Race for the Cure

Komen Race for the Cure 2008
Sunday, October 12th, 2008
by Mike Miller

Last year’s Komen Race for the Cure was about as special a day as can be in life. It will be a day that stays with me forever. We talked a little about it in THIS BLOG. There was something special that day and I doubt there will ever be another one like it. But having said that, every Komen Race day is pretty amazing and special for us, and this year was no exception.

For those maybe not as familiar, the Susan Komen Race for the Cure is one of the biggest events that support the foundation. They have many of them throughout the US in the bigger cities. Phoenix this year had near 40,000 runners and walkers, including about 800 plus Survivors (woman who have had Breast Cancer). It’s a day of celebration and remembrance. Everything is based around the run, but they always have a neat setup of ‘walk around’ activities and vendors at the Race location. The vendors all really do a great job, as does the Komen group, of making the Survivors feel special. This year even included a Survivors parade before the race that Kimberly participated in (in the 10-14 year Survivor Group!).

A couple things made this year very special as well. Mostly because this last year my mother was diagnosed and treated for Breast Cancer. In fact she really just finished the radiation treatments about the time for the Race. So we both of course were ‘running for Mom’ this year. As you would expect the runs are really about celebration and remembrance too – in fact we always wear the signs that say who’s survival we are celebrating (and others who are being remembered).


Kimberly was pretty pumped up for the day. She had the added motivation of celebration for Mom to add to her Race. In case you didn’t know the Misses is pretty competitive. And while the Komen is ‘non-competitive race’ (not chip timed) they still give awards and recognition to the top 3 finishers overall and among Survivors. Having finished 7th or so last year, and knowing she now is a couple of minutes faster on her 5K time, there was a decent chance she could move up paces and maybe even had a shot at Top 3. She of course did amazing improving to 5th overall and cutting a huge amount of time off her last year results. I was so proud again, it’s pretty cool to have a wife with that kind of drive, strength and commitment.

The day started way too early – about 4:30, in order to get ready, get down there, walk around, park, do the parade, etc (so little sleep of course). The rest of the day beside the race was walking around, getting the pink goodies, eating some banana’s and taking lot’s of pictures. Kimberly even got to see a couple of her Racer/Survivor friends she met last year (pretty cool). She did an interview with Channel 12 just before the Race (she’s quite photogenic you know). Speaking of photo’s I was the camera man again and had to quick run over to the car to drop off the bag so I could run the race as well when the rest of the group started. I had a good run considering I ran in the ChaCha yesterday morning as well.

We of course are already looking forward to next year’s race. We will raise more money for the great cause, celebrate 12 years for Kimberly and 1 for Mom, and we will have better race times

Susan Koman Race for the Cure 2007

(from our personal Blog in 2007 - see also 2008 report)

I love my woman – she has always made me very proud to be her man. Her kind soul, passion, giving personality, relentless determination in pursuit of her desires, and her ability to drive through the challenges that life will sometimes thrust upon us are but a few of the things that make her so special and me a lucky man. I always have this realization with me, but every once in a while there are days, or moments perhaps, in life that stand out and the pride you have for a loved one is so strong it gives you that ‘smile and a tear’. Sunday, October 14th 2007 was one of those days. One that I will remember forever – it was just perfect, and I couldn’t imagine it being any better.

Kimberly and I raced in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure on the 10th year anniversary of Kimberly’s diagnosis of Breast Cancer. My little baby went out and ran her sweet little behind off and finished in the Top 10 of all 3000 or so Survivors that participated!! Talk about determination…. Just like she plowed through all the challenges that the cancer had brought her 10 years back, she used that special something to push herself and accomplish something special. You should have seen her: up front, taking off in the lead (that's her the Redhead in the picture out front), a 42 year old, cancer surviving grandmother looking like nothing in the world was gonna’ stop her. It was pretty freakin’ cool – yep, that ‘smile and a tear pride’ from this old man.

The rest of the day was perfect as well. The Race for the Cure really puts on a great event, for a great cause. You should all join us next year – walk, run, or just hang out and see or hear the stories of survival and loss – it’s for sure a day of perspective that we can all use sometimes. And while I am at it, next time you’re headed out to a restaurant, stay at home with someone you love instead, turn out the lights, light a candle, cook some pasta with a little sauce, and send the tip money you saved to the Komen Race for the Cure Foundation – Cancer is a bitch, it needs to go away.

I love you baby – RUN HARD!