On The Road Again

Another trip, another race! This time I journeyed to Colorado and of course brought along the "Pink Bandanna". The miles are adding up, the word is spreading! On May 9th, I ran the half-marathon at the Colorado Marathon, in Fort Collins. This was my first experience running at altitude. Quite a bit different from the flatland of Florida! It was a wonderful experience and a beautiful, scenic course. The start for both the "full" and "half" marathon is in the Poudre Canyon above Fort Collins, elevation 6,500 feet. The temperature was 40 degrees, clear and calm. We gathered for the start in a field of sage nestled between two mountain peaks. The sun was just rising and the shadows in the canyon were breathtaking. This is a small race with a cap of 1,500 for the "half" and 1,000 for the "full". There were not many spectators in the canyon, however, once into the Fort Collins area the crowds increased and were very supportive.

I have several small events planned in Florida this summer. In October, I will be running the "Wineglass" marathon in Corning, NY. Of course I will be in Jacksonville on February 13th, then on to Boston on April 18th. I need to do something special for Boston!

Three Years and Counting

Yesterday was the 3rd annual "26.2 with Donna - The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer. Once again I have a new "Inspiration" photo of me and my friend Donna. This blog began with Donna on the sidelines, less than 6 months into her treatment. Last year we added a new photo when Donna returned to running at this race. This year she was back out there, training completed and she rocked the course. You are amazing!

So many stories over the past few years. Some have made this blog, others are unwritten, still others unknown. Mari Johnson contributed a story earlier this year. Mari ran the race yesterday in memory of her mother-in-law Cathy Johnson. I posted a story about another friend, Joan, who is currently continuing her fight against this disease, and making progress! You all have a friend or relative, or maybe you are in the fight. This event, this race is for you.

During the race you see many signs or shirts with the word "remembering". So many names, so many losses. You cannot participate in this event without being moved to tears at some point. After I finished and was walking past the crowds lining the fence, I saw a woman who reminded me of how I saw Donna two years ago. She was wearing a pink bandanna and showed the signs of her chemo treatment. I walked over to her, put my hand on hers and told her, "this is all for you." Let us pray that she will be out there again next February 13, 2011.

There are so many races throughout the country to choose from. I have been blessed with the ability to travel and participate in many of them. There is only one that I will commit to each year and that is the "26.2 with Donna - The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer". Please, if you are a runner, or walker, you can do this. One of the unique things about this event is that 100% of the registration fee goes toward the fight against breast cancer.

I will be registering for next years race later today. Please, come out and support the fight to the finish. February 13, 2011.

Hope the Weather is Nice!

Just a little more than 3 weeks until the 3rd annual "26.2 with Donna". It's hard to believe it is the third year. I'm training for the half-marathon, I love the distance and the course!

I hope we will once again get a large turnout from the Central Florida area. This is such a wonderful event. Donna Deegan has once again worked tirelessly to ensure everyone has a fantastic time in Jacksonville.

It's still not too late to register for the race. Please, do all you can to support this cause!

I would like the weather to be "cool" this year. I was in New York earlier this year and experienced "cold" as the photo illustrates. How about a nice 50 degree day!

There will be more posts to this blog and a recap following the race.

We're Getting Close

As we approach mid-December, we are less than 90 days away from marathon Sunday, February 21, 2010. Once again, I hope we can "recruit" a large number of runners from Orlando to be there. I'm registered and have my hotel room reserved!

Please make every effort to join us for the "26.2 with Donna - The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer".

The photo is from 2009 after the award ceremony.

Donna in Orlando at Track Shack

On Saturday, November 7th, we were blessed to have Donna Deegan, visit the Track Shack here in Orlando. She was here to promote her new book, "Through Rose Colored Glasses", and to visit with runners. Many of the people who stopped to see her have run the "26.2 with Donna - The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer".

If you have been a follower of this blog you are very familiar with Donna Deegan. Her story is one of courage and determination. Assisting Donna was "our" own Donna, Donna Nelson. Both of these ladies have been such motivators for the running communities in Orlando, Jacksonville, Florida and across this country.

There are links on this blog to the websites for Donna's book and to the marathon. Please support this "fight" and register to run with Donna on February 21, 2010.

The photo is of Donna Nelson, Donna Deegan and me.

A quote from the book, "Fear Not; Only Believe" Mark 5:36

Donna to Visit Orlando

Donna Deegan will be at the Track Shack in Orlando, FL, on Saturday, November 7th, from 11:00am to 3:00pm. She will be signing copies of her new book, "Through Rose Colored Glasses". There are many Donna fans in the Central Florida area and we hope they will come out for this event.

Dedicated to Cathy Johnson

"When I first met my mother-in-law, she was already going through breast cancer treatment for over two years. Over the next five years, she would prove to be one of the bravest, most positive people I've ever known. Never did she complain or ask, "why me", and her response to our questions of how she felt was always, "I'm hanging in there!", with a big smile on her face.

She showed me that you have choices in your life. You can choose to succumb to your fears and stresses or you can fight. You can take a stand and believe in yourself. She always wore a yellow LiveSTRONG bracelet, and that was her commitment. She challenged herself to LiveSTRONG through the good and the bad.

Cathy lost her battle to breast cancer in May, but her resilience and attitude in the face of adversity has given me a new perspective and given me the chance to look at distance running in a new way. I now look at marathon running as a choice and a chance. I purposely put the long miles under my feet, but many men and women who are given the diagnosis of cancer never had the chance to accept or deny the diagnosis.

The last hill in the "Breast Cancer Marathon", as you're approaching the finish, seems to go on forever. By that point in the race, your legs hurt and you're usually just about out of gas. During last year's race, as I came up the hill, panting and walking, I passed a woman wearing a pink "Survivor" bib and something big occurred to me ..........

That hill is over in just a few minutes. I can walk it, run it or even crawl up it and soon enough, I'm on the down slope and across the finish line. For those who are going through cancer treatment, many times there is no down slope, or the journey to get to the easy parts is very long and not easy. So that day, I ran the hill, and never stopped until I finished, where my husband was waiting to welcome me.

I can't wait for the 2010 "26.2 with Donna - The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer", because I know my mother-in-law will be there with me in spirit, reminding me to keep going and to LiveSTRONG.

I LiveSTRONG in memory of Cathy Johnson."

This post was written by Mari Costea-Johnson and published with her permission. The photo is of Mari and her husband Dave, at the finish of the 2009 marathon.