A Story of Resilience
For some runners, the annual race is more than just a 5K.
Despite the challenges Carol Gamez has faced—a serious accident, two battles with cancer and the loss of a parent—she rarely misses the Run Like a Mother in Ridgefield.
"I can always look forward to this event in May," says the 56-year-old mom from South Salem, New York.
Six years ago, Gamez suffered a broken hip when a snowboarder collided with her six weeks before the event. She participated anyway, with friends pushing her in a wheelchair. When they neared the end of the race, however, Gamez was adamant about crossing the finish line on crutches.
As Mother's Day neared in 2015, Gamez had recently finished another round of cancer treatment and was coping with the death of her father.
"I said, 'I have to sign up for the race,' and that was a hard one because I was so slow," she recalls. "But I did it, and it made me feel great."
Now that she has a clean bill of health, this year's race will be different.
"This is a celebration of health and, hopefully, continuing heath and happiness," she says.
The Road Ahead
Searfoss hopes to make Run Like a Mother more than just an annual race series. She also wants to turn it into an active online community with practical training advice and discussions.
"You don't need to train for a half marathon or a marathon to be a runner," she says. "My goal is to have place or platform where women can learn about running without being overwhelmed."
For more information on Run Like a Mother, visit their website.
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