Maribeth Thomas - Cynthiana, KY
I have been a runner for the past 31 years, having completed 12 marathons, and placing in
nearly every race I have ever competed.
On Christmas Day 2005, my 20 year old daughter said to me, "Hey Mom, let's run a race
together!" She had been involved in both track and cross country while in high school but
never took running very seriously and she definitely did not like to run with me because, at
her stage of maturity, MOM was NOT cool! So when she invited me to run with her several years
later I was thrilled! We decided to enter the Cincinnati Flying Pig Half Marathon in May of
2006.
Four weeks later I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and was facing four months of chemo
and a month of radiation.
My commitment to my daughter encouraged me to continue running throughout my treatments
and kept me focused on the blessings in life. Training for our race was an integral factor in
my positive attitude towards my cancer and I was able to run though my chemotherapy, albeit
slowly. On the day of our big race we crossed the finish line together, me with my aerodynamic
coiffure, both of us smiling and dressed in matching running outfits!
I placed third in my age division!
|
