It's a race

Long before my diagnosis, our company decided to enter a team in the CIBC's Run for the Cure. It just pushed home the point when I announced my diagnosis. Our team spent weeks having brewery tours, bake sales and flat out begging for money, to which we raised over $2500.

My husband also had a team (immediate family and friends)on the go and by casually mentioning it to people, and not spending every Thursday baking up a storm, ended up raising over $2000. (Final tally not yet had as his company is matching his donation).

We are very pleased by our results..slightly competitive as I figured that since I have breast cancer therefore, I should at least win this race, but sadly he has kicked my ass...next year though will be a different story.

The weather has been great up to this point and it was looking good, until a hurricane decided to change its course slightly and decided to hit our run site. The race started at 10 am and our teams were meeting in the same spot which we thought was a clever spot. Until we discovered everyone else had the same idea as it was the registration spot.

As we are standing under an over hang the light misty rain started to turn to actual rain drops. While we were waiting for the last of B's team to arrive I looked out over the sea of people and I am suddenly confused. (I actually have a reason for this...so wait for it) I turn to B and say "Is that your dad?". Side note: His dad lives 16 hours away. B..looking just as confused...says "Ahh yeah". He and his wife had joined B's team but were suppose to run in their home town..or so we thought. We soon learned that the plan from the beginning was to join us at our location as a surprise...well you did it! It was a surprise..

I immediately called my parents and guilted them into driving down an hour for an after run bbq. I figured one hour vs 16 hours would probably go in my favour.

We lined up, like cattle. I think there was a warm up involved, but by this point the rains had picked up and we were huddling under the largest umbrella I have ever seen. A smart car would have been protected under this thing.  B's team went to the front of the pack since they were all running, while my work team hung back and were debating whether we were going to walk the 1km or 5km. Hey, don't judge us!

The start was announced and about 20mins later we were finally going under the start sign. We walk about 500m and start to see the first of the runners coming across the finish...ok this could be a long walk. Just after we passed the 1km mark, we decided the umbrella was too heavy and ditched as we passed one of our cars.

The rain let up, we took off our jackets and were walking happily along. We passed several cars who obliviously didn't know that the run was on as they were stuck in their cars waiting for 1000's of people to go by. I think we were suppose to stick to the side walk, but when you are a large mass you kind of take over. One lady was stuck in the middle of an intersection and decided to roll down her window and smoke...I wish I was joking. Justice was the that she was still there as we rounded back.

But by the time we reached 4km the rains were getting heavier and then the heavens opened up. It poured down in sheets so heavy that it became "white rain". By the time we got to the finish line we were all drenched and the finish line was like a giant mud pool with 1000 of your closest friends. We looked at each other and said..err Bye. I think we all jumped in a puddle at some point back to the cars as we were not going to get any wetter but cleaner would be good.

Afterwards we had our friends and family back for a bbq. It was great to see everyone laughing and telling stories and all I could think is that I am one lucky girl. Present condition excluded.