5K for Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Two years ago, my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, so last year I made a donation in her honor to the Bright Night 5K for Ovarian Cancer Awareness and volunteered for the event by passing out water to the participants.  This year, with the whole "thirty minutes of exercise daily" hanging over my head, I decided to participate.

Also, since ovarian and breast cancer are linked through the BRCA gene mutations, I was expecting to see lots of teal and pink and "I walk for me" "I walk for my sister" kinds of shirts.  I was so excited to finally find "my community" and not feel so alone in this post-cancer journey.  I even found a shirt I was planning on buying and wearing.  But alas, cancer is expensive and I didn't have the funds to buy it.

Cute, right?  You can get the ribbon on the left or the right side.
I found it here, but at the time of this post, the link isn't working.

The weekend of the Bright Nights 5k, my dad was visiting.  He and my stepmother regularly train for and participate in 5ks in a program similar to the Couch to 5k program.  I, on the other hand, do not, so "we" decided we would just walk the 5k.

As we pulled in the parking lot, the rain that had been off and on all day, was back on.  I lamented that I didn't have the "something missing" shirt so that "my community" could easily identify me as one of them and we could do the "what's up" head nod or whatever it is people in the cancer club do, but I did go without the "first form."  I eagerly looked around the crowd for the teal and pink...

...but I couldn't identify anyone as having had ovarian or breast or any other type of cancer.  Not to say they weren't there, but there wasn't anyone wearing a "I wear teal for me" shirt, etc.  Of course, neither was I.  And boy was I glad I wasn't wearing the "something missing" shirt because I would have stuck out like a sore thumb.  As more time passes, I will probably be okay with that.  But as of right now, I just don't want to be "that poor girl who had cancer."  I am guessing "my community" is out there, but stayed home because of the rain.

Anyways, the race was delayed due to thunder and lightening, and it rained the whole time.  The WHOLE time.  After mile 1 I seriously questioned my decision to do a 5k with no preparation.  After mile 2 I thought we were never going to see the finish line.  And after mile 3 I was hooked!

Me (doing the tall girl slouch & head tilt) and my dad.