I absolutely love this race! I do about 10 to 15 rks a year and I must say I look forward to the BWC the most. It's the only race that makes a girl feel like a girl! Keep up the good work and don't change a thing!
Valerie Stocksdale
My story begins in January 2008, I decided to make myself healthy. I lost 82 pounds by September of that year with Weight Watchers and exercise. In January of 2009, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I wasn't going to let that stop me and my exercise routine. So with that said I started to add running into my routine. I have never been a runner ever, but thought I'll give it a whirl. Well a whirl I did and signed up for the BWC training program. I am hooked. BWC was my first race ever in my life. My family was there to support me and what an emotional day it was when I came across the finish line. Tears were flowing. I have been running ever since. Today, I am preparing for a 1/2 Marathon and I am looking forward to the BWC in June. It changed my life forever.
Sylvie K. Williams
All my life, I have had a losing battle with weight. I starved myself when I was 17 to weigh 128 lbs; which ballooned to 160 lbs as soon as I got to college. From there on, over a period of 6 years, it kept going up no matter what I did. I weighed 265 lbs on my 30th birthday in 2007. I hated myself and the way I looked and the fact that walking 2 blocks was tough. I wasn't enjoying my life. I decided that was no way to live and after much research and conversations with my doctor, I decided to have gastric bypass that year and reinvent myself. I have lost almost a 100 lbs and have so much more energy now. I can walk up stairs and not need my inhaler. I can even dream of doing a 5K and not use my inhaler. Which is something I have been procrastinating about for the past couple years now. Last year, on my birthday, June 25th, I was in a bad car accident that landed me in shock trauma for a night. I am running this year for my 33rd birthday to celebrate my health and life.
Lisa Garrett
Today was my first time running in the 5K Race and I just wanted to tell you what a great race you have. I have ran in many other races but this one was just so nice and full of spirit. When I was 17, I lost 70 pounds due to running. I was always very active in other sports but once I added running to the mix, I lost the weight, increased my confidence and got a date to the prom! Now at age 39, I am still running and loving life and the weight is still off and I still wear a size 4! Being in a race of any size makes you have a sense of accomplishment and watching the women also cross that line for maybe their first time, is also a major celebration.
Thank you for creating a wonderful history of a great race. I will be in every year. It was so nice to end the race being given a rose, a FANTASTIC cold towel and a bottle of water. How wonderful!
Vonesia Long
This will be my first race ever...my first anything dealing with fitness. I've always said I would do something that will help me with becoming healthier, but gave up, because I was afraid, didn't believe I could achieve it, or because I allowed someone to tell me I couldn't do it. Over the last four months I have lost 29 pounds. I am working hard to achieve my fitness goals, not only for myself, but to show my kids that anything can be done as long as you push yourself and work hard for it. I am now training with a trainer, who's a professional in running, and I have dedicated myself to raising money for this cause. I am a cancer fighter, I am running for my family who have passed from it, I am running for my Godmother who passed of breast cancer, my aunt who is fighting it now, and for every woman in America. I am training for a better and fitter me...for every woman in my family who has a health issue, for women who need to see that if a woman like me a can do it they can too. This is for my kids — I want them to know about healthy living and empowering themselves through fitness. I am doing this because I believe in ME! I am training for the first time in my life and it feels so GREAT! This is my lifelong commitment, this is only the beginning.
Elysia Roser
After my step-father passed away in April of 2007, and my mother's fifth knee surgery, I decided we all needed a little positive energy in our lives. I registered both my mom, sister and me (my 9-month old niece rolled along in the stroller) for the 5K. I designed matching t-shirts for us and we had a blast. The 500-mile trip my family took from South Carolina just to walk this race was no comparison to the 3.1 miles we walked that day, and the memories we made....it was unforgettable. Thank you for hosting such a wonderful event!
More stories
