The Revlon Walk/Run in Times Square/Central Park

Yesterday, my friend, Madeline, and I ventured at the “crack of dawn” to participate in the Revlon Walk/Run for Women in New York City.  The fee and money raised for the walk/run directly goes toward research and treatment of women’s cancers.

We arrived in Times Square at 8 am and proceeded to push our way through the thousands of other participants to get our tee shirts and race numbers.  Later, we found out there were more than 30,000 people participating!

After a series of celebrity speeches, confetti filled the sky with red and white confetti and the race started.  This was the first time in a long time that I participated in a 5K.

I had been working out now since last August on the treadmill and have gone 5 miles running/walking but I wasn’t prepared for Central Park‘s terrain.  My friend and I started off together and I told her I wanted to try to run, so I took off.  From 42nd Street to 59th Street went fast.  I felt as if I was in the park in no time!  Once in the park, there were so many hills – up and down – that I found myself walking more than I wanted to. My calves were burning during the first mile and then, it started to ease up.  After the second mile, I was in the zone, so focused on where I was and why I was there.  It was an amazing experience.

The walk/run was very emotional for my friend and me.  We saw a little girl who was diagnosed with cancer at age 2 and is trying to overcome it.  We saw people running for their mothers, their sisters, their wives and for themselves.  There were so many survivors that it became motivational for us.  If they can do this, we can do this!  And all I kept thinking throughout the run was if we all stick together and fight, maybe we could find a cure for cancer.

I finished the race in 45 minutes and waited another 10 minutes or so for my friend.  It was a big accomplishment for both of us and we felt great after that.  We completed the 5K and in our own little way helped fund research to find a cure for cancer.

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