The Team's Top Ten Reasons to Sign up for the F.A.B. 5k

10. The opportunity to show breast cancer survivors how much we love and support them by coming out and showering them with all the positive energy to be had at the F.A.B. 5K. Just ask anyone who's participated before - it can't be beat!

9. The right to wear a very cool looking t-shirt we have designed for 2012!

8. It is a great excuse to buy a new pair of Running Shoes – check out our new sponsor – Dick Pond - for these!

7. Awesome pink ribbon Wrightsocks.

6. Witness for yourself the 100 best 5K volunteers in the world (by our estimate) who make the F.A.B. 5k possible! Over 100 people come out to help us on the day of the race and approximately 3/4 (or more) of the volunteers have been with us since the first year.

5. Running or walking a 5k is a great fitness goal. It is also a wonderful opportunity to share the benefits of an active lifestyle with your kids.

4. Hot Lou Malnati’s Pizza at the Finish line!

3. Fantastic race day raffle prizes!

2. A chance to spend time with your friends, family and neighbors on a beautiful Sunday morning in June.

1. To make an impact in this battle, carrying the hope that one day there will be a cure by raising funds for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. It’s just one small thing we can do to feel ‘in-control’ of an ‘out-of-control’ situation.

Join us on June 10th!

Why, you ask?

Believe me, I've asked myself that same question about this same time for the last three years. Why all the time spent meeting, getting sponsors, food, raffle sponsors and even participants? I always come up with the same answer. I do for this for my MOM, Bonnie's SISTERS, Kelly's MOM, Lesley's MOM, SARAH and so many MORE! I do this because I don't want anyone else to have to go through what we've all experienced. The pain, heartbreak, the feeling of being able to do nothing but watch. There has to be something we can do and that is what the four of us are doing. WE are raising money for the foundation we believe, and Sarah believed, can make a difference. Even if it's ONE person, ONE life at a time.

The four of us were brought together for a reason. We became running partners for a reason. We all went throught watching a loved one battle breast cancer for a reason. This is what the four of us were meant to do together.

I kind of look at it like this. People always say that after having one child why would you ever do that again. Endure pregnancy and labor and delivery. The answer is because the outcome far out weighs anything else. After each race the outcome is way too awesome to not do it again. So, here we are doing it again and again the outcome is going to be awesome!

Unless Someone Like You Cares A Whole Awful Lot...

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing's going to get better. It's not. ~ Dr. Seuss

As we look for our inspirations in 2012, I would like to tell you about my inspirations this year. Yes, my sisters Charmaine and Julie will always inspire me as well as my good friend Noreen but this year I want to tell you about three inspirations that have motivated me since before 2010 and the race: My F.A.B. 5k Team.

KELLY: She inspires me to be a better a runner. She checks in on me when I am missing my early morning runs. Makes sure I know when they are heading out at 515a (yes like most children the F.A.B. 5k was born at an ungodly hour) so that I don’t miss out. Gets me a new pair of socks to keep me running in the winter and shares her wisdom to keep me interested in the sport. These are the things she does for the F.A.B. 5k. She makes sure we are on task with our goals and plans. Double checks everything to make sure we are doing it the best we can; she dots the “i”s when maybe I forgot to cross the “t”s. When I need a little boost to get motivated again Kelly unknowingly sends an email that re-inspires me.

LESLEY: She inspires my momentum for running. She gets my heart rate up when she is talking about a passionate subject because she can’t help herself and I pant along trying to keep up so I can hear how the story ends. When I get behind she is always sure to check that I am still there, even if it is several blocks behind. She always makes me laugh especially with her traveling stories. Lesley gets the F.A.B. 5k up to speed especially when she has something exciting to tell us. She lightens the mood when things get tense. She offers to help when one of us might be struggling with a task. When Lesley is excited she inspires all of us to be excited.

MELANIE: Melanie inspires me to keep going especially when it feels too hard. We’ve suffered injuries on the running track at the same time. Hers being far more serious than mine kept me motivated because she kept moving. We have both recovered and can’t stop. Doctors have told us to take it easy but we can’t, we are runners and we keep moving. Melanie and I are kindred spirits having only started our friendship and running partnership right before our lives were turned upside down by the passing of my sister and her mother only days apart from one another. Sometimes, I think our friendship had a divine intervention. I enjoy sharing the positive and fulfilling cathartic journey of the F.A.B. 5k planning with Melanie. Her mother’s battle and my sister’s struggle with breast cancer will not be in vain because we keep moving. We are runners and thats what we do: keep moving.

I would be remiss if I also did not mention our husbands and our children as inspirations as well. These men & children know where they will be every second weekend in June. They are as dedicated as their wives and mothers and help out whenever possible and are the best cheerleaders when we need them. Our F.A.B. 5k team would not be complete without the love and support of Eric, Brian, Todd and Kevin and the helping hands and hearts of Owen, Finely, Jack, Charlie, Danny, Tyler, Reese, Hannah and Sammie.

My F.A.B. 5k Team inspires because simply they do care; they care a “whole awful lot.”

Getting the word out....

Last week was my annual mammogram. For better or worse, my OB/GYN recommended annual exams due to my Mom’s history of breast cancer occurrences. Stepping into the imaging machine, helps to remind me why we work so hard on the F.A.B. 5k. It is so that at some point in the future, those women receiving calls with questionable results after a week or two of their mammograms know that their problem is solvable and all will be well. I truly hope it is in our lifetime.

The F.A.B. 5K Team has been working diligently over the last few winter months. Registration is open; our fliers are being printed; the 2012 T-shirt is designed and recruitment of sponsors is in full swing! Our goal this year is continue to grow the race while maintaining the same level of quality and meaning this event has for us. This year we are adding some enhancements - the first 400 participants will receive T-shirts and we are adding race timing. We have a few more things in the works, too!

So, friends, I have a favor to ask of you. We are at the point in our planning where we need to kick the publicity into high gear. Can you help us get the word out? Send the link to our online registration (https://www.signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/81730/) to your group of friends and family – who cares if they run or walk - an invitation is all it takes to do something beyond our normal boundaries. Post something on your twitter feed or facebook that you will be joining us on June 10th and you want to help make an impact. Extend those invites and we want to hear the stories of who you were able to convince to toe the line on June 10th!

"It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich"

"Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich."
— Sarah Bernhardt

I love this quote. Whenever I need a "pick me up", this quote helps. I have it in my arsenal, but haven't seen it in awhile. It came across in an email to me this morning. Is it coincidental that it was the same day I needed to publish a blog post? I wonder. Ever since the first F.A.B. 5k, my life has been full of these happenstance instances. Almost two years ago to the day, the idea of the F.A.B. 5k was born.

In less than 3 months following Barb and Charmaine's deaths in 2010, an event that drew 350 people and raised over $15,000 for Sarah's charity of choice (The BCRF) came to fruition. Kind people offered time, money, and resources in an effort to show their love and support to Sarah's, Barb's, Charmaine's, Kelly's, and my families. Not to mention all those in similar circumstances that came out to "feel the love". Girls Scouts and Daisy troops offered to have a lemonade stand and memory wall at the finish line. The Indian Guide's head Chief asked all his little Indian Guides to come out and walk. He provided all of them with a patch for their efforts. How great is that?! Then, there's the white dove (and I am not kidding - I have witnesses) sitting on the side of the road as the four of us drove our car around the course at daybreak to put up inspirational signs and mile markers on race day. The dove sat calmly watching us as if to say, "You're doing the right thing, it will be fine". What about the storm that rolled in literally 10 minutes after we wrapped up? Not just any little storm, but one of those fierce, quick storms that makes sure you're paying attention. It held off until the perfect time. Everything in the world told us that this would not be the only F.A.B. 5k.

Last year, as we started to be concerned about whether we could have the same kind of success, companies like Wright Sock offered to help provide socks to participants. People didn't just offer to sponsor, but offered two-fold of what we were expecting. Some provided raffle prizes without being asked. Potential participants started contacting us to ask if they could form teams and raise MORE money! Someone took Sarah's story and spent hours creating a beautiful painting, and just offered it (called me up and said, "I'm doing this") as a silent auction item. The race happened to fall on what would have been Sarah's 40th birthday. Over $21,000 went to The BCRF and we had 500+ participants and over 100 volunteers.

Is it coincidental that registration opened today, in the very week that will mark the anniversary of Barb and Charmaine's passing? I swear it wasn't planned. We were supposed to open a bit earlier, but it was delayed. Or, that after a recent meeting where we discussed how we're going to continue to exceed what we've done in the last two years, a seemingly impossible feat, we get good news from two past sponsors?

Something is driving this and it isn't the four of us. Four people alone cannot do this. It takes hundreds of people. Willing, loving, and very kind people. Every time I come around a bend, something falls into place that tells me this is the right thing to do. There is an energy that drives this event. It's love, passion, kindness, the memories and spirits of Sarah, Barb, Charmaine, all of our inspirations, and others' inspirations.

This is an exciting and stressful time for me. I want to do better than the last two years. I want people to participate and volunteer. I want people to enjoy themselves. I want the momentum to continue. I want our money to be the money that causes a scientist to discover the right drugs, treatment, and cure. There are a lot of things out of our control when it comes to breast cancer. But we can create an event that's driven by positive energy of people who want to do what they can in the face of something that seems so out of control. The energy and time the four of us have spent on the F.A.B. 5k is one of the richest blessings I will ever encounter. That's why I'm doing it again. I hope you'll come be a part of the energy this year.

Always Trust Your Cape...

I have a confession.....I'm afraid to fly. I don't mean "I don't like getting in airplanes" afraid. I mean, "yell out loud, grab perfect strangers, need prescription medication" afraid. My husband jokingly asks if he can get a seat at the other end of the plane when we have to buy plane tickets. I'm pretty sure this isn't a secret because I tell everyone...especially when they start talking about flying. See, I tell them in hopes that they will change the subject. I'm afraid of a lot of things. Wading in the ocean (forget swimming), driving on bridges, failing my children, saying the wrong thing....the list goes on and on. For example, you could say that right now I'm nearly paralyzed with fear about hosting a 5k race for the community in hopes that we can show breast cancer survivors how important they are and how much we want to help them fight the disease.

I remember having tea with Sarah at Starbucks a long time ago and talking about some silly fear I was experiencing with my boys. I asked her how she coped with stress of every day situations. She told me when she started swimming competitively she would get almost physically ill before she competed. She said she started telling herself that whatever is going to happen has already been decided so it was unnecessary to make herself worried sick about it. I think about that conversation a lot. I think about all my fears and thinking of Sarah really puts those things in perspective. She faced the worst possible fear any of us could probably face......every single day. On top of that, she felt physically ill most of the time. Every day, she got up and she faced that fear with the same resolve. She didn't let it paralyze her, grab perfect strangers, yell out (although all those reactions would have been completely acceptable as far as I'm concerned).

I certainly haven't stopped having all those fears, but I think about the level of courage it must have taken Sarah to face the worst possible outcome day in and day out, all the while feeling far from top shape. I can get in a plane, swim in the ocean, take risks with my children, plan the F.A.B. 5k with my wonderful friends. The outcome has already been decided. I might as well relax and enjoy the ride (or the surf).

So....if this your first race (walking or running), do NOT be afraid. You are doing something wonderful to honor people like Sarah who face our worst fears every single day. It's three miles, one morning, one race entry fee, a few hours out of your schedule. This is easy.

"She was just one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith. Spread your arms and hold your breath and always trust your cape". -- Eric Bibb, The Cape

Then....and Now....

Wow....we have less than 5 weeks to the starting gun (note: this year we will test it prior to the official start) ;). We thought it would be fun to reflect upon where we are now versus where we were this time last year (plus a little perspective will help keep us motivated!)

For starters, as of today we have a little over 100 registrants for the 2nd Annual F.A.B. 5k. Last year, we knew we had a little over 100 registered the night before the race. That is a big difference! This year we introduced online registration at signmeup.com in an effort to streamline the process on race day and reduce data entry. This has helped immensely allowing us to better plan the race day and understand who our participants are. Any guesses on what the average registrant age is?.....to be revealed at a later date.

We have a wine tasting under our belts this year already. Earlier in April, we hosted a fundraiser at Vintages in Arlington Heights. It was a great success and we hope to do the same event next year. We raised over $1,500 for the F.A.B. 5k and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Last year, a secondary event to the race was no where on our radar screen.

We’ve got T-shirts printed already! This time last year we were still tinkering with our logo. Email us if you would like to purchase one (fab5krun@gmail.com). We will also have them for sale at the packet pickup-up and on race day.

This year the F.A.B. 5k has again received generous corporate sponsorships from our inaugural sponsors --- The John Buck Company, Running Unlimited, Glenview State Bank, Westgate Dental Care and Waltz, Palmer & Dawson LLC. In addition to these sponsors, we are proud to add three more this year: Awesome Design Contracting, Vintages and Wright Socks.

While it is safe to say we are ahead of where we were last year in terms of logistics, we are still working very hard on maximizing participation and making this the best neighborhood 5k it can be. Please help us by registering today and telling your friends, family and co-worker’s about our cause.

Why Sarah Chose BCRF

Last year, the race committee asked my wife, Sarah Lopez, which organization she would recommend as the beneficiary of the F.A.B. 5k fundraising efforts. Because she felt that breast cancer awareness was already being covered well in the public, she searched for the best research-focused organization and found the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Research leading to a cure is urgent for so many women out there with metastatic breast cancer - their lives hang in the balance! Although breast cancer claimed the life of my beloved Sarah after a courageous 5 year struggle, she and I both believed that her life was saved several times in that period due to new treatment methods and advances in research. Organizations like BCRF are making a difference. They support science that is giving families more precious, priceless time together - and we are getting closer to curative treatments each year. As I grieve for Sarah, my heart also goes out to the many families with a mother who might still be given the opportunity to see her children grow up if we can keep pushing hard and supporting research for a cure! I invite you to join us in supporting the BCRF through your F.A.B. 5k race registration and additional donations. The BCRF received a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator for the 9th consecutive year and is the only breast cancer organization to hold an A+ from the American Institute of Philanthropy. It is known for high efficiency with over 90% of donations going straight to funding research. It's mission is to "Find The Cause" and "Find The Cure!"
Let's run the F.A.B. 5k together this year on 11 June. Let's make a difference!

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