The English language is loaded with expressions that reference running. We belong to the human race, pace ourselves and jog our memories. For Dr. Amy Miller, a practitioner with LVPG Family Medicine in Emmaus and mother of five, running is an activity that recently developed a new dimension.

Miller began running in 2006 because she found this flexible form of exercise fit into her hectic schedule. Since that time, she has participated in several marathons or half marathons each year. One of her favorite events is St. Luke’s Half Marathon and 5K. She has participated in this race annually since 2007, even during her last three pregnancies.

By mid-March, Miller was running approximately 25 miles a week to prepare for the 2023 race. Although she felt well, she noticed unusual bruising throughout her body. When blood work revealed she has Acute Myeloid Leukemia, her life’s course took a U-turn. Working, parenting and running were replaced by chemotherapy, transfusions and IV antibiotics.

During her three-week hospitalization, Miller refused to be sidelined. A stationary bike was made available to her and she created a morning routine that included exercise, sometimes accruing as much as 5 to 10 miles on the bicycle and playing the piano in the hospital’s lobby. She also made time to visit patients whom she had served in her practice.

Although she had remained active, Miller held little hope for participating in this year’s half marathon.

After being released from the hospital April 7, she took her first post-hospitalization run April 11. “[It was] a glorious and slow five miles,” Miller said.

Bolstered by this experience, Miller resumed training. On April 15 she ran 11 miles and by April 23 she felt ready to enter the 13.1 mile half marathon. Although she has earned numerous medals for distance running, before this race she said, “This will be my proudest medal [because this is a race] for health and life and grit and a fight against [the] cancer that has stolen so much ...”

Sporting hot pink Team Miller T-shirts, Miller’s family, friends and co-workers cheered as she crossed the finish line with a time of 2:21:07. A longer, harder race awaits. By the time this article appears in print, Miller will have begun another series of chemotherapy treatments.

A woman with a deep faith who effortlessly reaches out to help others, she will surely face her future challenges with the same spunk and optimism that brought her successfully across the half marathon finish line.