This weekend was the 4th annual Running from Cancer event in Windsor Ontario. The 5k/10k/Half-Marathon events raise money for both the Windsor Regional Hospital and the Windsor and Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation.

This was my first year in this event, and I wouldn’t have known about it if wasn’t for Lee-Anne. With only my hockey training, I was looking to finish before the people that looked like they were one cookie away from a heart attack, and after the people who had clothes designed for running. Most of the race was a blur mentally, and was mostly just me repeating to myself things about ‘just keep running’ in a ‘Finding Nemo’ sort of way. However I do remember a few moments of diverse thought.

• As a pack of 15 year olds in soccer uniforms passed me: I’ll catch them later
• As my shoelace fell apart: F***ing shoelace
• As I reached the half way point: It would take me longer to walk back now, might as well keep running.
• As I finished: F***ing Soccer Players

As I sat breathless with my camera taking pictures of the winners at the award ceremony, I was caught off guard when the over enthusiastic running announcer called out my name. As I staggered towards the trophy table, partially blinded by the bright yellow volunteer shirt worn by the ladies passing out awards, I tried to figure out what was going on. It was explained to me that trophies were given out to top racers in each age division, and that apparently the ‘real’ first place runner in my age class (20min) already got an award for placing 3rd overall, so I was bumped up since I finished second in my age range (which was a surprise to me to begin with). We raised some money to fight cancer, got some plastic to put on my desk, and reminded myself why I need to run more. All in all, it was a good morning.