By Guest Blogger Karen Keller
I have never liked the word “can’t”. Ever since I can
remember I was told “You could not”. It has always been my encouragement to
prove everyone that I could.
A lot of people have asked me “Why do I run?” “Are you
running from something?” The answer is, I run because I enjoy it and I still
can. I love how it feels under my feet
and can get out into nature and experience the beauty around me.
I started running just to get in shape and when I met my
husband, he encouraged me to run. I ran around the block, my husband way in
front and I thought to myself, this is not fun and I was going to die. As I got
better I began to enjoy it more and entered my first 5K. When I was a Caregiver
to my mother I was so emotionally drained, and running became my escape.
Whenever I could I would run the trails and streets of Tucson and then started
to realize that I could handle life better and that it was okay to take care of
myself. I always thought I had to take care of everyone else first and myself last.
In the spring of 2006 I was training for the San Francisco
marathon when I discovered a lump, two weeks later I was diagnosed with Breast
Cancer. I went numb. I could not function. I was in excellent health, working
out 5 days a week and no sign of cancer in my family. The treatment: 6 months
of chemo followed by surgery and 6 weeks of radiation. Was I going to die? All
I wanted to do was run from my life. This is where the real race started for
me. My life changed from then on. From fear, I became angry then accepted the
reality and finally was determined to fight. I was not going to let this
disease overtake me. The plan…I was going to do the treatment and then run a
Half Marathon the following year. First round of Chemo began and 4 days later
my hair started to fall out, but I was ready to fight to the end. The days
became weeks and the weeks became months and when the going got tough and I could
not get out of bed or eat, I decided I needed something to change my thoughts
and look forward to. I decided that once treatment was over I would run the San
Francisco Half marathon. I studied the route, read inspirational books and when
I was in pain and wanted to give up, I would run the route in my head. July
2007, I found myself at the starting line. I was going to celebrate life and
enjoy every step of the way even if it meant walking. I was happy to be alive.
It was then that I decided that I was going to enjoy life to the fullest and do
the things I enjoy the most. Life is short and you never know what will come
your way.
Ever since that day, I have enjoyed every step of my running
journey. My husband has supported me through this journey that I have taken. He still thinks that I am nuts, running at the
crack of dawn but he know I am safe and he is happy that I enjoy what I do. He
is my rock and is always looking out for me. You may find him at the finish
line with his camera in toe ready to snap some photos.
I am still that quiet, shy gal running at the back of the
pack but I am catching up, turn around I might be right behind you. I have big
goals and dreams. I still dream of running the Boston Marathon, who knows,
maybe someday it will happen. For now I am running for the pure enjoyment of
running and to see how far I can challenge myself.
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