Hey Teammates. I'm gonna do a copy and paste of the race report I did over on the race report thread. I wouldn't/couldn't type all this again! Anyway thanks again Buzzies. You really did inspire me and keep me entertained Hate seeing us on the second page too!
Matt. Thanks. I did see you on the overpass and then again in the parking lot after the 1/2. People like you get so much more out of life because you give! Thanks for your service to our Country, dedication and giving spirit! May God always bless you!
Now my shout out. I want everyone to know how proud I am of my wife. She, along with me, finished our first 1/2 last week. She is a seven year breast cancer survivor that had the surgeries, radiation and chemo that go along with that terrible disease. Long story short she had a lot of complications with the surgery vs the radiation. She still has a lot of pain but she manages to walk as many days of the week she can. She walks 2-3 miles at a time and I really didn't know if she could make 13.1. Well she did. She finished just a minute or two after they quit the timing. I check the split times of the last people with times and she was right with them or ahead at all the splits. But she finished. Got her medal. I was running back and forth from the finish line to the medical tent. When she came to the photography gate I almost knocked her down hugging her.
You may be wondering why I didn't run with her. She wouldn't let me. She demanded that I go ahead and run my race. As my Buzz Brigade teammates know I battle a different type cancer. As the Dr that diagnosed my lymphoma told me, I have "a rare type of a rare type of cancer". What I have is not fatal but it is not curable either. I have to do maintenance chemo for two days a week apart every three months. I had to go the day after I got back for a treatment. But it's not the 'bad' chemo. I've seen the bad with my wife and others in the infusion room and believe me, mine is not that bad. I'm good.
Well I've been trainging for the last year for the Disney 1/2. One of my sisters is a coach in Team in Training L&L Society. She talked me into walking after my intial chemo (once every three weeks for 6 months) just to feel better. Well you know how that goes. If I can walk three miles I can run three miles. If I can run three I can run five and..........
So we did it. My two sisters, two brother in laws, and the wife and me all finished. We won. Spent a week at OKW. Enjoyed the parks. Beautiful weather. Enjoyed life. Priceless memories. We won!
My only regret is I didn't meet more of you. My Buzzie teammates have been such an inspiration. But I guess that gives me a reason/excuse to come back. As my teammates love to say
'To Infinity and Beyond'!
Six Medals!
Sister and Me at the Castle
Me and Lee Ann at OKW
Mile 5 with Sis