Pittsburgh Marathon
by Nadia Zakariya (LIVESTRONG Staff)
Below is a story from a member of Team LIVESTRONG. If you like running, walking, riding your bike, taking part in triathlons and you hate cancer, then you should join Team LIVESTRONG. Check it out and sign up for one of the events today.
On Sunday, May 15, 18,000 runners took to the streets, hills and bridges of the Dick?s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and Half Marathon. Among the 18,000 were 125 runners clad in their race-day, LIVESTRONG yellow heading towards the finish line of their journey that was so much more than 13.1 or 26.2.
On top of the miles and miles of training, this team of 125 came together to raise $82,000 in the fight against cancer. Each runner?s story was unique. They ran for grandmothers, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, friends, as survivors and teammates running in support of the 28 million people living with cancer around the world.
In my day-to-day work at LIVESTRONG HQ I don?t often get the opportunity to interact with the people we serve, so it was especially meaningful to get to meet the participants and their families. As a runner myself, I frequently pin on ?In Memory of Grandma? and ?In Honor of Dad? bibs and I find endless inspiration in hearing why others run, understanding the strength they feel in being able to do something.
Though the rain drizzled for the better half of the day, it didn?t dampen the spirits of the runners or their cheerleaders. It was an honor to meet each of our runners and I thought the only way to truly do the day justice was to share a few stories.
Team Nicholson, our five-person family relay team, finished their first-ever marathon.
Erica Medlin signed up for the half marathon, but missed the turn and completed the full 26.2 mile course!
Becky Churray ran in memory of her uncle. At mile one she fell and fractured her ankle, but that didn?t stop her. With determination and a little help from medical support, she crossed her finish line at 13.1 miles?for Uncle Jack.
Nick Pifani (his wife describes him as our biggest fan?she, in turn, is his) ran in memory of his mother, completing his first marathon. As a member of Team LIVESTRONG, his goal was to raise money with the hope that prevention and life expectancy for those fighting cancer brightens in the future. Nick was also our top fundraiser for the team, at $5,060.
The day was long and the miles and hills were especially tough on the runners, but in true Pittsburgh spirit, runners crossed Roberto Clemente Bridge onto the North Shore, finishing next to Heinz Field, home of the Steelers, and were greeted with Eat?n Park Smiley Cookies and hundreds of smiling fans.
Thank you, Team LIVESTRONG Pittsburgh for an amazing weekend and congratulations! Hopefully we?ll see you all again next year.
Nadia Zakariya
LIVESTRONG Staffer and Member of Team LIVESTRONG
LIVESTRONG Staffers Ashley, Antonia and Nadia at the Finishline
