Way of the Red Ribbon

This week was a rather special week. Aside from running 20 miles, we were all asked to wear red.

APLA wanted to create a red ribbon out of their runners, and boy, did we become exactly that! Think about it, the fastest group easily had to take two hours to run 20 miles, and my group clocked in a little over five hours. So with all of us involved, we became a ribbon that stretched for miles. How I would have loved watching us from above as we made our way through Griffith Park yesterday morning!

While the organizers explained to us that the purpose of wearing red was to reconnect us to our reasons for running, they also wrote:

“APLA was founded in the spirit of friendship over twenty years ago. You became part of that continuum by gathering to run each week and raising money to fight a disease that continues to elude us, but continues to bring us together. You are changing people's lives. I know you've heard it before, and you will continue to hear it as we get closer and closer to marathon day. Never forget that you are making a difference. Never forget the incredible courage and strength you have displayed. Never forget that you are a hero. Have an amazing run. Take it one step at a time. And remember...I will be there supporting you every step of the way.”

At first, when I read that I thought “how sweet” and started rummaging through my closet for something red. As I looked, I thought of Uncle Ronnie. I thought of my friend, Stannie, and her family still feeling his loss today. I thought of myself back in January holding the flyer in my hands thinking maybe I should do this. I thought of all the people I’ve known in my life that have struggled with their health. All these thoughts brought me to a knitted red shawl. I folded it over once until became a long ribbon and tied it around my waist.

Then, as we ran, every time I saw a fellow runner in red, those words of encouragement came back to me. Granted, it’s usual for us to cheer each other on, but something about the red made the words stick, take longer to evaporate or something.

That’s when it hit me… Every week, I receive and give this level of enthusiasm. And even crazier is that we’re all sincere about it, too. Stop and think about the last time, in full cheerleader mode, did said to a friend, “Woo-hoo, you’re awesome!” Or possibly hearing from a relative, “Way to go!” The folks at APLA love calling people “hero”. Try calling yourself a hero without laughing or without wearing a costume (you know who you are). It really has an amazing effect.

I notice it the most when I’m with the group, and with all of us wearing red, it’s impossible to ignore, because during the five hours or so that we run together, the conversation is always going and always fun. Complaints are hardly ever heard. We seem to never focus either on our frustrations from the week or the pain we might experience during our run. Our attention seems to be simply elsewhere.

And that’s just it, every week, when I connect to this feeling of support and good cheer, my focus shifts to what’s right in this world and what’s good about us. The part of me that’s scared or nervous is soothed, and I become again filled with joy and with hope. And slowly over the months, without me even noticing, a red ribbon has stretched its way out of me and gently weaved its way around everything in my life.

Perhaps we need to start calling each other heroes more often.