Challenge Cancer 5k (7th Annual) Thanks for Participating!

Thank you for being a part of Charities Challenge's 7^th Annual Challenge Cancer 5k, “Celebrating Active Cancer Survivors”, at Como Lake in St Paul, last Saturday. This special CC5k event was the 4th of 7 Life’s Challenge 5k Series of 5k Events presented by Charities Challenge, where we “Take the RxExercise Challenge” together with families and friends to better meet life’s challenges, even challenges like cancer.

Find race results & photos slideshow with music by copying this link into your internet search window

http://charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_cancer_5k.html

Congratulations to 42 who ran or walked their first-ever road race, to so many winners in many divisions, and to the kids who enjoyed the Kids Challenge ¼ & ½ Mile Fun Run.

What fun it was to cheer and award a married couple, overall women’s & men’s division winners, cross-country skiing Olympian Caitlin Compton Gregg & husband Brian Gregg. Brilliant!

We enjoyed seeing outstanding-outrunning 5k performances by athletes of all ages, many going home as “Real Bread Winners”.

A special “Congratulations” for the exemplary courage demonstrated by the nine racers who are running well beyond their variety of cancers challenges. Brilliant!

The first 1 through 7 bib numbers were presented to our Honored Active Athletes who indicated in their pre-registrations that they’re “More than Survivors” of cancers so we could all especially cheer them on, and learn from them how they’ve negotiated cancer therapy challenges with the help of their ongoing RxExercise.

Yes, others beyond those seven indicated to me, some quietly and privately, that they too were there celebrating being “More than Survivors” of cancers. Well done to all!

Enjoy remembering some of the morning's special experiences as you view the online photos slideshow while hearing again a Challenge Cancer 5k theme song.

Notice in the slideshow a major RxExercise Challenge benefit repeatedly seen in runners’ faces, “Miles of Smiles”, because RxExercise does improve mental health especially in the face of life’s major challenges like cancer! Be sure to turn up your sound as you click on “Slideshow” at the top of the slideshow page.

The slideshow of 156 images can be completed in 3 minutes if you want to enjoy all the photos. At the top of the slideshow page you may change the “Duration” of each slide to 2 or 3 seconds to slow down the slideshow when you may have more time for viewing.

Photos apology: Because I had trouble with my primary camera early during the 5k, and then taking time to switch to a secondary, slower camera, I took less than half the photos I usually take during our 5ks. So, I am sorry that I missed getting so many of your action photos. I’ll do better next time, and keep a second camera at the ready.

You’re welcome to go to the slideshow “index” in order to find any personally special photos that you can copy to your Facebook page, thereby sharing your joy of RxExercise with others whom you may want to encourage toward happy RxExercise. You’re welcome to add me and Charities Challenge to your Facebook contacts/links to keep up with the latest RxExercise news and events announcements.

Please send back to Coach Gary (GaryWestlund@aol.com) any special e-notes stories about how walking/running/volunteering at the Challenge Cancer 5k may have especially brightened-lightened your day and/or someone you love.

Go back anytime and see in the CC photos online slideshows more “Miles of Smiles” evidencing the Power of RxExercise to cheer each of us on throughout the year, and how “Taking the RxExercise Challenge” together even improves our relationships.

Thanks again to all the CC Race Event Workers (CCREW) volunteers: Don & Meredith Soule, Ken Wendling, Laura Westlund, Dean Sheldon, Mike & Vicki Mann and Rick Recker. And, thanks to pro-timer/scorer Danny Gerber of WayzataResults.

All CC Events participants are welcome to join our CCREW volunteers for any of our 27 Annual CC Events. Just let me know. You’ll also earn a variety of valuable CCREW Rewards for being so actively supportive of others’ RxExercise experiences. Go CCREW!

Next up please join us at Como Lake for the next CC Events:

Sunday, Aug 14 - 1^st Annual Challenge Addiction 5k

http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_addiction_5k_run_-_walk.html

Saturday, Aug 27 - 7^th Annual Challenge Arthritis 5k http://www.charitieschallenge.org/html/challenge_arthritis_5k_.html