I ran my first 5K today.

It was part of Miles for Moffitt - a morning of races to raise money for cancer research.  It just so happens that Moffitt is where I was treated for my skin cancer, so this race had a personal affect that others have not.  It was nice to have so many co-workers from Busch Gardens Zoo Department there as well.  I did get a little teary running by the actual hospital (expected) and at the finish line (normal).

I believe my time was 27:49, but there seems to be an issue with my official time.  There is a '#' where my chip time should be, and it says # = Under USATF OPEN guideline.  I've tried to Google what that means, and I don't think I set a record for my age, so who knows?  We shall see.  I ran as fast as I could go without collapsing or throwing up.  I think it was a good showing for only running three times since the marathon on April 13, and with it being 74 degrees at 8am and all.  :)

So, I've signed up with the Busch Gardens Cares team for the Miles for Moffitt 5K.  There are a few other races as well (8K, 1mile, kids' races), but I wanted to start "small" after my marathon.  I have run exactly three times in the 25 days since my marathon - a rather nice, relaxing jog in England a few days after the race (it felt so good! my body was like "oh yeah, I remember how this feels!") and then twice in the last two days.  I ran 3.1 miles (5K) on Wednesday morning with Kristin's dogs, Stella and Sherman, around the golf course, and then 3.1 miles on the treadmill yesterday afternoon.  Both were a little tough - mostly, getting my mind into the "push myself" mentality.  I can run it - my lungs can handle it, my legs can handle it - it was just a matter of convincing my mind to keep everything going.  I plan on lifting some weights in the gym tonight after work and then the race is early tomorrow morning.

This will be my first 5K ever.  Obviously, I ran more than 5K during the marathon, but it will be inspirational for a different reason.  Yes, the marathon was an accomplishment.  I'm extremely proud of myself for starting that journey and seeing it through to the end.  I realize now that running will always be a part of my life (as long as I am able) - I enjoy it and it keeps my healthy.  I did fight cancer while training for the marathon and it is this reason that this race will be more emotional.  It is for Moffitt, it runs past Moffitt - even going to pick up my race bib on Wednesday was hard.  It was hard to see that building, it's hard to see the patients and their families - something I was a part of just over three months ago.  It is not fun to realize how many people cancer affects - I will most definitely cry (I have at every race).  It will be different this time - it will be simultaneously hard and inspiring seeing all the survivors running yet that is why I'm taking part - so that there are more survivors.  I'm grateful to be one of those survivors.  I recently had a shocking reminder that some people do not make it through skin cancer.

I will get a PR tomorrow, but I will also celebrate my journey so far this year, be grateful for making it through my diagnosis, be hopeful that I won't have to go through it again, and be inspired by those around me who have faced much worse, knowing that I have a larger "family" out there that fights for me and everyone else affected by cancer.

The really really good news is that my cancer did not spread.

The "bad" news is I still can't run until Wednesday, February 12th per Dr. Cruse.  I am itching to run!  I never would have thought I'd miss it this much, but it is so meditative.  I feel so good after a workout - endorphins!  On the other hand, I'm also nervous because I will have missed two weeks of training.  And...it has been more tiring to get back into the routine at work than I anticipated, so...running 14 miles might also be challenging (moreso than normal, that is).  We will see.  I got the "REST" days down.  :)