This past Saturday morning when I woke up, I was tired.
It was still dark outside and the weather was cold, windy, and rainy.
For a minute or two I thought about cancelling our #RunForIt5k_Kohala because I wasn’t sure if people would come out due to the weather. But the optimist in me said that it was just passing showers and by the time we start our run, the weather would be great! So I got out of bed, woke up my family, and got ready for a run.
Long story short, the rain didn’t stop. The wind didn’t really stop either. But the really great thing about it all was that it didn’t stop the people from coming out.
On Saturday, April 13th, 2019, we joined with hundreds of other runners from all over the United States and in five other countries…to say to others…and to each other…that you are not alone in this journey. To the lonely, to the broken, to the hurting, we say there are people cheering for you, crying with you, hoping for you, loving on you…praying that one day, you will see and hear and feel…that you matter…that you are loved.
For me, I ran because I lost someone to suicide. I ran because I feel like I failed him. I ran because I feel I could have been better. I ran because I have to be better…for myself, my family, my community. I ran because I didn’t know what else to do.
April 13, 2019 was a great day. Thank you to everyone who came out to run, to jog, to walk, to volunteer, to set up, to break down, to cheer, to cry…we needed you there. Thank you to all our community partners who helped make our first “Run For It 5k” so great. [Kahua Pa’a Mua, Hawi Jodo Mission, Island Breeze Impact World Tour, Holoholo Ministries, Island Breeze Makapala, Kalahikiola Congregational Church, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church – Kapaau, Sacred Heart Catholic Church – Hawi, City and County of Hawaii, Sunshine Hardware, Arakaki Store, SYCO Hawaii]
I was grateful to have been a part of it with you all. #RunForIt5K #RunForIt5k_Kohala #Kohala #TWLOHA
