Run for Sherry Day

Yesterday was the Run for Sherry and run I did.  It was a blissful (?) minus one when I got ready to run with a zillion mile wind chill.  Thankfully, it's nice and toasty in the basement where the treadmill hangs out!  I donned on my running skirt, filled up my water bottle and hit the "mill."

Obviously, I like to run in the middle of the night?

My running coach had me down for a long run.  I thought last week was a long run.  I was wrong.  She had me down for fourteen miles.  I expressed my concerns with running fourteen miles.  Mostly because my mind thinks that just stupid and totally unnecessary.  It revolted at 13 last week.   As all good running coaches do, she played the nasty card and told me to think about Sherry that last mile and yes, I'll be able to do it.  That's just plain mean.

I chose not to wear my Running for Sherry bib, but rather, put it on my treadmill where I could actually see it.  I ran the first hour in silence in honor of her.  Well, as silent as my treadmill is and as silent as I am when I'm huffing and puffing away.  I ran because she cannot.  I ran because she is still thought of.  I ran because she touched lives.  I ran because people still love her.  

After a hour, my mind was done thinking and I turned on the tv.  I got sucked into watching that Karate Kid movie with Will Smith's kid.  It was um, "different." (that's used in Minnesota context-Minneotians will totally get it)   Not really a fan of the movie-it's hard to like remakes when you're old enough to remember the original.  Still, there were good lessons to be learned.  Especially about how to treat people and how you choose kindness and goodness over being unkind.  Good trumping evil.  I watched until I got to mile fourteen.  Well, actually until I got to mile fourteen and then did a cool down.  

Proof!

The afternoon consisted of a little lunch and loads of laundry ('cause my life is super glamorous that way)  and then we were off to hang out at a local mexican restaurant with some friends.  It was an awesome time and I'm reminded how blessed we are to have such great people in our lives.  I think Sherry would have approved.  

Run for Sherry February 11, 2012

The following is from the blog Shut Up and Run:

On January 7, 2012, my cousin Sherry, age 43, left her house in the small town of Sidney, Montana at 6:30 a.m. for an early morning run. She didn’t always run in the morning because as a teacher, it was often difficult to fit in runs before she headed to Sidney High School to teach math. January 7 was a Saturday, however, and Sherry had a bit more time to spare. After her run she planned to meet her sister, Rhonda, and head out to their parent’s ranch a few miles outside of town. Her husband, Gary, had gone for a walk at 5:30 a.m. and when he returned home he could tell that Sherry had already left for her run because of the toothpaste splatters in the sink and a light that was on in the kitchen.

Sherry often ran within the town limits and January 7 was no exception. When Sherry did not come home later that morning, however, her husband began to worry. He called the police and a search ensued. By 3:00 p.m. hundreds of volunteers were searching for Sherry and only one clue had been found, Sherry’s right Brook’s running shoe.

My aunt called to tell me that “something bad had happened in Montana.” As the details unfolded, a weight sat in the pit of my stomach. I hoped for the best, but feared the worst. Please find her. Please bring her home.

For several days there was no sign of Sherry. On the seventh day, a tip was received on the FBI’s tip line that led to the arrest of two men, one in North Dakota and one in South Dakota. One of the men confessed to killing Sherry. She had been abducted at 6:40 a.m., only about a mile from her house.

Sherry’s body has not yet been found.

Sherry’s traumatic and heinous death has shocked, angered and saddened her small community. On a much larger scale, it has also rocked the running world from coast to coast and abroad. How could something so random, violent and senseless happen to someone so giving, someone loved by so many?

We have so many emotions. As mothers, runners, and teachers,  we fear it could have been us. Our hearts break for her students, her family, her community. We feel things we don’t know how to express and we cry for someone who we have never met. We hope she did not suffer and we hope that she found peace in her final moments. The human connection often feels deepest during tragedy. These past three weeks this connection has been alive, pulsing and powerful. The goodness has poured out of each and every one of you, demonstrating that good overpowers evil.

Many of you have told me that you have dedicated your runs and races to Sherry. I have talked about wanting to do a planned virtual run in her honor. Her family has given me their blessing and Races 2 Remember has so generously donated their time to creating a running bib for Sherry.

The virtual run will be on Saturday, February 11 at 9 a.m. MST.

• Mark your calendars
• Print out a running bib and pin it to your shirt
• Gather your friends, your running club members, your families
• If it’s wet where you are, “laminate” your bib with postage tape and punch holes in it
• If that time doesn’t work, go when you can
• GO. Run as far and as long as you want. Walk, hike, cycle, rollerblade if you don’t want to or can’t run.
• Please share this on your blogs, Facebooks and Twitters
• Keep it simple. Just run with Sherry on your minds and hearts. 

My goal is to get the MOST love, momentum and energy moving in honor of Sherry. This run symbolizes the beginning if healing and honors a woman who was courageous, strong and loved by so many.

I will be joining so very many people to honor Sherry and help support her family at this tough time.  (let's face it, I'm just not good at stuff to say at times like this-and I'm ok with that)  If it's at all possible, we'd be thrilled to have you join us. Please go to SUAR's blog for more information/updates and if  you're inclined, to donate.  Thank you.