I was going to watch my son-in-law Isaac Rushing run in a 5K race today. I go on line to find out about this race. I see that it's a race for a cancer foundation.Brent Bays foundation to be more exact and it says,
Fighting for those who are in the fight of their lives.
That would be me. I may still have time to run in this thing. I had been doing some walking in the last few weeks.... but running three miles? Then I think about pastor Tom who is running in a race this weekend and how I told him to keep it up. I need to take my own advice and at least try it. I print off the registration and fill it out, grab a bottle of carrot juice and head out the door. The place has a carnival like atmosphere with loud music and a guy making announcement as to when the race will start.
My race/fight started 23 days prior and will last the rest of my life. I see the table to register with a kind looking woman seated at it. She says,"do you want to run"? "Yes I do" and hand her my form that holds my entry fee and she hands me an envelop and a t-shirt. I then tell her I'm a cancer survivor and this is my first race. "How long has it been"? I feel the lump in my throat and it's not the cancer. I keep my composure and say, "I just found out a few weeks ago and have every confidence I will win this battle". She said "my daughter had cancer and was 13 when we found out but with treatment is now14."
My eyes fill with tears but keep from over flowing. I watch hers do the same. All I can see is her face as I tell her that I believe in the power of prayer. I do too and will pray for you, she said. What's your daughters name, I asked. Hannah Miller and I'm Deejo. I told her I'd pray for both Hannah and her. She tells me, "I also volunteer at the (Relay for Live)". She writes on the back of my envelope www.relayforlife.org. Maybe you can check that out too.
As I walk away the tears flow. I was glad I was early and no one saw me crying. Kids and cancer are the most difficult thing to understand. Then I see Isaac in his big diesel truck wearing a bright green shirt. As he pulls in he says,"I know your running". You talked to Shelby on the phone didn't you?
Then Laurie & Lindsay Rushing, Isaac's Mom and sister arrive. When the car door opens I see a knee brace on Lindsay. This was one of the few times when soccer was not the reason for Lindsay being hurt. She had twisted it when she was training with her brother. I hand her my camera with complete confidence. She has taken lots of great picture and is good at it. We hear the call to our race and before I can think about it we are off. My music sets my pace and at the mile and a half mark I see a water station. Then I recognize a woman from the YMCA. She see me and says "you go, Mike!" It was just what I needed. Just after that I see Isaac coming the other way and he is flying. We touch hands as we pass and my energy returns again. I can do this as I run by the two mile mark. As I see the end in sight I start to dance/ run. I don't care what people might think of this crazy guy skipping towards the finish. I touch the pad and feel such gratitude. I head to my car and grab my carrot juice. After a quick drink I wait for others to come in. As they pass I cheer them on. Then I here come on Mom and see a woman with gray hair about my age headed for the finish. I will run the rest of the way with you mom. I want to tell you how nice it is to have people cheer you on in the race of life. It makes it even better when they are with you when you finish the race.
********** MALE 5K RUN AGE GROUP: 50 - 59 **********
Place
Name
S Age
City
St Finish Pace
=====
======================= = === ================== == ======= =====
1 Mike Mc Nulty
M 50
Gardner KS
26:09 8:25
2 Doug
Adams
M
53
28:42 9:15
3 Michael R. Johns M
56
31:17 10:04
4 John
Henson
M
58
34:05 10:59
5 Ed Rodriguez
M
53
38:03 12:15
6 Scott Skalisky M
51
39:22 12:41
7 Fred
Lynch
M
50
40:48 13:08
