Through a Facebook running group I am a member of, PbRC, I learned of RUN3rd. From the Run3rd Blog, “RUN3rd started out as an inspirational Twitter campaign of sharing race dedications made on behalf of people’s loved ones, causes and ideas and has grown to an international movement.” One of our PbRC admins is a Team Captain for RUN3rd and I loved the idea.
The premise is :
1. I run for myself – yep, this is my only ME time when I am alone with my thoughts. My family’s heart history is kind of scary so I run to try to counteract my DNA or at least make it as healthy as possible.
2. I run for my family – I love them and want to be around for them and enjoy every second we have together. I like sharing what I see when I am running too.
3. I run for “You” Meaning, I run for others, ideas, loved ones, causes….something to put in my mind and take my focus off myself when I am running. From the Run3rd Blog “The essence of a #run3rd dedication is an outward sharing of some piece of our self. There is no substance other than an impulse to include others in something special that we feel.” Wow that is deep stuff!
RUN3rd was started by actor Sean Astin who would be at the Princess Half. He was at the meet up I didn’t make and I had heard from some friends who were at Tinkerbell Half – he was there also – he was a super nice person. On Saturday before the race, he had tweeted that he was taking race dedications to carry with him on the race so I tweeted back to please run for my sister Jill and all those who were caretakers for the terminally ill. I decided to write on my arm in sharpie – wondering if it would last through the sweat from the heat – my race dedications.
The first dedication to Caleb my son. Caleb was born in August of 2004. His due date was December 8th. I was in labor – we don’t know why and we never will – at 23 weeks. I was in the hospital over a week and he was born right around 24 weeks. He was a fighter and the more his fragile body was shutting down, the more he fought to stay with us. He is the boy who made me a mom. He will forever be in my heart, yes, I have moved on with life, but I will never forget him. He was in my arms when he left us and I truly feel for a moment I had a glimpse of heaven because all I knew at that moment was an intense love for him and gratitude for that moment to hold him and comfort him the first and only time I was able to. What I learned from him, life is precious and we must NOT take for granted any second we have with our loved ones. I do miss him. When I run, I always have “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan on my playlist in his memory, I think of it as our song. For THIS race, I wouldn’t be listening to music I had decided since I would be running with friends. I love writing Caleb’s name or saying it because he isn’t physically here anymore so I don’t often get a chance and yes, for those who know me, I say his name as much as I can to feel the love.
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| Caleb hours after birth holding Daddy’s hand. |
The second dedication, Phil, is my brother in law who passed away December 27th after his battle with lung cancer. Phil first came into my life when I was 11. He was married to my sister Jill for 37 years and in that time became my brother, mentor and friend. When I was single – talking many years, Phil included me in family vacations, was my car buying negotiator and friend. He was a big kid at heart, so running through Disney for him was a no brainer. He lived life to the fullest – loved to travel and explore, always had a good joke or pun and was very generous to those in need – family, friends, employees. He had a great run after his initial Lung Cancer diagnosis, enjoying time in Hilton Head, playing golf with family and friends and still traveling and exploring until he was physically unable to. When I heard about the Heat Advisory for the Princess 1/2 I was like “Oh this is gonna suck and be hard”….but then I thought of Phil and his endurance of his disease and the treatments, how he never complained and still had a smile through it all. This is why I wanted to do it for him, cuz he was a fun guy loved by so many. I love you Phil and I miss you!
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| Me with Phil and Jill December 2012, my last photo with him |
Thanks again to Tony and Stacey with PbRC for all they do for the running community and to increase awareness of RUN3rd. I love this blog post regarding what its all about.
Is Run3rd a prayer
Sure its cool there is someone famous attached to it, but I think we could all benefit from dedicating our races to others.
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I always love reading your Princess race news and dedications Julie. I’ve got my next Spartan Sprint coming up Saturday and if I start dragging I will think about your commitment and it will inspire me ! You are the best.
Love this one Julie. Caleb and Phil are so proud of you. (shedding a little tear this morning)