Koman Race for the Cure Day!!!!

Sunday September 18, 2011.....

The day started off somewhat brisk and could, I started thinking to myself....am I going to freeze while I'm out there, I don't think I've dressed warm enough. But as I made my way down to the Bangor Waterfront the temperature had started to rise and I realized that it was going to be a beautiful day!

I met my fellow Mainely Running teammates near the finish line, where we gathered to get ready for the day's events and as we were waiting for everyone to arrive and have our group picture taken, I couldn't help but watch all the other participants pass by...from young to old and think to myself that this was going to be an awesome day and I was happy to be there.

As the time got closer for the start of the race, we made our way towards the start line where I saw a few friends and fellow Biggest Movers, including two former teammates of mine. To think, when we Biggest Movers first started on our journey of healthy living did anyone of us really think we'd be running/walking a 5k???? I didn't think so!

After our inspirational speech was given, the gun went off and away we went....slowly. It's amazing how long it takes you to actually reach the start line when you're just one of 5,000 participants! When we rounded the corner to start running down Main Street, I realized that our running team had split into three different groups and some how I was near the front pack, slowly trekking along. By the time we were nearing the dreaded Lincoln Street hill (which is never ending...seriously, this thing just keeps going and going and going!), I'd broken away from the lead group and was on my own...but that didn't stop me. As I was trekking up this hill at my steady pace (thank goodness for all those practice runs, I've learned how to pace myself!), I kept looking at all those around me. Some you could tell do these runs all the time and we're flying up this hill with no problems what-so-ever, then there were those teenage high school girls who god forbid they get any drop of sweat on them...I do believe I heard one girl say that she needed to walk because she was getting too sweaty! As I was laughing to myself, that's when I realized we were about to be passed by some young college age boys and that's why these girls wanted to look their best....needless to say, those guy's never bothered to take one look at the girls!

As I rounded the corner onto Webster Street and then started running down Buck Street hill, three of my teammates had passed me and the last two were about 500 feet behind me. When we started trotting down Buck Street, we came across a bunch a "cheerleaders" cheering us on (which just made me beam inside with true happiness because not only was I out here running my little heart out, but I was doing this for a good cause!). 
 
Then came the last leg of the race, I was back to Main Street passing another group of cheerleaders and I knew that the finish line wasn't that far away. I'd run this route a million times and knew that I could do it, just one foot in front of another...keeping my steady pace. As I rounded that final corner onto Railroad, there it was...the great big pink and white balloon arc telling me that the finish line was near and that's when it happened. I kicked myself into high gear and sprinted like the wind to the finish line! Or as my friend Kathy would have pointed out, I picked my victim and was determined to take them down...heehee!!!!
 
My overall time (including getting to the start line) was 36:44.....Best Finishing Time To Date!!!!

After my run was over with, I joined some of my fellow teammates at the finish line as we cheered all of our fellow runners and walkers to the finish line. Even though I wanted to beat my previous running time, today wasn't really about that...it was all about those AMAZING women crossing the finish line wearing their pink "SURVIVOR" t-shirts. Every time I saw one of them past by me (whether she was young or old) my heart felt for them. From the young lady who just finished her treatments  to the lady who's been a survivor for over 20 years, they were all beautiful and amazing! They didn't care if they had the best running time, all they cared about was getting the word out and showing the world what they're made of!

As I was walking back to the Y after the final group crossed the finish line, I was thinking to myself...this may of been my first Koman Race for the Cure but it sure wasn't going to be my last! Do you think it's to early to sign up for next years????