Race For The Cure

Heather is a much better person than I am. And I guess she looks better in pink than I do.

Out of bed at 6am, she put on her white Race for the Cure long-sleeved shirt, speckled with lots of company sponsor logos as almost all race shirts are. The night before, she had already picked out her pink "athletic-running-jogging-type" pants to complete the look (and, I think, to make sure her sister would be proud of her wearing clothes that match during exercise), and she headed to downtown Birmingham's Linn Park. 

I rolled back over and went to sleep.

She was at the downtown park by 7:30 and ready to run. Her school of public health raised thousands of dollars through this race and through bake sales for the national Susan Komen Foundation's Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.

Our entire  medical school raised around $35 total.

I made it to downtown and found the park. The were pink balloons everywhere, and the energy was high. After wandering aimlessly through the festivities for a good 10 minutes, I found the finish line. The Official Race Clock said that 42 minutes had elapsed. Little did I know that I had just missed Heather's triumphant crossing in an impressive time of only 40 minutes (compared to another guy I know who runs every day, and it took him 37 minutes to complete the Race for the Cure today).

I don't think I would have ever taken an interest in the cause or the race if Heather hadn't taken the initiative to do it this year.
But I encourage you to find a Race for the Cure in your area. There is something really great about seeing the ladies with special Pink Survivor Shirts cross the finish line. I imagine it feels even better to know that you ran with them and donated your entry fee to fund research that will help others.

Good job, Heather. I think you've earned a nap.