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Almost two years ago, Eileen DeNoto, 48, of Webster, lost her mother Maureen Salway to colon cancer.
On Sunday, she’s running her first half marathon in memory of her mother and to support Gilda’s Club, which offers support programs for men, women and children living with cancer along with their friends and families. For DeNoto, there was no question in her mind about whether to participate in the MVP Health Care Rochester Half Marathon.
“I just had to do this,” she said.
DeNoto is one of 40 members of this year’s Gilda’s Gang who will join about 3,300 other walkers and runners in the race. Some will run the full marathon, others, like the Gilda’s Gang, will walk or run a half-marathon.
Since 2008, Gilda’s Gang has raised $90,000 through the half marathon, said Johanna Lester, director of events and communications for Gilda’s Club. Each year, Gilda’s Gang members are asked to raise at least $500, she said.
DeNoto only took advantage of Gilda Club’s after her mother died, but she said she wishes she and her family had taken advantage earlier. “I was really inspired by the services they offered,” she said.
Although DeNoto didn’t consider herself much of a runner before she started training this summer, she is hoping to run all 13.1 miles.
“I’ve been power-walking for years. I kind of decided I wanted to bring it to the next level.”
The hardest part of the training has been being able to handle the ever-increasing distance of the training runs, said DeNoto.
“Especially for me as a brand-new runner. I always have that apprehension, ‘Am I going to have the endurance to go to the next level?’”
But, DeNoto has tackled each new challenge, each longer run and she said she’s keeping a steady pace.
Members of the gang come in all ages and fitness levels, said Bethany Snyder of Henrietta, one of the team’s veteran trainers. “We’ve got super-fit 20-somethings and not-so-fit 50-somethings.”
Over the 15-week training, Gilda’s Gang gradually increases how far it walks or runs in anticipation of the 13.1 miles on race day, she said.
Beyond the training itself the coaches also offer other tips like getting your shoes fitted by a running store, avoiding cotton attire, staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet during the training period.
Almost eight years ago, Traci Kraeger, 41, of Greece, lost her sister, Tina who was 20 at the time, to cancer.
Almost two years ago, Eileen DeNoto, 48, of Webster, lost her mother Maureen Salway to colon cancer.
On Sunday, she’s running her first half marathon in memory of her mother and to support Gilda’s Club, which offers support programs for men, women and children living with cancer along with their friends and families. For DeNoto, there was no question in her mind about whether to participate in the MVP Health Care Rochester Half Marathon.
“I just had to do this,” she said.
DeNoto is one of 40 members of this year’s Gilda’s Gang who will join about 3,300 other walkers and runners in the race. Some will run the full marathon, others, like the Gilda’s Gang, will walk or run a half-marathon.
Since 2008, Gilda’s Gang has raised $90,000 through the half marathon, said Johanna Lester, director of events and communications for Gilda’s Club. Each year, Gilda’s Gang members are asked to raise at least $500, she said.
DeNoto only took advantage of Gilda Club’s after her mother died, but she said she wishes she and her family had taken advantage earlier. “I was really inspired by the services they offered,” she said.
Although DeNoto didn’t consider herself much of a runner before she started training this summer, she is hoping to run all 13.1 miles.
“I’ve been power-walking for years. I kind of decided I wanted to bring it to the next level.”
The hardest part of the training has been being able to handle the ever-increasing distance of the training runs, said DeNoto.
“Especially for me as a brand-new runner. I always have that apprehension, ‘Am I going to have the endurance to go to the next level?’”
But, DeNoto has tackled each new challenge, each longer run and she said she’s keeping a steady pace.
Members of the gang come in all ages and fitness levels, said Bethany Snyder of Henrietta, one of the team’s veteran trainers. “We’ve got super-fit 20-somethings and not-so-fit 50-somethings.”
Over the 15-week training, Gilda’s Gang gradually increases how far it walks or runs in anticipation of the 13.1 miles on race day, she said.
Beyond the training itself the coaches also offer other tips like getting your shoes fitted by a running store, avoiding cotton attire, staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet during the training period.
Almost eight years ago, Traci Kraeger, 41, of Greece, lost her sister, Tina who was 20 at the time, to cancer.
On Sunday, for the second year in a row, Kraeger and her mother, Shari Panaro, will walk a half marathon in her honor.
Kraeger said both she and her mother used Gilda’s Club’s grief counseling to help them deal with their loss.
This year, Kraeger’s 13-year-old daughter, Melissa, will join them in the half marathon.
The hardest part about the training is “just getting here and putting in the miles,” she said. But, putting in those miles each week is what keeps her going, Kraeger said. “Seeing the progress we’ve made over the 15 weeks. We started out walking two miles and (on Sept. 3) we walked 10 miles.
“I’m looking forward to the finish line and saying ‘We did it!’”
