billwixey.com

I won the marathon.

I finished two hours behind the first-place finisher, but I guarantee that nobody in that field of 30,000 had a better time than I had. 

With Catherine by my side for the entire 26.2 miles, just as she has been through my entire journey through cancer, we crossed the finish line of the Seattle Rock n Roll Marathon together in 4:11.  It was one of my slowest marathons ever, but it was by far the most satisfying. It was Catherine’s first marathon, so that made it special.  It was my sixth marathon.  But this one was symbolic.  A year ago, I finished the Rock n Roll Half Marathon, halfway through cancer treatment.   Now that my treatment is done, and I am cancer-free (Man, I like the sound of that), I decided to run the whole thing.  I approached it like I was taking a victory lap, after kicking cancer’s ass.  As the miles dropped away, and I started to feel a dull ache in my legs, and my feet grew numb, I thought about what I was feeling as I ran the course a year ago, in the midst of chemotherapy.  I remembered the sickness in my gut, and the fog of fatigue that I couldn’t shake, forcing me to stop and walk several times along the way.

But on Saturday, I felt fantastic.  I had a smile on my face.  I laughed the entire way, taking pictures and shooting videos as I sang along with the bands.  I had a blast.  I hooted.  I hollered.  I annoyed some of the other marathoners.

At about the 22-mile mark, I was shouting loudly while backpedaling, checking on Catherine, who was plugging away like a champ.  As she passed a woman, she asked Catherine, “What is the deal with that guy?” Catherine replied, “Oh, he’s just waiting on me.” 

She could have said, “Oh, that guy? He just beat cancer, and now, he’s enjoying the heck out of himself as he crushes this marathon.”  But that was probably more information than the woman needed.

Catherine and I ran the marathon under the DetermiNation  banner, raising $1500 through friends and family for the American Cancer Society.  And now, I am launching a new fundraising effort.  Next Sunday, some of my more well-known friends from the Seattle area have generously donated their time  for what we are calling the Everett Aquasox Celebrity Baseball Classic .  The Q13 FOX “Q-Balls” will take on the KISW radio “Foul Balls”, in a baseball game, right after the Everett Aquasox game against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. 

It’s happening Sunday, July 25^th at Everett’s Memorial Stadium.  The Aquasox play at 2pm, so the celebrity game will get underway at about 4:30 or 5pm.

It’s a baseball doubleheader, and a portion of the ticket proceeds will go toward the American Cancer Society IF YOU BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE:  http://ea1.glitnirticketing.com/eaticket/web/logingroup1.php?&refresh=1274744082
**The password code is acs (lower case)

The Q-Balls are made up of 11 Q13 FOX on-air personalities and some other local notables, such as former Mariner Bucky Jacobsen, Silvertips captain Mitch Love, and two members of the National Champion Washington Stealth Lacrosse team, Jason Bloom and Lewis Ratcliff.

The Foul Balls are made up of KISW radio personalities including the hosts of “The BJ Shea Morning Experience” and “The Men’s Room”.  The Foul Balls have also tapped a few ringers, such as former Husky Basketball stars and current NBA players, Jon Brockman and Spencer Hawes.

There will be a number of fantastic items available at a silent auction which will take place during the game.  Among the items auctioned off will be the game-worn, autographed jerseys of the celebrities.

I hope you can join us on Sunday, July 25^th at the Aquasox game.  It’s going to be a great time, as we raise money for a terrific cause.