Revisiting the past

This weekend was the Tour de Pink Atlanta 5K, which I ran with my friend Erin.
The event is actually a bike ride, but the organization added a 5K run/walk, I'd like to think at my suggestion.
I've had a long history with the Tour de Pink Atlanta, because I was there for its first one back in 2009, when it was cold and rainy. I didn't have a bike, so ended up helping to drive the SAG wagon, but in the post-race suggestions, I said they ought to add a 5K!
The bike event benefits Young Survival Coalition, which I've been a part of since I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.
Now that I'm seven years from diagnosis, revisiting my cancer past is somewhat bittersweet.
There are many women, and men, I know as a result of my diagnosis. They would be in my life no other way than through cancer. Not exactly the way I would have chosen to meet any of them, but that's just the way it happened. Knowing those friends is truly the "sweet" part of cancer, and believe me, it's hard to write that, because really no part of cancer is sweet.
But events like the Tour de Pink Atlanta also remind me of the bitter part of cancer, particularly the bitterness of losing so many young friends to the disease.
Last year, during the survivor ceremony, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the memory of my friend Kat, who died just a week before the Tour de Pink Atlanta. She died from a blood clot after giving birth to her SECOND post-cancer baby.
Post-cancer babies, I think, are truly miracles and so life-affirming.
They come after a time of uncertainty and hurt, and provide the sweetness and light that only children can provide. Especially children to parents who weren't sure they could HAVE children after cancer.
I honestly feel that post-cancer babies are a sign we are winning. A giant F-U to cancer. A sign that cancer can't take everything, because here is this little miracle.
This year's race had a little more sweetness than bitterness, in my opinion.

Before the race, my "pink" friends Christina, Vanetta, Maya and Erin

Pre-race fun: Christina, Maya, Erin and me

Erin and I got to the race in Alpharetta pre-dawn. Getting up at 5:30 am for a race is hard, particularly when it is so nice and cool outside, and the bed is so nice and warm with two kitties all snuggled up with me!

At the start

Sunrise at the race

 

Me and Suzanne, the survivor speaker at the event 

After the survivor ceremony, the bicyclists all start out first. Best not to mow over the runners and walkers!
Erin and I both felt we had "lead legs" for the race, but we came in around 34 minutes, which would be absolutely stellar for a 5K for me. Except the course is short by about a quarter mile. :)
That's OK. We did an 11 minute first mile, which I knew we were running fast.

Every 5K should finish with wine!

 Erin and I clearly rewarded ourselves for our hard effort with a glass of wine at the post-race celebration. Every 5K should end this way in my book!
That is the real fun of Tour de Pink Atlanta. It's not JUST a race, it is a festive celebration, with live bands, lunch, beverages and camaraderie.
And then there was THIS celebration:

Lisa and Kevin, a post-cancer baby

Lisa, Kevin, Erin, Me and Maya

This was Kevin's first 5K, which should be reason enough to celebrate, but Kevin is also a post-cancer baby. Mom Lisa and Dad David were at the event to show him off and we all simply fell in love with him! What a doll.
I think it might have been the sweetest part of revisiting my past today.

Five miles of smiles

For the second year, I ran this morning's Singleton 5M race with my friend Kellie.
I really like this race, sponsored by the Atlanta Track Club. It's a good stretch of the legs, and this morning's race was near perfect. It was cool, and even began to sprinkle a little. It was overcast, so there wasn't a real heat issue.

Me and Kellie before the race

I had a really good race. I came out fast in the first mile, but was able to settle in to a good race pace and finished just after an hour. I kept thinking during the race that I needed to remember that I wanted to use this pace for the half marathon in Savannah in November. I may have even talked Kellie into the race!
The ironic thing was, I stopped several times to collect found money. Seriously, if I hadn't done that, I might have come in in the hour flat that I ran the race last year. But, then I wouldn't have 48 cents in the found money pig.

The pig got a good 48 cent meal today

Kellie is a much faster runner, so she caught a couple of me at the finish.

Come in all smiles

Finished!

Kellie said she considered doing the 10 miler today, rather than the 5 miler. I was nearing the finish when the 10 mile men's winner passed me. Show off! LOL
I told Kellie she needs to do the 10 miler next year and I'll be waiting at the finish to get HER finishing photo.
In all, another great run with another great running buddy.
Yes, all smiles for those five miles.

Getting some action

Here it is mid-September and I'm behind on the blog again.
I've got three more races completed and I've started training in earnest for the half marathon in November.
First, I did the Action Dash 5K on Labor Day with my friend Joann. This was one she suggested, as many members of her church were participating.
It was over in Piedmont Park, and wouldn't you know it, it absolutely poured for the race. Where was my rain poncho? Staying nice and dry in the closet. I didn't think it would rain that morning, so I didn't bring it.

Me and Joann, waiting out the rain delay

 It rained so hard, the race start was actually delayed by about 20 minutes. We were finally underway and Joann and I both got soaked.

Joann and I found some superheroes

The next weekend I didn't run a 5K, but I started training for the half in Savannah. It was hot and humid here in Atlanta, so the run just felt like a slog.
I ran the Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk 5K again this year with some co-workers on Sept. 12.
Last year we had a much bigger group participate, but this year it was just four of us. Others signed up, but traffic and a work event Sept. 13 kind of conspired to keep folks from the race.
But this weekend, fall really felt like it had arrived in the city.
My friend Erin and I ran the Wheelbarrow 5K in Reynoldstown on Saturday, one of the older neighborhoods in Atlanta. The start of the race was 55 degrees! I brought my sweatshirt, and almost expected to run in it, but then left it in the car.

Erin and me

The Kaiser race was so hot. 84 degrees through downtown Atlanta. But Saturday's race was so pleasant. I took almost three minutes off my 5K time from Thursday to Saturday.
I was on the computer tonight looking for races to sort of take me though the end of the year. I have races in mind, or I'm signed up, for races through the half marathon Nov. 9, but after that I'm pretty wide open.
The holiday season makes it harder to do races, but I hope I can keep fit following the half. it will be a time to consider what half marathon I might want to do in the spring. I'd love to be able to do a half marathon in the spring and then fall.
Now THAT would allow me to get in some racing action.