the EVENT

the 1st annual steel lillies 5k went off without a hitch.....well without many hitches :).....after several fits and starts, we got our stuff together and pulled off what i believe was an amazing tribute to tiff.  the sheer number of people who came out to support the family was incredible.....i'm estimating around 800....and that's really just a good guess - i know we ran out of the 675 shirts VERY early on in the registration process....definitely a lesson learned for next year.

while it was certainly bittersweet for kris and his family, it was such a powerful and positive experience - to see all of those people united together to show their support was truly exceptional.  and i cant thank everyone enough who helped.  this is one of those times when you can sit back and appreciate really how GOOD people really can be.

Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful.  ~Author Unknown
so many people played an integral part in making this a success that i dont really know where to start....but i want everyone to know how much i appreciate it, so i'm going to try.....first and foremost, kris' aunt sue was a workhorse of the first order....she ran the rochester end of things and created a wonderful picnic atmosphere after the race...AND recruited a serious amount of bayers to handle the food aspect of the event....she was just incredible - along with every single one of kris' aunts, uncles and cousins who showed up in full force and worked like dogs on the day of the event.  tiff's friends from home and college pulled together to help jimmy and the kids, and came from places far and wide to be there.  just amazing. her girlfriend kim is a jewelry artist and made beautiful necklaces.......a local restaurant donated food and spent the afternoon grilling it up.....MY bf from college who got roped into manning the registration table instead of running (thank YOU kir)......sponsors from everywhere who showed up....and of course all of the participants.....

one more time, i just need to say that everyone who helped - top to bottom - was amazing.....while certainly the day was not flawless - it really went amazingly well, especially considering it was put together in about 7 weeks.  and this is 100% a reflection on the volunteers.....i hope everyone who manned a water station, or pointed the runners in the right direction, or parked a car, or served a burger, or helped setup and breakdown....or who donated their time in any other way feels so GOOD about what they accomplished.....because, while this doesnt make tiffs loss any easier to bear, it means that her legacy will be STRONG!

This is the beginning of a new day.

You have been given this day to use as you will.
You can waste it or use it for good.
What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever;in its place is something that you have left behind...
let it be something good

i know that NOTHING is going to make these days any easier for kbs parents or for tiffs husband and kids....but one day, i hope they will be able to look back on this time as the beginning of tiffs legacy, rather than the end of her life.  because if there is one thing i can say with certainty about tiff, its that she was clearly a founding member of the 'get shit done" club......she would ABSOLUTELY appreciate the way this fund is taking off and she would settle for nothing less.....the STEEL Lillies will be a name that will make a difference in the fight against cancer.....and it started with her.

in this life we dont get the opportunity to go backwards.....we can only move in one direction.....whether we move in that direction with PURPOSE or not is up to us.....but if we choose to move with purpose - to make a difference where possible - we honor those who dont get to go with us.  i cant tell you how many times kris' mom has thanked me - and really, the only response i have is "its the LEAST i can do"....and it is.  the least.  when i figure out how i can do more, i hope that i will.  because what i cant do is go back and make any of it better....i cant make it easier to bear.....i cant make it hurt any less.   but i can try to make a difference in how it looks in the future.

so, like always with me, i'm taking a short little hiatus - hopefully getting caught up on some work and some blog - maybe clean my house (or just move - i'm not sure which would be easier at this point) .... and then start on whatever we decide is next.....i will say this - if you are local, make sure you leave October 7th open for me :)