This morning two of my Cruiser friends and I ran in the TKO Melanoma 5K. This race was in memory of Theresa Kay O’Conner, a loving wife and mom who lost her battle with melanoma last fall. This race was very near and dear to me as a melanoma survivor, and also because I lost my sweet uncle to this deadly cancer.
Last night storms swept through our area and when we went to bed it was still pouring rain. The weather forecast for this morning was 60% chance of rain ALL morning, but when I got up the rain had stopped, and there was no rain in the forecast through noon!
Here’s a picture of me with two of my Cruiser friends Jessica and Lolly. Jessica and I currently train together, and Lolly and I used to train together; and I like to think that I had something to do with both of them wanting to run! And can I just say that I am tickled beyond words that they ran today’s race with me!
Cruiser Chicks Jessica, Deb, and Lolly
Today was Jessica’s third 5K, and she insisted invited her friend Kathy to join her for the race. It was Kathy’s first 5K, and I hope she loved it!
Cruiser Jessica, and perhaps a new Cruiser?
This was the first year of this race and I read that they had 700 registered runners. I think that’s very impressive for the first year! In addition to honoring and remembering their friend, the race was put on to bring awareness to melanoma. Proceeds went to the Melanoma Research Foundation. The race started and finished at a middle school so there were a lot of young runners. It appeared that there were mostly local runners, and I really liked that.
The clouds were crazy with the sun trying really hard to break through so I snapped this picture. This pace sign cracked me up. I wish I could run a 1-minute/mile! I’d even settle for a 2 or 3-minute/mile! 🙂
Crazy sky and pace sign
Potomac River Running timed the race. I have been sending my clients and running friends to them to get fitted for running shoes since they opened their first store ten years ago. If I didn’t love my job as a trainer so much, I’d probably want to work in one of their stores!
Love this running store!
I love loops in races so I can wave at my friends! It’s a good thing I had the camera instead of Kathy or Jessica, because I’d just finished running up a nasty hill and I bet I didn’t look so good! Look at the girl in navy on the right side of the photo. That’s probably what I looked like!
Here come Kathy and Jessica!
Lolly finished right behind me so I was able to snap this picture of her crossing the finish line.
Lolly finishing strong!
Here comes Jessica sprinting across the finish line! You can see the little girl in the foreground getting ready to hand her a pink carnation. Young race volunteers (perhaps Girl Scouts) were handing flowers to all of the moms and wishing them a happy Mother’s Day as they crossed the finish line. It was such a nice touch! If you look closely, you can see Kathy’s green elbow right behind Jessica.
Jessica sprinted to the finish!
I’ve gotten so used to chips attached to my bib, that I almost forgot to take my timing chip off of my shoe, and someone had to remind me. BTW, these legs are way too young to be mine!
Don’t forget to remove the timing chip
I snapped this picture of the first place age-group medals waiting to be awarded. I finished in 26:51. My splits were 8:40, 9:06, 8:15, and :50, and I finished fourth in my age group.
First place medal, not mine!
And finally, here’s a picture from yesterday of our great swag… Complete with a little tube of sunscreen!
Nice Swag
Because I’m passionate about getting the word out about skin cancer, I previously wrote a post about Running In The Sun With Skin Cancer that I’d love for you to read.
- Questions:
- Have you ever run in a race for a cause?
- What’s the best swag you’ve ever gotten in a race packet?
- Did you race today or are you racing tomorrow?
I love running races for causes! I’m glad the rain stayed away while you guys ran! It’s off and on pouring down here!
Great summary Debbie! Looks like a awesome race, I hope they do it again next year so I can do it. Happy Mother’s Day!
I would love to run it with you! You know, I don’t think you and I have ever run a short, fast race together; but we’ve certainly logged many training miles and marathons together!
Debbie, without a doubt you are the reason I’ve managed to do these 5k’s. You are a great inspiration and cheerleader! I may be slow but I’m doing it.
And I am so proud of you! This fall it’s a 10K, baby! 🙂
what a pretty medal. the cruisers sound super fun… happy mother’s day tomorrow if I don’t get a chance to post!!
Great job on your race! Looks like they had a great turnout for the first year and they had some awesome swag! Also such a sweet touch that they were handing out carnations to moms. Have a good Mother’s Day tomorrow (today)!
Thank you! 🙂
I am so impressed with the looks of that race. From start to finish – the race pack is amazing, the Start/Finish/Pacing signs are so organized and big, and the flowers at the finish line?! Awesome job, race organizers!
My grandmother and aunt both had small melanoma cancers on their noses.
Today I put sunscreen on before my run and thought of you 🙂
I’m glad I’m reminding my running friends to wear sunscreen, even when I’m not with them! 🙂
Happy Mother’s Day!!
Best swag? Hmm…when I lived in Rochester, I ran a local Stage Race (3 trail races over 2 days) for a few years. In addition to having a BLAST, those who finished all three stages earned a sweeeeet hoodie. In upstate NY, that thing got a TON of wear. Not totally unique or anything, but something really useful that I wore proudly (and warmly!).
I ran an 18K trail race last night (Saturday). It had its ups and downs (ha,ha), but was an unusual event for Singapore, and I definitely had a good time.
I love hoodies, so any race that puts them in their swag bag would get my attention. Your trail stage race sounds fun!
Thanks for the Mother’s Day wishes!
Next month I will be running in a 5k for a nonprofit one of my friends’ created after her son was born with a congenital heart defect and this will be the 2nd year she has organized this race. It will be very special.
I was so happy this morning to read that $28,000 was donated to the Melanoma Research Foundation as a result of the race! Good luck when you run in your friend’s race. Community races for a local cause are very special.
Thanks so much for writing this and letting me share it on our facebook page! Loved seeing the pictures you took and the flattering report! It means a lot coming from a veteran runner to know you enjoyed the morning! 🙂 Yeah, I should have changed that pace sign. I was trying to think what the fastest pace might be for a 5k and in the end just did zero. My husband gave me grief that I should have put something like “Up to 7:00” or something along those lines. 🙂 Oh well, minor change for next year. Thanks again!
You are very welcome! The sign just cracked me up and I couldn’t resist my silly comments! 🙂
[…] like last year’s race, the swag was pretty good for a small race. I love that tubes of sunscreen and sun protective lip […]
[…] I ran a race close to my heart in May when I ran in the TKO Melanoma 5K Race, a race dedicated to the memory of a local wife and mom who lost her battle with […]
[…] 2013 TKO Melanoma 5K Race Recap This morning two of my Cruiser friends and I ran in the TKO Melanoma 5K. This race was in memory of Theresa Kay O’Conner, a loving wife and mom who lost her battle with melanoma last fall. This race was very near and dear to me as a melanoma survivor, and also because I lost my sweet uncle to this deadly cancer. […]