivor.
I also ran into my friend Jill, who was my physical therapist shortly after all of my cancer surgeries. She's also a survivor. Or rather a cancer thriver. I like that term better.

Jill and me

We received survivor medals again this year, and they were sun catchers. My third sun catcher finisher's medal!

Sun catcher finisher's medaal

I'm honored to run Komen for a 10th year as a survivor. Let's hope we all make it to 20, 30, 40, 50 and beyond!

Beating the Street

I ran the Beat the Street for Little Feet again this year, but this year without my friend Erin, who was out of town.
It was a lovely morning in Oakhurst, where the race is held. Sunny and not too warm just yet.
I'd forgotten what a hilly course it is, though!
Despite that, my big feet did manage to cross the finish line.

Pre-race silliness

I haven't been running as much the past month. My foot has really been bothering me. I'm trying to walk more at work now that the weather is nicer, and several of us are doing the "staircase challenge" and taking the stairs -- all nine flights -- at least once a day at work. I'm usually winded by floor five, but I get get there!
Just like Saturday, I accept the hilly challenges, and I get there!