We
did the Revlon Breast Cancer Run/Walk on Saturday May 5, 2012. Some participants did run-they would be like the elite runners
in the marathon... They had to shoot them off first or we
would all have ended up in a tangled pink heap. Times Square is the
start-felt like New Year's Eve without all the barriers and
rules. We meet up at Planet Hollywood on Broadway and 45th. We have leis, hats, water and I have a grande non-fat latte. Had to. The day is one of many events and celebrations. It is Cinco de
Mayo http://www.history.com/topics/cinco-de-mayo a holiday passionately celebrated in the US- there are teams with sombreros. Though later will be "the Run for
the Roses"-Kentucky Derby-I do not see any teams on horseback-there are the
Central Park buggy horses--they provide some
savory along the route. We are revved up with some stirring speeches, poignant song (Hallelujah) and a rousing wild sendoff by Jimmy Fallon Our team is -We're Half Way There-Captain Lori
Phair
LORI LEADING, SIGN ON BACKPACK SAYS IT ALL
chose the title because she is an avid Bon Jovi fan
and the line "We're Half Way There" is from the Bon Jovi song-Livin' on a
Prayer, which follows
We
are walking at a 40 minute pace when we reach the first mile post. We do gain some speed
down the stretch as the road widens and we angle through the walkers and strollers, pushing aside some children (only kidding) Our team sign is adorned with lei flowers, a brilliant touch, as it
is always visible to help keep us together. At the finish, I think
we are on the west side near Columbus Circle. I even had summoned up a visual of the west side which included the Dakota. Central Park has a way
of turning me around, I sometimes think I am crossing the park and end
up back where I started. Two of us say our goodbyes and trek towards what we think is Columbus Circle.
HOW DO I GET OUT ON THE WEST SIDE OF THIS PARK?
While in the park what I imagined as the tall building on Columbus Circle turns out to be the Plaza. We emerge onto Fifth, not Columbus and race to Penn for the next leg-a drink at
Tracks-http://www.tracksbargrill.com/about.html
this would be the nod to Cinco de Mayo and Ireland. We are fully draped in leis, hats, medals, pink. The bar is lined with a group of Revlon finishers who had cabbed
it back-and we toast with margaritas and a Guinness. Then it is
on to LIRR, with another Starbucks latte chaser- I ride the train covered in Revlon attire.
Once home, I settle in with some chips. Kentucky Derby coverage
starts at 3PM . Liam is out looking for some roses as he has seen the blanket of roses carried in for the Derby winner-only azaleas at our house.
WHERE ARE THE ROSES FOR THE WINNER?
My horse is Dullahan -I have bet him to place-he is Irish with Donegal connections. http://www.kentuckyderby.com/contenders/dullahan
After 3
hours of background stories and jockey and horse bios we are ready. I
love all that up close and personal. Paul is just waiting for the race.
The field is faster than our walkers-but there are only 20 of them and
were thousands of us. Anyway, the winner is- I'll Have Another-Dullahan-third. In the Derby there are winners and losers. I lost.
In the Revlon Walk -all are winners.-everyone gets a medal., We all win.
Our team "We're Half Way There" collected over $5000.00 in pledges.
Lori's message-
"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have."
-Margaret Mead
SHILOH (LORI'S PUP) SHOWING SUPPORT
And don't tell Liam but there were dogs walking in the Revlon walk. Must be city dogs. Liam wants to know if that little cutie Shiloh walked? "No," I tell him- "no dogs walked with our pack."
