Saturday was the day for the Komen Race for the Cure. I have run this event for a few years now, and it saddens me as each year I seem to know more and more women affected by breast cancer. Last year, I ran with two names on my bib, the wife of a good friend and the mother of another friend. This year, I ran with one name, Angela Champion White, who is a friend from high school. When I wrote her name on the pink bib, I wrote it rather large for a couple of reasons; so that people who see her name and know of her fight even though she was a thousand miles away, and because that way there would be no room to add another. As if that would stop cancer.

It didn’t work, as I discovered later. I found out that I have no fewer than six friends or acquaintances that are affected by breast cancer. But I was honored to share Angela’s name and her fight with others that will pray for her and care about her, even though she’s far away. hopefully she feels the love coming from others far away that know what her battle is like.

Race morning was rather chilly, so out came the compression pants, the hoodie, and the gloves. I haven’t run in compression pants for awhile, so I was a little nervous about chafing. So far it hasn’t been a problem, so it looks like I’m set for the winter running season.

My friend Jo-el met me at the race and introduced me to the group she was with. They are a great bunch of ladies, and I had a great time chatting and running with them.

The race started and off we went. We weaved our way through the large crowd, and kept a decent pace. Even with all the people all over the place trying to make running straight an impossible task, we managed to find a section where we had some room to ourselves.

Before we knew it, the capitol hill was upon us and we were done. I crossed the line and my watch showed 26:15. Not too bad a time for a week out from the marathon. I was happy to just be running again.

My friend Angela has had her chemo, her surgery, and is starting radiation. I can’t imagine what she felt, how she endured, how she kept up hope. Someone asked me how could I run a marathon, as it was a daunting task. I thought of Angela immediately. At any race, I have a choice: I can continue or I can quit. Other than disappointment, I have nothing to lose. In Angela’s fight, she has no choice: if she quits she loses everything. So I think of that, and her, when someone asks “how can you do that?” Because when you look at it, what she is fighting for is more important than anything else. She only wants two things:

To be cancer free

and to live.

God Bless you Angela. My prayers are with you. Keep fighting.

Live healthy, be happy.

Travis