In honor of a fighting friend

I think I've been pretty upfront in describing how tough the past few weeks have been for me. My injuries are nagging. I've barely run in weeks and feel like I'm losing all the fitness I've gained, trying to rest my wounds. I feel like it's some sort of crazy balancing act between trying to keep myself moving and trying not to make myself worse.

Over the past week, I started telling myself that maybe, if it felt right, I'd run the half instead. I actually started to be OK with it. A half is still significant. It's still an accomplishment to be proud of, no doubt. My friend Angie and several of my teammates are doing the half and they are AWESOME.

But the fact is, running is all about ignoring the logical person in the back of your mind that begs you to stop. I did 20 miles, and 19 miles just shortly before that. I can do 26. It might hurt -- scratch that, it WILL hurt -- but I am inspired and will fight to that finish line.

I learned today that unfortunately, Caitlin has relapsed. In fact, she relapsed shortly after I began this journey, but I never knew. I was busy running and her family was busy supporting her. I've spent all this time thinking that she was still in remission, but she is still using all of her strength to fight. She is currently without any immunity, waiting for her new stem cells to graft.

This run has always meant a lot to me, but it means so much more now. I am going to cross that finish line. For me, but mostly for Caitlin. Because she's a fighter, and I know I can be too.

♥