Break the Walls Down!

Whether you're the novice or experienced runner, there is no thrill like the one of attending a race.

We race to fuel our adrenaline, add an "umph" to our momentum,workouts, and recalculate personal goals.

Many of these races are to benefit a cause. They might be large races of grand-scale. They might be a small local event.

I've ran in the St. Louis Komen Race for Cure two years now, and running with 66,000 women, men, and children all fighting breast cancer is a humbling and awesome thing to witness. I was proud of myself for my performance-I noted the change in my time, I logged my mile per minute rate. I was even more struck by the number of people there-nameless strangers with smiles and support for every woman fighting this disease. 66,000 and several million dollars strong-we "raced for the cure!" And yet every once in awhile, a woman in a pink shirt would sail past me-no hair, and I knew why I was there. I'd just seen her!:)

I've also ran in small benefits. When running in the Nathan's Quest to Battle Childhood Cancer in our town, I was met in the restroom by two women who were eyeballing my friend and I . We commented on the beautiful weather for the event, and she proudly stood tall, sucked in a breath, pulled back a tear, and said "Nathan was my grandson." We were silent-this race pulled an entry of $20 a person, with maybe 50 participants. I knew Nathan, and that day, I met his Grandma.

When we run we are blessed with physical ability and choice to conquer our physical and mental obstacles. Many of the races we participate in are for those who don't have the choice. Heck yes-they would love to kick that cancer in the butt and make it go away-but it isn't as simple as setting a goal for a pr, or a distance, or to participate in an event. They are running the race of their life-and when we show up-we show them-hey, I'm running with you-to support research, care, peace of mind. We run to help ourselves-but we run to make the road better for others so they can meet the goals they have set.

The Irish Blessing states

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

And the rain fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

An hour of your time, the sweat on your brow, the struggle you face shows those fighting a much harder path that you are trying to ease their travels.

My point is, that no matter the gesture or number of participants, we all have the capacity to give. We attend with selfish intentions. It is usually about, well, ME. But when you go-no race, no matter how big or small, is a wasted moment. Whether it is thousands strong fighting for anonymous people, or a community pulling together in memory of a woman's grandson-we make the world a better place.

We all know running strengthens us physically in so many ways. But when you attend a race benefiting a charity or cause-your heart will feel an immediate improvement in its performance!

So take that first step-

There is a lovely saying- "No kind act, no matter how great or how small ever goes unnoticed."

I would agree-or whether you're tromping along with thousands or three-you will feel the

benefit of giving to others, giving to yourself, and making whatever the road may be a better place to be-for SOMEONE!

Take that step-it'll give you heart in more ways than one;) We have some great benefits posted on Facebook-I will start getting the race info transferred to our blog also! Always feel free to email us also at http://www.womenofwarrensburg@yahoo.com

Randy Pausch-

Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls aren't there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show us how badly we want something.

Pancreatic cancer is represented in purple, breast cancer in pink-uterine cancer in blue-what color is close to you?

Hope to see you on the road!

Teri