Day 9: Diane Bentler

Today we ran from Aspen, CO to Boulder, CO

My running partner today was Will. His IB band has been hurting him a lot lately and he hasn't been able to complete 12 miles most days. But today we got over halfway - which was really good! When Will had to stop running I was going to join another pair; but another girl in our van was having terrible shin splints.

Will and I in the van waiting for our next turn to run

Shana and Will couldn’t run so Sam and I ended up running together again. We ran through 11k ft elevation up a hill! And then through a town almost 12000 ft elevation. While in Black Hawk City,  Sam and I needed to use a restroom. We went into one of their many casinos (since that’s basically all they had) and asked politely if we could use their bathroom and then head back out on our run. The lady at the desk seemed concerned as she asked us our age (lying, we said we were both 21) and then to see our ID (which we obviously didn’t have on us in running shorts and tank tops – like seriously where would we have put them?). We then had to wait for a security person to walk us to the restroom (which we could see from the desk). When we got space from our escort Sam was like, “has it happened before that some runners came in here and started illegally gambling?” the woman quickly took us to the closest door when we came back out…. Strange.... 

Sam and I 

So Beautiful! 

Tonight for dinner I got to go out with my cousin Sarah Johnson! We drove into Denver and ate at a rooftop sports bar and grill. I hadn’t seen Sarah in years and I really enjoyed getting to catch up with her.  She showed me all of the stadiums in Denver and drove me down the popular streets. She has to wake up at 4 tomorrow morning for the Army and I have to get up at 4:30 so we called it an early night. I came back to the church we are staying at to work on my blog and get ready for bed. We are gaining two more runner during the night!! Their names are Leya and Piper. Can't wait to meet them tomorrow!! 

Today was for Diane Bentler. Two days ago, when we went to Arches National Park, I met Diane and her family. We were hiking up to Delicate Arch when part of her family started asked our group where we were from and what we were doing. A bunch of college kids running across the country for cancer seemed to intrigue them. The man told me about his wife having cancer and donated to support our team’s cause. A little further along the trail, we caught up to his wife and she introduced herself as Diane. She told me about how she was diagnosed with stage zero breast cancer – DCIS. Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. This is the earliest form of breast cancer. It's non invasion - meaning it hasn't spread out of the milk ducts. After finding the carcinoma, Diane had a lumpectomy and radiation treatment and was fortunate enough for that to be all she needed for the time being. It has now been four years and she says that she feels like she is strong and healthy - and seems like it too to have been hiking up a cliff to see Delicate Arch!!!  DCIS may be a stage zero form of cancer but it has the possibility of coming back. Multiple people I have met during my trip have encouraged all of us to get checked on a regular basis. One of my teammates also had DCIS and said hers was found at a normal annual appointment. 

Diane and I at Delicate Arch! 

Today was the perfect day to run for Diane because the mountain Sam and I conquered is similar to the hike Diane and I met on. The strength she had to climb the 3 mile round trip trail to see the beautiful arch correlates to the strength I needed to run up and down the rocky mountains. I admire her strength through her battle and her faith that she is healed. I got through the day thinking of her supporting my trip. I wanted to be strong like she is being. Thank you Diane.