Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure @ Charlotte, NC

Luis and I arrived at my cousin Cary’s house in Charlotte, NC the night before the race to decorate our bibs and have dinner with the family.

Sophia was busy decorating all the bibs.  She even helped Luis out on his since it wasn’t flashy enough haha.  She did an amazing job on them!

While Adan watched =)

After our belly’s were full and bib’s were completed with color and sparkle, we went to the hotel for night swimming and bed jumping.

The view from our rooms looked out to the Nascar Hall of Fame building.

We woke up on race day to a morning of  45°.  Luis nor I thought to check the weather for the race since October 1st usually is not a cold, cool maybe, but not cold.  The race was held in downtown Charlotte, which did not help as the wind whipped between the buildings, but luckily there were enough bodies around us to keep us warm while waiting for the race to start.

We stood next to this small band that kept us taping our feet while waiting for the race portion for the walkers to begin.  The ones who actually run the race start an hour and half before the people who are walking.

Don’t let this smile fool you. Standing around looking at everyone’s bibs and signs made me very emotional.  It was a beautiful, yet sad sight.  The little kids with bibs that read “In memory of my mom” killed me.  Just writing those words at this very moment get me teary eyed.  It was such an amazing and overwhelming moment, everyone standing around us was touched by breast cancer, whether themselves or a loved one.  I was so proud of those who have survived and felt the loss of those who hadn’t survived even though I did not know them.

Sounds odd, but I think it’s because I met my grandmother, Bea in my early 20’s thanks to my uncle Danny for tracking her information down in Marco Island through her sister.  It was also the same year she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I felt I had lost her when I had just found her.  A few years earlier I had lost my grandfather and mother on my mom’s side and I really felt empty not knowing my other grandparents; who they were, who anyone was on my dad’s side. I wanted to know who I was and where my face came from.  Thankfully she survived, and because of her bringing me into the family, I now know my father and the rest of my Chereshkoff family, and met the man who gave me my face; my grandfather.

Here is a flash back of my first time meeting my adorable grandfather and grandmother.

Back to the day of the race.

The starting line.

And the finish line… ta da!

After the race, we went to Cary’s house for a brunch.  Cary went all out and had an awesome spread of food.  Where’d she find the time to participate in a 5k and make the food for the brunch?  Amazing women!  Thank-you again Cary for everything, it was my first 5k and I will never forget it!

Cary bringing out more goodies in her race day brunch attire =)

My first ever Bloody Mary.  I have made them before when I worked at the bar, but never actually had one.  It was delicious with a pickle slice, olive, okra, lime, celery, and a spicy tomato mix.

The day was perfect!

I am already thinking about next year, and I am thinking tu-tu’s!