I am currently on the injured list from running. I sprained my ankle from a run a week ago. It makes me miss running when I can’t run. But it makes me think about running more as well. I don’t have any races on my calendar this year. By now I usually have a registration in for at least one marathon. But I’m feeling a need to run for a purpose.
This past January I ran my 11th marathon during the runDisney Dopey Challenge. I run the runDisney races for fun and usually don’t take the time to complete the races seriously. After all, they are Disney races.
The 2018 runDisney Dopey Challenge
I ran with Team Shenanigans and we had an amazing time. I started the race with my friends Diana and Fun Sized Jen. After we left the Animal Kingdom we found more members of Team Shenanigans so we began stopping for pictures and waiting for more team members to catch up. At this point Diana and Jen had gone ahead and I was going to try to catch back up with them. They eventually got too far ahead of me so I didn’t get the chance to finish with them. I finished with Jackie Cabrera and Amy and Jason Chase. It was my first time meeting the Chases and they were so sweet!
I’ll wrap up the end of the race in a few sentences. I’ll give more details about my Dopey Challenge experience in 2018 in a separate blog post. To end the race, we took our time through Epcot, met up with a large group of Team Shenanigan members in Mexico while we picked up our pre-ordered frozen Margaritas (thank you Team Margarita)! Then we chased the balloon ladies, with margaritas in our hands, to the finish line. It was every man for themselves at that last quarter mile!
I Want To Run For A Purpose
That being said, I do still plan to run the runDisney races. However, I am looking for my next marathon that I will run. I want to run for a purpose. I want to run a race for a cause. I have always wanted to run Boston as well; but at this time I don’t feel that I am capable of fundraising such a high amount for that race. However, I know that I want to run and raise funds in honor of Lyla. I want to run for the fight against childhood cancer. I want to raise awareness of rhabdomyosarcoma. I want to run to help others fighting the fight of their life.
I Am Considering Running For Fred’s Team
I really enjoyed running the NYC marathon. I felt amazing during that race. I had been feeling that since I ran it once and it was so special to me, I didn’t want to run it again. Yet, lately I was feeling a pull about running that race again. I feel like if I run it for a cause it will be a different race for me. I won’t be running it just for me; but for all those fighting cancer or who have lost their battle with cancer.
I have always wanted to run the NYC marathon and had the chance to run that last November. It was such an incredible race for me. I had my family there to cheer me on as well as Lyla’s dad, Bill. That meant the world to me having him there. I felt strong on the course, I am now familiar with the logistics of getting to New York, the course itself and this race wouldn’t be for me.
There is a runDisney runner Gabrielle Renna who is fighting cancer. 49 days after brain surgery she ran the Dopey Challenge this past January and she did it with a smile on her face. This wasn’t only her first Dopey Challenge, but it was her first marathon. That is a tremendous accomplishment, but running it with cancer – there are no words.
She has reached a point in her health where she can no longer run. She is in too much pain and gets tired easily, but she still cheers for all those can still run. I want to be one of those who can still run and run for her just like I run for Lyla.
Cancer Needs To Be Stopped
I know too many people who were touched by cancer. Whether it was them personally or family members. I have been close to more people than I can count on my fingers who have encountered cancer. A lot of my heartaches today are because of the losses from cancer. We need to find a cure. There needs to be a cure. It’s not fair.
Most of us take our lives and our health for granted. I know many times I do, too. We are not promised tomorrow. Yesterday is long gone. Right now is the only gift you have.