Team Tiffers!!!

My wonderful friend, Tiffany, is an inspiration for those who are close to her and to those who hardly know her. Around this time last year, Tiffany found a small lump under her arm near her breast. Being that she was so young (28) and had no risk factors, she assumed it was most-likely a benign cyst so she didn’t worry too much about it. Then the tests came back and she and her husband received the difficult news that she had breast cancer. Tiffany has always been one of the most caring, funny, intelligent and beautiful women I know and these qualities have stood out even more as she treks courageously through this experience. She has had to make many hard decisions and endure difficult treatment, more than she lets most of us know. Through all of this though, Tiffany has been unbelievably strong and has used her positive attitude and unfaltering humor to make the best of the situation-- from hosting a pre-chemo party and a champagne head-shaving get together, to dishing out “chemo-brain” jokes, just to name a few. Watching Tiffany go through this experience with such grace and humor has made me admire her so much and given me a new perspective on what’s important in life. And seeing her fantastic husband, Dave, support her is also incredibly inspiring. Tiffany completed her treatment a few months ago and is looking forward to her life getting back to a new kind of normal.

When people are faced with life obstacles, it seems there is often talk about everything happening for a reason. Although I have a hard time accepting that there is any explanation to why so many wonderful people have to deal with cancer, I do know with great certainty that one good thing that will come out of this is that the breast cancer cause is going to have an amazing new advocate, and people facing the disease, especially those that are diagnosed at a young age, are going to have an amazing new supporter in Tiffany. She is already making an impact in fact-- her sister organized a team to walk in a Susan G. Koman walk for a cure in Chicago and “Team Tiffers” came in 5th place for the largest fundraisers, raising over $10,000! She has also shared her experience at several conferences to help others learn about and cope with breast cancer.

Tiffany is the toughest person I know and is a hero to me and so many people around her. I am really looking forward to participating in the F.A.B. 5K race with her this summer!

Noreen: A Fighter!!

One recent weekday evening our 6 ½ year old son Ben was in his usual rambunctious mode right before bedtime. Ben said, “Mommy, c’mon let’s wrestle!” Never without a quick-witted response, Noreen immediately informed Ben, “Mommy’s a lover not a fighter.” Without hesitation Ben then replied, “But mom you ARE a fighter, you fight cancer every day!”
This is the story of this week’s inspiration, my wife Noreen. In April 2006, our lives were turned upside down with her triple negative breast cancer diagnosis at age 35. With no family history and no apparent risk factors, the diagnosis was truly a lightning strike. However, from Day One Noreen has exemplified a true fighter attitude. Always staying positive, willing to take the most aggressive treatment options presented to her and always keeping her wonderful sense of humor throughout it all. After many rounds of chemo, mastectomy, radiation, surgeries and more chemo over the next couple of years, we thought she had beaten the disease until a small nodule in her lung was detected in 2008 and determined to be metastatic breast cancer. We then decided to engage a new team at Northwestern to help us determine the best course of action and treatment. They recommended a new combination of chemo drugs which proved successful and after an additional several months of chemo, Noreen went into remission for nearly two years.
Then, lightning struck again with a diagnosis last year of metastatic breast cancer that had reappeared in her lungs, as well has her spine and thyroid. Even though the newly detected nodules were small, it was still disheartening to learn of yet a third diagnosis. So the fight continues and Noreen is back into battle enduring weekly rounds of chemo and the gut-wrenching anxiety over periodic scans and subsequent results. Fortunately, we are blessed to have an incredible network of friends in the community that help us in so many ways as well as loving and caring family support. In Ben’s words, Noreen continues to fight cancer every day and we all remain hopeful she will overcome this disease yet again.
We look forward to participating in this year’s FAB 5K and applaud the efforts of all the organizers, contributors and participants. We will also dedicate the race to two very special fighters. My mother Joan who was diagnosed the same year as Noreen and endured a lumpectomy and many radiation treatments and is thankfully doing very well now. She is the primary caregiver of my father who has battled Parkinson’s disease for over two decades. Also, our dear friend Sarah, a FAB 5K Inspiration who lost her battle in December but deeply touched us with her incredible grace and dignity throughout her fight.

Spreading the Optimism

Who is your hero? When asked this question, I’m willing to bet that everyone can think of at least one person whom they can call a hero. Maybe your hero is someone you look up to, or someone who is courageous, someone who you go to for advice, or guidance, or someone who is an inspiration to you. Sandy Parr is who I go to for all of the above: courage, advice, guidance, and most of all, an inspiration as she fought and overcame her struggle with breast cancer. For all of this, Sandy (or Mom to me) is my hero.

After her annual mammogram check-up in October 2009, doctors reported an abnormally large lump in her left breast. However even so, the doctors reassured Mom it was “probably fine” due to the preexisting, benign lumps already in her breasts. The saying “Mom knows best” proved to be true when she did not take “probably fine” for a final answer. After weeks of back and forths with doctors and the insurance companies, Mom was finally, officially diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer- the most aggressive of the forms. It was disbelief after disbelief as Mom calmly announced that she would need to remove her left breast and undergo eight rounds of chemotherapy.

However hard the news was, throughout every stage of her battle with cancer, Mom showed her strength, determination, and her inner fighter. She wasted no time as she became proactive about how to overcome cancer in any way that she could. She began reading anything and everything, and implemented the best changes she could in her diet and lifestyle. Now, over a year later from her diagnosis, Mom has finished her treatments and has recovered fully. At times it is scary to me of the cancer’s potential to come back, but this never even seems to be a thought with Mom who maintains her optimism about conquering it.

For now, it is all we can do to keep spreading the optimism in every way we can so that more people will be able to fight and overcome as Mom did. Sandy was an active walker in last year’s F.A.B. 5 K and both her and I are eagerly awaiting June when we can unite with fellow friends, neighbors, and community to remind us of who our real heroes are in the face of cancer.

Her Smile

After 20 years together, we knew each other so well that sometimes one shared smile could contain a whole conversation. But last December, breast cancer took Sarah where I couldn't follow. How do I face a loss so deep? Honestly, my heart aches to see her smile again, and to be able to smile back. but the memory of those shared moments is also a blessing - it's how we faced fear and uncertainty together throughout the course of Sarah's battle with cancer. Sarah was faced with the same choice every day: focus on the past and what you've lost, or focus on living today and hoping for the future. I'm still amazed by her courage to keep looking forward. Even last December when our eyes were often blurry with tears, Sarah refused to give in to fear. Each smile from her felt so precious, like a gift. Now it's my turn to give back and honor the memory of her courage. Despite all the fear and grief surrounding breast cancer, we can focus on taking action today and hoping for the future. I hope you'll join us this year and run the F.A.B. 5k on Sarah's birthday. Together, we can make a difference! Each fund raising event gets us a little closer to that future when breast cancer can't take away our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters anymore.

Julie is Good To Go! An Inspiration!

Survivor: one who copes well with difficulties in their lives; one who survives an event after others have died. These definitions describe my sister Julie today. Almost 3 years ago Julie was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Shocked is an understatement for what rippled through our family. After dealing for so many years with my oldest sister, Charmaine’s cancer, we found ourselves once again starting a new battle with the “beast.”

Julie had always been “the caregiver” for Charmaine. They were closer than two sisters, they were best friends. Julie went with Charmaine to the doctor took notes and listened when maybe Charmaine would not. As the dynamic duo they were, Charmaine & Julie endured their chemotherapy & radiation together. They were their own support group, their own angels. Through her own battles she continued to be an advocate for my sister Charmaine.

March 8th of last year, Charmaine’s battle ended but Julie’s forged on. She began her reconstructive process and last FAB 5k found her recovering from the final stages of reconstructive surgery. My sister Julie is stronger than she knows and a force to be reckoned with and she has proven to be the “Superhero” we all knew she could be. I am inspired by Julie’s strength, tenacity and unwavering loyalty. My sister has taken her experience with breast cancer and gained a new sense of self. She is challenging herself in small and big ways. Julie, her three boys and her husband will join us on race day to Fight Against Breast cancer (F.A.B.) As Charmaine always said, Julie is getting ready to be GOOD TO GO! Are you?

The true meaning of generosity.....

We are awe struck from the amount of generosity we have received throughout this F.A.B. 5K experience. I always knew people were generous, just not to this extent. These people are not just our wonderful friends and families, but strangers as well. This race holds a special place in all of our hearts in so many ways it's hard to put into words. My Mom would have been amazed by what this race has been able to accomplish and the support it has received. She was the most generous person I know; her generosity was about giving her time and herself. She would have helped anyone who needed it, even if it was a stranger. I think generosity comes is so many forms, it's monumental, it's time selflessness, and much more. Not only has my Mom taught me this, but all of the people who helped us through this race, YOU have reminded us of the meaning of generosity. Thank you so much for a great life lesson that we will always treasure!

Why show up and do it?

I don't think one blog entry will be able to adequately summarize what's been going on in "FAB 5K world" over the past 6 months. Unfortunately, the beginning of 2011 started similarly to the early months of 2010 for many of us. Sarah, who was a huge inspiration to us all, passed away at the end of December. Sarah and her family inspired us by fighting this beast we call Breast Cancer with a fervor that I can't even begin to imagine myself doing. She and her husband's acceptance and courage through this most recent part of their journey is no different.

I spent the first month of this year too sad and angry to even begin thinking about planning the second FAB 5K. My mind has been peppered with the never ending question, "Why"? Why did this happen to Sarah? Her husband and beautiful boys? Charmaine? Barb? So many others? Why can't they find a cure already? Why organize a race if we can't make a huge enough dent...save just one person?

Then, a lovely person (who, at 16, lost her mom to Breast Cancer) gave me a book to read; Promise Me by Nancy G. Brinker. Only 25 pages into the book, I know why. To quote Nancy, "....moment meets messenger, information becomes action. Hearts and minds shift to a new paradigm, money happens, and it all comes together".

Our inaugural race served it's purpose on so many levels. First and foremost, it lifted the spirits of Sarah, Alan, Ben, Sam and Sarah's brother, Thomas. I will never forget her huge smile on that day. Our gathering showed Christine as well as Charmaine's and Barb's family how much they mean to us and our community. The event raised a great deal of money within a small amount of time for Breast Cancer Research; the only thing that's really going to get rid of this disease. Breast Cancer survivors and people affected by breast cancer came together to show one another love and support. Finally, it brought beauty in the face of something so horrible.

There are a lot of Breast Cancer organizations and events out there. It's not a competition - it's a coalition. From a grassroots level, our race shows our community how much we cherish and appreciate one another. We demonstrated that when someone needs us, we'll show up and do what needs to be done. That's WHY.

This year's race will take place (very poignantly) on Sarah's 40th birthday: June 11, 2011 at Patton Elementary School in Arlington Heights. Sarah, Charmaine, Barb, Christine and Janet were our catalysts. It was when, "moment met messenger" and we're going to keep doing it. We all need to keep at it because it needs to be done. That's why.

More Coffee & Donuts, Please!

Being a runner for the last seventeen years, I have always been the one wearing the race number on race day. Helping to organize the F.A.B. 5K, gave me insight as to what happens on the other side of race. For starters, we did not have a pre-set ‘Hal Higdon’ training plan to follow in putting this race together. We did muster up a project plan to lay out the major tasks, but it was not as easy as lining up the miles with the days. Thankfully, we did have some race director mentors who provided us with valuable information – a big thanks goes to Running Unlimited in Palatine, Tracy Ronzio (Run for Congo Women in Chicago) and Karl Fruecht (The Dash to Cure Diabetes in Barrington).

Unfortunately, there was no carbo-loading on Friday night for the race directors which is one my favorite parts of running. We did, however, have a license to drink as much coffee and eat as many donuts and bagels before the race on Saturday morning which suited me just fine. It is debatable if race directors wake up earlier than runners on race day. Most of our alarm clocks were set for a shade earlier than 5 a.m. Saturday morning. It was fun being on the race course at sunrise putting out the mile markers and signs, but we missed seeing the course “in action” and have really no idea how many fans and neighbors came out for it. I am pretty sure that I would not trade the anxiety of trying to find parking and the restrooms before a race with the anxiety of setting everything up on time and making sure the gun goes off at the precise start time. Obviously, those at the race saw we were a bit challenged by this :).

One of my favorite parts of being on the other side was being able to look at the whole field of runners and walkers and see all of the determination and excitement at the start line. That is a one of kind experience. My other favorite part was watching and cheering on the runners and walkers at the final turn to the finish line. There is nothing more inspirational than seeing athletes ‘gut it out’ at the finish to meet their goals.

“So what’s the verdict?”, you may ask…is it more fun to run a race or direct a race? For me, I would call it a tie. There are different rewards that come out of both and both require a lot of hard work. “So…will there be a 2nd Annual F.A.B. 5K?” you might ask? Stay tuned….

Speechless

We have received a few questions about the absent blog posts. That's fair. Before the event, we spent many hours preparing the blog for June 12. Now, it's been almost 5 days since the race and...nothing. I'm as surprised as you are. I thought we'd be blogging night and day after Saturday.

Here's the thing: Saturday rendered us speechless. How do we begin to describe Saturday's experience?

Here's a very brief summary:

• Sarah and her family had a great time and were all smiles!
• The weather held out until after the run/walk finished.
• The temperature even fell 8 degrees an hour before the race from a humid 84 to an almost pleasant 76.
• We had over 60 wonderful and energetic volunteers that showed up and did everything we asked and more. They were rock stars!
• There were over 275 participants that walked or ran the course.
• Beautiful pictures were taken by an up and coming photographer - Colleen H. She's already on reserve for next year. We're working on getting those out onto the blog. Keep looking for them!
• The post-race musicians played long after the event was finished and were kept dry under the tent.
• There was more than enough food and water. Who needs cases of water for their next charitable event? Look no further!! Just let us know.
• Everyone showed up on time or early with big smiles on their faces.
• The '57 Chevy pace car driven by Dave Lavin was a huge hit.
• We sold out of 50 t-shirts and 22 more were ordered.
• We laughed, we cried, we cheered, we laughed some more.

It was one of the most wonderful things I have ever experienced and I walked around in pure shock and awe at the beauty of it for several days after.

The most beautiful part of it? The generosity of everyone. The inaugural F.A.B. 5K raised over $15,000! In the process, we made a lot of people smile. We could have planned this event all we wanted, but the volunteers and participants made it successful. It was a community coming together and showing love and support for one another.

My apologies on not getting this post out sooner. Truthfully, I have had a hard time finding a way to put this into words. Thank you isn't enough. I can only say it was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever had and I hope we have a chance to do it again - with you.

At least we don’t need to do a seating chart!

The F.A.B. 5K Team has generally likened planning this race to planning a wedding…some parallels are the dependency on the weather, creating time lines, lots of lists, trying to get RSVP’s, etc. Our focus this week is tying up all of the loose ends, though, this does not include nail appointments or dress fittings or creating seating charts! We have been focusing on the following, however:

• Pondering whether Jerry Taft, Tom Skilling, Ginger Zee and Tracy Butler will all agree on the appropriate weather forecast for Saturday.
• Running the race course a few times to check for issues – I was a bit concerned when I noticed a neighbor had placed a few rocks on the roadway – was this a protest to the notification flyer we had sent out? Lesley pointed out that he probably just forgot to put them back after mowing the grass.
• Going on a shopping spree at Meijer for supplies.
• Stocking up on sleep because the Sandman probably won’t come on Friday night – we will be too excited/nervous/anxious.
• Smiling every time we get a pre-registration form!
• Outlining the events of June 12th minute by minute.
• Getting crafty – making signs, writing speeches and drawing maps.
• Coordinating with our awesome volunteers.

I think the F.A.B. 5K Team would agree that it’s all been a lot of fun and we cannot wait to see the results on Saturday! Speaking of Saturday, a few quick updates:
• We will have a limited quantity of F.A.B. 5K t-shirts for sale on race day - $10/shirt.
• If you haven’t done so already, why not pre-register? Just fill out the form at this link and email it back to us: http://www.bcrfcure.org/pdf/eve_fab5k_register.pdf
• We will be running and walking rain or shine! If there is extreme weather, please check back at our blog or Facebook for an update.

Serendipitous

Around this time of year, I find myself trying to squeeze in all the "me" time I can. In a few short days, my children will be home for the summer and there will be people with me when I wake up, go grocery shopping, when I'm trying to take a shower, when I want to go running, when I really, really want to go to bed. Something strange happened this year - I've discovered I'm not longing for that "me" time like I usually do. I have had an amazing experience planning this run with my running partners. I want to keep planning, keep meeting people and hearing their stories, watch in awe what can happen when people come together to make something happen.

The support, generosity, encouragement, and excitement of people I've encountered along the way can match no other experience. Watching people come together in the face of something so difficult is a beautiful thing. I've never encountered something like this "up close" before. The four of us spent much of March worried and grieving about loved ones and probably wondering when things would feel "normal" again. I'm pretty sure the definition of normal changes when you are close to someone suffering from breast cancer, or lose someone to breast cancer. But, this process has given us all an opportunity to see some "good" in life.

It's been almost five years ago to the day that I knocked on my running partner's door, introduced myself, and asked her if she would be interested in training for the Chicago Marathon together. I'm pretty sure none of us envisioned this....actually planning a race together that will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I'm pretty sure that all breast cancer survivors and breast cancer "families" didn't envision their journey, either. This is nothing like breast cancer treatment - this is easy compared to any breast cancer treatment. But, look what happened when those two things came together?

I hope those of you who come on Saturday feel the same support, generosity, encouragement, and excitement that we've experienced these last two and a half months. Then, I hope you continue to share those feelings with those you meet.

"With each mile I learn more about who I am -
with every step I move closer to myself...
this has been serendipitous.
I am comfortable with me, because of this road." --Unknown

What do I need to know for race day?

QUICK NEWSFLASH - We will have pre-race day registration at Egg Harbor in Arlington Heights this coming Saturday, June 5th from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Come on over, grab a cup of coffee, fill out your registration form and make a donation. It would be great to see you!

For the advance planners out there, we thought we would provide a quick preview on what to expect for race day.

PARKING - Parking at Patton School will be pretty limited, we will be closing the lots by 8:40 a.m. to clear for the race route. The alternative is street parking and we think it is adequate. We encourage you to car pool, run/walk to Patton or ride your bike!

REGISTRATION - Begins at 8:15 a.m. If you preregistered, you need to get in the Pre-Registered line to pick up your race number and get your raffle tickets. Also note, we will not have a bag check.

RACE START - 5k start is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. We ask that walkers file towards the back of the pack. The 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk will start at 9:10 a.m.

RACE COURSE - The course is open (meaning that there will be cars), so runners/walkers should be vigilant and run/walk on the left side of the road. There will be one water stop on the course at about mile 1.8. The 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk turnaround is at Yale Court, the one milers will retrace their route back to Patton after the turnaround.

POST RACE - We will have some live entertainment, water and snacks. Hang out and cheer on the finishing runners/walkers and be social!

RAFFLE - Raffle winners will be drawn during the race and the winners will be posted by 9:45a.m. at the raffle table. Don't forget to check this out after the race!

Stay tuned for more details....if you have any specific questions, email fab5krun@gmail.com

The countdown begins....

Tomorrow is June 1 - and in a mere 12 days, the F.A.B. 5K will be here and then gone. Many with experience in planning events such as these and even some of us have likened the experience to planning a wedding and I can't think of a better comparison. So many small details to come together, so many things out of our control. As the day gets closer, I have to keep reminding myself (I'm not sure about my co-conspirators) not to stress out too much and remember why I'm doing this....why we're all doing it.

However, this isn't too difficult because I encounter people almost every day throughout this process who remind me that we are far from alone in our experiences. The dry cleaner who has four sisters, three of whom had stage IV breast cancer; the clerk at Ann Taylor Loft who has an aunt who has been fighting Stage IV breast cancer for 16 years (without remission); a teacher of one of our children who sent an email detailing her experience with her mom; a volunteer who shared a moving story about her two sisters with breast cancer; a friend's daughter who flew from Alabama to the NIH in D.C. one day per month for 9 months for Stage IV experimental treatment. The stories go on and on and I fear I've left many important stories out - so many to tell. It's important to share these stories because we are a community of people with potential connections. We can help one another, share information, and motivate breast cancer research. For all of you attending our run, some very beautiful little girls (Girl Scout Daisies from Patton Elementary) will be providing signage boards for people to share their stories and love. Don't forget to stop by, read and sign!

Every time I encounter one of these people or their story, I'm immediately motiviated to check off the next task on the to-do list or come up with another "to-do". I'm doing it for Sarah, my mom, Barb, Charmaine, Christine and all these other people and their families. I know many of you are coming out for these same special people. Who else? Let us know.

It's so worth every bit of planning; each possible sanfu, each unplanned obstacle. Because, in the end, why am I doing this? I'm doing it for a bigger purpose and I can handle it. Hope to see you there...rain...or shine!

A Guide to the Race Course....

When we first starting planning the F.A.B. 5K, I thought the race course design would be the easiest thing. I have now learned that I have taken that aspect of running races for granted for many years. There’s lots to consider – measuring the course to a precise distance (no guarantees on that for our course – it’s all about how you take the turns!), busy streets, minimizing turns, Police coverage, scenery, etc. However, for our first year, I think we managed to put together a pretty respectable course.

Many marathons now have videos that take you through the whole course so you can prep for it. The F.A.B. 5K team is not at that level of technology yet, so I thought I would give you a narrative tour, you can also see the attached link for a preview:
http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=368281

The 5K begins and ends at Patton Elementary…you will be running out of the driveway, heading south on Patton, keep your eyes open for curbs and watch out for parked cars --- our course is open and this will be prime parking for race attendees here. Hang a right onto Maude for a short distance and then you will head north on Yale – note that there is a course cross-over at the intersection of Maude & Yale, so look for the faster runners making the turn to go south on Yale, be sure to cheer them on! You will pass Yale Court – this is the one mile turnaround for the fun run/walk. Right after that is the next turn, Lillian Ave, just a short jaunt on this and then you will head south again on Chicago for a short bit and turn back onto Maude. Now you can wave to the slower runners and walkers behind you at the crossover ;). Turn south on Yale, now you have a nice downhill stretch ahead of you with lots of shade. Be sure to wave and say ‘thanks’ to our volunteer course marshals and the Village of Arlington Heights Policemen who are helping to make sure you don’t get run over or go off course. At Elm, head east…look out for the water stop coming up at the Blue house on the corner of Princeton and Elm (this is at about 1.8 miles). Right after the water stop, head north on Harvard. This starts to begin a bit of the uphill portion of the route. You will run through scenic and shady Sherwood. Next turn is at Marion and then you will hit Yale again and the course should look familiar. Head north on Yale – you are in the home stretch, less than a ½ mile to go, time to turn it up a notch! Cut right onto Lynnwood, then make a quick turn onto Harvard, and then onto Maude. You will hit Patton Ave. and Patton School will be in your sights, there is no excuse to not sprint at this point. Head right past Patton, turn into the north parking lot, you should hear the crowds by now. Congrats…you are a finisher of the inaugural F.A.B. 5K!

A Sneak Peek at the Race Day Raffle...

The F.A.B 5k Team decided to put together a raffle for race day as an added incentive to get people out for the race, add some excitement and raise money. None of us are raffle or fundraising experts, so going into this we really had no idea of successful we would be in gathering items to even raffle. Thankfully this has been easier than we anticipated. Most businesses that we have approached have been very responsive and willing to help, for which we are most grateful!
For every $20 you donate to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, you receive one raffle ticket (you must be present on race day to participate). We thought we would give you a sneak peek of some of the Race Day Raffle items:

* A Droid from Motorola
* Gift Certificates from Running Unlimited in Palatine
* Teeth Whitening from Westgate Dental in Arlington Heights
* Lots of running gear from Mizuno
* Wine tasting classes from Urban Harvest
* Cubs Tickets
* Yoga classes from Willow Yoga
* Massage gift certificate from Athletico
*Gift certificates for rounds of golf at Arlington Lakes & Nickol Knoll from the Arlington Heights Park District

If you are reading this and think you might have something to donate for our raffle, we would love to hear from you…please email us at fab5krun@gmail.com. Thank you!

Why We Run...

The F.A.B. 5k Team all have different sorts of reasons that we run, some of our favorites are: for our health; for sanity; to try and stay 'young'; the ability to eat a generous slice Portillo's Chocolate Cake; to occasionally escape our households; for the social aspect of it and we realize it's cheaper than therapy!

One of my favorite blogger/writers, Kristin Armstrong, recently wrote a great article in the May 2010 Runner's World issue on a very simple reason why we should run, see this link: http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-243-297--13480-0,00.html

This drove home a simple realization that we are organizing this race because we have the ability to do this for those that cannot.....and we hope you join us in running or walking because you can!

Race Day Weather

We did consult the Farmer's Almanac for potential race day weather. It is showing 'Pleasant Conditions'. We will interpret that as 60 degrees, partly sunny at start time and zero humidity! The race is scheduled to go off rain or shine. So we hope you will all join us despite what Tom Skilling may forecast for June 12th.

The F.A.B. 5k Team has two general rules for skipping outdoor runs: (1) when the thermometer approaches single digits and wind chills go below zero and (2) Driving rain (although we have found ourselves in the middle of a run with rain like this). With the help of a higher power, neither weather rule will be invoked on June 12th!

What are your outside running/walking 'weather rules'?

Why aren't we just having a bake sale?

We have all participated in and supported various methods to raise money for charity....from car washes to selling wrapping paper to holding a bake sale. There are lots of arguments for which is the most effective way to raise money. For us, it was a pretty simple decision...we are runners....let's do a race.

In giving our decision some thought, there are some good reasons behind this choice. A race is an event for the community and like minded folks to gather, something that friends and family can do together. Events generate support, awareness and publicity and which are all good things for our cause.

Getting out for a 5k is great exercise. Exercise is good for the body and good for the brain. We are all firm believers in this. We also think its a perfect opportunity to challenge yourself and set a goal. Showing up for a race requires a little more thought than writing a check and from time to time, that's good for us!

F.A.B. 5K

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This is Christine, an inspiration

This is Christine. My Mom is a three time breast cancer survivor over the course of 18 years. Despite these disruptive life events, Mom has remained focused on raising her three children, spoiling six grandchildren (soon to be seven), tending to her gardens and creating quilts which are works of art. Cancer has not slowed her down. Mom's first occurrence was in 1991, diagnosed as Lobular Carcinoma in situ. Mom had a lumpectomy and radiation therapy. As I was still a high school junior living at home at this time, I can hardly remember the radiation treatments Mom went to for six weeks. she made this a non-event for myself and my sister and brother, handling this with grace and a quiet determination. During this time, my Dad played a critical role in my mother's recovery as a generous source of support and love. Unfortunately, as Mom was approaching the 5 year mark when it can be said you are in 'remission', some remaining affected tissue was found and removed. Mom started hormone therapy, as well. Thankfully, 13 cancer-quiet years passed after this. At the end of the summer 2009. Mom found a lump in her breast and made the trek yet again to the Ohio State University Medical Center. The diagnosis was Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. As this is a more aggressive form of cancer she previously had, the doctors prescribed 4 course treatments of chemotherapy and a 7 week radiation therapy stint. Mom handled these months with courage and faith. She was determined not to miss our family Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations due to the Chemo treatments. When we arrived home for Christmas, the house was decked out like it always is and all of the requisite Christmas cookies had been made. Mom did 'allow' her son-in-law to prepare Christmas Day dinner, though! A few months ago, Mom bought a treadmill because she felt like she was getting her energy back after finishing the chemo and radiation treatments. Little did she know she would be 'training' for the F.A.B. 5K! Mom is excited to be walking with us on June 12th!