survival story: hope, strength, guts, grace

just a few weeks ago brad and cj were on a long run.  the longest run they've ever done together.  brad told me that they pushed a little further than the team and he was starting to regret it.  he said, "i aint gonna lie cj.  i'm struggling a bit."  and cj replied, "think about the little boy who is  fighting for his last breath.  you can do this."

it's not just angel's wings that carry them across the finish line.  it's also the stories of survival.  of pushing through the pain.  the stories of hope.  beating the odds.  amy is one of the reasons they keep going.  the reason they seek new distances. 

i asked her if i could share her story.  she sent the most amazing words.  meet amy:

As an athlete and breast cancer survivor, Team in Training has a special place in my heart. On July 31, at 32 years old and 8 months pregnant with my second son, I heard the words that would change my life forever - you have cancer. The next days and months were a whirlwind - with a newborn baby, I went through several surgeries and 5 rounds of chemo. I lost my hair and my breasts, but gained a deeper understanding of my own strength and the true love and kindness that exists in this world. I learned just how much my friends and family loved me, and that I could conquer any challenge that was put in front of me. I kept my sanity by pushing my body physically to keep doing the swimming, biking, running and lifting that I so desperately craved as a triathlete. And gradually, my life returned to normal - my hair started coming back (slowly but surely!), my strength returned, reconstructive surgery gave me fabulous new breasts to make me feel whole and beautiful again. And perhaps most importantly for my spirit, I was able to race again - training for and participating in my first Olympic triathlon just 6 months after chemo ended and achieving a half-marathon PR 7 weeks after reconstructive surgery. I was, and am, so thankful that cancer didn't take away my ability to enjoy pushing my body physically to achieve new goals. As I ran the Indianapolis mini (half) marathon this past weekend, almost two years after diagnosis, I pushed through the pain every step of the way toward my goal of breaking two hours. I nearly broke down when I ran past a sign around mile 9 that said "You are brave - you can do this". I knew that if I had beaten cancer I COULD do this, I could meet my goal and make myself proud. From then on, I thought to myself, chemo was WAY harder than this, I have this. How bad do I want it? Crossing the finish line in 1:55, nearly 5 minutes faster than my goal, is something I never would have achieved before having cancer. It would have always been "it hurts too bad" or "I'm not fast enough" or just plain "I can't do that." In August, I will participate in my first half Ironman. While I know it will involve pain and a lot of hard work, I know I can do it and know how proud I will be when I cross that finish line. It's a high that stays with you for your whole life. I applaud Brad, CJ and all the Team in Training athletes for pushing themselves further than they thought possible. I applaud everyone involved with Team in Training for helping to end cancer while spreading the message that you CAN do something you never thought possible... and you will be a better person for it.  xoxo amy

i am so thankful that amy is here.  encouraging us all to fight beyond the place we never thought possible.  it would have been difficult for me to convey her beauty.  not in the way it pours out of her very own words. 

read more about amy's journey at pink ribbon chronicles.  

tomorrow amy is hosting a stella and dot giveaway {here at sp&b} that will benefit team in training.  don't miss it!