On October 16, 2011 Stacey Nolan, CFPD volunteer firefighter and CalFire Firefighter, ran the Nike Woman’s marathon in San Francisco in memory of her Uncle “Sonny” and Chief Dennis Powers.
Holding back tears Stacey said, “If you ever want to be inspired, run a marathon for cancer awareness…when I was at 10 miles, I was crying because I had sprained my ankle earlier in the week and I was in a lot of pain. I knew I would continue but I was still feeling a little sorry for myself…then I passed a survivor and it hit me, my sprained ankle was nothing in the grand scheme of things…absolutely nothing. Here was this woman, who survived, beat the odds, out doing what she could to raise awareness, I couldn’t imagine what she had to endure to survive. My energy was renewed and so was my passion. I will run again and again.”
Picture of Stacey at the Nike Woman's Marathon runners wall - with all the registered runner's names
At the end of the marathon that ran through the Presidio, Nobb Hill, Crissy Field, the Marina, by the old Cliff house and finishing on the Great highway, Stacey said the feeling was so surreal, “not unlike the chariots of fire” she felt as if in slow motion she passed the finish line, she could only bend down and cry. As she regained her composure, she noticed a long line of Marine County Firefighters decked out in full tuxedos. Each held a platter filled with small blue Tiffany boxes. A box was gifted to each runner. Inside the box was a beautiful Tiffany pendant with the letters NWM engraved on the front and 'I run to be' on the back.
“Though I was only one of 22,500 women, I was not insignificant, I made a difference.”
If you would like more information on how you can be involved in the 2012 Nike Woman’s Marathon visit http://inside.nike.com/blogs/nikerunning_events-en_US/?tags=nike_womens_marathon_2011
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