Just finished the 3rd annual Katy’s Courage 5k. It was wonderful to see SO many people lace up their sneakers and rally for a great cause.  There must have been twice as many people this year as last year, which was A-ok with me as the body heat finally warmed me right up waiting at the starting line!  We started on Water Street (Sag Harbor Village) and headed through town on Main Street, ran around Redwood Road, and looped back to Water Street for the finish.  Although it was freeeezin’ on the bay, there was no denying the abundance of good vibes, camaraderie, and lots and lots of pink!

Katy Stewart passed away from Hepatoblastoma, a rare pediatric cancer, at the end of 2010.  Katy’s spirit lives on and continues to spread and touch hearts throughout Sag Harbor, The Hamptons, and far beyond.  Katy’s Courage has flourished into a bright pink celebration of Katy’s life, inspirational personality, lively spirit, and deep kindness.  Katy’s Courage benefits education, bereavement counseling, and pediatric cancer research.  Funds raised from the run, skate-a-thon, dance-a-thon, and more enable scholarships for students who demonstrate Katy’s best qualities: courage, kindness, and empathy.

The best part of the run is when participants are going in both directions and ALL the many folks walking or taking it easy, strolling with their kiddos or their dogs, cheer on those running and vice versa.  It feels great to start the weekend off with a three-mile run, so thank you to Katy’s family and Katy’s Courage for making this special event possible.  See you all (and more!) next April at the starting line!

One Healthy Breakdown: brrrrrrr, a cold day, but a good one!