Background part 1: When my husband and I started dating in 2002, he was training for and ran a marathon (the San Diego Rock & Roll marathon). Although he finished the race, I know he was disappointed with how he did. He ran into trouble because he didn’t account for how much drier San Diego is than Kansas City, and struggled with dehydration—I’ve never seen such salty sweat stains. After that race, he pretty much hung up his shoes and never looked back.
Background, part 2: I’ve always been a runner, although I never ran many races. Nearly a year ago, my younger son and my daughter-in-law gave me a much-needed push to give racing and consistent training a go. So I have, and this has been a great year for me with a couple of age group places and the satisfaction of seeing my times and endurance improve.
Then last August, I was diagnosed with melanoma and had surgery to remove it in September. I immediately started looking for a race centered on melanoma and found this one.
I also asked my husband to consider running this 5k with me. I told him I didn’t want an answer right then because he’d be answering out of emotion, but to think about it. After all, the race wasn’t until May so there was no rush. In January, he told me to sign us both up.
In the meantime, I got wild and crazy and signed up for the Heartland 39.3 Challenge—three half marathons in about five weeks’ time. After I’d signed us up for the Outpacing Melanoma 5K, I realized it was scheduled the Sunday before my third half marathon. Oops!
Pre-race: I suspected I might get a little emotional at the race. There were teams running in memory of folks who’ve died from melanoma, and a warrior wall where you could say who you were running or walking in support of, stuff like that. Mostly I held it together, so that was good. My husband isn’t as fast a runner as I am, so we’d decided to run together and talked about what pace he was aiming for. Side note, those of you who are real pacers in races? I have much respect for what you do! Running the pace he wanted and helping him stay steady with it took more focus that I would have thought.
Race: We were aiming for a 12:45 pace, but of course race excitement meant we started a little fast, so I slowed down more so he’d stay with me. He told me later that was perfect. This course is pretty flat with the exception of two hills: the first hill is in the first mile, and the second hill came right around mile two. We slowed a bit on those, but my husband was able to recoup and keep going. With about 2/10s to go, he picked up the pace and right before the finish line, we held hands and crossed together, as I’d hoped, grinning maniacally. I immediately burst into tears—I was just so happy he was with me and I was able to say a big F U to cancer. He got a PR in the 5K , with a chip time of 38:49 and 12:23 per mile pace. I am so proud of him!
Final thoughts: If you have ever had a sunburn—ever—or you have moles, please get checked. The only reason I got checked is because a dear mentor of mine died from melanoma. I never ever in my life thought I would get it. I don’t really burn, and I never was a big sun worshipper. Yet here I am. If I hadn’t been getting yearly checks, my story would have a very different, much shorter, ending. As it stands, I have a higher risk of recurrence and I’m now on the six-month check for the next four and a half years.
What’s next: On Saturday, I’m running the Run with the Cows Half Marathon and my husband today signed up to run the 5K race too. I’m stoked, and we’ll both be wearing lots of sunscreen.
Background, part 2: I’ve always been a runner, although I never ran many races. Nearly a year ago, my younger son and my daughter-in-law gave me a much-needed push to give racing and consistent training a go. So I have, and this has been a great year for me with a couple of age group places and the satisfaction of seeing my times and endurance improve.
Then last August, I was diagnosed with melanoma and had surgery to remove it in September. I immediately started looking for a race centered on melanoma and found this one.
I also asked my husband to consider running this 5k with me. I told him I didn’t want an answer right then because he’d be answering out of emotion, but to think about it. After all, the race wasn’t until May so there was no rush. In January, he told me to sign us both up.
In the meantime, I got wild and crazy and signed up for the Heartland 39.3 Challenge—three half marathons in about five weeks’ time. After I’d signed us up for the Outpacing Melanoma 5K, I realized it was scheduled the Sunday before my third half marathon. Oops!
Pre-race: I suspected I might get a little emotional at the race. There were teams running in memory of folks who’ve died from melanoma, and a warrior wall where you could say who you were running or walking in support of, stuff like that. Mostly I held it together, so that was good. My husband isn’t as fast a runner as I am, so we’d decided to run together and talked about what pace he was aiming for. Side note, those of you who are real pacers in races? I have much respect for what you do! Running the pace he wanted and helping him stay steady with it took more focus that I would have thought.
Final thoughts: If you have ever had a sunburn—ever—or you have moles, please get checked. The only reason I got checked is because a dear mentor of mine died from melanoma. I never ever in my life thought I would get it. I don’t really burn, and I never was a big sun worshipper. Yet here I am. If I hadn’t been getting yearly checks, my story would have a very different, much shorter, ending. As it stands, I have a higher risk of recurrence and I’m now on the six-month check for the next four and a half years.
What’s next: On Saturday, I’m running the Run with the Cows Half Marathon and my husband today signed up to run the 5K race too. I’m stoked, and we’ll both be wearing lots of sunscreen.
