Ashley does the unthinkable....

About a week and a half ago I went out on an impromptu girl's night with a few friends. We were having a "pre-party" for our friend to beat cancer (Hairy Cell Leukemia) as she was preparing for her 24 hours a day, week long, chemotherapy session to begin.

My friend Tanya had mentioned that she was going to do the Indy Mini-Marathon and wished she had someone to do it with her. I said, "If I can get an entry, I would do it with her." She happened to have an extra one as her daughter had recently moved to Texas.

So, here we are a week and a half away from the race. Most people trained for an average of 14 weeks. I went out there cold turkey and walk/jogged 13.1 miles!


Now, if you really know me, you will know that I HATE to run! I did cross country in 6th grade and cried every minute of it! I had so much motivation behind me. With my friend, Paula, being the first. Here she is facing a diagnosis and treatment without preparation. I thought to myself how she will have to keep digging for strength when she thinks she has no more. I was running for my kids. I want them to look at their mommy and know she pushes through things, even in the toughest of times. I also did it for my health. And of course to have fun and experience an Indianapolis tradition!



The race was so much fun! Tanya and I teamed up with another one of our co-workers, Zorina, and her sister, Leah. Both of them had trained, so it was great to have someone to keep the pace for us. The course went all through Indy and even a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway track. There were bands and crowds of people lining the streets cheering you on.





What an exhilirating feeling it was to cross the finish line! I did it, I actually did a mini-marathon.



The best feeling of all is...I can't wait for my next race!