What are you running from Sis?

My father-in-law always jokes around with me when he hears how much I run. He says "What are you running from Sis?" He's right. There are days when I run "from" things. Life is good, but I run from work stress and toddler tantrum stress and parent stress and family stress and freezing cold weather stress and age stress and health stress and feeling guilty because there are people suffering and I can't help them.  Running takes those things I'm running "from" and helps me turn them back around to what I'm running "for." I'm running FOR my work and my toddler and being a parent and having a giant family and living in the cold climate I love and being in the "prime" of my life and being healthy right now. I'm so grateful to be part of the Dana-Farber team because now instead of running from feeling bad about not being able to help people who are suffering, I can actually run FOR them.

My Uncle Bob and Aunt Flo, my inspiration

So my dear father-in-law, THIS is why I run:

In memory of Aunt Flo: One of the strongest women I've ever known, who bravely fought two different types of cancer always with a smile, and her husband, my Uncle Bob, who would be saying "That's my niece!!" if he were here to watch the marathon today.

In honor of Christina: My brave patient partner who has fought for two long years at Dana-Farber, battling a rare and deadly form of cancer. As of early January she is cancer free but the battle continues. She still has to do treatments often and will always live with the battle she fought.

My DF Patient Partner Christina, on the right with Emma and friend Lilly

In order to pay it forward: We will all need help one day. Someone we know will be affected by cancer. Some may see this as negative thinking, but as my mom says, "I'm a realist." I run to raise money that will go directly towards research for curing many different types of cancers. Dana-Farber couldn't save my Aunt Flo, but they're working on research that has and will save many people in the future. Read more about Dana-Farber's Barr Institute here. 

In honor of my family: My big awesome extended family and the two tiny silly people (and one big silly person) in my house who inspire me daily and give me the energy to get up and run 20 mile training runs like a crazy person.

In total defiance of my age, for a few reasons: (A) Who said 40 is over the hill? My kids were born with a life expectancy of 100. 40 can't be considered middle age any more. (B) I have an increased risk of a few cancers based on family history, fertility drugs, and not having a "live birth." (did you know that? If you don't actually give birth your risk of certain types of cancers, especially the scary stuff, goes way up??) When I was in my early 30's dealing with infertility my doctors said "Don't worry, none of the scary stuff shows up until you're at least in your 40's." Well, here I am, at 40. I guess this is when the scary stuff will start to show up? Yeah right. 40 is the new 26.2!!!

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