Slow And Steady Wins The Race

I was talking with local supermarathoner Dean Karnazes of Ross today about what could possibly motivate someone to run 26.2 miles.

"Every runner has a story … usually some adversity or hardship," he said.

At that point, I thought back to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and the folks who walked through the Twin Cities until their legs turned to jelly. No matter how tired they were, they kept smiling and laughing all the way, with their pink feather boas flowing and their pink antennas bouncing.

"There's a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of high spirits," said Sharon Elmore, who was working at one of the rest stops along the route during the walk on July 9. "A lot of people who are involved in this know someone or are themselves a survivor or a victim of breast cancer. That's in everybody's minds who they're walking for. Beyond that, there's a lot of camaraderie. We're all in this together." 

These people might have been inspired by hardship to run, but it's the good friends and fun memories that keep them going.

It was great to see passing motorists honking their horns in support, especially the "Hookers for Hooters" van. Motorcyclists decked out their rides in pink, some had teddy bears or flowers. And when the walkers finally crossed the finish line into the Survivors Village, there was music and dancing to celebrate their feat. It all created this atmosphere where there was no fear, just love and joy.

The march against cancer continues every day, but there's a special event coming up July 30 at Novato's San Jose Middle School. Nearly 400 people have committed themselves to walk in the Relay for Life, including some of us at Marin Patch.

"Success is crossing the finish line," Karnazes said of running marathons. In life, we never really know where that finish line is, so success has to be defined more in terms of the journey. With luck, my journey will last another 50 or more years.

Karnazes is right, though. It usually takes a slap in the face, some harsh wakeup call, to get people involved and I'm no different.

I know others who've done Relay for Life events in the past and I've given money to the cause, but I never really gave it much attention until I was diagnosed with cancer. I'm changing that this year. I won't be walking for myself at the Relay, or will I be by myself in this fight. I'll be marching for my friends and family who are battling cancer. I'll be cheering for everyone at the Relay who has been affected by cancer. I'll be thinking of everyone who couldn't be with us.

Before, I could only try to sympathize and understand what cancer patients and their loved ones were going through. Having cancer, I've been given the gift of understanding, which leads to healing. 

I see my friends after their treatments and we support each other. Instead of thinking "What can I do? What can I say?" we both know we can talk about cancer without fear. When there is no fear, there is the strength to accomplish anything. 

Having faced my own battle with cancer, I'm motivated to get more involved and to, hopefully, change the world and people's lives for the better.

That's the goal and if I've done that by the time I cross the finish line, then my life will have been a success.

Visit the Relay for Life site to sign up or donate.