Thursday, June 6, 2013

San Diego Rock'n'Roll Half-Marathon

My daughter Clara and I started training in February to run the San Diego Rock'n'Roll Half-Marathon. On June 2, we completed the event in 2:20 minutes (a respectable time, averaging 11 minutes per mile, though I would have preferred to finish under 2:15). This is us after completing the event. We each received two medals - one for finishing and one for being a charity runner. Can you see the pride on our faces?
We finished around around 9:30 a.m., but our day started much earlier - 3:00 a.m. to be precise.
We went down to the lobby to meet our team and catch the shuttle bus to the start line.
The entire festivities had actually started the day before when we checked in at the expo and got everything ready for our run.
And, of course, the reason we did the run was to raise money to fight leukemia and lymphoma and honor those who have battled the disease. I wrote the names of my honorees on my shirt, and we attended an inspiration dinner which recognized our contributions.
{This is my candle for the Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt}
Team in Training members from around the country participating in the San Diego Rock'n'Roll Marathon raised 4.2 million dollars to fund research into finding treatment for leukemia and lymphoma; the Silicon Valley/Monterey Bay Chapter raised about $360,000; our Santa Cruz team raised about $65,00 of that; and Clara and I raised almost $7,000!  We contributed and were part of something bigger.  
Clara and I began this journey because of Paul's illness.  We became Team "Running for Dad" because we wanted to take some control of the situation and do what we could to help.  As is so often the case, what we got out of the experience, what we learned, how we grew individually and in our relationship, what we received was far greater than what we contributed.

31 comments:

Amy said...

Thrilled for you both - for the physical and the emotional!

debs14 said...

It must have been such a wonderful experience and so lovely for you to do it together. What a fantastic amount of money raised you must be so proud.

furrypig said...

totally in awe of your running such a great achievement well done to both of you xxx

scrappyjacky said...

Wonderful post,Rinda ....congratulations to you both

Linda said...

Well done on a great achievement! Wonderful, inspiring post:)

helena said...

fabulous positive energy shining from this post - massive well done to you both

Becky said...

This was such a wonderful and inspiring post. Congratulations to both of you x

Missus Wookie said...

Yes, we can see the pride on your faces, can you sense the pride on ours for you? Congratulations on such a wonderful achievement. Delighted too that you both felt you got more out of this than you contributed. Funny how that happens isn't it?

Sian said...

Wonderful! I hope you can hear us cheering from here. I bet you can..

The photos are so cool. You both look radiantly proud. And rightly so.

Jane said...

well done to you both, having seen my grandson battle this disease I am so thankful to people like you xx

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Rinda, I'm overcome with emotion as I type this comment. I know how hard you and Clara worked to prepare for this event, and how much heart and soul was behind the purpose of it. I'm so touched that you included my mom in those you honored, and am so proud of you and Clara for your commitment in training for this. I know how much an experience like this can shape a relationship, and I just couldn't be happier for you and Clara to know how this has changed the two of you - together. Well done, my friend. So very well done. {{{love}}}

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

I'm glad you both did so well in the running & the raising of money!

Congrats to you both!

Melissa said...

So awesome to see photos of the event. Congratulations on your fundraising and completing the run!

Miriam said...

Congratulations to you both and the rest of your team. You have done an amazing thing and I feel proud to know you.

Jen said...

Congratulations to you both! Such an inspirational post Rinda - wonderful photos - I hope you can hear the cheering from here - I feel very proud to "know" you a little. Well done! J x

Flora said...

Congratulations on finishing! That's such a huge accomplishment.

Lou said...

you should be really proud of yourselves...well done x

Jo Murray said...

Well done both of you!

Ladkyis said...

can't type, crying too much. Proud to know you

Anonymous said...

What an awe inspiring post x

Irene said...

Your cousins in Houston are so proud of you and Clara.

Abi said...

This is such an achievement Rinda. You and Clara should be so proud of yourselves. Such an inspiration and what an amazing total to have raised.

Unknown said...

Very, very cool. Congrats to you and Clara and I'm so happy that you had the opportunity to do this together. <3

Carola Bartz said...

Congrats to both you and Clara - what an experience this has been for you! A wonderful achievement. You go girls!!!

Fiona@staring at the sea said...

Such an inspirational post. A great achievement and your pride in that is plain to see, shining from both your faces :o)
Very happy to see the return of the Scavenger Hunt for this Summer. Looking forward to taking part once the exam craziness is out of the way. I'm making the most of him sleeping in this morning to have a little catch up.

Karen said...

Fabulous finish to a great experience all the way around! Congrats!

sky-blu-pink said...

Amazing! Congratulations and well done! You both look so fresh after your 'ordeal'!

Anne said...

Well done to you too ! xxx

boysmum2 said...

well done, congratulations and all that proud moments to you both, am in awe of you, great team work

alexa said...

I am a little late in catching up but well done, well done, and well done again! An amazing achievement and I hope you will be able to rest on your hard earned laurels:). How lovely that it also ave you things you could not have imagined at the start ...

Susanne said...

Wow, that is fabulous. You two deserve to be proud - nicely done.