Emotional Run

I finally was able to get out there and pound the pavement this AM. Seems like ages since I've been able to get outside to run. Working night shifts definitely interferes with workout activities. Yes, I can go to the gym, but where's the fun in that?

This morning's run was quite emotional for me. I was trying to get my legs to warm up. Trying to normalize my breathing pattern. Trying to just fine my "spot" of autopilot. Then, the song came on. One that I forgot I uploaded onto my running playlist.

I Run for Life by Melissa Etheridge.

It's when this song came on that I mentally checked out. I was just running and thinking of all of my close friends and family that have been struck by cancer. Tears started to run down my cheeks, pain in my chest started to uproar, and well, I was just running and running.

I was inspired. Motivated. Driven. Passionate. Strong.

I started to think of my father who was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2005. Fortunately, it was in its early stages and he was able to rid of it. But, till this day, he wears the yellow band around his wrist, Live Strong, to remind himself of the vulnerability all of us felt when the doctor mouthed the words, " You have cancer."


I started to think of my best friend who recently was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and is currently undergoing treatment to rid of the small cells the doctors weren't able to get to.

I started to think of my sister in law who was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo a uni-masectomy.

I started to think of my father in law who was diagnosed with bladder cancer to which all of us hold our breaths when something significant happens such as bleeding or pain.

The Women's Nike Half Marathon is coming up in just a couple of months. The cause is for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's lifesaving cancer research. I am completely inspired {even moreso} to run this race for my close friends and family and to those that have been affected by this ferocious disease. You really cannot grasp the power it has on your emotions until you or your loved one has been stricken by it. I know, I wasn't prepared for the mental and physical emotions that came with it when we got my father's test results back.

So, with all that said, I definitely will be putting this song in areas where I think I need to strength to continue on when I feel as though I just can't go any further. Live Strong!