Celebrate Life Half Marathon '17

3.13.17
There are as many stories as runners at the Celebrate Life Half Marathon. For fourteen years runners and walkers have made their way through the Lakes in Rock Hill in honor of those who fight cancer.
The temperature was 13 degrees at the start of this year’s run,-9 with the wind chill factor. Race director Myriam Loor thanked the 780 runners who came out saying “cancer doesn’t quit- neither have you”.
The Thirteen point one miles can be covered by running, relay, or walking. Some started as early as 8:30 to walk 7.5, 5. 6 miles or all 13.1 by the cut off.
The McDowells and friends and family made up six teams of two all of whom participated in honor of Lucia Rein.
Rein was a friend of Marie McDowell’s. Rein died of breast cancer. She and McDowell supported each other through illness. McDowell had back surgery and when she came out she couldn’t walk. She can now walk but has to do Celebrate Life with leg braces on.
There are as many stories as runners at the Celebrate Life Half Marathon. For fourteen years runners and walkers have made their way through the Lakes in Rock Hill in honor of those who fight cancer.
The temperature was 13 degrees at the start of this year’s run,-9 with the wind chill factor. Race director Myriam Loor thanked the 780 runners who came out saying “cancer doesn’t quit- neither have you”.
The Thirteen point one miles can be covered by running, relay, or walking. Some started as early as 8:30 to walk 7.5, 5. 6 miles or all 13.1 by the cut off.
The McDowells and friends and family made up six teams of two all of whom participated in honor of Lucia Rein.
Rein was a friend of Marie McDowell’s. Rein died of breast cancer. She and McDowell supported each other through illness. McDowell had back surgery and when she came out she couldn’t walk. She can now walk but has to do Celebrate Life with leg braces on.

“It’s physically debilitating for her,” her daughter, Katelyn McDowell, explained, but she finished for love of her friend.
Various members of the family have been participating in Celebrate Life since before Rein, who ran the race before she got sick, died.
The team has expanded to include a boyfriend, his mother, and aunt and her boyfriend. Everyone agreed they hadn’t trained again this year, although they mean to every year.
One reason the McDowells and team keep coming back is that all the money raised goes right to support people fighting cancer. It can be things like paying for a hotel near the hospital where treatment is happening or other direct needs.
Marcy Brown and Erin Schoeberl were a running team of two. Both consider themselves runners and are training for longer races. Brown ran the Celebrate Life in honor of her uncle, who died of brain cancer.
Mixed in with the walkers and regular runners are cancer survivor-runners. Betty Clark of the Van Cortland Running Club is a cancer survivor and placed in that division.
“This race warms us all up,” Clark said as she accepted her running award.
The Celebrate Life Half Marathon is in its fourteenth year. Loor, is herself a runner and a cancer survivor. She started the race to support other’s fighting the disease through running and financial help.
Complete results HERE.
Various members of the family have been participating in Celebrate Life since before Rein, who ran the race before she got sick, died.
The team has expanded to include a boyfriend, his mother, and aunt and her boyfriend. Everyone agreed they hadn’t trained again this year, although they mean to every year.
One reason the McDowells and team keep coming back is that all the money raised goes right to support people fighting cancer. It can be things like paying for a hotel near the hospital where treatment is happening or other direct needs.
Marcy Brown and Erin Schoeberl were a running team of two. Both consider themselves runners and are training for longer races. Brown ran the Celebrate Life in honor of her uncle, who died of brain cancer.
Mixed in with the walkers and regular runners are cancer survivor-runners. Betty Clark of the Van Cortland Running Club is a cancer survivor and placed in that division.
“This race warms us all up,” Clark said as she accepted her running award.
The Celebrate Life Half Marathon is in its fourteenth year. Loor, is herself a runner and a cancer survivor. She started the race to support other’s fighting the disease through running and financial help.
Complete results HERE.
Related StoriesRock the Ridge, Ode to the Gunks![]() The atmosphere was subdued at the Testimonial Gatehouse for the start of the 2016 Rock the Ridge. Skies were overcast and the air Read more
Lime Kiln Races- Choose Your Own Adventure![]() The 2016 Lime Kiln Races offered a choose your own running-adventure at Williams Lake. Race directors
Jason Friedman and Ian Ridgeway, of Red Newt Racing, plotted three Read more |
Photos |