Racing for a Cause

‎1 in 8 women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime.

In fact, here are my friends* who have all battled this horrible disease (if you read my blog, you may recognize them):

Top Row: Judy, Mary Ann, Mary M. Ava
Middle Row: Sally, Phyllis, Maria, Sue
Bottom Row: Mary W.

The Komen Northeastern New York Race for the Cure® raises money to fund education, screening & treatment programs for these women & supports the national search for a cure.

I am participating in this Race in Albany, NY this SATURDAY with the hopes of raising $ to help to provide for research programs in our area.

( *They are all currently cancer-free 🙂 except Ava 😦 )

Ava was just recently diagnosed with a recurrence – it has spread to her lymph nodes. She has a great attitude and I hope hope hope things go well this time around.

I have taken 17 tennis trips with Ava, We have played together on many teams. We play mah jongg together. We have gone to many dinners and Broadways shows together. On vacation, she & I always play Scrabble on the beach. We graduated from UAlbany the same time (though we didn’t know each other.) We are both Jewish and married non-Jews so as you can see we have a lot in common.

Ava is on the left – this is from our last trip to Naples.

So this race doesn’t fit into my training plan but it’s a race that I have to run. (I took Monday off from work so I can do my last long run.)

Ava – this race is for you!

2012 Race for the Cure

So what are my goals for this race?

Not go for a PR (I have to run 8 miles on Monday and a HALF MARATHON next Sunday!!)
Not get injured.
Not be my slowest.

This will be my 6th Komen Race & I have done 6 Freihofer’s (FRW) – That means I have run this course 11 times:

2008 FRW – 33:29

2008 Komen – 32:49

2009 FRW – 35:05

2009 Komen – 31:15

2010 FRW – 30:39

2010 Komen – 29:10 (Komen PR)

2011 FRW – 28:14 (course PR)
2011 Komen – 29:47

2012 FRW – 35:39 (recovering broken ankle)

2012 Komen – 30:54 (with stress fracture)

2013 FRW – 29:41 (with broken foot)

– 27:30 (5K PR)

As you can see, I will finish anywhere from 28 to 35 minutes. Hopefully around 30 minutes! But this time time doesn’t matter! I am happy to be healthy!!!!!!!!