Susan G Komen Race for the Cure

We registered under the name Team B.F.F. (Breast Friends Forever).  It was not my first time going to the race for the cure, but it was my first time running.  We decided collectively to create custom hair bows and sell them to raise money for our race team.  12 of us registered and starting crafting. We got together in each others living rooms, basements, and in the unfinished cardio room to create one of a kind creations. Some of them were good and some were unique. It was so much fun making them with lovely ladies. We sold them at local shops, the YMCA and Boone Hyvee and Walmart. The bows raised over $800 for our team --SUCCESS!! We also planned a fundraiser event to raise money-- it was called "Fight for the Cause" It was scheduled to be a kickboxing circuit class followed by Yoga. The night before the big event the YMCA had a fire and the space, the bows, the equipment was all fire damaged and the fundraiser was cancelled.  But TEAM BFF doesn't take anything lying down-- after some last minute bow making we sold  more bows in 2 days following the fire than all the days leading up to it.

The race theme is pink, so we decided to costume ourselves in pink running skirts, pink tops, and pink socks, and of course pink bows!  The day of the race there was also a set of pink eyelashes, a pink bra, pink lipstick,  and pink hairspray for everyone!  We were ready to go! I even brought pink Gatorade and pink cream cheese with mini bagels for breakfast.

I was late getting to the meeting point to drive down to Des Moines. I was late because I was searching for my race number.  I looked everywhere, it was NO WHERE to be found. It was sad because the day I got my race packet in the mail  I was so excited that I got the number 2011.  I immediately called my friend Kathy and told her how awesome and lucky I was to get that number. She politely told me the truth that everyone had 2011, and then laughed at me. Bubble bursted!

After being late to the meeting point, we were made even later by a gas station trip and 2 potty breaks. It was actually a lot like driving with my kids to places. We got to the race moments before the start time. We heard the gun go off and made our way down through thousands of people who were all registered to walk. We got in line behind about 10,000 walkers and couldn't weave our way through to the "running part". So what does team BFF do?? We DODGE DIP DUCK DIVE AND DODGE all around these walkers. It was like extreme 5k Frogger. We were bouncing off curbs running on grass, pushing over baby strollers, and knocking little old ladies over. The good thing about arriving late to a race and having to run with the walkers is you feel REALLY REALLY fast. I essentially felt like I was winning the Olympics.  When we crossed the giant finish line we were greeted with water bottles and key rings that represented different breast lump sizes. What more could a girl ask for? We got tons of compliments on our sparkly running skirts and socks-- we were by far the coolest cats there!

Our race was about human kindness. The real purpose of running today wasn't to make great time, it wasn't to look fabulous ( although we did), it was about survival in small and big ways. It was about caring for someone more than yourself and making health a priority. It was about running for all those people you know who didn't deserve to die. For those who left behind people who needed them. For those who fought and won.  Today I ran for my mother in law. She kicked cancers butt as Henry would say.  In Celebration of Frances Maria Moore. A woman who would never give up.  We love you MeeMaw!