Just Another Runners Perspective
July 2007

by Gale Fischer

Strides For Life (100 Mile Journey Against Cancer)
 
This past weekend I completed my eighth Strides For Life. Strides For Life is a run that encompasses one hundred miles
in four days. It is not a race, but rather a running event. Strides is broken into five legs every day for four days. There is a
thirty minute recovery time between each leg and an extended break between legs three and four for lunch. The longest
leg is 6.2 miles and the shortest leg is 2.9 miles. Each leg has a support vehicle complete with food, fluids and staff to make
sure we get what we need for every mile. We begin in Bloomingdale and take in South Haven, Saugatuck, Holland and
end in Grand Rapids. Some of the highlights of the course include views of Lake Michigan and the deep green landscape
of the Kal Haven Trail. We stay in the dorms at Hope College each night. We are loaded in vehicles each morning to be
transported to our starting point. When we are finished for the day, we are transported back to Hope College and the next
morning we are transported back to where we ended the previous day to begin the next day's legs.
 
As always, the combination of the physical effort of running the distance and the flooding of emotions that come from
this event, left me exhausted and relieved to be finished, but also looking forward to next year. Each participant is
required to raise a minimum of $600 for the American Cancer Society. There are many events that raise valuable dollars for
the ACS, but this is a one of a kind event. It requires a huge commitment from each participant in terms of fundraising,
training to run one hundred miles, running one hundred miles and taking four days to be away from family and jobs.
Obviously for me, the commitment for this event is worth the rewards, having participated for each of the last eight years.
This journey could not be completed without the support of the other runners, the support staff, the courage demonstrated
by cancer survivors and victims that we have a personal connection with, the people who donate money, and our families.
The personalities of all who are involved in this event always seem to mesh together to make Strides the unique experience
that it is. We are an extended family who look forward to a four day reunion every June. Completing every mile in this event
is a cumulative effort, which is achieved from the physical, emotional and mental support from all participants. This includes
the runners, the staff who make sure that we get the food and fuel that we need and the massage therapists and sports
trainers who offer their expertise to prevent and treat injuries.

 
As usual, there were those participants who provided memories for me to get me through until next year. There was the
"old man" as I call him, who has logged more miles for this event than anyone. He is approaching seventy, but logged yet

another hundred miles with the energy of someone half his age. He has been the heart and soul of this event over the

years. Whenever I needed a laugh to get me through a rough leg, there was the lawyer from the east side of the state, who
would provide a punch line to take my mind off the pain. There was the veteran runner, running his first Strides, who took
Strides on as the next challenge in his running. It wasn't easy, but he made it. There was the college cross-country runner
running her first Strides who may have not known exactly what to expect from Strides, but the grit and determination she
displayed as she struggled through the last three days was truly inspirational. She refused to let the miles conquer her spirit.
A Strides family member who is going through the grieving process after losing her son to a tragic accident this spring was
unable to join us for Day one, but she covered the one hundred miles in Days two, three and four. It was a joy to see her
there with us and I hope that her Strides family was able to give her a little extra support during this difficult time. We were
again represented by youth as our youngest runner completed his third year of Strides as he makes the transition this
summer from high school to college. His maturity beyond his years has brought a breath of fresh air to this event the past
three years. The support staff for the four mile stop brought their car load of props again to provide us with a party
atmosphere as we approached the last mile of each leg. Our Strides committee chair person leads the three mile stop and
made it her job again to provide the extra things that each individual runner likes to eat or drink during the run. This year we
had the privilege of having our representative from the Cancer Society office join us for all four days. Her support was a
treat and she is officially a member of the Strides family. She even ran a few miles and soaked her legs in the frigid ice bath.
 
Establishing bonds with other participants is only natural after completing our one hundred mile journey over the course of
four days. As we end each day, the runners and staff form a tunnel and cheer each runner as they come in. After completing
one hundred miles, this ritual on Day four and Mile one hundred always sends chills up and down my spine. Still, there is
much more to Strides For Life than our four day journey together. This event is for those who have fought the battle with
cancer. We have a physical battle for four days with blisters on toes and sore legs, but the courage demonstrated by
those battling cancer is much greater than what we go through as we battle through the miles. Their courage is one of
the reasons why I choose to and am able to run this event. As wonderful as this event is, the hope is that there will be a day
when there will be a cure for cancer and this event will be able to close shop.
 
The majority of participants in this event pencil in the same four days on their calendar each year and return year after year.
We had some new participants this year, and I hope that each of the newbies will be back again next year. I hope that we
get some new participants next year also. If you would like to join us or know of anyone who might be interested in this
event, please check out our website.
 
KEEP RUNNING!!
 

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