Surrounded on all sides by throngs of adrenalin-pumped runners, Devi Ralla was dipping deep into her well of resistance to deny the almost overwhelming urge to do what she’d been doing every day for 15 years.
She was managing to resist the temptation to sneak into a jog during the 8K walking leg of the 2015 Vancouver Marathon, when she couldn’t hold it in any longer.
No sooner, however, had she developed into a trot, Devi’s daughter, Rachelle — who was walking with her, along with other family members — jumped into her path, immediately halting her bid to break from the “pack.”
“Last year, I kept trying to run — but the cancer had gotten into my back,” said Devi, of Richmond, a veteran marathoner who was diagnosed with breast cancer in the fall of 2014.
“Each time I tried to run, my daughter jumped in front of me to stop me. I was angry at the time, as I was surrounded by people running and my urge was to run. Of course, it was the right thing for her to do.”
Now, a year on, it’s not just Devi’s daughter who’s pulling for the popular, 55-year-old former marathon training leader and Hugh Boyd secondary education assistant.
She has a small army of followers, 104 at the last count, who, on Sunday, May 1, will be sporting for the second year running Team Devi colours at the 2016 renewal of the event.
Some will be manning the Team Devi water station, some will walk Saturday’s 2.5K or 8K events, while others will run the half and full marathons in her honour.
One of those running, for the second consecutive year — and only his second run of his life — is Devi’s son, Braeden, who had a surprise for her on her birthday 17 months ago, only weeks after she’d been diagnosed.
“Braeden handed me my card. Inside it was a registration for the next year’s Vancouver Marathon,” said Devi, who lives in Seafair.
“Initially, I didn’t look at it properly and I said, ‘you know I can’t run in this.’ Then I realized it was Braeden’s registration and he was going to run the marathon for me.
“He’d never run in anything like this before and hadn’t done any training; he’s more of a gym junkie and I pointed out he wouldn’t be ready. He said he’d Google, ‘how to train for a marathon in eight weeks.
“I started crying. I was very touched.”
This year, Devi said, her son registered again and again he gave her the registration in her birthday card last December.
“This time, he’s been training,” laughed Devi. “He wants to raise $10,000 and break the four-hour barrier. Last year, he ran it in around four hours and 20 minutes. My best was four hours and 14.”
Devi said she still can’t believe her son is running for her. “I miss running so much. But now I’m running it through him.”
Kim Sorensen, Devi’s former marathon running partner of 13 years, has just returned from running the Boston Marathon this week, sporting a Team Devi t-shirt no less.
“She’s just one of those people who knows people everywhere she goes,” said Sorensen, when asked why Team Devi has so many people wanting to be a part of it.
“She’s such a warm person, so bubbly, energetic and charismatic. Her diagnosis touched a lot of people and we really miss running with her.
“To be able to run in her place is really special; the running community is so close.”
Sorensen, who’s also running a marathon in California this weekend, will be on the Team Devi water station and will walk the 2.5K on the Saturday of the Vancouver event.
Of her backers on Team Devi, initiated by her brother Kevin and her son after her diagnosis, Devi said she’s no idea she had so many friends. “It’s unbelievable,” she said.
This year, she will be walking the 8K again. This time, with no shenanigans, but tinged, still, with emotion.
“Oh, there’s going to be tears,” she said. “I think I’ll know better (than trying to run) this year; I’m just thankful I can at least walk.”
Team Devi is donating funds raised to the BC Cancer Foundation. Support them online at donate.bccancerfoundation.com/site/TR/Events/ResponsiveTR
