Cardinals Care

Today I ran home to a major league ballpark.  It was an amazing experience I'd like to share.

70 years ago yesterday, a one Stanley Frank Musial made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals.  "Stan The Man" went on to create countless memories for Cardinals fans across the globe.  Last year the Cardinals created the "Stand for Stan" campaign to gain support for the President of the United States to bestow upon Stan the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  The highest medal the Commander-in-Chief can bestow upon a civilian for their acheivements and service to the country.  Stan received this honor on February 15th of this year. So as part of their campaign to get people to "Stand for Stan" they created the first ever 6K run.  The recognition would go to Stan and all the monies raised would go to Cardinals Care.  The Charitable Arm of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The goal of Cardinals Care is to help young inner city youth develop and appreciate a love of baseball as well as create for these kids a safe and beautiful place to play.  Giving them a sense of pride over the many local ball fields that were created solely for them.  They've also created the Red Bird Rookies with this charity, as well as scholarships, and baseball skill clinics coached by current and former stars of the Major League Club.

The event was such a success that even though Stan doesn't need the support, the kids still do.  So this year the race was named "Run Home for Kids" and it is still held on or near the date of Stan's first appearance wearing the Birds on the Bat and the distance remains a 6K, and the "6" is Stan's jersey number.  I was tasked with raising at least $150 for the organization in order to compete in this race.  I am so fortunate that my friends and family were able to raise over that amount!  Words cannot thank those people enough.

This morning was the day of the race.  With my kids and husband wearing the Cardinal Red proudly we braved the misty morning and headed to Busch Stadium.  Just as we got over to the starting area, it started to rain a little bit.  I wasn't worried, I actually like running in the rain.  It gets the sweat off my face.  My kids gave me my good luck hugs and I joined the hundreds of other red wearing runner to await the start.  None other than Jackie Joyner-Kersee gave the official start.  Her words to us before the start were simply "Run and enjoy!"  I love her.  She is so amazing!  I remember watching with awe that a little girl from East St. Louis was running for a gold medal in the Olympics!  What an inspiration to so many people, including me.

I slowly started the race and the rain had stopped.  We started the run in downtown, running through the concrete jungle.  Then the course turned back towards the stadium to run along the other side from the start.  The first water station was here and it was manned by Cardinals Care Kids!  So cute to see those guys with bright smiling faces ready to give you a cup of water.  They were so proud and you could see it clearly on their faces.  We ran away from the bustle of the downtown area for another gem of St. Louis:The Soulard Neighborhood.  All those years of coming to games I never one thought of running to the Soulard Farmer's Market and then back to the Stadium.  A short climb brought us back into downtown and the sacred grounds of the player's parking lots.  Which were, sadly devoid of players as they are currently in Philadelphia fighting for their Wild Card lives.  I wound around to the entrance into the bowels of the stadium.  I got to see for the first time where they park all those golf carts, food carts, and probably where the magestic Budweiser Clydesdales clomp through on Opening Day.

I rounded a corner and saw the light to the field.  Our course took us along the warning track and down the 3rd base side to the finish.  I pulled my ear buds from my ears choosing to abandon Nelly for the PA announcer who actually SAID MY NAME!  I'm now fully convinced that other than actually playing baseball last night, the Cardinals do not do anything half-assed.  Every runner who came into the stadium got to hear the announcer call their name and offer encouragement.  That's enough to make anyone swell up a little bit and push harder to the finish.  I crossed to a photo finish at about 38:41.  Not too shabby!  I was awarded my finisher's medal by, you guess it, Miss Jackie!  I told her it was an honor and shook her hand.  As I found my family and accepted hugs, kisses, and water it started to rain again.  Thank you God for letting the rain hold off just enough for me to finish before it poured.

I did some good here today.  I raised money for a great organization, finished another race on my list, and showed my kids how much fun fitness can be.