. . . I contribute to something larger than myself.

Well here it is . . . my very first blog post.  I must say this has been a long time coming, especially since I have taken up running, races, and training.  I have found running to be a metaphor for my life and it is here that I want to share my thoughts for anyone who cares to read! 

As I prepare for my first half marathon I think about my training, my miles, and my thoughts.  While running is something I prefer to do on my own, I love doing it because it can be so much bigger!  BECAUSE I RUN I have the opportunity to raise money, meet new people, and do something that really is not about me at all. 

When I run I feel really close to my dad, especially when I am out in the wee hours of the morning.  The crisp air keeps me cool, I get to watch the sun reflect off Bolivar pond, the smell of cut grass often looms in the air, and I begin to understand why the first hours of the day were always his favorite.  When you stop to savor the day, your environment, and sunshine it really starts you off right.  And honestly, what else is there to do at 5:30am?!?!?!  As weird as it sounds, there are moments in the morning where I know my dad is with me . . . beaming his huge smile and being kind enough to share his favorite part of the day with me.

BECAUSE I RUN, I can connect with my dad in a new way and understand him better.  It's weird to learn something new about someone when they aren't here to tell you or converse with you.  But, the good thing is that it keeps my dad very much alive.  It's BECAUSE I RUN that I can connect on this level.  It's BECAUSE I RUN that I can turn this positive energy into meaningful miles that will hopefully spare another young woman of living a day without her best friend.  My optimism tells me that running for ACS can and will make a difference.  I can provide funding needed to ensure patients have rides to treatment, resources 24/7, unlimited access to cancer related information, cancer resource specialists at hospitals, and a support system that helps lifts spirits when chemo, radiation, and a deteriorating body have the spirit crippled and hopeless.

Since my dad has died I have been relentless about being involved in a cancer cause.  Never did I think I would live, work, and breathe it!  While I love every minute of it, @RyanCooper made the good point that I have never escaped thinking about cancer for a day since my dad's diagnosis.  BECAUSE I RUN, I now have an outlet and I can both contribute to something larger than myself while also taking care of myself. 

The ability to make such contributions is just one thing I have learned and pondered since taking on this runner persona.  I can't wait to share the rest of realizations with you! 

BECAUSE I RUN, it's not just about me.  And that is all the more reason to keep tracking those miles!