5K Run About More Than Competing for Two Runners

My husband MJ and I woke up early, before the kids even, and snuck downstairs in our running clothes. When the sitter arrived, we quietly laced up our tennis shoes and headed out the door.

Quail Ridge Park was already buzzing with activity when we arrived for the. We registered for the race and then I got in the longer-by-the-minute bathroom line for ladies, while MJ headed straight into the men’s room. We regrouped to stretch.

The start of the race was still 30 minutes away and there had to be more than 150 people around the picnic area and parking lot. I looked around and noticed a lot of runners who looked very seasoned. I always get nervous before a race even though I run 5K races often.

It made me relax and smile to see groups of families and friends sporting matching t-shirts with inspiring messages on them like, “This one’s for Oma!” or “Aunt Peggy’s Team”. It reminded everyone of why we had all gathered on a humid June morning—to celebrate cancer survivors.

Taking off from the starting line, we climbed uphill. I had taken off too quickly, which is always a pitfall of long-distance races and I knew I would need to slow down or risk petering out before the finish. I was surprised by the number of elementary-school-aged kids that were running, and running well. Just before the second mile marker, I finally caught a little girl who looked to be about 9 years-old. As we passed, we gave each other a high-five. For me, that captured the spirit of the race.

When I was passed, my competitor’s offered words of encouragement. When I passed another, I passed those words on. There’s a sense of community among runners, and we take care of each other. I love the camaraderie and sportsmanship when you can walk up to someone who has given you a run for your money and clap them on the shoulder and with complete sincerity say, “Great race!”

After we finished, the race sponsors provided so much swag I thought I had died and gone to Cannes. There were free bottles of water, smoothies, bagels, cookies, and fruit. There were water bottles, magnets, coupons, and free massages. It was definitely worth the run.

With all of the great runners, MJ and I were lucky enough to place. He came in fourth overall and first in his age division. I took home my first 5K medal—second place in my age division. It’s a small victory compared to what cancer survivors have conquered.

I don’t think there is anyone who has not been affected in some way by cancer. Everyone has had a family member, a neighbor, a friend, an acquaintance that has been touched in some way by it. Many have received the diagnosis firsthand. It feels good to support a cause while doing something we love.

While a medal might be nice, getting a clean bill of health is priceless.