26.2 With Donna

Miles in 2013: 112.3

This weekend I went to Jacksonville to run the half marathon at the 26.2 With Donna race.  The race is the one of the largest races that 100% of the proceeds go to Breast Cancer research.  When Jen was diagnosed in June, I had a gut reaction and signed up for this race.  I went to the expo and walked around with Gloria and Betty, two of my favorite breast cancer survivors.  At the expo I got a sweet deal on a "vintage Donna" shirt and signed Jen's name on a big board with the word "love" on it.  Gloria and Betty signed one that says "finish."  I didn't know what they were for but I did see them later.

See "Jen" in a heart to the left of the "L"?

Betty and Gloria signing

Race morning was really cold and windy in Jacksonville.  Leah and I thought we might try and PR and tried to run with the 2:10 pace group.  About 2 miles into the race we realized that was not going to happen for us.  Leah and I split up not long after that and I ran a little ways ahead of her.  Around mile 6 we hit the beach and ran the "memorial mile"  - There were those signs again!  Somewhere along this mile was a man holding a sign that simply said "Jen"  I snapped a photo of just the sign and kept running.  About 100 yards up the beach I turned around, ran back to him and asked to take a picture holding his sign.  I'm sure this detour added a few extra minutes to my overall time, but the photo was worth it.  When I finished he said "I hope your Jen is ok."  I assured him that she was, thanked him and went on my way.  Back in about the same spot I was in when I turned around I started to think about Jen and cried.  Yes, she was ok, and I was so thankful for that.  I started thinking about everything we do together, the calls, the texts, the funny emails, the Ross shopping trips, and so many other things, and realized just how thankful I was that I still have her here.  On my race day outfit I had 2 patches, one read "I RUN FOR JEN" and the other was a heart with the name Jess in angel wings.  One my running friends lost her sister a week or so before this race, Jess was also 31, but wasn't as lucky as Jen.  It put a lot into perspective for me, I am so grateful that my friend is ok, and so terribly sad for my friend losing her baby sister.  There is no rhyme or reason to this disease and that is the scariest part.  I know wearing a patch in a race really isn't enough to commemorate her life, but it was the first thing I could think of to honor her.

The photo I went back for

Race day tributes and my bling

After I left the memorial mile, I got it together, stopped crying and kept on running.  I met some lovely strangers along the way, and some members of our marathonfest training group.  Overall I finished the race in 2:40 which really wasn't a terrible time all things considered.  I am so glad that I was able to be a part of this event, and really run for a reason.

After the race with my bling and sweet Nike outfit!