Cancer

Tonight I went to the luminaria display at Relay for Life at Connecticut College.

I had no clue what to expect.

A girlfriend and her 11 year old son, a cancer survivor, are walking in a Relay for Life in Monroe MI.

As I walked around the loop, looking at all the luminaria I imagined Linda her sons: Matthew (diagnosed with liver cancer at 3 months old) and Raymond, and her brother making laps around the luminaria display happening at the same time in Monroe.  

I wonder if they too heard the names being read with a bagpiper playing Amazing Grace in the background.

Yes, yes bagpipes CAN be background music.  I often wonder what ever became of the man who played his bagpipes at Misquamicut beach on Saturday mornings.  Their sound combine with the sound of the ocean made my weekly long walk with Lola the bananas boxer somewhat calming.

And I digress.

There were so many luminaria, so many names.

I am always perplexed when I meet someone whose life is void of cancer.  Really?  That's possible.  Then again I was also surprised that no other families left a shot and a beer for Santa Claus.  It has been in my life since I was 4.

Sometimes I am jealous, they don't know the pain, the worries, the angst.  Sometimes I am sad they don't know that feeling of victory and relief when a scan comes back clear or no change.

I managed to only shed a few tears tonight.  Thinking of how far cancer research has come since 1972 and thinking how far it hasn't come for so many cancers.

Tears won't cure cancer.  Tears won't bring awareness.  Tears won't increase research.  Action will.

Action in the form of raising awareness through races and walks.  Action in the form of lobbying congress to pass bills such as the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act.  Action in the form of raising funds to support awareness and research.

Sincerely,
Beth, running with the Lung Cancer Alliance's Team Lung Love, raising funds and awareness to bring assistance and hope to the people diagnosed with Lung Cancer.

Friday Catch Up

I didn't do a really great job of scheduling my week.  It happens...  Didn't even have time to update the blog... oh well, it happens...

Monday I didn't schedule in my run and didn't get to run…  so off to TRX to catch up with the girls and work some muscles.  I still haven’t hooked up the rig I bought for home.  Need to find a door that closes or I could use it in the hall and deal with the dogs being curious AKA their version of "helping"?  Hmmm…  I better just freaking get it done.

I did get a new toy in the mail. A Fitbit Flex. Setting that up was interesting, it doesn't come with instructions, just log onto www.fitbit.com/setup and set it up. After a few problems between the seat and the keyboard it was all set up and operating.  I logged a whopping 204 steps that night and didn't manage to get the sleep setting correct. I did eventually find some instructions and *gasp* read them so I understand how it works.   Yes, I am one of the few people that actually read instructions.  GEEK!  You can track all sorts of things with this thing. Tracks steps and then converts to miles (I'm not sure what they use as the algorithm  but it was pretty accurate when I ran with it at tracking the miles I ran).  Track your calories out, and your sleep patterns.  You can input calories in and water in, plus additional activities.  It didn't track my Wed night bike ride.  I was really curious about the sleep pattern, which is why I waited for the Flex to come out.  I didn't manage to get it set for the first night, and the first night seemed a little off, although who knows.  Wed seemed reasonable as I have to get up at 5 to catch the 6:42 or 6:55 train in New Haven, an hour away, so yes 30 minutes to get all gussied up for NYC I'm amazing, no?  Thur looked about right.

Top Tue, Middle Wed, Bottom Thur

So yes, it is a toy and it is interesting.  I'll have fun playing with it and seeing what I can learn.

Tuesday was a twofer.  I ran 5 at work and then did the Dog Watch 5K after work.  Took 30 seconds off my time and am standing at 28:18.  Hmmm maybe that 5 mile warm up is working?  Hopefully I can make it next week, feeling pretty positive I MAY break 28.

Wednesday there was a health fair at work.  I tinkered around with the Wii and the putting green.  Holy cow it has been years since I've golfed.  Really need to get those clubs out of the attic and use them.  I do miss golf, or rather I miss spending an afternoon outside with a couple friends and some beer having a good laugh!!  I didn't get in a run, between a new project at work and a 5 p.m. meeting.  WHO schedules a meeting for 5... Hubb had a meeting for his RC club and I dug up the bike rack and packed up the bike for a 10 mile bike ride around the camp roads.  Looks like a chicken running with a sword, no?




Thursday - NYC.  I was surprised at how much walking I actually do do.  I didn't hit the 10,000 steps or the 5 miles but I did hit 7K steps and 3 miles.  In heels, I think that merits a pat on the back or maybe a cupcake from Crumbs?  Guess if I add in a walk to Bryant Park I may hit the 10K mark? 

Thursday's Tally

Friday - Holy rain batman.  I ran after work around the block at home in a brief slowing of the rain.  3 miles, good enough to lift my mood and put me in that goofy post run mood. 

I did find out what happens when you don't pierce a potato before you bake it.  I wondered what that pop sound was!!  Fortunately it cleaned up easily and I had three four footed helpers...

No races this weekend, there are plenty to run, it is nice to have my only commitment be to have "Amy of the pointy elbows" work on me Saturday afternoon and then go to Connecticut College to attend the Relay For Life Luminaria Ceremony and cheer on one of the walkers I sponsored.  Otherwise the weekend is mine to have a nice long run, read, and do housework.

I did get signed up with a team for a Glow Bash 5K in Bristol RI the 22nd of June.   Scanning through the website after I committed to this, having absolutely no clue what I was signing on for, I was pleased to know there is a benefit for Childhood Brain Cancer.  I'll do this with the memory of Alex Ahrens who passed away on February 28, 2012, age 10, after a 3 year battle with brain cancer.  I went to High School with his father, and the family also lives on a neighboring farm where I grew up.  Seems like a great group of people and will be a blast, a run at night with a scavenger hunt and the opportunity to dress up in glow in the dark stuff.  How could anyone NOT have a great time!?!?!?  Kind of a the city version of a Snipe Hunt!  Any of you participated in a Snipe Hunt??

So there you have it.  Not a lot of running miles, a whopping 11 and 10 on the bike.  Feh, no worries.  I can get in at least a 10 long run and explore a new route.

My dizziness seems to be only when I get up from laying down.  Hopefully this is temporary, because, wow, it sucks.  I'm fine, nothing to worry about!!

Sincerely
Beth, recapping the week and looking forward to a no race and no illness weekend.

Motivation

I was lying (or is it laying, lying, I was right, whoop) on the couch this morning,  Gizzy at my feet,  catching up on WWF and Scramble.  Scrolled through Facebook.  Connie did her longest run ever 4.5 miles, GO CONNIE!!!  Kudos to you!!  The Endorphin Dude (I'd love to meet him some day) is running his 99th marathon.  The 5th member of the Fab 5, Erwin, is running the San Diego R&R half 6th on his quest for 13 in '13.  The girls and I roped him into doing Marine Corps with us in October (more on that later). Team Tuez kicked off their 90 miles in 60 days + 1,000 conditioning exercises today and the miles are rolling in.  Marie (who gave up updating her blog, woman get back to it, you have stuff to say!!) finished her run looking fresh as a daisy, how does she do it!?!? Nicole's awesome pic from her 5 miles along the Charles yesterday.  Poked over to Strava to see what the guys were up to.  Boy did I feel like a freaking slug.  It isn't the times, it is the miles.  Damn...  here I am sitting at a big fat zero for the month of June.  Still dizzy when I stand up, sit up, roll over, or open my eyes to fast.  Hubb thinks my childhood blonde hair is taking over, ever the supportive smart ass is he.  Big puffy hearts.

I got off my lazy bum before 10 and went out for my "around the house loop" and added in a lap around the Westerly HS Track.  Figure that works nicely with my remembrance loop around Wilcox Park?  Wow the track is nice and squishy too, weird.  I didn't really think of anyone in particular on my Wilcox loop, what was I thinking of? who knows, probably just to not twist my ankle on the uneven slabs around the fountain. When my MCM training starts the loop in the park is dedicated in support of or in memory of someone with lung cancer.

Fountain in Wilcox park, and the granite is uneven, although really doesn't  look it... hmmm

So there you have it, proof I'm really not a total slug run...  3.5 (hilly) miles / 37:03 min / 10:35 pace. Thanks all for the motivation!  OK bringing out my competitive streak...

What motivates you? What keeps you motivated?  Are you competitive with yourself?  With others?

I felt pretty good after my run and a shower, and the humidity sees to be waning, yipiee!!  Hubb decided we needed to rekindle the Sunday lunch tradition (tragically ending when 10 Sandwiches burned in March) he agreed with my suggestion to go to The Malted Barley for Pretzel Sandwiches, and a beer.  Heck if I'm going to feel dizzy anyhow...   After that I packed up the elder dog, Gizmo, for a hike at Bluff Point to explore some trails.  We were out there 104 minutes, I did something or something happened to the Strava App and it cut a nice straight point A to point B line and point D to point C line when I knew we twirled around on trails for the missing 54 minutes (Stravagate anyone?) We go at under a 20 min/mile pace, I'd say we went 5.2 miles.



That old pup is going to sleep like the dead tonight.  He is going strong for a 12 and 1/2 year old boxer boy.

Sincerely,
Beth, thanking you ALL for the motivation to get some miles in, and feeling better (just in time for work on Monday phttt)