On most runs I wear an armband with “Abbey” sewn onto it. My mother-in-law made the armband for my running of a road race in 2006 - two months after our Abigail was born still.
I am currently training for that August race again (as I have every year since 1996). And, while out on a run the other day, I started thinking about the upcoming race and Abigail. Abbey or Abigail? I most often refer to her as Abigail rather than Abbey. We never got to find out what she would have wanted to be called. She probably would have preferred Abbey. But, because I can be such a traditionalist, I would probably call her Abigail.
This year’s race is for Anna, and like every other year when I run this race, I will run with a heavy heart. I will be thinking of my now deceased dad who, along with my mother, came to the race every year to cheer my brothers and me on. I also will think of my niece Julie who, due to complications from cystic fibrosis, died at the age of 13 in 2003. And, of course, I will think about Abigail.
I will run the race in August hard. I will run strong. I will run with purpose. Most importantly, I will run with my heart open to those I love.
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3 comments:
Earlier this year I got the opportunity to run in a race to raise money for SIDS. I thought of Abigail and your family as I ran. Good luck in your race! From following your blog and The Great Umbrella Heist, I can tell you are such a caring father. I'm sure your wife and family are very proud of you and your running.
Thank you Berg for the kind words and thank you also for thinking of our Abigail with your run. I'd be interested to hear more about the run as I don't think I've seen a SIDS run in our area.
It was called the "Peacock Stride for Babies" in Mauldin, SC. The event was called "Peacock" because the couple putting it on lost a little girl that they nicknamed Peacock because of her bright red hair. The event raised $32,000. I live in Greenville, SC, but actually spend 1-2 weeks every summer up in MA (South Yarmouth on the Cape). The closest races to you put on by the CJ Foundation for SIDS that I see are in NY.
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