My grandmother, Miriam, “Micki” as we all called her passed away last year after suffering from Alzheimer’s for many years. I was her oldest of 5 grandchildren and we always had a very close and unique relationship. Throughout my high school years we traveled together many times and when I went to college, just blocks away from her apartment, we spent much more time together. It was her approval I wanted when I met my husband and I have such vivid memories of her wedding dress shopping with me and my mom.
I could go on and on about the special times we shared together the last 45 years. She was certainly the matriarch of our whole family. Watching someone suffer from and lose themselves to such a horrible disease as Alzheimer’s is so painful for all of their loved ones. There never seemed to be the right time to start to mourn and by the time she passed away, she had no idea who most of us were.
Our extended family was headed to Bethany Beach this week and ironically, I noticed there was a 5k to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research. The “Athletes To End Alzheimer’s 5k” seemed like the perfect way to remember & honor my “Micki’s” memory and maybe do some small part to help someone else.
I roped in one of my sisters and her husband to run with me this past weekend. This was a small, casual 5k with about 600 runners. It was great to see so many families out there remembering their own loved ones with shirts and signs with their names and pictures. Young and old, runners and walkers all celebrating the lives of someone near and dear.
We had just decided to do the race a few days ago and didn’t have a chance to make up our own shirts. We did do our flat mamas! The race started bright and early right on the boardwalk of Bethany Beach, Delaware. It was a beautiful morning and watching the sun rise on the beach is spectacular.
This was supposed to be my rest day so shhh don’t tell my trainer! We faced the American Flag for a quick National Anthem and we were off and running with a quick loop through downtown Bethany with a boardwalk finish. My sister and I ran together and chatted for the first 2 miles which we don’t often have the opportunity to do. My 6’3″ brother in law took off with his long legs and ended up getting a PR.
With my tri race 2 weeks out, I wasn’t going to push it today. I took an easy pace and just kind of enjoyed running that morning and remembering some of the better times with my grandma. I am really glad we participated in the race and had the opportunity not only to raise funds for Alzheimer’s research but to reminisce about her with my sister as we ran.
Sometimes races aren’t about times or paces but rather as a kind of therapy for whatever part of us needs healing.
Have you run in honor of a loved one? Did you find this gave you closure?
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What a beautiful post and a lovely tribute to your grandma. I love how the three of you ran the 5K in her memory and I know she is smiling down on all of you. Loved the pics of you in your wedding dress also with both of your grandmas.
I didn’t run, but I did participate in the Avon Breast Cancer walk with my Mom a few years ago. We walked 60 miles in memory of my Mom’s sister who tragically died of breast cancer (rapidly) at age 41. She left behind 4 young children and her husband. It was a beautiful weekend full of love and memories.
Thanks it did feel like she was there in some way. I’ve heard about all of the amazing walkers in the BC walk and how emotionally fulfulling it is.
I think that this is beautiful. When I ran MCM a few years ago, I didn’t remember at the time I was registering, but my beloved grandfather was a Marine. There were definitely a few points out on course that I could feel him with me.
Thanks I did feel like she was there in some way 🙂 and it sounds like you did too.
It always makes a race more meaningful when you have a reason to run! What a wonderful way to honor your grandma!
It really did make it more meaningful 🙂 thanks
What a nice story & beautiful memories! Many of the facilities that I work with have dementia units- it is a horrible disease! Kudos for raising awareness & I enjoyed your story 🙂
It is a horrible disease for sure.It was a nice way to remember her for me
What a perfect thing to do! I’m so glad you guys had the chance to remember your Grandmother. It’s such a terrible disease.
It was a really nice way for me to remember her that day thanks
What a great story! It’s nice to have a race like that to honor your grandmother <3
It was a nice way for me to think about her today
Sorry for your loss. What a wonderful tribute to your grandma. Keep smiling, God bless
Thanks! It was a nice way for me to think about her today.
What a great way to honor your Grandmother! My father in law suffered from dementia and was later diagnosed with Alzheimers so I try to help fund in their research whenever I can. It is a terrible disease. Bethany beach looks beautiful!
It is a tough one as you know as well. Thanks!
That’s such a wonderful sign that this race was going on at the same time that you were at the beach! It really is a terrible disease. I worked at a nursing home a long time ago and there were lots of patients with alzheimers. It was heart breaking and I can’t imagine how hard it must be for the family members.
It is a really hard one for sure. It’s a strange disease to watch someone go through.
What a beautifully written post. I am very close with my grandma too and this was hard as my grandma was in hospice last week but after me spending more time with her she improved and was moved yesterday. It is so hard as we have a special bond and I wish I could spend more time up there with her.
I haven’t done a race in memory of anyone close to me yet but with family members being sick lately I would love to when races come that would help their cause or I could do in their memory.
I’m so sorry for you I know how you feel. It’s such a tough thing to go through. thanks and hugs and prayers for you and your family
My grandmother suffers from Alzheimers and my mom runs a 5 miler every summer in her honor. It is a difficult disease but my mom gets a great boost from supporting a fabulous cause with a great community.
It’s a great community for sure but such a hard thing to watch someone deteriorate like that. It was really hard for my mom.
How lovely that you could run with your sister and brother in honor of your grandmother. Such a special tribute.
We have a local race which raises money for breast cancer research. My younger sister died over 10 years ago, of another cancer, but I still run that race for her every year. At the end of the event, everyone writes the name of their loved ones on a pink balloon and send them into the air. It’s such a moving moment.
Thanks and I didn’t know that about your sister but sounds like a touching way to remember her with a balloon.
What a beautiful way to remember your grandmother.
Thanks it was nice to remember her.
What an amazing way to honor your grandmother’s memory. I love races that are for a cause like this. They raise awareness, help runners remember loved ones and raise money to help find cures. I do a number of cancer walks/runs with my Mom. She’s been fighting cancer for 17 years and the walks are her way to show cancer that she’s still strong!
I do remember reading about your mom and you doing a walk together. It is a nice way to connect with a community that is dealing with the same issues.
such a nice way to honor her..yes I do the relay for life walks every year for both my grandfathers’ memories!
thanks for linking up!
Thanks! It felt nice to think about her again.
Finding a reason to run like that definitely makes it more special. I’m so glad you could honour your Grandma in a way that means a lot to you.
It was a really nice day and I’m glad that I did it.
What a great way to honor your grandmother. Alzheimer’s runs in my family as well and my grandfather passed away from it a few years ago, my grandmother is currently in the middle stages of it 🙁 Really is so sad to see someone lose themselves like that.
It really is such a hard thing to watch someone go through. I am so sorry for you and your family as well.
How very lovely. I think the picture of you with your Grandmothers is so beautiful!
I am happy for you that you took the time to do this event and honor your Grandma.
Thanks so much I am glad that I went as well. It was nice to think about her that day
So sorry for your loss! What lovely way to honor her life and memory.
Thanks so much. It did feel like a nice way to honor her.
I used to tell myself my early runs were in memory of my grandfather who passed away from lung and heart problems. I Can’t even go to the Susan G Ken events here because I cry like a baby around all the survivors. I love that you shared this with us and you were able to remember your grandmother in this way
Thanks and I think it’s ok to cry it’s part of the healing process. 🙂
What a great way to remember your grandma. I’m sure she was there with you on race day.
Thanks I like to think that she was 🙂
I’m so sorry for your loss. We also lost my grandmother to Alzheimers, as well as my great-grandma before that. It’s a merciless, mean disease and I hope a cure or vaccine effective treatment comes very soon. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fundraiser run for it around here. I’m glad they’re out there someplace.
Thanks for stopping by and I am so sorry for you and your family as well. It is a horrible thing to watch a loved one go through as you know. This was the first race I had seen but I do know they have remembrance walks around the country.
My grandfather passed away from Alzheimer’s as well. That is a sad disease to watch progress. So sorry you had to go through it as well.
Thanks and you too-it’s a tough one for everyone isn’t it?
I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. This is such a sweet post. I know it was special to run this race with family too. I have run a few races in honor of my brother who died quickly last winter with an aggressive (and very visible) cancer.
oh wow so sorry for your loss too. Somehow running for them makes you feel like you are doing something to help others and to grieve for them.
Oh, she sounds like such a special person, and you are lucky to have had such a close relationship. The run sounds like a great way to remember and honor her. (((hugs)))
Thanks she really was one of a kind 🙂
Deborah, this is a beautiful story. Love the photos!
Thanks so much. It was a great way to remember her that day.
I exercise every single day in honor of my family. They have instilled healthy living practices in my life and I want to live up to them and make them proud of me! 🙂
I do too! Nice way of thinking about it
It was only yesterday when I was talking to my mom about it.
Alzheimer is a disease that is taking so much of her friends… It is sad.
The few opportunities I had to run, I used Charity Miles and Alzheimer is my number 1 cause.
Thank you so much for sharing a little of your story with us.
Thanks for reading it. It is a tough one to watch someone go through.
Great way to honor your grandma. Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease and I am sorry your grandma suffered with it. Hopefully someday they will find a cure.
Thanks! It is a rough one to watch someone go through it.
So sorry to hear about the loss of your grandmother who meant so much to you. It’s wonderful though that you were able to honor her memory at the perfectly timed 5K on the beach with your family.
It was a nice way to remember her that day. I am glad that I had the opportunity to run it with my sister.
What a great way to remember someone! On one of my longer races last year, there was a mile dedicated to remember those who have passed away from cancer and I teared up remembering my grandfather who passed away when I was younger. Once I past that mile I remember picking up the pace and finishing my last few miles with negative splits. It was good for the soul.
I teared up a little as well while I was running. A nice way to remember her that day.
Hugs. I have run in honor of someone a few times… mostly when I need to clear my head I go run. 🙂
Thanks-It does help sometimes doesn’t it.
After losing my mom to colon cancer, I ran 12 half marathons in 12 months in tribute to her life and to raise money for cancer research. I wasn’t a runner before her passing so this mission was physically and mentally draining, but I’ve never experienced something so extraordinarily rewarding.
Wow! That;s incredible really!Quite a missions and quite a way to honor your mom. Thanks for sharing that story with me. hugs xxx
What a wonderful way to remember your grandma and raise funds for Alzheimer’s research!
It was a nice way to think of her again and hope that I was helping someone else somewhere.
What a great way to remember loved ones and dedicate time to them, along with fundraising!
Thanks it was a nice day to remember her.
What a great tribute to your Grandma! I have a few family members with the disease on both my side and Dan’s. Hopefully a cure it’s too far off.
Thanks friend! I hope so too!