Fifty-six team members and coaches of the Kentucky swimming and diving team participated in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Run for the Cure Saturday morning in Lexington.

The Kentucky team ran the five-kilometer race in celebration of their Diving Coach ?Iron? Mike Lyden. Swimming Coach Gary Conelly and Lyden decided the teams would partake in the event after the weather forced a cancellation of their annual Cave Lake Swim.

With the Lexington area experiencing dreadful rain storms Friday night, Lyden prayed for good weather the next morning so everybody participating in the run would have a positive experience. Not only was Lyden?s prayer answered as the weather turned for the better, but the experience for everyone involved was unforgettable.

Lyden?s family members all traveled to Lexington to participate in the event with him. ?As I approached the final turn my goal was to try and catch up with my brother-in-law and my niece for the last part of the run,? Lyden said.

?As I turned the corner I was greeted by the entire team chanting Iron Mike,? he recalled. ?That was a really cool feeling and experience. It was really special to have everybody there with me and doing something great for a good cause.?

Lyden, his family and the UK team all jogged the final quarter-mile of the race together.

Conelly agrees that the experience was a team-builder for the squad. ?It was a great feeling to do the race with Mike and to be there with him when he came in.?

?The team experience was very dramatic. It was very special to do something for the team and for the fight against cancer,? Conelly added.

Lyden enters his 14th season at the helm of the diving program. He returns two women divers who placed in the top-14 in the country at the NCAA Championships in March in the Platform event. Included in the return is reigning National Champion Taryn Ignacio.

The swimming and diving teams open up their season slate Oct. 14 when they host the Kentucky Relays.

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