Think Pink

I have to take just a short break from the latest pictures of Anna (don't worry there is one at the end) to tell you about something Jeff and I did . On February 17, Jeff and I went to Jacksonville to run the inaugural 26.2 with Donna: The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer. We have been training since November and we ran the half marathon. It was a beautiful day (actually a little too warm for running), part of the course was on the beach, and I beat Jeff by ten minutes, but that's not the important part. This was a very well organized event, especially for it being the inaugural year. Over seven thousand people ran and the energy was amazing. If you have ever participated in a Race for the Cure or The 3 Day or 2 Day Walk for Breast Cancer, you know how a great cause can really bring people together. Many runners had special shirts or stickers explaining that they were running in honor or in memory of someone. Jeff and I totally missed these at the expo. Considering both of our mothers are survivors of breast cancer, you think we would have noticed these, geesh! So since I had nothing to do but run for 2 hours and 23 minutes, I had a lot of time to read what everyone wrote. Here are some of my favorites:
"I'm running for mom" (I saw way too many of these)
"I'm running for you!"
"I'm running for 1 in 8 women"
"I'm running for her" (with and arrow pointed to the person next to him)
"I hate cancer! I love boobs!"
But the very best thing I saw all day were matching shirts worn by a man and woman (about my age). They had a picture of two beautiful little girls and it said, "I'm running for a cure so they won't have to." Well doesn't that just sum it up? I hope that sentence isn't trademarked because it is my new motto for my next big challenge.

In September I will be doing the 3 Day Walk for Breast Cancer Benefiting Susan G. Komen for a Cure. I did the walk in 2002 and I am signed on again. I'll be walking with my mom, sister, cousin, aunts, and a group of wonderful friends. You will definitely be hearing more about this over email (unless you are a friendly blog-stalker--I hope I have at least one or two), but I wanted to make the official announcement here.
Check out my 3 Day web site to learn more about why I am walking.

Jeff and I didn't take our camera with us, so here is a picture I snapped of the medal once we got home. Isn't it cute?

I'm walking 60 miles in 3 days to help find a cure for breast cancer so she doesn't have to.