by Candace Cable © 2010

It’s a very early Sunday morning and I’m in the Boise airport wait’n on a jet plane with my personal soundtrack softly playing in the background of my brain, “we are family, I got all my sisters with me” gently reinforcing the solidarity I felt during the last 72 hours attending the St. Luke’s Women’s Fitness Celebration. This wasn’t my first time attending the “Celebration” but every time I leave with the same feeling of being buoyant and energized. In the past I have come here as a speed racer in the women’s wheelchair racing division, but this year I am a ambassador, spreading the message of the “Celebration” in schools, on television and on the stage.

For the past 18 years during three days in September, people from all over the world come to celebrate their commitment to fitness in body, mind and spirit in the Capital of Idaho. They come for education, connection and entertainment at the Women’s Show, to walk, run, roll and stroll the St. Luke’s Women’s Fitness Celebration 5K and shine out loud at the post party in the Ann Morrison Park all because Anne Audain has a vision of wellness.

Anne Audain, (in the red sweater) my friend, whom I met 28 years ago on the road racing scene, founded the Celebration in 1993 with the mission of encouraging health, fitness, self-esteem and empowerment for women and children. Her vision was a healthy individual creates a healthy community and a healthy world. And because running is her activity of career and passion she created an event, a 5K that has now become the largest 5K for women in America. Anne’s story began in New Zealand and continues today in the USA. Anne was born with club feet and told she would never be able to run. Well, as we all know the human spirit is always willing to rise up to a challenge and find a way to play. Hers did play and play hard. Anne became a pioneer in the sport of running, creating opportunities for runners as she excelled on the international stage as a runner. To check out Anne’s story and read her book, “An uncommon heart” go here.

Back to the Celebration cuz ya’ll know by now I love a good party! The Celebration not only has a Show full of products and information and a 5K, it also has beneficiaries of the event because Anne believes in creating a support circle, too! There are several beneficiaries, but there was one that started it all and is still around, unfortunately. I say unfortunately because if this school wasn’t needed we would be living in a world focused on compassion, caring, support, love, empathy and joy. It’s the Marian Pritchett School for pregnant girls. You see, Anne and Marian were friends when Anne started the “Celebration” and decided to make the school the beneficiary. I say “were friends” because Marian has since passed on from this world. This trip I had the honor of speaking at the school, so very cool it was to connect with the ladies.

I had several new experiences during the “Celebration.” I made parfaits for the participants, I spoke to several new schools, made some new friends and I watched the start of the 5K event. I have never seen the start of the “Celebration” because in the past I was racing in the wheelchair division and we always go first! This time I watched wave after wave of red, yellow, blue, purple and orange, 12,000 women in all, take to the streets of Boise until there was no one left but a few of us and the clean up crew. As Anne, Judy and I made our way over to the cars and then the finish line party we talked about the 20th anniversary in 2 years. Judy looked at both of us and said “why don’t you two do the 20th 5K?” Well our answer was, “sure, let’s do it, we’ll join the fun!” OK, we’ve got 2 years to train and build this event to the biggest all women’s 5K in the world, are you in?
" If I'd known I was going to live so long, I'd have taken better care of myself" Leon Eldred

Blessings to all, get out there and have some fun

In Joy, Candace

© 2010 Candace Cable

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Copyright 2010 Candace Cable