Running for Isa

I haven’t been nearly as active on this blog in the last year as I had hoped to. 

Two pretty big race reports are long overdue, Boston Marathon and my first ½ Ironman triathlon, both significant events in my limited athletic portfolio, but in spite of their impact and the amazing people I completed them with and received support from leading up to, at and post events, I just haven’t felt moved to write.

This week, I've been thinking a lot about the upcoming Winterman event.  Last year a couple of friends and I ran the marathon as a relay team with my friend Isabelle, it was her first race back after receiving her cancer diagnosis, it was also as it turned out, her last race.

Coming in on the first lap, love the smile Isa

Crossing the Finish line of the 2014 Winterman Marathon

On September 19, a little over six months later, Isabelle left us.  To quote Stuart Scott in his ESPY speech (if you haven’t seen this video, I HIGHLY recommend you watch it!)

"When you die, that does not mean you lose to cancer.  You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live. So live, live, fight like hell. And when you get too tired, [lie] down, rest and let someone else fight for you.”

This quote so accurately reflects the way Isabelle lived her life from the moment she shared her cancer diagnosis with me, that I when I heard it I was convinced he was speaking about her!  If you read any of the posts or exchanges between Isabelle and I on facebook during her fight, you will know that she fought hard, stayed positive and was so incredibly strong and courageous throughout the battle, always keeping her sense of humour and always hanging onto the hope that she’d return to health and to her love of running.

Isabelle and I shared our love of running and a passion for the mission of Imerman Angels.

In our last conversation, just two days before she passed away, Isabelle sounded very tired, but she insisted she was going to beat this disease, return to run and raise funds for Imerman Angels and become a mentor for them.

This weekend, I’ll be running the Winterman Marathon as a relay once again with friends, many of whom got the chance to meet Isabelle, and we’ll pick up the baton, run and continue to fight for Isabelle to that she can rest (or run) in peace!

The gang post-race, Isa was smiling pretty much all weekend

I miss you dearly my friend, but my heart will be filled with joy on Sunday as I run that route in your memory and reflect how it brought you joy and comfort as well!