Today, my thought is that there are no boundaries. You can do anything, be anything, and make anything happen. Don't let fear or naysayers or sometimes even logic deter you. And just go for it.
That's it - no boundaries.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Double Digits!!!
Hey y'all!!
I'm in Austin for my cousin's wedding, hence the "y'all" - just go with it. ANYwho, I have hit a huge milestone in my marathon training. Yesterday morning I ran 10.1 miles. TEN POINT ONE FREAKING MILES!!! I finally feel like a legit distance runner. I feel like 10 miles somehow makes it official. There's a lake here in ATX called Town Lake that has a big loop that is exactly 10.1. My initial plan was to run 9.3 (since my TNTers back in NY are running a 15K this weekend) and then walk the last bit as a cool down. I don't know if it's the sunshine or the Austin air or the abundance of oxygen coming off the trees around the lake, but I felt so so so good and so strong, so I decided to finish out the full loop. I can't believe I did it. That was the most incredible feeling.
I was anxious ahead of time, for 2 reasons. First, this was the first long run I've had to do on my own (except for the 2nd week which was like 4 miles, and that isn't long). Second, I ran at the lake on Friday (just 4 miles, actually) and it was kind of a crappy run. The lake was beautiful, and the trail is great because it's gravel so it's easier on your knees, but for some reason the run was more of an effort than I'd like. I was thinking "Well shit, if I can't even run 4 comfortably this weekend how the hell am I gonna get through 9", but the long run felt amazing and went perfectly. I didn't really even have to push myself, and at the end I wasn't dying - truthfully I felt like I could keep going. This is blowing my mind, y'all - and yes that was 2 y'alls in one post. Yikes! And it turns out I can do it on my own, sans running partners, sans iPod. Just me and the trail. I am so much more capable than I think I am.
I turn 26 tomorrow, and I'm grateful that I hit such a big milestone at 25 :) It sounds silly but turning 25 was kind of a big birthday, and I'm glad I was able to hit the double digit mileage to kind of bookend the year. I think 2010 is a big year for me. Lots of positive changes, lots of activity, and maybe actually figuring out some other big things too.
I'm in Austin for my cousin's wedding, hence the "y'all" - just go with it. ANYwho, I have hit a huge milestone in my marathon training. Yesterday morning I ran 10.1 miles. TEN POINT ONE FREAKING MILES!!! I finally feel like a legit distance runner. I feel like 10 miles somehow makes it official. There's a lake here in ATX called Town Lake that has a big loop that is exactly 10.1. My initial plan was to run 9.3 (since my TNTers back in NY are running a 15K this weekend) and then walk the last bit as a cool down. I don't know if it's the sunshine or the Austin air or the abundance of oxygen coming off the trees around the lake, but I felt so so so good and so strong, so I decided to finish out the full loop. I can't believe I did it. That was the most incredible feeling.
I was anxious ahead of time, for 2 reasons. First, this was the first long run I've had to do on my own (except for the 2nd week which was like 4 miles, and that isn't long). Second, I ran at the lake on Friday (just 4 miles, actually) and it was kind of a crappy run. The lake was beautiful, and the trail is great because it's gravel so it's easier on your knees, but for some reason the run was more of an effort than I'd like. I was thinking "Well shit, if I can't even run 4 comfortably this weekend how the hell am I gonna get through 9", but the long run felt amazing and went perfectly. I didn't really even have to push myself, and at the end I wasn't dying - truthfully I felt like I could keep going. This is blowing my mind, y'all - and yes that was 2 y'alls in one post. Yikes! And it turns out I can do it on my own, sans running partners, sans iPod. Just me and the trail. I am so much more capable than I think I am.
I turn 26 tomorrow, and I'm grateful that I hit such a big milestone at 25 :) It sounds silly but turning 25 was kind of a big birthday, and I'm glad I was able to hit the double digit mileage to kind of bookend the year. I think 2010 is a big year for me. Lots of positive changes, lots of activity, and maybe actually figuring out some other big things too.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
On the Shoulders of Giants
Hellooooooo!!
Yesterday morning I ran 8 miles. That's right, 8 freaking miles!!! That's the longest I've ever run!!! Sorry, I have to include that obligatory statement... It was 75 and sunny, even at 8am (yes we practice at 8am on Saturdays) and it felt amazing. We ran the west side highway for the first time, which is delightfully F-L-A-T. That's right, no northwest hill this week! I met these 2 girls Susan and Sara and we ran the entire thing together, chatting along the way. You know, I never thought I'd like running with other people, I was always an "iPod runner", but I have to say it's really awesome running with other people! As long as you're meant to run around the same pace, there's no competition and there's no pressure to run faster, particularly on the long runs.
After the run, all the current Team in Training teams (summer season, spring season, runners, cyclists, tri-athletes) met up at a local junior high. Coach Mike gave an injury prevention clinic and then we had a Connection to the Cause event, which is where some of the honorees present their experiences with cancer. The first presenter was a teacher, a single mom, a science geek, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma survivor. Her story was powerful to hear; she talked about needing to have control in a situation where she really had none. For example, she shaved her head, instead of waiting for her hair to fall out. That's why she runs with TNT - to feel like she has some control over keeping her cancer in remission. She explained a lot of the expenses of her treatment, which would blow your mind. She held up a very small pill bottle, that measured about 100 mL, and that amount of treatment cost her $138,000. Yes, you read that figure correctly. Think about that number, and think about how you would afford something like that.
She also emphasized that cancer never really goes away. Yes it goes into remission, but it's never really gone. And every time she sees a small mark, feels a little sick, maybe gets a strange bump or bruise, feels anything even slightly abnormal, she wonders "Is this the day the cancer is coming back?". But, she is grateful to be healthy today. She quoted Isaac Newton, who said "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants," and she explained that her giants are doctors, nurses, researchers, patient advocates, and the thousands of TNT participants. It really reminds us all why we're there, why we struggle through the hill workouts and the speed work and the 6am wakeup calls on Saturday mornings. If we can help even a single patient or family have an easier time with their cancer battle, it is 100% worth it.
I unfortunately had to leave the Connection to the Cause early to deal with a work issue, and I'll just leave you with this word: priorities. Really think about yours, hold tight to them, and don't let go.
Yesterday morning I ran 8 miles. That's right, 8 freaking miles!!! That's the longest I've ever run!!! Sorry, I have to include that obligatory statement... It was 75 and sunny, even at 8am (yes we practice at 8am on Saturdays) and it felt amazing. We ran the west side highway for the first time, which is delightfully F-L-A-T. That's right, no northwest hill this week! I met these 2 girls Susan and Sara and we ran the entire thing together, chatting along the way. You know, I never thought I'd like running with other people, I was always an "iPod runner", but I have to say it's really awesome running with other people! As long as you're meant to run around the same pace, there's no competition and there's no pressure to run faster, particularly on the long runs.
After the run, all the current Team in Training teams (summer season, spring season, runners, cyclists, tri-athletes) met up at a local junior high. Coach Mike gave an injury prevention clinic and then we had a Connection to the Cause event, which is where some of the honorees present their experiences with cancer. The first presenter was a teacher, a single mom, a science geek, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma survivor. Her story was powerful to hear; she talked about needing to have control in a situation where she really had none. For example, she shaved her head, instead of waiting for her hair to fall out. That's why she runs with TNT - to feel like she has some control over keeping her cancer in remission. She explained a lot of the expenses of her treatment, which would blow your mind. She held up a very small pill bottle, that measured about 100 mL, and that amount of treatment cost her $138,000. Yes, you read that figure correctly. Think about that number, and think about how you would afford something like that.
She also emphasized that cancer never really goes away. Yes it goes into remission, but it's never really gone. And every time she sees a small mark, feels a little sick, maybe gets a strange bump or bruise, feels anything even slightly abnormal, she wonders "Is this the day the cancer is coming back?". But, she is grateful to be healthy today. She quoted Isaac Newton, who said "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants," and she explained that her giants are doctors, nurses, researchers, patient advocates, and the thousands of TNT participants. It really reminds us all why we're there, why we struggle through the hill workouts and the speed work and the 6am wakeup calls on Saturday mornings. If we can help even a single patient or family have an easier time with their cancer battle, it is 100% worth it.
I unfortunately had to leave the Connection to the Cause early to deal with a work issue, and I'll just leave you with this word: priorities. Really think about yours, hold tight to them, and don't let go.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Coming off the high
Hi everybody,
I've got some more good news and some more not so good news. I'll start with the good news, since that's the accurate order of events. Saturday morning we met up for team practice in the pouring rain and high winds. My pace group met up, led by the amazing Noah, and charged through. We ran 7 miles, and as I previously told you, that's the most I've ever run at one time!! It was such an exhilarating run. We do these long runs at a conversational pace, meaning your breathing should be calm enough to talk the whole time. We ran 5 as a complete group, and then I separated with this girl Remmy to run the 6th mile (people run different distances based on their level and whether they're training for a half or a full). Remmy and I shared some chocolate gu just to get a little boost, and then I left her at mile 6 and ran an out-and-back by myself for mile 7. I was singing Jason Derulo to myself in my head for that last mile, and it felt A-W-E-S-O-M-E. That was the first time I really felt "holy shit, I might actually be able to do this". I felt great after 7 miles - really strong. I have to say I owe it all to Coach Mike. He gave us this extensive lesson in nutrition and I followed it to a T before that run, and I kept it at a genuinely conversational pace, and voila! I did it!
So, I was pretty high on life after that run on Saturday. I hopped the train to Boston for Grandpa's second round of chemo at Dana Farber/Brigham and Women's. This treatment hasn't been going quite as well as the first. Grandpa got a 101 degree fever overnight, and also developed an infection, which they think is pneumonia. His appetite and energy were low, and he really was feeling uncomfortable today. I think it snapped us back to reality. We got really lucky with the first treatment, since he had no fevers, no infections, and no real side effects to speak of besides grogginess. This is the reality of cancer though, and this is the reality of chemo. They take their toll on the body.
The doctors have him on antibiotics to fight the pneumonia and some tylenol to manage the chest pain and the fever. He saw Dr. Stone today, and we just met with Dr. Takeda (who Grandpa thinks I should marry). Oh and also there is this nurse Barbara who we didn't meet last time who looks like my aunt Gail. My Grandma of course had her camera with her at the hospital and we of course had to take a picture with this Gail look-alike. The people at this hospital are so freakin nice and obliging.
So, we're hoping for the best for tonight and tomorrow. Hoping for no chest pain, no fevers, and a quick recovery from the pneumonia. I hope I hope I hope I hope I hope I hope I hope... My TNT teammate Cullen Naumoff is a non-Hodgkins lymphoma survivor and her mantra is that the body feels what the mind thinks. Give it only positive thoughts to digest. So, that's our plan.
I've got some more good news and some more not so good news. I'll start with the good news, since that's the accurate order of events. Saturday morning we met up for team practice in the pouring rain and high winds. My pace group met up, led by the amazing Noah, and charged through. We ran 7 miles, and as I previously told you, that's the most I've ever run at one time!! It was such an exhilarating run. We do these long runs at a conversational pace, meaning your breathing should be calm enough to talk the whole time. We ran 5 as a complete group, and then I separated with this girl Remmy to run the 6th mile (people run different distances based on their level and whether they're training for a half or a full). Remmy and I shared some chocolate gu just to get a little boost, and then I left her at mile 6 and ran an out-and-back by myself for mile 7. I was singing Jason Derulo to myself in my head for that last mile, and it felt A-W-E-S-O-M-E. That was the first time I really felt "holy shit, I might actually be able to do this". I felt great after 7 miles - really strong. I have to say I owe it all to Coach Mike. He gave us this extensive lesson in nutrition and I followed it to a T before that run, and I kept it at a genuinely conversational pace, and voila! I did it!
So, I was pretty high on life after that run on Saturday. I hopped the train to Boston for Grandpa's second round of chemo at Dana Farber/Brigham and Women's. This treatment hasn't been going quite as well as the first. Grandpa got a 101 degree fever overnight, and also developed an infection, which they think is pneumonia. His appetite and energy were low, and he really was feeling uncomfortable today. I think it snapped us back to reality. We got really lucky with the first treatment, since he had no fevers, no infections, and no real side effects to speak of besides grogginess. This is the reality of cancer though, and this is the reality of chemo. They take their toll on the body.
The doctors have him on antibiotics to fight the pneumonia and some tylenol to manage the chest pain and the fever. He saw Dr. Stone today, and we just met with Dr. Takeda (who Grandpa thinks I should marry). Oh and also there is this nurse Barbara who we didn't meet last time who looks like my aunt Gail. My Grandma of course had her camera with her at the hospital and we of course had to take a picture with this Gail look-alike. The people at this hospital are so freakin nice and obliging.
So, we're hoping for the best for tonight and tomorrow. Hoping for no chest pain, no fevers, and a quick recovery from the pneumonia. I hope I hope I hope I hope I hope I hope I hope... My TNT teammate Cullen Naumoff is a non-Hodgkins lymphoma survivor and her mantra is that the body feels what the mind thinks. Give it only positive thoughts to digest. So, that's our plan.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Bittersweet
Hi all -
I have both great news and very sad news for you today. Yesterday afternoon I officially hit the $2900 minimum for the marathon!! I'm grateful to have come so far so quickly, and will keep charging hard to raise as much money as I can for this important cause. I already have several checks that were sent in that have yet to be processed, and I have tons of people who have promised they will donate before my deadline, so we'll keep on moving, but this was an incredible milestone. And literally as I was typing this, my co-worker Vhanas came over with a hand-delivered donation. Sometimes the universe just knows :)
I was really excited about this yesterday, but I also had a weird feeling and felt something might be off, so I didn't want to post about it until today. Unfortunately, my gut was right, something was wrong. Early this morning, precious little Layla Grace went to, as her parents put it, play with the angels. God bless Layla, her sisters, and her parents, and may they all find both strength and peace.
Miles for Layla tonight.
I have both great news and very sad news for you today. Yesterday afternoon I officially hit the $2900 minimum for the marathon!! I'm grateful to have come so far so quickly, and will keep charging hard to raise as much money as I can for this important cause. I already have several checks that were sent in that have yet to be processed, and I have tons of people who have promised they will donate before my deadline, so we'll keep on moving, but this was an incredible milestone. And literally as I was typing this, my co-worker Vhanas came over with a hand-delivered donation. Sometimes the universe just knows :)
I was really excited about this yesterday, but I also had a weird feeling and felt something might be off, so I didn't want to post about it until today. Unfortunately, my gut was right, something was wrong. Early this morning, precious little Layla Grace went to, as her parents put it, play with the angels. God bless Layla, her sisters, and her parents, and may they all find both strength and peace.
Miles for Layla tonight.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Miles for Grandpa, Miles for Layla
Since I've started this journey and this blog, a lot of my supporters have been sharing their own personal cancer stories with me. Yesterday afternoon, a friend shared with me a link to a blog about a little girl dealing with Stage 4 neuroblastoma, and I just had to share this with you. Her name is Layla Grace Marsh and she is a beautiful little 2 and a half year old. She and her family are currently dealing with the final stages of her cancer, struggling to give her a peaceful end.
The blog is here: http://laylagrace.org/
Her parents are blogging about their experience as a way of educating readers, garnering support, and having an outlet for their stress and emotion. The entries detail their heart wrenching story, and I will warn you now that it is not easy to read. They very sad truth is that they will likely lose Layla any day now. And as her father points out, with an exruciating pain that darts out at you through the computer, the process is not like the movies.
I know it isn't much, but as a way of showing my support, I dedicated yesterday's miles to both Grandpa and Layla, praying for them both the whole way. If you have some room tonight in your prayers, please say an extra one for them.
With love,
With love,
Rachel
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Dedication
So, I realize it's odd timing for a post, since it's 11pm on a Tuesday and I just updated this bad boy on Sunday, but I had some thoughts I wanted to share.
I ran after work (a lovely little 3.7 mile jaunt with a few hills) and then later this evening I went to a karaoke bar here in St. Louis. Missouri has yet to pass a smoking ban in public places, so when I came home just now I realized I smelled like smoke. I didn't have a single cigarette, and no one in our immediate group was smoking, and yet I'm debating showering for the 3rd time today to get the smell out of my hair. In this day and age, how dumb do you have to be to smoke? Not only is it disgusting, it is a huge contributor to cancers of various types (not just lung). There are too many options these days to quit - gum, patches, plastic inhalers, 12-step programs, insurance-paid smoking cessation programs, cold turkey, etc - for you to still be smoking. I suggest you smarten up. **Disclaimer: I used to be a smoker, for roughly 4 years. I get it. And I still quit. SO SHOULD YOU.
The other thing that occurred to me tonight, as I hastily left early with my boss while everyone else was singing and drinking, is that this marathon training requires a whole lot of dedication. I knew that ahead of time, I'm not an idiot, but scheduling the workouts alone requires dedication, let alone completing them. I can't really go out on weeknights and expect to train in the morning. I feel it the next morning if I have even one beer - not significantly, but I feel it - so multiple beers are out of the question. And as tonight taught me, it turns out it's pretty hard to be in a karaoke bar and not drink. And by hard, I mean H-A-R-D.
The thing about this marathon is that there are no shortcuts. I can't skip workouts, because it makes the next one that much harder, which will be discouraging and likely painful, and that will mess with both my head and my body. That old addage "You're only cheating yourself" is ringing wildly true throughout this process. And I don't cheat.
So, instead of downing shots and belting out a memorable rendition of "I Will Survive," I am off to bed. And I'm OK with that :)
I ran after work (a lovely little 3.7 mile jaunt with a few hills) and then later this evening I went to a karaoke bar here in St. Louis. Missouri has yet to pass a smoking ban in public places, so when I came home just now I realized I smelled like smoke. I didn't have a single cigarette, and no one in our immediate group was smoking, and yet I'm debating showering for the 3rd time today to get the smell out of my hair. In this day and age, how dumb do you have to be to smoke? Not only is it disgusting, it is a huge contributor to cancers of various types (not just lung). There are too many options these days to quit - gum, patches, plastic inhalers, 12-step programs, insurance-paid smoking cessation programs, cold turkey, etc - for you to still be smoking. I suggest you smarten up. **Disclaimer: I used to be a smoker, for roughly 4 years. I get it. And I still quit. SO SHOULD YOU.
The other thing that occurred to me tonight, as I hastily left early with my boss while everyone else was singing and drinking, is that this marathon training requires a whole lot of dedication. I knew that ahead of time, I'm not an idiot, but scheduling the workouts alone requires dedication, let alone completing them. I can't really go out on weeknights and expect to train in the morning. I feel it the next morning if I have even one beer - not significantly, but I feel it - so multiple beers are out of the question. And as tonight taught me, it turns out it's pretty hard to be in a karaoke bar and not drink. And by hard, I mean H-A-R-D.
The thing about this marathon is that there are no shortcuts. I can't skip workouts, because it makes the next one that much harder, which will be discouraging and likely painful, and that will mess with both my head and my body. That old addage "You're only cheating yourself" is ringing wildly true throughout this process. And I don't cheat.
So, instead of downing shots and belting out a memorable rendition of "I Will Survive," I am off to bed. And I'm OK with that :)
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