Team Zoe 2014

Saturday marked year four for Team Zoe, which was created by our cousins Ed and Kaleena. honors their brave little Zoe, who was born with a rare condition called Heterotaxy Syndrome. For my run buddy, my cousin Jenna, and me, it marked the second year we decided to tackle the 8K.

The heart of Team Zoe
Ed, Kaleena, Jayce, and Zoe 
I spent the better part of the day before worrying about the weather - it rained nearly all day and I thought we might be braving our first in-the-rain run. I was glad to see the sun was shining when I woke up Saturday morning, but I was surprised to find I could see my breath while waiting for the bus.  We were good planners and didn't want to be rushing to the start line or waiting for busses, so we met around 8:15am.  We expected the weather would warm up a bit, but we landed up staying in our layers.  Once we got to the meeting place, we gathered our purple ribbons, beads, and bandaids for our Team Zoe shirts.  We chatted, jumped around to stay warm and took our team picture before heading to the start line.  

Jenna and I often joke about how warm we get while running and how we have our Mexican blood to thank for the sweaty conditions we can guarantee we will find ourselves in, and despite the cold, Saturday was no exception.  By the half-mile mark, both Jenna and I were warm, but removing layers was far too much work, so we crossed the finish line in long sleeves.  I'm happy to report that the extra clothing didn't slow us down.  We both had runs we were really pleased with, and we're certainly going to carry that positive energy into our upcoming run, the Rock and Roll Half Marathon.

I felt plenty nervous on Friday, and Saturday morning was more of the same, but as I waited at the start line with my cousin beside me and so many family members nearby, I was reminded of the strength we all have in us.  The little lady of honor, Zoe Mae, reminds us of that each and every day.  Zoe has braved so much in her young life; her parents have had to face more than any parent should have to.  When I think I'm having a tough time, I remember what they have faced, and I'm encouraged, I'm inspired.  I'm blessed to have grown up close to my cousins, and our family is blessed to have such wonderful people in it.  

Thanks, Ed, Kaleena, and Zoe, for reminding us all of this once again. 

The Navarrete sisters and their girls
(the CO girls were there in spirt!)

Run buddies ready to run
All done! 

Year #2 in the books 






Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Just a Little Evening Adventure

Image
Sometimes you have those days that turn out to be so very different than you expected them to be.  Wednesday was one of those days.  We welcomed houseguest Tuesday evening, and I thought I might do a bit of climbing with them in the morning, but then I expected to return to my typical routine - take a hike/go for a run, do some work and head to the gym for some evening climbing with Brian.  Instead, we decided to solo the Second Flatiron, a six-hundred or so foot climb up one of Boulder's most notable landmarks.     To the best of my recollection, I have not soloed anything before (read: climb without a rope or protection/gear).  The only part that unnerved me, however, was the 'jump.'  This was a point where, along the climb, you are required to leap across a divide in the rocks. I decided the benefits outweighed the cost/risk/fear, and I joined Brian, Alex and Cait, our houseguest, and Josh, another Sconnie native and AdRock climber living the d...
Read more

Stylin' in My New Ride!

Image
Last Friday was an exciting day for me.  Though the new school year was rapidly approaching and my nerves were out of control in anticipation of starting a new school year in a new school with a relatively unfamiliar staff, I happily headed to the car dealership to pick up my new ride, a beautiful white Ford Fusion with all sorts of bells and whistles!   We haven't had a new car in the Runnells family in a few years...and that car quickly became Brian's.  This car, however, is all mine and I LOVE IT!!  A big THANK YOU goes out to my hubbers, who dealt with all the less-than-enjoyable stuff that went along with getting this car  (suffice it to say, our initial car salesman was less than professional and almost drove us to another  dealership).  I think about it each time I get into the car. Doesn't my ALUMNI plate holder look good?!  Want to listen to a little SIRIUS radio?  I'm lovin' making calls via my car Drivi...
Read more

Helping Chelsea and Kyle

Image
Brace yourselves... this is a long one...and I'm asking for your help. As some of you may know, someone very close to me, Chelsea Bullis, experienced a life-changing event on Sunday, June 10, 2012.  She and her boyfriend, Kyle, were in a terrible motorcycle accident that left them both seriously injured.   Chelsea and her family have always been a part of my life. Chelsea's Aunt Anita was my first babysitter, and eventually her grandma, Maureen, and  her mom, Lynn,  took turns taking care of my brother and me.  Chelsea's Aunt Lainey is my mom's very best friend.  Chelsea, her brother Chad, her cousins Sam and Rachael and I all grew up together.  We took summer trips together, and when I was old enough, I began taking care of Chelsea, her brother and her cousins.  Chelsea and her family were so close to me that we began referring to each other as cousins...and 20+ years later, it is still how we refer to one another.   So ...
Read more