First Guest Blogger ~ Marcelle!

DISCLAIMER: This is the first time I write in a blog... so here it goes...

Well, you already know that we are going to run/walk the 2013 Disney’s Princess Half-Marathon.  Not sure how I agreed to do this, but as today it has been a lot of fun!!

I have been exercising and have a training plan in place, which includes 3 running events in the next couple of weeks. The first one is next Sunday September 30 and it will be the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure Event.  But besides being my first running event EVER, it holds a very special place in my heart.  I will be running it in honor of my mom.

Last January, my mother was diagnosed with Follicular Lymphoma.  Plain and simple... she had cancer.  It must had been the worst day in our life’s, but somehow we tried to find the strength to look beyond our fear, sadness and anxiety, and immediately started the fight.

After 6 months of treatment, an unwavering faith in God and thousands of prayers and good vibes from our family and friends, today my mom is in remission and starting a two-year period of preventive treatment.  We have been very blessed and the future is looking brighter.

I truly believed that God, and her annual sonomammography, have saved my mom’s life. 

So the message is this one: Get out there...do your self-exams, visit your doctor for annual checkups and create awareness.  It could save your life or the life of a loved one.

~ Marcelle 

Running Princesses

As I mentioned earlier, I will not be running this 1/2 marathon alone.  Well, besides the other 19,000 runners that is.

ain't that the truth!

Thank GOD for having loyal (by loyal I mean crazy) friends!








Though I already gave you a little glimpse of us at 16 - here are the 4 princesses I will have the pleasure of running with - in their own words!!

Alexandra

"Born and raised in Puerto Rico, living in Miami, FL. Pastry Chef (currently off duty) being on mommy duty of 1 yr old Julianna Hope. Addicted to Pinterest, but who isn't  Crazy for agreeing to run a half marathon, but very much looking forward to it."

Dorian

"I have three full time jobs: wife to a severely ADD yet wonderful man; mom to very active Irish twins; and a professional career. Somehow the other ladies in this group convinced me to sign up for a half marathon to celebrate our thirty-something birthday. I mean, who does that?! Anyway, they promised I could crawl my way to the finish line, so here I am. I love these girls dearly and I'm glad all this craziness has  brought us back together. Get ready, 'cause we're taking over the world!"

Gretchen

"I am an (almost)34 y/o puertorrican gal. Happily married and mother of very energetic 3 year-old twins. Work as a psychiatrist. Have always been a sports enthusiast."

Marcelle

"I'm a 30-something environmental engineer, happily married and mother of amazing twin girls.  Live in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico and have some amazing (and crazy!!) childhood friends who I adore and will walk a half marathon for!!"

Jean

And... this is me, Jean.  :-)  

Hopefully, I will also get them to be guest writers on the blog from time to time.  Otherwise, I kindly "offered" to release never before seen pictures of our Colegio Espiritu Santo years!

“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” - Elisabeth Foley

BFFs For Real!

The phrase BFF (best friends forever) is very popular.  I think is safe to say it is mostly used (and abused) by teenage girls proclaiming their undying love and devotion to their girlfriends they can't imagine ever living without - only to forget they ever existed the second they walk off the stage at graduation.  

I don't believe there are many of us, 30-somethings, who can really claim to have girlfriends who can truly be called BFFs... I DO, 6 of them!  

Here they are:

Ok, Ok... so this is circa 1994 - many moons, rains and miles ago.  However, this is one of our last pictures all together.  This was taken right before I moved to Maryland.  We had just finished Sophomore year in high school.  I have known most of these ladies since elementary school, some a little later.  We have gone thru ups and certainly some downs, we have lost touch and reconnected, we can still finish each others sentences and can tell what mood we are in even via texts... we are true BFFs. 

Now, the reason you need to know who these amazing ladies are is because 5 of us will be training for and running the Disney Princess Half Marathon next February!! 

Check out the next post to meet the fabulous women who will be running with tiaras!