The Stark Realization of What is Ahead

The 10K is in the bag.  9. 3 miles down and 39.3 to go.  39.3 miles.  39.3.  Thirty-nine point three.  HFS.

This morning the race was one hour earlier than the 5K so  my alarm woke me up at 2:15 am (1:15 CST!!!) and I got my gear on and headed out the door to grab a bus before the lines got too long.  Even though the temps were warmer than yesterday, there was a breeze this morning.  Did I take my toss away shirt this morning?  NO.  What a dumb ass move on my part.  I really wanted it to ward off the goose flesh.  When we pulled up to Epcot, we were the first bus there.  I got in and out of a port-o-can quickly, did a little warm up run and some neuromuscular exercises and just tried to move enough so that the breeze would not chill me.

So being in corral A does have some benefits.  You get out on the course early and the on course entertainment is still super fresh.  I was going into this strongly adhering to a run five minute/walk one minute interval.  After the first five minutes, Nike woman tells me that my pace was 7:38.  SHIT!!!  SLOW THE F--K DOWN!!!  I did my one minute walk and pulled over to the edge of the road.  I was the only person walking.  That's ok, that is the plan and I was sticking to it.  I started my run again and got going and started passing people.  SLOW THE F--K DOWN!!!  My mile splits were somewhere between 9 and 10 minutes.  Every time I started to run after my one minute of walking, I was zooming along and passing people.  I was not out to pass people, it just happened that way.  I stopped to drink a cup of water and eat some Shot Blocks around mile three.

I stopped to snap a picture of the World Showcase that was all lit up.  I stopped to futz with my shorts that were starting to chaff the insides of my upper thighs (UGH!!!).  I stopped for photos with Chip n' Dale.  I stuck to my 5/1 interval like glue.  There were some moments that I thought my intestines were going to give me issues, but I figured that it was just gas and I was going to be finished soon enough.   Running up to the finish, the time clock was reading 1:00.23.  I knew that I was going to cross still at the one hour mark and I know that it took me a few seconds to get across the start line.  I started in the dark, and I finished in the dark.

THAT WAS WAY TOO FAST!!!  WAY TOO FAST!!!

Other than the chub rub on my inner thighs, I had no pain during the run but I knew that for the half I was going to have to really rethink my plan on how to run it.  Each day they have been herding the Dopey people into a special chute to get a wrist band.  We have to have a wrist band for each race on Sunday to collect all of our medals.

Next, they give us drinks and food in these nifty little snack boxes.  Then we get our medals and our photos.

I tried to get a massage, but I guess I finished too early because there was no one in the massage tent.  After getting some calories in me and photos with some world known celebrities, I found my roommates and we headed back to the resort for breakfast in the hot tub.  I made sure not to sit in there too long this time.

I decided in the hot tub that I was going to run for five minutes and then walk for five minutes.  The runner's handbook said to walk more, so that is what I decided I was going to do for the half tomorrow.

I got cleaned up, pulled on my compression sleeves, and headed over to the Magic Kingdom to check out the new section of Fantasyland.  I did my Fastpasses, found some lunch and ended up walking around quite a bit from one side of the part to the other, based on where my Fastpass rides were.  On my last ride, the Tomorrowland Transport, I decided to prop my feet up and I had time to think more about my half marathon plan.

I decided that I needed to walk more of it than just half of it.  I want to have legs for Sunday.

So here is the plan.  I am going to get at the back of my corral and I am going to just let everyone go.  I am going to start out with some running, but I am dialing things way back to where I feel embarrassingly slow.  After 5 minutes, it is walk time.  and I will be walking until I get near lots of spectators.  That should be around mile 4 or so.  Once I get to Ticket and Transportation, I will run and look awesome for the spectators and then walk to the Magic Kingdom.  I will run on Main Street USA and then pick up the walking when I am out of the park.  I will probably run past the Grand Floridian Resort and again as I am coming into Epcot, but if I am not in a park with all the photographers or anywhere near spectators, I am walking.  This is going to be a SLOW morning.  I need to save my legs for Sunday or you might find me in a location that is not so magical.

I will probably still be finished before many of you are even dressed and have had your first cup of coffee.  The start is at 5:30 am.

That means it is past my bedtime.

Later Gators,

Liz

Here's the Plan

I am letting all of you know up front that I am not going to win this Dopey Challenge.  So now that this news is out of the way, I am going to tell you all how I am going to get through this.  Slowly.

Family Fun 5K

I ran about a mile and a half, grabbed some water and then saw Dopey.  I had to stop for a photo.  It was a big FAIL.  The flash washed out the picture.  I got a good 10 minute or more break waiting in line.  I ran to mile 2.5 or so and took a cool pic of Spaceship Earth at the front of Epcot.

I ran to the finish and felt great.  The starting temp was 57 there were a few little sprinkles of rain, but nothing much.  I was sweating, but after getting my medal, snack box and getting out of the finisher's area, I was starting to get chilled.  I found my running friends, we hit the bus to head back to the Boardwalk Inn and I grabbed a breakfast sandwich and a cup of coffee and I had breakfast in the hot tub.  I have been hydrating all day to make up for it.

Disney Minnie Mouse 10K

I am planning on doing a run/walk program and I will admit that it is going to be HARD to stick to it because I felt great today.  I don't have my Jiminy Cricket who will tell me to stop and walk and really make me do it.  I will have to let my conscience be my guide.  The runner handbook tells the Dopey Challenge participants to take more liberal walk breaks than in the 5K and if the participant has not been running at least three days a week, to walk the majority of the 10K.  !!!  !!!  !!!  Ok, ok, I will take liberal walking breaks.  I get it.  I have to be able to still have legs at mile 18 on Sunday.

I'm in corral A for the 5K and 10K.  HA!  MIND GAMES, I tell you, mind games.  "Go slow, but we are putting you in the fast person corral."

Disney Donald Half Marathon

Again, a liberal run/walk program.  The runner handbook recommends walking as much of the event as possible.  Wow, ok.  I guess I am going to do a lot of walking.

Disney Mickey Mouse Marathon

The plan is to go embarrassingly slow for the first half and then see what I have left in the tank for the second half and if I can negative split.

This event is going to be a challenge for me to be able to reign things in and keep it slow and easy.  I know I am slow, but going slower than slow is going to be a mental challenge as hundreds and thousands of people will be running past me.  These will be the SLOWEST 5K, 10K, half, and full marathons I have ever, EVER run/walked/shlepped my way through.  Do not congratulate me for a great race.  This is not a race.  Just keep encouraging me to go slow and just put the miles behind me.  Keep reminding me that I cannot let this be about me, it is all about Josh.

Ok, off to bed.  I have to be on the shuttle bus to the start line by 3:15 am.

Later Gators,

Liz

The Bar Has Been Set!

So if you read the last post, you might have seen a comment that one of my son's friends was diagnosed with leukemia last month.  That is one of  the most devastating things for a parent to be confronted with.  Every parent wants their child, or children, to grow up healthy and happy.  So I decided that I wasn't going to sit around and not do anything.  If you have been a reader for a long time, I don't think that there are many long time readers left, you might remember the fact that I cannot donate blood which is in great demand by cancer patients.  What I can do is I can run.

And I have set the bar high.

Meet Josh.

Josh is the son of one of my husband's co-workers and we have known Josh since he was a little kid.  Josh is now a senior in high school.

Josh is a member of the band.  To say that Josh is smart is an understatement.  He was able to advance two years in school but his parents advanced him one year so that he would still fit in with the kids in his grade level.  But school is on hold right now.  After spending two weeks in ICU, Josh was able to come home for Christmas but he still has to go to MD Anderson three times a week for his chemo and transfusions.

I cannot help Josh out with a blood donation, but I can run my @$$ off and get people to donate money to help him.  I think that there might be some people out there who might want to see me do a few stupid human tricks and toss a few bucks Josh's way.

Here is the goal:  I am setting my goal to run a minimum of 100 miles by March 1st. for Josh and it started today.

Today I ran 7.2 miles.  But here is the exciting part.  By this time next week, I will have run over 58 miles for Josh.  Yep, this week I am running another 50 miles for Josh.  You will need to stay tuned to how it goes.  If you feel so inclined to help me raise $2,000.00 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, here is a link for you to make a donation:

https://my.reason2race.com/LIZGARCIA

98% of your donation will go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for patient aid and research.  Patient aid is money to pay for the things that insurance will not cover such as the $14 a day parking garage fee at MD Anderson or the cost of one hour with a social worker for Josh's parents and brother as they learn how to live life with cancer in it.  The Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of LLS supports 16 research doctors in the Texas Medical Center at MD Anderson and Baylor College of medicine.  Your tax deductible donation stays local to benefit Josh and his family.

Now, I challenge you, gentle reader.  Hit the link above and make a donation.  It is whole lot easier than running.  If you think that you can donate a few cups of coffee money, hit the link above.  If you think that you can donate the cost of a night out at the movies, hit the link above.  If you think that you can donate the cost of the new pair of shoes you were looking at to add to your collection, hit the link above.  If you know that you cannot donate right now but you know three people who can, forward them the link above and tell them that they need to donate to Josh. 

You can make a difference with just a few dollars.

Stay tuned to how I am going to knock out 50 more miles of running this week.

Later Gators,

Liz

Where to start...

Ok,

Life has gotten in the way.  I neglected this blog and I have probably neglected myself in the process.  Here is a brief follow up from the last post I made seven or eight months ago to get you caught up on what kind of mess I have been dealing with:

1. My secret project was learning how to play the violin.  I had my first concert in November.  It is humbling and exciting.  I sound awful.
2. The kid failed Algebra I and took summer school and made an 86.  His comment, "It makes so much sense now, that it is easy."  We had a bad teacher.
3. Three walls of our dining room were torn out to replace studs eaten by termites.  What a mess.
4. July saw the resignation of the band director and things were up in the air for summer band to start in two weeks.
5. The kid got an AWESOME band director.  He has done great things with the kids.
6. My dad finished his chemotherapy and started his slow recovery back to normal and cancer free.
7. I started CrossFit and I kind of like it.
8. School started and my stress level jumped up at least five notches.  
9. October. Meh. The kid fails World History AP.
10. I start coaching again and get a nifty job as a virtual coach.
11. I think I ran a few times in October and November.
12. My kid's friend from band is diagnosed with leukemia.
13. December left me stressed out to stay on top of the kid to get his work done and help keep him on track for finals.  I think we passed.  I'm too chicken shit to look at the online grades.  It is what it is.  I cannot change the past.

And now it is 2014 and do I have anything to show for it other than stress tics in my left eyelid and a jacked up neck?  Personally, no. However, my dad is back to doing the things he enjoys.  My kid made Region Band. I haven't killed anyone with my cooking or burnt the house down trying to decorate the Christmas tree.  

BUT NOW IT IS 2014:

I started today with a CrossFit workout that, at the end of the day, I was able to get the fastest time out of eight groups at the prescribed workout.  I have someplace to go to next week that is starting to excite me.  I have not had a vacation since that crazy Carnival Cruise last January.  I am in need of a vacation.  Bad.  

There is a shimmer of hope that this year will be much better than last year.  Let's see if I can make more than one post for this year.  I am back to being slow but I am still determined.

Later Gators,

Liz

Epiphany

OMG!!! She wrote a post for her blog.  Where are the flying monkeys? Did the Venezuelan government get their act together? Has Kanye West stopped being such a douche bag? What in the name of Colonel Sanders prompted this???

Well, I got a little nostalgic this morning standing with my hand over my heart as the national anthem was being sung just before the start of the 2013 Ironman Texas this morning. I looked up in the sky and the clouds were blocking out the sun just like it was two years ago when I was standing at the same edge of the lake ready to jump in and start the process of having the most amazing race of my life.  I did that! I did it well!  It is within me.  It may be hiding right now or may just be possible that I misplaced my race self in my mess of a house (just like I have misplaced one of my Mom's necklaces) and when I clean my shit up and get my act together, I will find it and I will hear my Mom telling me, "If it was a snake, it would of bit you."

I have been plodding along for the past few months.  I have felt like I have been shackled to some heavy kettlebells that I have been dragging along behind me.  This morning, the light bulb went on and I realized that all I had to do was pick up the damn kettlebells and carry the load rather than dragging it along. By carrying the load, I would have to get stronger, no?

I started off January with a good run on New Years Day, I took a cruise to Cozumel on the doomed Carnival Triumph two weeks before it decided to run afoul in the Gulf of Mexico, and I was loving my cooking school lessons so much that I signed up for the second phase of classes. I got a new mountain bike and did some riding around the trails behind my house.  Most importantly, I gave up dairy to see if it would end the intestinal problems. There were only steps backwards.  One was having El Esposo witness one of the kid's seizures. That freaked him out. My dad had his surgery to remove the cancer from his colon. That was kinda stressful. And, I still did not have full use of my shoulder back.  That was aggravating. To top it off, I had one of my athletes go Coo-Coo for Co-Co Puffs and make some pretty wild accusations against another athlete to deflect the attention off of him for a serious financial crime involving missing money from a fundraiser.

In February, out of nowhere, I won my age group at a local 5K.  I felt out of shape and almost barfed at the finish line, but I felt like I was starting on the way back. Then I hit a brick wall.  The kid failed Algebra again and failed it hard. He also had another seizure while he was with El Esposo on an out of town vacation.  Let's just say that there were so many rules, limitations, and unreal expectations that were laid down that my poor kid felt like he was being punished.  I had to keep my mouth shut on most of it so I would not endure the Wrath of Khan.  El Esposo means well, but he has never been in town when we have had neurologist appointments so he is going on his on theories that he can glean from the Internet and his own beliefs.  I was working on dropping gluten out of my diet along with the dairy because I was having leg swelling, five pound weight swings in a 24 hour period, hives, and an overall poor mood.  It is not fun going gluten-free.  It is hard.  To top it off, I had one of my athletes go Coo-Coo for Co-Co Puffs and make some pretty wild accusations against some of the other athletes to hide some really horrible financial disasters that he was responsible for. 


March was busy getting all of my athletes squared away for their races in Oceanside, California and Galveston, Texas.  They all did amazing!  I was very proud of all of them and so appreciative of my assistant coach, Audree, and all of the hard work that she put into the season to make this TEAM the best that it could be.  The rest of March was kind of a blur with work, school stuff, and my dad's long recovery from his surgery that I really did not take time for myself.

April was a little better and the main high point was that i was able to get back in the pool and start swimming again.  I had really missed the water.  My shoulder was back in action!  No one has any idea what was wrong with it, but now I have full range of motion back and I had to get my cellulite back in a swim suit and start the process of rebuilding my fitness.  I also signed up for an event.  A big event.  A crazy event.  A Dopey Challenge.  Yes, I have registered for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend's Dopey Challenge.  A 5K on Thursday, a 10K on Friday, a half-marathon on Saturday, and a full marathon on Sunday.  I did the Goofy Challenge in 2010 so tacking on an extra 5K and 10K should not be that bad.  I do have to start running again.  I ran a 5K after the Boston Marathon bombing in support of the runners and i was sucking wind big time.  It is only going to be harder and hotter as the days go on, I need to HTFU and just go out and do it.  I don't have a running partner and I need one badly to keep me accountable and to push me.  It is hard when all of my runner friends live on the complete opposite end of town from where I do.

May came with some challenges in the form of unexpected house guests, termites eating all the wood around one of the front windows of the house, and so other slights.  So, I got mad.  I was really inflamed.  I didn't quite stick my head out a window and yell, "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!" like in the movie Network, but I got mad as hell and I decided that I was going to take on a project that I have wanted to do for a very long time.  I am not ready to let the blog-sphere or the vast majority of my friends or family know about this, because I want to keep it for myself and not share it.  Pretty damn selfish, huh?  I only let four people know about my secret project and these four people were helpful in giving me some guidance and direction, as well as support.  In time, I will let the cat out of the bag, but not right now.

Right now, I have work to do.  I have to take the derailed train and get the cars back on the track.  i have to get the engine stoked with fuel to start moving it down the tracks.  With movement, the laws of physics says that there will be momentum.  I need to overcome the friction that is keeping the wheels from turning.  I have to polish the brass bell.  It is so much work that it seems overwhelming, but I know that I have to do it because if I don't, the moving parts will rust up and things will get beyond repair.  The first item to work on is not the engine, but the control panel.  

Things might not be terribly exciting to read about, but at least I will start having some things to blog about.

Later Gators,

Liz

The Highs and Lows of 2012: A Year in Review

2012 has been a series of highs and lows all year long.  The highs have been really high and the lows have been really low.  It has also been a year of big changes.  Change is always hard, but for the most part as one door closes, another one opens.  Work changes, school changes, coaching changes, and the changes that come with having pets have kept me in a constant state of adaptation.  Athletically, 2012 was a year of huge gains and huge losses.  I am still struggling to come to terms that most of my fitness that I worked years to achieve has basically disappeared in the last five months. Maybe I was overtrained, maybe I was over reaching, maybe I really needed the break to heal, recover, and start the process of rebuilding.  We will see what happens in 2013.  So here is just a year in review.  

January:  High

Ran the Houston Marathon in sub 4 hours and took 17 minutes off of my previous marathon time. 

February:  Low

Dealing with the sad fact that I made less money than a member of an office cleaning crew at my job.  My W-4 arrived in my mailbox and I knew I had to dump my job that kept 60% of what people paid to do personal training with me.  But how could I just leave and abandon my clients, some who had been working with me for twelve years, and move to another gym that they were not a member of?  Calf muscle issues that popped up in the Houston Marathon are keeping me from running too far without pain. My hives flare back up.

March:  High

I went to California and attended a fitness business conference and gained the confidence that if I moved to a new location, my clients would move with me.  I had a great run in California.  The hives are still bothering me.

April:  Low

My kid had a grand mal seizure in the back of my parents car on the way to a fishing trip while I was in Galveston with my athletes I had been coaching for the Memorial Hermann 70.3 Ironman.  After many CT scans, MRIs, and doctors visits, he is diagnosed with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy.  Calf muscle issues are keeping from running very far.  I’m not getting my miles in to train for my next race. The hives are pretty bad this month.  My doc cannot figure it out and he thinks it is tied to my kidney function.

May:  High

I get to go to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands with my athletes that I have been coaching for the St. Croix 70.3 Ironman.  Frankie selects me to be his dog-mom and take him to his forever home.  I leave my job at the “Big Box” gym when they sell to a no-name company that doesn’t know how to run a gym.

June:  High/Low

I run the San Diego Rock n’ Roll marathon and take six more minutes off my marathon PR.  I miss qualifying for the Boston Marathon by 2 minutes and 8 seconds, my time spent in the port-o-cans.  My right calf is so jacked up, I am unable to walk without pain for almost two weeks.  My son turns 14 and gets to go to swim camp and band camp. The hives are still around.

July:  High/Low

My kid gets to attend a brass band camp and meets his private lesson trumpet instructor.  I begin working for myself out of a great fitness studio less than 3 miles from the “big box” gym.  Many of my clients follow me to my new location.  I try to get my running going again after five weeks off and my calf gets jacked up again.  I cannot run further than 5-6 miles without being in a lot of pain.

August:  Low

I injure my right shoulder on a cable machine doing chest presses.  I am in incredible pain until I trip in my kitchen and pop something in my back and the pain suddenly goes away.  I am not if pain, but I am unable to raise my right arm. Driving and keeping my hand on the steering wheel is exhausting.  The air conditioning unit in the attic leaks bad enough to go through the master bath and come out of the ceiling of the first floor.  We discover where the leak that caused the mold in the master bath came from.  The master bath will need to be gutted and repaired.  The hives are bad again.

September:  Low

I still cannot raise my arm and running is painful.  I am unable to run further than two miles without being in pain and feeling like a python is wrapped around my chest.  My dad is diagnosed with stage 2 colo-rectal cancer. 

October:  Low

My back is always tight and sore.  I cannot raise my arm.  It feels like I have no power to raise it up.  I cannot run further than a mile and a half without feeling like someone is driving a knife down between my collar bone and shoulder and up under my shoulder blade.  I have an MRI on my shoulder that comes back clean.  No answers on why I cannot raise my arm. The hot water heater in the attic leaks and overflows.  The master bedroom ceiling needs to be pulled down and repaired.  My dad begins his radiation and chemotherapy.

November:  Low/High

My kid fails Algebra.  I have to make the hard decision to give up on training to run the Houston Marathon.  I get to go to Cozumel, Mexico to watch one of my coached athletes take two hours off his Ironman time to hit a new PR.  One week of beach therapy.

December:  Low/High

I return home to learn that I need to open up my heart for two more abused animals.  Lil’ Sis and Kitty gain a new home and learn all about having a forever home and a new big Greyhound brother.  I start cooking lessons that I received for my birthday and I love my Thursday evenings. My kid is still failing Algebra and other classes are in danger.  I am sweating my ass off to learn Algebra to help my kid learn it and to pass the semester.   Bud makes 4th chair trumpet in the Freshman Region Band, third chair in his school Symphonic Band, and passes Algebra!  I have an MRI on my cervical spine to figure out why I still cannot raise my arm over my head but I have more range of motion.  No results yet.  I have not been running, lifting weights, cycling, or swimming in months. 

So here are my resolutions for 2013:

1. Participate in more events for fun than I did last year.  That shouldn’t be too hard since I only did two events.
2. Regain my health and fitness.  I have to see what is up with my neck before I make solid plans.  I at least want to be able to raise my arm over my head with ease.
3. Fix my nutrition.  I will be cutting out refined sugar and refined grains out of my diet for five to six days a week and then, only small amounts on the other days.  Other things will happen, but I will start with those.
4. Be more involved with my kid’s grades.  I was focused on other things and did not keep up with his grades and he failed Algebra.  It was living hell trying to get him back on track and passing for the semester.  It won’t happen again.
5. Give myself a break.  I will be taking some of the pressure off of myself to be perfect because I really am not good at being perfect and it just sets me up to disappoint people.  I’m just going to focus on doing what I can do within my limits and learning to say “no” to requests of my time and service.
6. Repair the master bath and bedroom.  Get rid of stuff.

Thank you to those people who have been a great support to me even if you don’t think that you had an influence in my life whatsoever.  Robin Campbell, Sylvia Harris, Kim Orr, and Andrea Ward, you ladies have such powerfully positive attitudes and posts or phone calls have helped put a smile on my face or buoyed my spirit when it was low.

Thank you to my coach, Anthony Humpage, for pushing me further and making me run faster than I ever would have thought was possible and then being understanding when I couldn’t run.  The train might have derailed, but the cars are being uprighted, the spill is being contained, and the cars will be put back on the tracks.

Thank you to my kid for providing me with so much joy as I got to watch some amazing swimming and attend some spectacular concerts. I am very proud of you.

Thank you to my assistant coach, Audree Begay, for reaching those athletes that I cannot reach and helping me get everyone physically and mentally ready for their 70.3 race.  Oceanside is going to be a blast!

Thank you to my personal training and Pilates clients for being willing to change as I moved to a better work situation.  It may not have been smooth at times or convenient, but now it feels like we are back on track and moving forward.  More great things are to come in 2013.

Thank you to my husband for letting me have the pets to bring excitement into the house, for the cooking lessons that I really enjoy, the opportunity to have some beach therapy when I needed it, and the times when you are home and clean up after my messes in the kitchen and around the house.  One day I will clean out the house and get rid of everything so that we can live like monks.  Be patient.

Thank you to my good friends Cathy Breig, Rachelle Little, Kendall Gray, and John Vigil for the fun adventures, the hugs when I needed them, the extra cowbell after my (or my kid’s) victories, and letting me moan and whine while I figured out my next move.  Even though we don’t see each other as much as we used to in the past, when we do get to chat or see each other, it is like we just saw each other last week.  Here is hoping that I get to make a trip to Denver, Vegas, or to a race we will both be doing in 2013.  

And not to be forgotten, thank you to you, the reader, for taking the time to sit and read this.  I know that I have been really bad at updating my blog this past year, but there was not much that I wanted to write about.  Who wants to write about their crappy run workouts that have to be scrapped after two miles?  Not much at all has taken place in terms of triathlon or cycling, but hopefully there will be some running adventures in 2013.

Happy New Year!  Let’s see what 2013 has in store for me.

Coach Liz

10/2 and My Life With Cancer

10/2 is not just another day for me.  10/2 is not just the day that Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with cancer fifteen years ago.  10/2 was the day I found out twenty years ago that my mother had cancer.  I became a care giver over the next ten years and I also began my involvement with Team in Training.

Until you have sat with a person while they receive their chemo, you really cannot appreciate the care that the doctors and nurses give to cancer patients.  Until you have driven a person home from a bone marrow aspiration, you really cannot appreciate the volunteers at the hospital that wait with your friend or family member as you go run to get the car.  Until you have had to make the decision to allow Hospice to transport your friend or family member from the house to the Hospice Center, you really cannot appreciate the compassion that the Hospice team has for your friend or family member and also for you.

I know what it is like to clean a long line.  I know what it is like to have to suit up in a special gown, gloves, and face mask to enter a clean room.  I know what it is like to walk laps around the floor with the bags of magic juice hanging off the IV pole.  I know what it is like to help someone with their wig.

There are also a lot of things that I know that I wish I could forget.

And for the last ten years of the past twelve, I used those things to drive me to fundraise money and race for those who could not.  I used those things to inspire other people to fundraise money and to get out of their comfort zone and do something that they thought was impossible.

And just when I was almost ready to throw in the towel and back off a bit, to cut myself some slack about the bad run workouts and the nagging shoulder pain, I found out that cancer is back in my life like a malignant tumor that was found in a screening.  I found out that my dad has been diagnosed with colon cancer.

We are taking it in stride.  It was caught early.  The chemotherapy and radiation will only last six weeks.  The oncology doctor is close.  The surgery will take place around the holidays.

My aches and pains are minuscule to this.  I have no room to whine or complain.  I just need to HTFU and go run.  And I did run.  I ran 5 miles on Sunday and it felt better.  My calves were tight, but they were not sore the day after.  I lost a pound, possibly two and I was able to wear a skirt I bought last March, and had yet to wear, out to the symphony over the weekend.  I was even able to eat a small meal and not bust any seams!  I even was able to resist the free frozen yogurt at the deli tonight where I enjoyed a huge bowl of chicken soup instead.

Cancer sucks.  It really does.  It sucks.

So, cancer is a part of my life.  It has shaped me into the person that I am today.  Frankly, I think that I am better off today than I was 12 years ago or 20 years ago before cancer.  It won't go away and neither will I.

Later Gators,

Liz