Surviving doesn’t just mean staying alive, it means living to your potential

Hey,

So, Saturday just gone I achieved my first ever 5k Race for Life. It was a ‘Pretty Muddy’ one & it was definitely bloody muddy. The rain was pelting it down, it was absolutely nippy as anything and the odds were not in my favour (Yano the 4 litres of fluid on my lungs, the bone mets, the knees tumour 🙃) However, it was actually so liberating, emotional, bloody hard work, yet I achieved it (not to blow my own trumpet or anything haha), I mean I know it’s no London Marathon that was on this weekend but hey its a start. A man emotionally hugged me at the end (if anyone knows me, you know I don’t do physical contact) haha, but it made me feel like hell yes, I have achieved something here, I’ll take my bloody medal and relish in all my glory hahaha. I did miss out 2 or 3 obstacles as I just thought, I’m already tumour ridden, I definitely don’t need to make this any worse (I know sensible for once in my life ha)…

The reason being… the day before the run I woke up and I just could not get out of bed. My whole body was just screaming at me to take a break. I felt nauseous, I felt sad, I felt in pain, I genuinely felt like I’d be run over by a bus. David rang in work sick and took over as mummy for the day & did a wonderful job and got the much needed rest my body was crying for. Therefore I felt so much better and able to do the run. I never admit defeat, especially not to cancer symptoms, however I think I’m quite good at listening to my body and this was definitely one time where I’m glad I did.

Thank you to all of you who sponsored us. We were gobsmacked by the amazing amount we raised for CRUK. Cancer Research is essentially the thing that is going to keep me alive for the longest time I can, so your pennies really do change my life & they also make me do a little happy dance ha. ALSO, a big thank you to my Mum, my sister, Gem and my sister in Law, Beth for being absolute troopers and doing it with me. Love knowing I have your guys support always.

The one thing I hated the whole time doing this 5K was the concept of it being called a ‘race for life’. I get why it is called that please don’t get me wrong, cancer research saves people’s lives and will continue to do so, however, I didn’t feel like I was racing for my life, I think that sounds quite doom and gloom and slightly dramatic ha, It should be called something like ‘race for the living’ since people can and do live quite a normal life with cancer. I’m living proof of that (minus the backwards mullet, the continuous back ache, the lumpy knee, the scarred tummy, the ridiculous weight loss, the coated tongue.. I mean the list goes on but completely normal life, right? 😂😂😂). Life with cancer goes on and life after cancer goes on. My life may seem like it revolves around appointments and scans (which please don’t get me wrong it deffo does) but I get up and do normal things just like everyone else.

This post is officially your mid week reminder that you can achieve whatever you set your mind/heart on. Be your own critic and never be too hard on yourself. If getting out of bed is your achievement for the day then bloody own it and put your slippers on with the biggest smile on your face.

You’ve got this.

Rach x