Looking Glass.

I cannot even begin to describe what the last few months have felt like for me.  I have been busy as heck, traveling tons, working crazy hours, learning a whole new career, teaching aerial arts fitness classes, keeping up with my own fitness, meeting new people right left and center, I have put my heart out there and sling shotted it right back into my chest.  But there has one thing that has made this whole thing worthwhile.  Yesterday morning I ran my first 1/2 Marathon (21 Kilometers).

And what got me through it, what helped me cross that finish line was my sweet little baby angel - Candace.  Candace is my 13 year old second cousin who I have always thought of as my niece.  She is the sweetest most loving girl you will ever meet.  About a month ago, they found cancer in her leg and she has since then started chemo.  She is the strongest girl I have ever known and the strength she has and the fact that she can still find positivity in life and still smile that big beautiful smile she has is incredibly admirable to me and she is my little angel on earth.  Whenever I started to feel weak on my trek, or started to get in my head, started to feel tired, and ready to give up - all I had to do was repeat her name on my journey.  I kept thinking that if my niece can fight cancer and be strong then I damn well can push through my 21km.

And I am proud to say - I succeeded.  I ran the full 21km, I didn't stop to walk at any point and in the end I crossed the finish line at 1 hour 55 minutes and 27 seconds.  Shaving off more than 5 minutes than my normal pace.  I finished and I felt like I truly won.  I don't think I have ever been so proud of myself in my entire life and she doesn't know it yet, but she is the reason I made it across that line.  I love her so much.  Life can be so strange sometimes, and I feel like this isnt my life, this isn't her life that we are looking at.  But it is.  And we are both fighters, we are both survivors and it is my turn to be strong and hold her hand through all of this - not because she needs me, but because we are stronger together.

I love you Candace, and this win is for you!!!