*supermommies for a cure*

Sorry about the delay in posting.  I know that many of you are chomping at your bits for the rest of the Euro adventure, but I have been otherwise occupied.  See, four months ago, a friend of mine approached me and asked me to be a part of a team of 12 crazy people that run 150 miles from New Haven, CT to Boston, MA in 24 hours.  Luckily, the race is split into legs.  I was pretty hesitant to do it until I heard the team cause... breast cancer.  Now, before anyone who doesn't know me well starts thinking that running long distance is something I have done before, or even enjoy doing for that matter, let me get the record straight here.  As my friend Lisa puts it, I was always the one who wanted to ditch track practice to go to Taco Bell.  I ran sprints and played soccer.  I wouldn't touch long distance unless it was forced upon me by a tyrant coach and even then... there are ways around that.

So the past four months I have been training my body to run long, hard runs.  I have kept up a rigorous training schedule since April so that I will be able to run my 3 legs in the race equaling 16.4 miles.  I have nightmares about running.  I enjoy it about 20% of the time.  So why am I doing it?

Because I when it gets hard I think about 4 people in my life... some of the strongest women I know... who have battled or are battling breast cancer.  I think about my mother in law, Ileen Barlow, who somehow managed to get through chemo treatments and raise 9 children- all while supporting a spouse who was battling terminal cancer.  I think about my sister in law, Shonda, who found a lump while pregnant with her first baby, carried that baby to term, and went into surgery a week after birth not knowing if that lump was benign or malignant.  She won.  I think about the relief society president of our ward, who at this moment is finishing chemo treatments for breast cancer and heading into radiation- but refused to be released from her calling and is still serving the women of our ward.  But mostly, I think of my dear Aunt Melanie, who found some lumps a year ago- but they spread to her bones.  They gave her a few months to live at that time- but she's a fighter.  I don't know how many months or years left we have with her- but I know that her positive outlook and faith are strengthening everyone around her.

 I run the race on Sept. 11.  This is probably the hardest physical thing I have ever done besides childbirth.  I am so grateful to these women-- Girls, this is my tribute to you.  I hope you know all the lives you have inspired by your faith, strength, and love.