Montour Trail half-marathon: Post Race

Today would have been Aaron's 31st birthday. It is amazing that only a year ago we got a phone call at 8 pm letting us know the chemotherapy seemed to be working and we would celebrate his 30th birthday with a day-long celebration. How much has changed over the course of a year. I have felt the heavy grief at the loss of Aaron, the uplifting joy of watching my son grow and learn, and the peace of knowing that my God is in control of it all.

 

Today I write about the longest race on my race schedule. I ran it last year because Aaron encouraged me to do more than I thought I could. This year he wasn't there to give me a high five or hold Ben or cheer me through the finish line. He wasn't there to call me crazy for running the distance we drove to church. However, he was there last year, though pain and exhaustion. His fight with cancer reminds me that through God we are all capable of much more than we think.

Montour Trail half-marathon

13.1 miles! That is just under the total distance of my first 4 races combined! There is only a walk and one more run left. Total race distance so far: 59.6 miles given for families and organizations. Wow!

The warm up is very important, Mamma. Let's get you warmed up by snuggling!

Of course my #1 fan and coach was there to cheer me through the race. I was blessed that so many friends from our church in Pittsburgh also planned to run. It was so encouraging to be surrounded by these women before what I thought might be an emotionally difficult race.

This was the first half-marathon for four of the women from our church! I am so proud of all of you!

Prayer before the race. Ben even joined in with us. So blessed by these friends!

Not only did I get to see friends from church, but Adam, Sarah, Grace, and Baby came as well. I met Sarah through the Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma committee. We started talking about our cuties and became instant friends (kids will do that to you!). Her husband, Adam, also serves on the committee and celebrated 5 years cancer free in November, 2012! He ran his first 5K since his surgery to remove the tumor from his pelvic bone that day and finished in 32 minutes carrying Grace across the finish line!

Love this family!

Ben was excited for the juice box...er...I mean to see Grace and watch the race.

Ben and Grace fueling up for the race. It's a hard job to be a spectator!

Our cheer team hung out around mile 4 (going out) and mile 9 (coming back). There were ready with chairs, snacks, and signs. This is the one spot I was really nervous to go through. This is the exact same place they set up last time and I knew Aaron was not going to be there. However, the Lord gave me strength physically and emotionally and I was able to joyfully think about seeing him last year and seeing my boy and friends this year. God's ability to sustain and heal amazes me constantly!

Cheering is serious.

"13.1 Only half crazy!" "Run like the wind!"

Surprisingly, my half-marathon was my best race yet! I felt really strong the whole way through and actually enjoyed the race! My goal time was under 2 hours since I finished in 2:07:32 last year. I cut off 11 minutes from my time and finished in 1 hour 56 minutes and 32 seconds (8:53 min/mile pace)!!!! It was an emotional finish for me, full of joy and relief! That night, some of us went out for frozen yogurt to celebrate! We got to the yogurt place to receive homemade medals made by one of the runners daughters. We wore them with pride!

Race medals!

I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you who have prayed over the 13 in 2013 race initiative, donated, ran/walked, and shared my story and the stories of these families. 13 in 2013 began as a way to give structure to my chaotic new life and allow an outlet for healing. God has used you to turn it into something truly amazing, impacting lives of those who are hurting and in need. As of today, the total amount raised through this initiative is $10,335! I am still stunned as I let that number sink in. $1,000 would have surpassed my expectations, but more than $10,000 completely knocks me over. That is money to help with medical bills, research funding, groceries, a family adopt a child, spread the gospel, and so many other blessings. Thank you!

Mamma, can you believe this!?

No, Peanut, I can't believe it! God continually surprises me!

Coming up:
October 13: Step UP for Down Syndrome walk in Grand Rapids, MI. I will be walking in honor of Ellie Helmus.

November 2: Give Kids the World 5K Gingerbread Run in Kissimmee, FL. I will be fundraising for Give Kids the World.

Completed Races:
Montour Trail Half-Marathon (13.1 mi) - 1:56:32   Donation total - $10,335
Red Carpet Run (5K) - 25:05
Gopher the Gold (10K) - 55:12
Pittsburgh Cure Sarcoma Walk/Run (5K) - 25:15
Volkslaufe (10K) - 55:21
Caledonia Kilt Klassic (5K) - 24:20
RHGYC Trail Run (5K) - 24:28
Kona Run (10K) - 51:22
Fifth Third River Bank Run (10K) - 51:37
MOM 5K Walk/Run (5K) - 24:14
Run with the Cops, not from them (5K) - 24:32
Passion for Life (5K) -  26:27

The Montour Trail half-marathon benefiting the Gideons International

100th post right here!!! What a change since the first post! This blog began as a way to keep everyone updated on our little Peanut

November 2012

then to updates on Aaron's health

July 2012

and now to updates on my races and fundraising efforts (and I promise I will get back to adorable pictures of Ben!).

13 in 2013

It is amazing to think how different things are now, how our lives have changed during the short time this blog had been up. So much has been learned, mourned, loved, feared, rejoiced, and molded. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us this:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

How true this is! There are many things, like Aaron's pain and cancer, that I would never in a million years have brought in to our lives. In the same breath, I am unable to deny the beautiful blessings that have come through these fearful, heartbreaking events. Through Aaron's death and the ability to understand the shoes cancer patients and their families are walking, the 13 in 2013 series was birthed. Out of a need to do something, to heal, to have some normalcy, I began to run hoping to make a small dent in the dark that surrounds cancer. Little did I know that God had plans to use this little healing process in a big way! 

Saturday will be my 12th race! That means there will only be one left. Wow. My 12th race will be my longest at 13.1 miles (half-marathon). All of these races have been in memory of Aaron but this one is special. 

My guys before the half-marathon

After his PET CT scan on July 17th, we found out that the cancer was back. Actually, it wasn't just back. It was back and had spread from his spine to his sternum in only 6 weeks, radiation and surgery were no longer options, and chemotherapy was a long shot. It was the first time we were told that the goal was not to cure the cancer but to give Aaron as many days as possible. Aaron overheard a friend "nagging" me to consider running the Montour Trail half-marathon and Aaron encouraged me to sign up. I had not been training, the race was 10 miles longer than I had ever run, and we were going to get really busy with chemo and appointments. That was exactly why he wanted me to run. He wanted me to have something that was focused on something positive, something healthy, something other than cancer. Race day came and Aaron and Ben came with dear friends to watch me run. I still remember running by around mile 3 or 4 to him sitting in the back of a van feeding Ben powdered donuts...while I ran a half-marathon.

Powdered donuts are the natural snack of choice for a half-marathon

He stood under an umbrella holding Ben in the pouring ran at the finish to cheer me through. It was such a special moment for me and so speaks so powerfully of his love for me. 

Don't mind my face. I just ran 13.1 miles...

September 28th would have been Aaron's 31st birthday. 

Aaron's clue cards for his 30th birthday surprise day!

When I would have leftover gift money, Aaron would ask me to donate to the Gideons International, which is a Christian organization working toward sharing the gospel. Aaron loved God, understood his need of our Savior, and desired others to know Him also. God gave him the gift of compassion. Aaron was able to meet people where they were and share how he was able to live each day with joy, freedom, confidence, and faith. The Gideons International has the same desire to "go in to all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15)." In honor of Aaron's birthday month and the race he encouraged me to run despite my doubt of my ability, I will be fundraising for the Gideon International this race. 

Our big gifts for Christmas 2011 were Bibles with our names engraved in them

How can you help?
1. Donate: By Check - Please send a check written to the "Aaron R. Moeller Memorial Fund" with "Gideons" in the notes section. If you need my mailing address, please email me or leave a comment with your e-mail address so I may reply privately. Online - Please go HERE to donate. If you choose to donate online, please remember to send me an e-mail so I can continue to keep track of how much is raised through this race series. I will be taking donations for the Gideons International through the month of September.

2. Run: Yeah, I would call me crazy, too! Except there are so many friends coming to run or cheer at the race! You can register HERE or find information on where to cheer!

3. Spread the word: Please share this with your friends and family through e-mail, posting this link on your Facebook...

4. Pray:
* Prayer that that Good News, the gospel of Jesus Christ, will be shared with many through the work of the Gideons International
* Praise for organizations, like the Gideons, who focus on reaching many for Christ
* Pray for me - that I would be bold like Aaron and that God would emotionally and spiritually sustain me through this race
* Praise for the many loving friends who will be there to run
* Pray for the runners and the fundraising efforts of this race and race series