Run for the Cure: momstown Mississauga's First 5KM Run

It seems I have reached that age now where my friends and colleagues are, for the most part, all married and have had kids (or faced struggles around having them). All the weddings and baby showers are pretty much finished and now friends are hitting *gasp* their 40s. It seems like with the "getting older" our bodies aren't quite the same and it feels like more of my friends and people I know are facing medical challenges than a few years ago.

Just this spring I was saddened to hear that two women in my life were diagnosed with breast cancer. It was shocking because they weren't that much older or different than me! Until now, any others I have known who have had breast cancer have been 10 or even 20 years older than me. Suddenly I feel like I am at that age. People in my peer group are facing serious illness; having heart and other health problems I've only ever associated with being "older". Middle age is looming - that's for sure.
Their diagnoses really surprised me. Both of these ladies led healthy lifestyles. They don't smoke; eat a balanced diet, all the things you are supposed to do. They are just regular moms like me! It really hit home that this diagnosis is something I could just as easily be hearing too.

I decided to shape up and learn how to run, with the goal of completing the 5 km Run for the Cure. Luckily a momstown friend also decided to run and we have supported each other through this learning process. It wasn't easy to start! We did our own version of the Couch to 5k plan, running one minute and walking one minute, gradually progressing as we built up our endurance. It was really hard at first. Having a running buddy really helped with the motivation.

Over the summer, day to day life got in the way a little and we took a break as our schedules both became too hectic for us to train together. But come September, this race was a great goal to get us back into our running program. We also had another momstown mama join us for our team this fall! The more the merrier - there is definitely strength in numbers!


In the last four months I've kept at the running whenever I could. Whenever I felt like giving up or not bothering to get out there, I have thought of my two friends with cancer (and others in my life who have also struggled or lost their battles with cancer). I realize how lucky I am just being able to get out and run!

Today I am happy to announce we completed the 5k! It was a proud moment to be jogging through the crowd at the end together. My family was there to watch me cross the finish line and I think that is something I won’t ever forget. I am pleased with our accomplishment and humbled to think of the staggering numbers of Canadian women who are currently facing Breast Cancer.

This journey has taught me a lot. We need enjoy every day we get to spend with our families. We need to take care of ourselves and do what we can to keep ourselves healthy. And we need to remember that even on our worst days, when the dishes pile up, we're tired and there seems like too much to get done in the hours left in the day, someone out there has is a lot worse and is fighting a much harder battle.

Run Done!