On Saturday I ran the Candlelighters 5k to benefit Cancer research for children in Nevada. We lost one of my sweet young women, Makenzie Hanover, to cancer on Memorial Day this year. I ran this race for her and her family. I referenced loving the amazing feeling of endorphins in a post on my other blog HERE but wanted to write about a different surge of energy and emotion that overcame me as I ran this race with Team Kenzie, who by the way, raised the second largest amount of money for this cause!
Sami (formerly Sister Mose) and her new husband, Ben, came with me. We left our side of town at 6a.m. to drive down to Mountains Edge. Wow, there was a gazillion cars and people everywhere……we actually took a shuttle to the check-in area from where we parked. I’m so glad I had someone to be there with me but I did manage to meet some Dubliners on the shuttle. That was fun to chat with them about Ireland. They still had awesome accents even though they had been in the states for 20 years…..what the heck……I sound totally American….booo!
Anyway, we gathered with Team Kenzie, got our numbers, took a picture and waited to start. The feeling was solemn as everyone I’m sure thought about our dear friend and the fact that she was with us for last years run. She actually participated in her wheelchair. She was the bravest kid I know.
We were off!!! For me the start was tough, I haven’t run much for like a year. I tried to focus on my breathing and not on the fact that the fanny pack I was wearing was bouncing like a balloon on my rump! The first part of the run was a gradual hill (not fun). I had flashbacks to my spin class and Lyla screaming that her grandma could get up a hill faster than us……umm ya! Motivation…….
I got into a rhythm and the next turn had us on more of a flat…YES!!! I grabbed a quick water as I ran and poured the rest on me, ok now I was getting some pacing going. I thought of Makenzie a few times but almost had to push it out of my mind because the tears were coming. I was running for her and for the rest of the kids that face what she faced, I was going to do this and do it well.
Then we went downhill…..ahhhh the wind in my face, momentum pushing me downhill, pressure off my hamstrings and into my quads. I started to gain some speed and could feel that it wouldn’t be too much longer. I saw the 4 kilometer sign and knew it was almost done! Just then a lady passed me that I had seen earlier with our team. I’m not sure who she was but I guessed maybe Makenzies aunt? Thoughts of Makenzie again…… I pulled up next to her and gave her a thumbs up. She reached out and grabbed my hand…we totally had a moment. She told me later that she really needed that right then. Emotion surged through me and I felt so strongly that Makenzie loved what we were doing and was there in spirit for her family and this cause.
We ran the last part of the race together. I felt united with this woman. I thought of my dear little friend and how I missed her. The tears mixed with the sweat and poured down my face.
We turned the corner to the finish line and she said “I dare you to beat me in” we both picked up speed and sprinted across the finish line. We hugged and I totally lost it……not unusual for me. I’m generally super emotional but I was proud of us and proud of Makenzie for HER strength and how she battled this horrible disease. I was proud of her family how they have mustered the strength to survive each day without her. I was proud of the other cancer patients that were there fighting for survival. I was just proud to be part of something amazing!
I kept thinking that day about my recent post on my other blog and how I love that endorphin high when I work out and the good it does for me mentally as well as physically. The thought of how “running for a cause” felt so different and had such purpose, kept coming to mind. Our lives are so complex and we should expose ourselves to many opportunities so we can have such experiences. Service comes in many ways and as we interact with each other during this mortal experience, we bond in ways that could never have been planned.
I guess the moral of the story is to enjoy the journey. Enjoy every minute you have with your loved ones, share experiences that uplift you and build you. Find ways to help others because the payback and memories will be more precious to you than anything in this world.
Sami, Ben & I after the race. By the way i ran my fastest time at 29 minutes.
