It was a cool, overcast, sometimes misty/drizzly morning. Not quite like last year’s MCM, but close enough for me to like it. J

 

I gathered with over 14,000 close friends in the Baltimore inner harbor to run and support the Race for the Cure. Some of you know that this is one of my favorite causes to support in running, since my wife is a breast cancer survivor. I almost didn’t run this race, since I’m considering running the Steamtown Marathon next week. But, I missed a chance to volunteer to help with pre-race prep last week and I wanted to do something to support the RFTC. Besides, I would have run mile intervals today anyway.

 

There were actually three race events, beginning with a 1 mile walk/run for anyone who wished to participate. Then, the main event.....a women’s only 5k.....was followed an hour later by a 5k for all comers. The total participants of 14,000+ in all three events, included over 900 breast cancer survivors and exceeded last year’s field of 8600 by almost 50%. Today’s race raised over a half million dollars for breast cancer research. Many of the participants ran in memory of someone who had died of breast cancer or in celebration of one or more specific survivors. I ran in celebration of my wife and in memory of a secretary I had 3 years ago who didn’t survive her battle with breast cancer.

 

The post race party was huge. It covered a soccer field located alongside the water at Baltimore’s inner harbor. It included an unlimited supply of various foods, many booths distributing breast cancer and health related info, and entertainment. The cast of the Broadway musical “Rent”, which is currently playing at a Baltimore theater, sang a song. Several local TV and radio personalities handled the MC and award presentation duties. A new Ford Mustang was auctioned off and won by a local high school student who can’t drive yet. But, that didn’t temper her excitement and that of a couple hundred of her friends who participated in the race with her. One of the best moments came at the end when all of the survivors who participated gathered on the stands for group photos as the song “You Can Fly” played over the sound system. It was an impressive sight to watch all those women celebrate their victory over this disease as they swayed to the song.

 

My race went well. The first half of the course was uphill with a downhill return. Of course, the start was crowded and slow. I ran a second-running-life 5k PR of 25:34. (25:48 including 14 sec to cross the start line.) My splits were 8:58 and 8:07 for the first two miles and 8:29 for the last 1.1 miles (7:43 pace), plus the 14 sec at the start. I was satisfied. BTW, this was my first race since entering a new age bracket yesterday.

 

Some of you might remember John and Cathy Reniewicz (Renk) and J’net, who used to post regularly on the forums. I ran into them during the post race awards ceremony. Cathy won second place in the survivor category with a 21-something. She won a mountain bike.