I knew what it was the moment I felt it. I started to shake as I examined my chest again. I had a lump. And my mind went there– to all the dark, fearful places filled with chemo and radiation and surgery and lost hair. I was absolutely terrified. Was it breast cancer?
My doctor wasn’t sure. A scan showed it was definitely a tumor– about the size of a quarter, and hard as a rock. It was decided it must come out for further testing, and so surgery was scheduled. I don’t think I’ve ever been more frightened in my life.
And then I heard that word– not the one I feared most, but the one I had prayed for: benign. A further genetic test revealed I don’t have the most common gene for breast cancer. I cried tears of gratitude and also of compassion, sympathy, admiration, and love for the thousands of women who don’t hear the word benign, but instead hear the word cancer. They are warriors. They are champions who endure an attack on all that makes them a woman. And they are to be supported and celebrated.
And we are going to join them.
withHEART is so honored to support the Susan G. Comen RACE FOR THE CURE, May 11th. We will be running the 5k alongside cancer survivors, loved ones, and all who join in the fight against breast cancer. We will be running in Salt Lake City. Please join our team! We would love to meet you and join forces for this great cause.
Our running coach and expert, Scott Browning, has put together a training schedule, perfect for everyone from beginners to avid runners. All you need to do is sign up for our team and lace up your shoes. If you aren’t a runner, don’t fret– this is the perfect walk/whatever you can do race.
If you’re outside the state of Utah, which many of you are, we encourage you to sign up for the RACE FOR THE CURE in your city, create a withHEART team, and document your experience. We’ll be checking in on you and want to hear and see all about it!
Watch for running advice and tips from Scott, Wendy, and other fitness experts as we get closer to race day. Training starts this Monday– plenty of time to sign up!
This is one of my favorite races. I am always so touched by the names of survivors on shirts, hilarious team names like “Saving Second Base,” and by the beautiful women who smile through their suffering to complete this 5k.
Can’t wait.
Please join us! To sign up go to komenutah.org and join our team “Run withHEART”. You can do it!
I wasn’t so lucky. I had breast cancer at the ripe age of 35 with a 10- and 8-year old. I had surgery, chemo and am telling you this 20 years later. Just wanted to say thanks for what you do to bring awareness to this disease. Great strides have been made in 20 years because of the efforts of great people like you. Thank you so much.
June, thank you so much for sharing! I’m so glad you are doing well! Way to kick cancer where it counts! xx
what I need along with the schedule is a list of great songs to run to!
Hi Rachel! Thank you for the feedback! For now, check out last month’s Pump It Up Playlist, and look for a new playlist coming up in the next week or so! If you are in the Salt Lake area, we would love to have you run “Race for the Cure” with us!
[…] Please join us in completing Scott’s program and joining our team RUN withHEART on May 11. Scott’s program emphasizes slow, sustainable running and is perfect for everyone from beginners to avid runners and everyone in between (even us running haters). Scott says most people have a tendency to run way too fast to start out and crater about 3 minutes into the run. […]