Dear Helen,

I hate running. 

A few months ago, I was talking to a good friend of mine and he was on his way to buy new running shoes.  And I was all “why?”  And that’s when he told me he was about to start training for a half marathon in January, and do I want to join him?  And in a moment of ignorance…I said Yes.  The thing is, prior to this training program, I’ve never run more than two continuous miles in my life.  Cars, people!  I don’t like the nausea, the way it makes me fatigued, the sweating, the feeling like maybe I should just give up, turn back, and head home.  THERE IS A REASON I PLAYED TENNIS AND GOALIE AND SHORT STOP instead of cross-country or a forward. 

And then I start thinking, you know what?  Chances are your chemo treatment might cause you to feel not much unlike my previous running experiences.  But are YOU going to stop moving forward?  No.  Are YOU going to choose to stay home instead of fighting the fight?  No.  Why?  Because your very Life depends on it. 

So here’s the thing:  you’ve inspired me.

When I want to cut my training runs in half, I think of you.  When I don’t want to get my butt out of bed because I’m tired and blah blah blah, I think of you.  When I’m running my longest training runs yet, I think of you.  When I’m at the doctor trying to work out some shin splint issues and deciding whether I just hang up the shoes or do all the therapy and continue, I think of you.  And while the importance of the mileage I run is insignificant to your journey by comparison, on a deeper and universal level, your attitude towards beating cancer has shaped my attitude towards training.  And for that, I dedicate my very first half marathon, and the training leading up to it, to you, Helen. 

See you at the finish line,

Rachel

http://rajencreation.wordpress.com/