Running and Remembering for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness

Today was awesome!  I had the honor and the privilege of  running a 5K in remembrance of my Angel (lost at 8 weeks due to miscarriage) and of babies lost too soon.

About a week before the race, I asked family, friends, and Facebook mommas in a variety of baby loss groups if they would like me to add their babies' names to my race t-shirt.  The response was overwhelming, and my race t-shirt was filled with the names of those claimed by early pregnancy and infant loss.

The names of all the babies on my shirt are listed below under today's forget-me-not.
There are also close-ups of the shirt below if you are trying to find your baby's name.

It was humbling and exciting to run for these babies and their mommas!

This is the third year I have run this 5K, and I love that it is at the end of September right before October which is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

The logo for the race shirt this year. I love it!

This year, I brought a dear friend with me which made the day that much sweeter!

My friend Jaimee who came with me to remember Angel and babies lost too soon!

This event is very well run!  I never regret driving an hour to and then from Chatsworth, GA, for this.  I always enjoy the time spent remembering our babies, the moment the balloons are released, the great 5K course, and the awesome raffle (I win something each year!) that follows the 5K run and the two mile walk.  If you ever get a chance to be in this area at the end of September, I highly recommend this event!  Check out the Remembering our Babies "A Walk to Remember" on Facebook.

Getting ready for the balloon release!

Her name attached to the balloon. :-)

The balloon release - overcast but beautiful.

After the balloon release, it was time for the 5K.  I am never more motivated to run my best than when I run in remembrance of Angel and babies lost too soon.  I run thinking about Angel. I run thinking about the day I learned something was wrong with my pregnancy, and I run remembering the day I had the ultrasound that showed her still heart. I run thinking of my friends who have endured a similar loss, and I run with the names of all the babies whose names are on my racing shirt at the forefront of my mind.  And always, I am praying that my run honors those babies and their memories - especially the memory of my Angel.

And I really believe that is why my run times for this 5K have improved each time I've run this race.
In 2012, I ran this course in 35:15.  In 2013, I ran it in 32:15.  And this year, I ran it in 29:41 at a pace of 10:16.  This beats my best 5K at 29:58!

I couldn't be more please with my performance - for Angel and for all babies lost too soon!

As I already said, today was awesome, and I enjoyed spending it with some awesome people!

Runners and walkers at the 5K!

Today's forget-me-not:  Our babies...

Angel Wills          Angel Baby Reites       Angel Baby Rozan

Cavan                   Kennedy                       Meeghan Hodges

Riley Bines          Micah and Taylor         Riley, Peyton, Cameron

Baby Bines           Baby Everspaugh        Angel Baby Whitaker

Serena Lesley Cisneros                    Zoe Rose           Christian

Twins Brandon and Francesca         Baby Dickerson               Angel Baby Haire

Alexcia Myanna Mckamey              Malachi's Twin                Carson

Shridam Jasper                                 Hoag Angel Babies         Taylor and Tristan

Matthew Pierce Boothe                    Lilly and Luke                 Bethany Hope

Cameron LaPointe                            Hannah Elizabeth            Audrey Elise

Sophia Evonne Simonsen                 Samuel Brian                  River

Harper-Grace        Hannah         Cameron, Xavien, and Tristen

Sydney Alexis       Kristen          Brady             Karinne Claire

Julia Rose             Mikayla Grace             Audrey               Sarah Elizabeth

Mackenzie Lee-Ann Little         Piper Marie            Angel Babies Lehman

Jordan Laine                Ashton-lee                Baby Miller                  

Owynn Nathan            Michael Joseph Perkins                 Pemberton Babies

Riley Rylands             Heppy                Evie X             Annabelle Catalina

Seth                             Grant and Miracle                     Parker Cecil Lawson

Michael Phillard        Conor George Deslauriers

Angel Divine             Aniya Grace Mazzarelli-Coates

Alexander Lee           Jessica Lopez Lewis                 Mackenzie Mone't

JoLeNe Nichole Shepherd          Daniel the Lion       Elizabeth

Hollie Hope              Angel Amila                Bert Hergreaves