This is Alpha, the first-born, when he was 2YO.
This is Beta, the second-born, when he was about 2YO.
This is Gamma, the third-born, when he was about 18MO.
Run/Walk for the Cure
May
24
2011
My family participated in a cancer walk last weekend. It was more like an anti-cancer walk, since that’s the goal of the deal – to raise money for curing cancer. My mother-in-law has had cancer longer than my wife and I have been married. That’s a lot of chemo over the last 10 years.
She was interviewed earlier in the week by a TV station. People are normally interested in her story because she shouldn’t be doing as well as she is, at least according to conventional wisdom. But the interviewer didn’t ask about that and kept to a list of questions that you would politely ask any stranger whom you’ve just met.
The morning of the event, the station scheduled a follow-up interview.
Live TV.
The goal was to be there in time for the interview (8:00). We woke everyone up at 6:30 and left the house before 7:00. At 7:30, we were a mile away from the stadium. At 7:55, we were a quarter mile from the stadium. At 8:00, we were still a quarter mile from the stadium.
But we texted my sister, so she watched on TV for us. At 8:10, we had parked and met up with everyone else. So close, and yet so far.
Okay, that’s enough of the details. Now here’s some random tidbits of the day.
Venue
Let’s start with the venue. The starting line (and finish line) was in front of the local baseball stadium
The Dark Side
One of the highlights of the day for the kids was the Star Wars appearance.
I don’t know what the pink blaster shoots, but I didn’t stick around to find out.
Clothes
The kids get custom-made shirts. Custom from their grandparents, not from the race. They have a family photo on the back.
Nana B. is the one with the solid pink shirt that all the cancer survivors get.
Gamma was fascinated with the family photo once he realized he knew the people on the shirt. He wouldn’t let Beta go for several minutes while he studied his shirt.
The Race
There was a 1-mile walk, a 5k walk, and a 5k run. Since I’m preparing for a half marathon in the fall, I figured I might as well do the run since it fit with my normal training schedule. I think I did better than I thought I would do, but I don’t have an official time, so I’m not sure. I got passed by a guy pushing a baby in a stroller around the 2.5 mile mark. I caught back up with him at the finish line though.
Everyone else in the family did the 5k walk.
Well, almost everyone. Delta started complaining after a quarter mile, so my wife sat down and rested, along with Alpha and Gamma.
And here’s the finish line. It’s about 40,000 people milling about in a few blocks.
But as for me, I will hope continually,And will praise You yet more and more.
Psalm 71:14
This little article thingy was written by Some Guy sometime around 5:58 pm and has been carefully placed in the Family category.
May 24th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
You are doing a half marathon too?
May 25th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
You had a beautiful day for being outside!