Twin Cities Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure

Good Morning! For whatever reason I didn't think to update my blog last night. Probably because I was watching, "The Pacific" on HBO. Amazing series so when it comes out on DVD, make sure you pick it up.

Yesterday was the Twin Cities Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and it was an incredible event, the best one I've been a part of yet. It was chilly 38 degrees so when I woke up at 5 am the layering began. However, once the sun started to peak over the buildings, it warmed up and the layers came off. If you aren't familiar with the Twin Cities event, it attracts 50,000 walkers every year and raised over $2.5 million dollars for breast cancer awareness and research.

The last few events I've done many different jobs but this year I was out on the course as a Race Marshall. I was stationed at the "Hug a Survivor" corner and got to watch every runner and walker go by. Our corner captain was telling us, the "Hug a Survivor" and the "Hug a Mother" corners are unique to the Twin Cities event and was started a while back when he and his buddy felt the walkers needed a pick-me-up while walking in the rain and the hugging began so they started yelling hug a survivor or mother!

It was somber and celebratory. One family in particular stood out. They lost their survivor after a second bought with breast cancer and where walking in her memory now. They stopped at the corner and gave each other the most meaningful hugs I think I've ever seen. I thought my family was good at hugging but they where better and you could just feel the love and loss that family was feeling. I felt privileged to be there to witness that moment.

Of course there were lots of hugs in celebration of many survivors and strangers hugging strangers. Lots of people were just there to support the cause and had no connection to breast cancer so they'd find a survivor and give them a hug.  Grandmas being mobbed by their grandchildren or at least the grandchildren that weren't confined in a wagon or stroller completely asleep.

It was wonderful and I cannot wait until next year but in the mean time, my mom has decided to walk withe me in the Chicago Komen 3-Day for the Cure. I'm so excited she's going to walk with me again and we've already booked our plane tickets. Now its 90 days to the 3-Day and time for some serious training!

Bobble Head and Mother's Day

My nephew is the cutest baby in the world! Gees that's obnoxious and imagine if I ever had kids of my own how annoying I would be about it. My apologies to all other babies but Mikey is the cutest baby old out there. I chose to ignore the fact that he's playing with a football and not a hockey puck for now just because he's enjoying himself.

When Mikey was born his name was gummy bear then squirmy worm and now its bobble head because when he "sits" his perfectly symmetrical head just wobbles around because he can't really sit-up on his own yet but he's the proud owner of 2 teeth at only 6 months old.

I digress, this weekend is Mother's day weekend and as much as I would like to curl up under the covers because it got "cold" here in Minnesota, its the Twin Cities Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. And as I have done every year since 2007, I will spend the weekend volunteering for my favorite organization, including getting up at 5 am on Sunday. I don't get up for work at 5 am but for curing cancer I will!

T-93 days and counting and mom is considering walking with me in Chicago which makes me very happy. What would make me happier is if my fundraising would get off the ground. Still sitting at a sad 9 percent of my goal and I'm a little disappointed but this weekend is the Linder's Flower Mart event so hopefully I'll get a good boost from that event.

As I mentioned the weather has been less than ideal since last week for training. If its not cloudy and chilly its sunny and windy. The problem with the wind is it blows the tree pollen around so if I train, I walk around like a zombie for the next few days from my allergies. Darn right I've been training still and walking around like a zombie at work, not good for the work product.

T-100 Days to Chicago

This blog has taken a turn for the 3-Day, really its called 3-Day Addict so I better start blogging about the 3-Day! Its officially 100 days from Chicago and I'm only at 9 percent of my goal. I'm disappointed but then again I did change my tactics this year and went viral with my fundraising letter so I'm going to get the snail mail going here and step it up my stalking tactics.

Speaking of steps, I'm training again. Finally the allergens in MN decided to back off a bit so I can go outside without fear of repercussions of running nose, itchy eyes and feeling like I got my bum kicked the next day. Last Saturday I spent 3 hours outside then spent Sunday sleeping for 14...not ideal when you haven't finished unpacking from moving in January. I live alone, who cares if I'm unpacked but it does keep me from crafting.

Training for the 3-Day is no joke and if you are serious about the 3-Day you need to be serious about the training and everyone that's done the 3-Day knows..."The best training for walking is walking." That means lots and lots of walking. Yes, it is tedious but its worth it when you cross that finish line knowing you accomplished something amazing for a good cause.

Tonight my friend Peggy hosted a training walk at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and its tulip season or week, hence the picture above and beyond. I guess last week there were daffodils everywhere but I missed that one, I was at my second outdoor baseball game of the season :) That's another blog post though.

All day today it was cloudy but as we got started on our walk the sun came out and shined and it was the most perfect evening, except for the geese poop. Yeah, there were geese, poop and I did yell at the geese for honking at us because they had to move off the side walk.

6-miles in the perfect weather with 3-Day friends and beautiful surroundings. Shout out to the Arboretum for sponsoring the training events for us, so nice of them.

Of course I was going to take photos of the pink tulips, I was on a 3-Day training walk!

I received an email this afternoon from a co-worker informing us that has been diagnosed with breast cancer. It broke my heart at first, the nicest lady of course with a horrible disease. Just puts this entire day in perspective and makes my soar arches tonight feel not so soar knowing that what I am doing will hopefully find a cure. Punky, this flower is for you.

Make sure you do your self exam tonight.