Most people that read this blog know that we lost Cort's dad to cancer five years ago. I have blogged about that many times, and this year? I will let Cort blog about it over at his own blog. Steve was his dad, and since the five year anniversary (usually I think of anniversaries as happy...but what else to you call it?) is coming up next week AND there is a cancer sucks blog hop going on, it really is his story to tell. So check out Tasty Buttered Toast since I believe his plan is to talk about his dad's birthday (on Monday, Aug 9) and his passing (Saturday, Aug 14).
ALL cancer is terrible. No matter what type someone gets it reeks havoc physically on its victim, and it terrifies and devastates family and friends. Not only did we lose Cortney's dad to lung cancer, but many of our aunts and grandmas have had to battle breast cancer. And earlier this year, I found out a friend from high school, Lynette...someone MY age...has been thrown into this bit of hell called breast cancer.
Back in June I shared that Cort and I felt strongly that we wanted to do something for Lynette, so we signed up to run the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure 5k in September.
I thought I would take a second to update you on our progress.
First of all, you can read about Lynette's fight and how great she is doing on her blog. She claims she is not as strong as she sounds, but she is for sure amazing. We weren't that close in high school, but somehow a tragedy like cancer puts things into perspective. She is my peer. She is a fellow momma. She is a wife. She is a fighter.
So as you can see, all of Sluiter Nation has the "Fight Like a Girl" Tshirt to support Lynette's fight.
Cortney and I have also been training for the 5K using the Couch to 5K training program. We started out pretty strong with our new gear and a pile of enthusiasm.
Then I got a stupid knee injury. I did something painful and awful to the ligaments in my left knee. I actually had to have physical therapy! I felt so dumb...like it wasn't a REAL injury. I felt like it was a "fat, out of shape" injury. But I worked that PT and got better in only 5 sessions (my PT was actually quite amazed)!
So I am back at it.
Cortney is on Week seven of nine. He is currently running for 25 minutes straight. He is a machine, I tell you. He enjoys tolerates early morning runs--around 6:30am--before it gets super awful walk on the sun hot outside.
I am on week four of ten (we are both doing Couch to 5K, but there are variations of it). I am currently running for a whopping 7 minutes straight. I do my running on the treadmill since it's easier on my knees. And usually I get my run in around nap--after my lunch digests.
By September 25? We both want to be able to run the full 5k. I clearly have more work to do. Eek!
We have also been raising money for the Race for the Cure. We both have pledge pages. Recently, we upped our goals. We started out with goals being $250. We blew those out of the water within a month of fundraising (which means we get to wear the pink ribbon when we run! Yay! Because WHO WHO will not wear the ribbon! Seinfeld anyone? No? Ok then...). So we have both now RAISED our goals to $500 each!
Can you imagine Sluiter Nation being able to raise a THOUSAND dollars for cancer research?!?
Plus if we do that, we will each win a New Balance gift card, which I will be in turn giving away here on the blog...to thank you all for your support!
So help us help kick cancer in the face, butt, and gut!
Click on the above pictures to get to either mine or Cortney's pledge pages for the 5k.
We appreciate your support and generosity.
You can read more about my journey with training for the 5k on the blog, Running Between Tweets. A group blog started by a bunch of online people I "know" who are all doing the Couch to 5k program. Read about all of our struggles and victories!
And Cortney talks about his ups and downs with running (and life in general) over on Tasty Buttered Toast.
Click on the links below to read more cancer sucks stories. I can't promise you won't cry...even at the ones with happy endings. But they are powerful, powerful stories.
Click on the links below to read more cancer sucks stories. I can't promise you won't cry...even at the ones with happy endings. But they are powerful, powerful stories.
6 comments:
I think your pretty awsome, for running (which kinda sucks all on it's own), for raising so much money for sucky cancer and for writing your awsome blog!
Ughh. I HATE cancer too :( 6 people (SIX) have had or currently have cancer in my family. Such an ugly disease!
And, I love Susan G. Komen! I'm doing the 60 mile, 3 day walk in September and am raising $2,300. I'm more scared to reach my goal in 8 weeks than I am about the 60 miles!!
Hope the 5K goes well and can't wait for the giveaway!!
I lost my MIL to cancer in 2004. Still miss her every single day. Cancer does suck...and it is something that I also hold close to my heart and donate to constantly. I've lost too many people to it (and have a few survivors) to sit by and do nothing. I think it's AWESOME you're running!
Well done on taking on this challenge!! I am sure that as a family you guys will be able to push through and I wouldn't be surprised if you exceeded your expectations. Good luck! This is such a worthy cause!!
Thank you for joining in! I'm so glad you guys were inspired and are doing Race for the Cure. It's the first race I did after I lost my mom and I raised $1000. I'd done it before but it takes a whole new meaning when you are doing it with a purpose. Tears were shed.
Anyway...I'm gonna keep following yall!
Cancer does suck!! You can do it girl! It's such a great cause to do it for too!
Post a Comment