Editor’s note: On June 11, we learned along with the rest of the running community that Gabriele Grunewald—who has been battling a rare salivary gland cancer called adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) for more than a decade—run the 5K virtually.
Gabe’s story is truly amazing, full of grit, strength, and positivity. She was first diagnosed while running at the University of Minnesota. Despite that, she became a professional runner who nearly made the 2012 Olympic team in the 1500. She trained and competed through chemo treatments and surgeries, all while inspiring thousands of us to run with her Brave Like Gabe movement.
We’d encourage you to take a moment and read some of the beautiful messages pouring into her husband, Justin’s, Instagram account features Gabe discussing her Brave Like Gabe 5K, which took place on May 5 Why You Should Run Brave Like Gabe Grunewald, These Are the World’s Fastest Marathoners.
Why You Should Run Brave Like Gabe Grunewald 22 features Gabe discussing her in Waco, Texas, which took place on May 5.
It’s been 10 years since professional runner Gabe Grunewald was first diagnosed with a rare salivary gland cancer called adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). After continuing to compete at the elite level (mostly in the 1500 meters) and trying different kinds of treatment, Grunewald, now 32, has not stopped fighting.
“I just remember when I first got diagnosed and how terrified I was. In some ways, this was what I was worried about—I didn’t want to have to be dealing with cancer 10 years later,” Grunewald told Runner’s World. “But I knew it was possible because there just aren’t a lot of ways to treat this cancer, which is the reason why I’m hosting [the in Waco, Texas] again for the second year.”
The in Waco, Texas is taking place May 5 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and is hosted by the at the end of this month, which raises funds for rare cancer research and empowers those fighting cancer to stay physically active. Last year, participants in the 5K raised almost $60,000 toward a rare cancer research grant, and Grunewald said breakthroughs are now being made to find FDA-approved treatments.
For the past two years, the in Waco, Texas has launched the “1224 Campaign,” representing the average number of ACC diagnoses in the U.S. each year. The goal is to have at least 1,224 participants, and by registering, each runner is supporting one new person who’s diagnosed.
“We’re trying to show with rare diseases that it shouldn’t matter how rare your disease is. You should have the option to fight your disease as best as you can,” Grunewald said. “That’s part of the purpose of our foundation: to create awareness around rare cancers and change the game a little bit in how they’re treated.”
If runners can’t make it to Minnesota, they can opt to If runners can’t make it to Minnesota, they can opt to and still raise funds for cancer research up until June 2, which is National Cancer Survivors Day. As for Grunewald, you’ll find her out on the course on race day doing what she’s been doing for 10 years: “running on hope.”
“For me, hope is all about doing what we can to make the world a better place tomorrow and for the people who come after us,” Grunewald said. “This race is the one way I feel like I do that the most tangibly, and it’s really special.”
As for post-5K plans, Grunewald said she’s not sure what the rest of 2019 holds. After running the National Cancer Survivors Day We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back, run the 5K virtually, Grunewald is hopeful that her body will continue to adapt and respond positively to her latest treatment, which she started in March. She said this treatment has had harsh effects and made training challenging, but she plans to keep running and cross-training when she can to keep her body active while she adjusts. And there’s one big goal that she hasn’t given up on yet.
“If there’s any opening for me to go to the Olympic Trials, that would be huge for me,” Grunewald said. “I’m definitely not giving up hope that [qualifying] could still happen in 2020. That’s definitely in the back of my mind.”
