Fight Like A Girl

And a year later...

2010-08-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

So I started this blog while training to run Boston and then it fell to the side after the race. I'm sure all 12 of my followers are dying to know what great feat I've accomplished since then (minus 1 since my Mom is pretty up to date). The answer you've been dying for is a big fat nothing. I did 5 5k races last fall and was signed up for 1/2's this spring and then well then I fell off the healthy bandwagon again. I'm happy to say no my cancer did not relapse, no it had be another fun equally if not more challenging this time. As it turns out I have a aneurysm on my aorta. A whole lot of not good in other words. I found out in February and was pretty angry for months as the to things I love most in life were off limits, running and wine. So we journeyed to Texas Heart to have a consult and from there I had open heart June 2. Now almost three months later I'm raring to get started on cardiac rehab and 1/2 it next spring!! So as you follow (and I hope you do) this journey will be a bit different. This time I can't make it up a flight of stairs without wheezing. I think instead of couch to 1/2 it should be deathbed to 1/2... not sure working on that title and open to suggestions:)

Where Have I Been??

2009-06-04T15:58:00.000-07:00

Um on my couch :( Still having serious it problems... i've done 2 5k's the past two weeks at 42 mins and 45 mins respectively so not fantastic but finishing in lots of pains, ugh. So now i pose the help me!! Suggestions please!!

Back in the Groove

2009-05-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

Here's the deal, so my knee hurts but its time for me to stop complaining and go on with running life. I'm going to be smart about it and not kill myself but tri season is rapidly approaching so i need to get it together!!

You shouldn't drink and blog

2009-05-15T20:12:00.001-07:00

So we've been super busy lately. I got the results from the MRI and it seems as though there is a tear in tghe vascular portion of my menicus (sp?) good news that heals without surgery but takes awhile.

So I've been busy rehabing which is mostly stretching and some ultrasounds. today I tried to run and well i got less than a mile in and was in significant pain. I am inpatient and want this to be healed yesterday.

So today after the run we went to the Cinci zoo. So walking after running when already in pain... not the best ever but a good time never less.

The we played golf. So if you still with me hurt knee plus first run today then 4 hours of walking at the zoo then 7.5 holes of golf (I lost interest and quit).. lessons learned when you lubricate with things like beer knee pain becomes nonexistent. Maybe I should start drinking and then running... thought's??

So golfing and drinking and then more drinking and now drinking and blogging... this runner girl is just about to switch to water... got all the beer card and no need to hydrate to run again on the morrow.

Doctor's Report

2009-05-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

Doc: Why don't you take up swimming

Me: i only swim so i don't drown during tri's

Doc: Didn't think i would win that argument!

So we compromised. i have to get a knee in the morning to make sure it's nothing more than the suspected it band. Then to rehab i go, the kind where they teach i do at home and check in every three weeks and should be good to go in 6 to 8 weeks. Until then I'll be backing down the running and ramping up the swimming and cycling which i need to for tri season anyways.

So yesterday and today nothing tomorrow the goal is a short run...

Mia

2009-05-03T17:47:00.000-07:00

I've been mia for a week or so and here is the scoop! Life has been insane between switching positions at work and trying to get caught up after being gone for four day, the home then gone, etc...

So i took a 4 mile mostly walk last weekend and did okay, my knee was achy by the end by not biggie. I'd signed up for the half marathon today and was going for it until about 4 miles in, and there were major knee issues. From the start it had ached, by mile 4 the pain was starting up at my hip shooting through the knee, where it was worst, all the way down my shin and into the top of my foot. in other words a whole lot of not fun and after 4 miles i was hurting like mile 25 at Boston... so i made a decision to stop at the next first aid station and call it a day.

Really it sucks to have to drop out of a race and i have never done this before... even a bit more embarrassing when your dressed in a tutu and tiara, lol, which i am going to start wearing for more races. Even the team at the medic tent at the finish had to take a picture with me (that's where the field team dumped me off).

So the doc there has ordered me back to OAA and said i need to be in rehab... so I'll be looking for fun cross training to do...

Throwing Down the Gauntlet

2009-04-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

The challenge has been issued and the gauntlet thrown down... Matt says its his turn to run a marathon!! Now shopping for race suggestions!!

i took a short run today, 10 minutes to ease back into my groove and have a longer one planned for tomorrow and then a medium distance run with the neighbor Saturday... today would have been longer but i broke my not eating 4 hours before a run rule... see i started felling like throwing up near the end of Boston and felt pretty yucky Tuesday and yesterday was better but not great. Today though i was all better and went to town literally eating my heart out!

Back in the saddle again

2009-04-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

Back to the grind, today i went off to spin class. To sum it up it sucked. My quads ached, my joints screaming and the rest of my limp noodlish... thankfully the day care worker came to get me after 35 minutes to deal with Lotte for was dirty so home we went! Tomorrow I've got a run planned... up the hill and through Bethlehem and back.

Boston By the Numbers

2009-04-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

1 number of trips to the bushes
2 trips to the medical tent for moleskin on blisters
3 number of times i considered dropping out
4 Ryan Hall sightings
6 hours and 17 minutes time it took to catch the damned unicorn
10 to 20 mph the headwind i ran into
11 number of trips to the pot-o-pottie
18 weeks of training
20 the hardest mile
26.2 miles ran
25328 my bib number
3,900 dollars raised for NOCC
47 degrees race day temp
68 the ago of the man who passed me in mile 25
98% the number of people to start and finish
countless the fans who lined the way

The feeling of accomplishment priceless!

Runners are a different breed

2009-04-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

So to the orthopedic doc i went today. He checked me all out and said the issue in my left knee is just a continuance of the previous it band issue... just more of a flair up due to the strain of the race. The verdict is continuing the stretches, icing, and adding a steroid cream and cortisone injection.

My right foot in the arch area has also been in a lot of pain since about mile 19. The doc felt i was over compensating with the right leg to make up for the the left knee pain causing plantar faciatis.

All in all not bad two shots, some cream and stretch and ice. He asked if i would consider taking two to three weeks off and i smiled and said my next race is in ten days. He turned to the resident shadowing him and said, "runners are a different breed, there is no convincing them."

The Day After....

2009-04-21T15:42:00.000-07:00

So this Marathon Runner Girl signed up for a half marathon in two weeks... not the smartest thing she has ever done i might add. So today started recovery/rebuilding again. So i took the day off and hobbled around the neighborhood with Lotte in the jogger, tomorrow to spin class i go and hopefully running on Thursday!

As for how i feel today, my knee's feel broken, my right foot feels a little off, my back is bruised from the inhaler, my face is wind burnt and my body a touch sun burnt. i am off to OAA tomorrow aka the orthopedic doc to make sure nothing is more than temporary.

Other little snipets i forgot in my race report:

*i saw a wheel chair athlete at the half (not sure if i was push or hand as i don't know the difference) and he was pushing his chair from the back. He inspired me so much so here is a shout out to Jay! Way to rock it!

*the phrase at one the back of a fellow runner : any idiot can run, it takes a special kind of idiot to run 26.2 miles

*the billboard of the older (like 70) year old man as you turned on Boyleston for the finish that said: it took me 4:48 to finally catch the damned unicorn

Boston Race Story

2009-04-21T15:40:00.002-07:00

We got to Boston (we'd had been in around town since Friday night) Sunday morning. I met up with Barbara the Boston NOCC chapter chair to get to know her. She kindly took Lotte and I to the finish line for some pictures and then to the swan boat ride and the duckling statue. Matt was to the hotel doing homework and she escorted Lotte and I back there.

Our friend from college John came with his friend Michelle and off to the North End we went for a prerace dinner for me. We ate at this awesome Italian place and I went back to shower and go to bed early, John, Matt and Michelle went to find Cheers!

Race morning came bright and early, you'd think with a 10:30 start I would get to sleep in but that was not the case, I had to catch the bus to the starting line at Hopkinton by 7:30. John drove me to the bus pick up, on the way I pointed out the nice charted coach buses that were for the elite athletes, for the non-elites the yellow school buses it was.

I got in the giant line for the bus, no joke it went all the way around and through the park. I was chatting with the ladies around me, there was a group from Iowa and a super nice lady named Mary from Maine. She took me under her wing and made sure I got on the bus (this was her 3rd Boston) and that I had gels and had eaten and had water. She reminded me of Ronni, the mother hen at the TSTS events. I declined her off of fig newtons because they are 1. gross 2 if I eat less than 4 hours before running I end up puking.

The bus trip took FOREVER, I was thinking about a half an hour and it was more like an hour and fifteen minutes. By the time I got to athletes village I had to pee so bad every tree looked good. So I hopped out of the bus and made for the woods only to be yelled at by a police officer that there were port-a-potties available and they would ticket me for going in the woods. Undeterred I walked further down and darted in the woods, this time behind a big tree to take care of business.

Off to athlete's village I went, conveniently located across from the woods. Not to worry there were port-a-potties there but the line was 45 minutes long, so the woods was a good choice for now. I wandered in and found the Adidas wall and looked to see if they had picked me for a years free apparel, sadly they did not. Then on to the tattoo and marker stations. I got my four leaf clover on my cheek and my name down my leg in sharpie (still there lol). Then sat around and did some knitting, don't judge I needed something to take my mind off everything going on around me and I am terrible at knitting so it is a good distraction.

As much as I tried to relax it was pretty hard with the announcer every five minutes saying '60 minutes til the start and complete panic sets in' so I headed to the port-a-pottie line. From there I saw the F16 fly over signaling the official start (I was in wave two so my start was later). Then I checked my bag to the buses and followed the crowd to the start, garbed in my every stylish garbage bag. I have a hard time just throwing away clothes, even though they go to a good cause, maybe next time I'll get some from goodwill, so the garbage bag is to hold in my heat and keep me warm. Suprisingly it works and well.

I got to my corral (number 25) and stretched some and tried to keep myself from crying at the excitement, that I made it to the start, and for what was to come. I am pretty sure I was channeling Susan at this point. Since she wasn't there to cry at the start someone had to do it for her.

And we were off, well walking up to the starting line, I was 13 minutes back from the 10:30 start and we all walked to the start line. If you've heard anything about the Boston course and it all being downhill first of all those are lies, second it sure is for the first 5k. I went out super fast clocking 9 minute miles for the first 5k, pace time is 12 minute miles so I was super ahead of the game. The emotion, the crowds and the downhill had gotten the better of me. So I stopped to use the port-a-pottie and regoup myself.

I saw some pretty funky outfits and was passed by Minnie Mouse, Batman, Superman and a Banana ooh and there was the guy juggling the whole race. I really felt comfortable with my pace and was plugging along, coming in right about my goal time for the 10k marker. After this a gentleman stopped to run with me, he saw that I had survivor written on the back of my shirt and he'd lost his running buddy to lung cancer. He was super nice. All along the route there were people screaming and yelling and handing out water, orange slices, candy, popscicles, and Tylenol (thank god).

I was kind of wearing down coming into mile 12 and as the songs switched on my Ipod I could hear the screams a half mile away, the Wellsey girls. So I switched off the music and let that motivate me to go further. They lined both sides of the streets and were kissing runners (a Boston tradition). The girls sported shirts saying: kiss me or I pucker best or I won't tell you wife or I won't tell your husband. They were sporting bright red lipstick! I turned down all of the kiss offers and kept plugging onward.

I was still feeling pretty good at the half, up until this point I had been walking through aide stations and running the rest. After the half I fell off a bit but I knew Matt would be ta mile 16 so I kept going. Between 13 and 16 I was struggling but kept at it. By the time I got to 16 Matt was there to greet me with John, Michelle and Lotte. I have never been so happy to see him in my entire life (wedding day included). He walked with me a little bit and asked if I wanted him to keep going with me, and I gave an oustating YES! So John and Michelle took Lotte and onward Matt and I went.

At this point my knees were just killing me and I struggled through 16, 17 and 18, by 19 I was ready to throw in the towel and Matt said absolutely not, and kept tugging my forward. 19 and 20 were by far the hardest miles. I have never wanted to quit so much in my life. My knees were in terrible pain, to the point I cried for most of these two miles. I had to stop and catch my breath a couple of times when the pain shot from my hip all the way to my ankle. Although up until this point I had not been out of breath the entire race.

Up and down heartbreak hill and into Boston we went. Getting shooed to the edge so they could open the road and the aide stations were closed and the mile markers down when we got there. There was an man running with us as we walk and jogged, he was 68 and kicked my butt. (at least it wasn't a pregnant lady this time).

Finally in the distance the Citgo sign appears, this is one mile to the finish. From there it was all a blur, Matt stayed with me to Boyelston street and then moved to the side (as he couldn't cross the finish line) and to take photo's. And there it was just three short blocks, two stop light and a arch way away and I went for it. I didn't think it was possible for me to jog at this point but I found myself sprinting to the end.

I was there and I made it and I wasn't along the side of the road dead anywhere. The medical service lady caught me and wrapped me in a foil blanket and I looked at her and asked, "I know I finished in 6 hours and 17 minutes and this is after the cut off time but do I still get a big shiny medal?"

Hey big shiny medals are a priority here!! And she said yes you do. I was so excited!!So I walked up the chip station and they unlaced my chip and put the medal around my neck and I was crying again. I had done it! Something I never thought possible. And two years and one day after my cancer diagnosis.

Boston doesn't have my finish time, not to worry I email them and politely asked they just mark me as finished as the time does not matter to me, just that I did it.

Looking back, there were lessons learned, I've got enough endurance but my body was not prepared for the pounding, as I limp/hobble around today. Will I do this again?? Not sure ask me in a week, although during the race I told Matt to hit me over the head if I wanted to do this again and that I never wanted to run again and I hated running, etc... I need to find a better place to put my inhaler, I had it in a pocket on my lower back and my back is super bruised to the point here I can't sit back in a chair comfortably.

And a few final thoughts from along the race: I need to scrub my behind with a wire brush after all the port-a-potties I visited. Heartbreak hill wasn't nearly as bad as the long uphill into Bethlehem I run all the time. And I have to best husband in the entire world. I'm sure I'll have more to add to my blog later but that's all for now!

Sarah

Boston Race Story

2009-04-21T15:40:00.001-07:00

RESULTS!!!

2009-04-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Today was the big race day!!! Sarah finished in 6 hours and 17 minuets. Hurt knees and shiny medal, we're all proud. Thanks for all the support and encouragement. More to come from Sarah.

-J (Sarah's little bro)

Boston Day 2

2009-04-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

Today Lotte and met up with the director of Boston NOCC to get to know her and we went on a swam ride and saw the duckling statues.. super fun. Our friends came in from Michigan and we went to the north end for some super yummy italian dinner. Now i am just getting ready for bed.

Tomorrow is the big day (today was the day two years ago the words that would change my life forever were spoken "you have cancer")... there is no turning back from here all my hard work is about to pay off. Nervous you bet but more excited than anything.

Signing off for the last time as just Runner Girl, tomorrow and forever more Marathon Runner Girl!

Boston Day 1

2009-04-18T15:35:00.001-07:00

This morning we got up and headed into town to pick up my bib number and take in the expo here are the highlights:

*getting there and seeing the huge line of check in stations with people yelling for you to come and get your number here, go check your shirt over there, make sure you get it right the first time... after 15 minutes of wandering i made it through and got it right... one Marathon number picked up and my race shirt. A long sleeve tech shirt in bright yellow!

*the number of booths is just overwhelming... i could have spent hours trolling Matt wanted not so much of this plus its so crowded with the stroller.

*i begin to get road rage pushing the stroller, is this a real thing... what would you call it... no one will let me through and I'm tired of being polite and not running over people's feet (we've been battling the crowds an hour at this point)

*Ryan Hall will be here in 15 minutes!!

*Venturing off to find the official merch booth and discover the photo wall... Lotte and i get out pictures taken and put them at Wesley

*Buy Lotte a pink cowbell... she tries to eat it and then proceeds to annoy a whole crowd of people with her incessant ringing, i smile and so do they the tense shut your kid up looks, to which i'm giving the well let us through then look

*Stopped to buy Coach a thank you and Matt bought me a jacket!! Did the happy dance all over the place!!

*Must find bathroom again... have been consuming mass amounts of gatoraide... which by the way i bought not based on flavors but because the bottles say either "No excuses" or "Bring it"

*Finally find 5k check in... and bathroom again and out of the expo to take to the streets

*We find the finish line (2nd Ryan Hall Spotting still taking stalkerish picture of him) and wander to Uno's for food!

*Back up to New Hamshire for dinner and fun!

To Boston

2009-04-18T15:34:00.001-07:00

With the past weeks having been a little nutso with life and work yesterday we headed out for Bean Town. We're up at Matt's Uncle's in New Hampshire. Not a bad drive at all!!

The spirituality of sweat

2009-04-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like taking a run on a beautiful 80 degree day in sunny Houston TX and just sweating in a way that is not possible in where i live right now. its such a cleansing right it's almost spiritual!!

So Bogged Down

2009-04-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

So the trip to Houston was a lot of fun and a success!! And then it was back to the grind... for the readers who don't know me personally I'm a tax clerk so I've been on the busy side lately and will continue to be so for the next three weeks...

This just means i'll be slower to post and respond!!

Don't forget to reply to this if you'd like me to sign you up for Boston email and/or text alerts. Reply with the type and number or email as a comment to this post, as all comments must be moderated I'll delete it and no one else will see it but me :)

Ahhhh

2009-04-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

So i have this super huge secret! i've been planning a 4 day vacation for Lotte and Matt and i!! Matt has no idea... so while i have been running this week, not to worry i have been consumed with how to pull it off...

t-minus 1 hour to launch i'll let you know how it goes!!

Friendly Public Service Annocument

2009-04-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

There is this food from Cincinnati, OH called skyline chili. its darned good stuff and Wegman's sells cans of it. it works great for occasional colon cleansing if you know what i mean. i happened to consume some yesterday and take heed: i have eaten onions, garlic and then run 10 miles and never smelled as bad as i did this morning after two. its bad when you come home and your husband, whom is used to stinky you, wrinkles his nose and asks what you did/stepped in... it is that bad... its even worse than chemo stink... it was so bad i kept changing directions every time the wind did on my run so i could keep myself from throwing up from the stink of me.

Eat skyline again.. sure i will just won't be running the next day next time!

Runner Girl

2009-04-05T18:15:00.001-07:00

So this week was an off week as Lotte was sick all week so Matt and i took turns staying home with her... which threw off my running and at this point its a good thing its taper time so and extra day off or three doesn't hurt (as much).

Runner girl is my alter ego. The one who can race like a champ and i like to think i am... Runner girl kicks butt and never stops to walk and always does all of her workouts! Runner girl is the person i think people see when they look at me from the outside. Runner girl is who i strive to be!

Finding Bushes

2009-03-31T17:47:00.000-07:00

So i looked up on google and i ran 5 miles in 45 mins! Super proud of myself as this is much faster than i usually run!!

so earlier i was talking about throwing up while running today... lets talk about what a challenge it is to do this in a city. First you have to find a spot. A group of bushes and tree's where you can yack and not have someone step in it as that is the polite thing to do.

Second you have to wait til there are no cars/people coming. Which for me involves holding in it then jamming my fingers down my throat to get it over with as fast as possible.

Third is fleeing the scene before anyone notices.

if you happen to be one of the three people whom i 'gifted' today while running um thanks for having big bushes.

Like a Rolling Stone

2009-03-31T17:05:00.000-07:00

How does it feel? How does it feel to be on your own? A complete unknown? Like a rolling stone?

i believe those are the immortal words of Bob Dylan but since music trivia is not my thing i could also be wrong. That was the first song on my ipod today and the direction i took with my run, like a rolling stone. So i asked myself what would a rolling stone do. Roll downhill so downhill i ran and then up another so i could 'be like a rolling stone.'

Promise that i did not use any mind altering drugs sometimes i just like to feel the music and go where it takes me. Along with the ups and downs were the stops to throw up. Lotte was sent home from school today for projectile vomiting, while i would like to think i have what she does (really don't want this) i am pretty sure the issue was the 1/2 of pan of brownies i had for snack... So i ate half the pan but they were healthy brownies as i used the fat free mix, egg beaters instead of eggs and evoo instead of canola oil... so they aren't quite as yummy as the fattening ones but they make do.

All in all it was a nice just over and hour run and today i could feel myself running at a faster speed than i normally do... off to google map and see if i can figure just how far i went!

Sick Day

2009-03-30T13:26:00.000-07:00

Fortunately (or un depending on how you look at it) i got to take a half day at work. The dreaded phone call from Lotte's school 'She has a fever and threw up all over come get her.'

So off to her school i go, to the pediatrician, to the pharmacy and circling back to her school to drop off her i can come back tomorrow note. She went down for a nap and then what's a Mom to do...

Well going for a run is out as i can't really leave my house child services would frown on that... so i turn to the garden we started this weekend. i do some googling on how to keep the critters out and not ruin the organic thing... so obtain wolf urine was out as i don't have a handy i looked at what i did have on hand... daffodils and lots of them.

So a side note when we moved into our house we called it the enchanted forest as it was over-landscaped and over-grown. We have spent the last three years deforesting literally. it is now almost at a manageable level. Manageable level is: 6 flower beds by the patio, the triangle with 8 flower beds, the bigger triangle behind that with 1 bed, the garden, the no mans land behind the garden and that is just on the back side of the house. if you're overwhelmed already not to worry 90% of it is perennials.

So today i moved the daffodils out of the big triangle and around the garden, replanted the triangle with a ton of columbine seeds. Then inside i started 75 marigold plants and 75 sunflowers... so the plan is to border the garden with daffodils because critters don't like the taste of them and alternating with marigold as critters don't like the smell of them.

So the sunflowers are to put in no mans land to hopefully say to the critters come eat me and not the garden... yep so now that you've given up five minutes of your life to read a running blog not about running!

Running post to come later when Matt gets home to watch sickie and i get a break!! Until then camped out on the couch with her and baking me some brownies.... girls got to eat!!

BOSTON NUMBER!!

2009-03-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

My bib number is here and as while i would love to post it and my birth date online i know the age of cyber crimes this is not a good idea! So reply to the post with either a number to get text alerts or an email for that type of alert and i'll be more than happy to sign you up.

What do i get for signing up you ask?? Why alerts at 10k 1/2 30k and the end so in other words you can virtually watch me run all day!!

Balance

2009-03-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

Friday after a week of near sleepless nights we called the pediatrician, Lotte's been having allergy issues and because of this is up at night all the time. At the end of the tolerant parent rope i went looking for a immediate solution. 2.5 hours, 5 prescriptions, 2 bottles of formula and a referral to a specialist we were on our way home! i was having a complete breakdown at this point and called Coach to freak out and ask advice. Not sure if I've said this anywhere else but in Coach's spare time he is a ER Doc. He calmed me down in time to get ready for a Manor 40th Birthday Bash!! Good times were had by all!

All of this made me step back and take a look at things in my life and how focused i have been on running and Boston and nothing else. With a talk with Matt we decided to make it an easy weekend. I've spent the last not sure how many weekend working out for hours each day and was in severe need of some family time. So Saturday i was scheduled to swim 1.5 hours, instead i went to 1.5 hours of BounceU with Lotte and then after some shopping cleared a section next to the garage and added stuff to prep the soil for our organic garden this summer. Was it aerobic, BounceU could be argued to have been aerobic and the garden building may not have been aerobic but was definitely strength training and hurt places i don't normally.

Today i talked Matt into coming for a portion of my run with me. So we loaded Lotte in the Jogger and ran the 3 miles to BrewWorks ate and then ran/walked home just as the rain started. As i started typing it was hailing outside... chances of my heading back our for more of a run. Also since there is another line of storms coming i am content to stay right here on the couch.

So while Coach may be banging his head on the table I've had a great weekend and come tomorrow back to the originally scheduled program. And from now on i am going to try and find more balance between my running life and regular life!!

Runners Brain/Mommy Brain/Chemo Brain

2009-03-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

So i have come to the conclusion that while only 1 of the three is an actual medical condition the other two are just as bad if not worse. For those who don't know chemo brain can effect you in many different ways, my problem was the inability to form sentences. So i spent a lot of time texting because i could have a conversation and not feel stupid for it taking me an extra long time to put the words together. i would go days without saying anything more than monosyllable responses. Thankfully this is a temporary thing so the further out from treatment the less it was an issue (hasn't been an issue for a long time).

Moving on to Mommy brain, not remembering anything because you spend all your energy keeping up with your child(ren) it happens to the best of us. i think running on Mommy time goes right along with this one, in other words always 15 mins late.

Lastly Runners Brain, the inability to remember anything unrelated to your running/training schedule. i can tell you how many miles i've ran/workouts completed and schedule for the next week at the drop of a hat, when Lotte's next pediatrician appointment is not a chance leading to my next post...

Okay so one more thing...

2009-03-26T18:27:00.001-07:00

Lotte for those who don't know is my 19 month old daughter, the reason i am kicking today, it was my pregnancy with her that exposed my cancer, anyways she has been having allergy issues. She's on a gluten/wheat/lactose/dairy free diet... Looking for toddler friendly meal suggestions!! I've done a lot of googling already but would prefer things you've actually eaten and can say are good (some of the stuff is just plain gross) Thanks!!

What to talk about...

2009-03-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

So today i hit the elliptical for a fun 12 miler... oh what fun 12 continuous miles staring at the walls of the gym. Sure you can watch the TV or listen to music but that only gets you so far. So out of luck and the corner of my eye who do i see but Mr. Stairmaster!! He's been mia due to a knee injury for a month so i flagged him down and he came and took the machine next to me. it made for a much more enjoyable workout. Thanks i owe you one!!

Also today, before teaming up, i spent a good half an hour judging the people running on the treadmills at the gym. There is a row of about 12 of them in front of the row of elliptical's so i had a few 'victims' to choose from. i found myself pitting body part against body part. ironically with the most interest in who had the best calf muscles. Then i moved onto running form and finally onto shoes. So yes people do judge you at the gym just not for the things you think they are.

Moving onward... eating has become more of a chore than pleasure lately making sure i am taking in the right things and enough of them. So for dinner tonight i had the Ezekiel 4:9 pasta topped with stuffed pepper soup and a boat load of sharp cheddar cheese. The pasta was recommended by Road Warrior, although not sure if i cooked it right (should it be kind of not all the way soft when done). its good stuff!!

As you can see i am a bit all over the place today, lol. And this isn't even the half of what i came up with to right about in the shower. Good idea's come in the shower, not sure why but they do.

So a final thought of the day, i need some new songs and happen to have a Boss that has a huge song library. They need to be upbeat and fun! So the song list is open for suggestions and i promise not to judge but just hand it over to Boss to put on my shuffle!!

Why I hate trail running...

2009-03-25T17:24:00.000-07:00

i haven't done one of these posts in awhile!!

i am totally not a nature girl, i want to know when i can go back inside. i also think this is why i can run long distances on the treadmill and be okay. i hate running trails its like 'oh a tree, oh another tree that looks exactly like the last tree...' i loos focus in under 5 mins (okay so i'm a smidge ADD).

i like sidewalks, i like the city, i like running and discovering new streets and restaurants and places. i like the feeling of accomplishment for each sidewalk box i cross like checking off a tiny box on my way to the end. i like the stop lights for small breathers. i like seeing other people and saying hello. Give me hustle and bustle not briars and branches...

i secretly think i am breaking out in poison ivy every time i enter a wooded area and eye all plant suspiciously like they just might get me... i like how the streets help keep me accountable... in the woods there is no one to see if i walk on the streets there sure is... and not only do i look dumb walking with two hand held water bottles you know people i pass are secretly judging me 'wasn't that the runner girl from the paper why is she walking...'

All in all this former country girl (with both FFA and 4H awards to prove it) has hung up her boots (unless you count knee high stiletto's) and gloves and isn't looking back any time soon!

Catching up!

2009-03-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

i left on last Thursday (wow has it already been a week??)

Friday~ scheduled day off

Saturday~ My knee was feeling better so off to Jim Thorpe i went to run the 26 mile Lehigh Gorge Trail. JT is an interesting place, near one of the trail access points you pass though a Flying Aces Motorcycle Club compound... very nice scenery! i saw some sort of large bird (which for a min i though was a bald eagle til i saw its head was brown not white...), crawled out on a rock ledge which went to the middle of the river and took photo's (i need to figure out how to post pic's here...)they not so pretty was the running, i wanted my knee to fall off, i was texting Coach suggesting we cut it off and i run Boston on a peg leg similar to a pirates... his reply was keep running... so i did and it took me forever to run 13 miles and i was tired sore and cold and went home (did i mention it was 13 miles UPhill??)

Sunday~ waitress extraordinaire for the morning

Monday~ small accident with Lotte... no running due to overwhelming bad parent guilt! Okay so she might have eaten some cascade dishwasher soap... and i might have had to call poison control... but the moral is she is fine and no longer allowed to help me up groceries away!

Tuesday~ 1 hour slow paced run

Today~ i drove to Lotte's school and unloaded the jogger, then drove home ran back to Lotte's school picked her up and pushed her home, with a small stop to swing at the park, nice 8 miles.

I just saw it on CNN.com: No need to hang up your running shoes as you age

2009-03-25T17:13:00.000-07:00

(CNN) -- Amanda Wagner and Jessica Tuttle turn 50 this year, but they're not letting age hold them back from their favorite exercise: running. They've been lacing up their running shoes since their teens and show few signs of slowing down. Research on older runners suggests they may not have to.

Jessica Tuttle, 50, left, and Amanda Wagner, 49, have been running for more than 30 years.

"It's a little bit harder, but that's part of the challenge I think," says Wagner.

When she isn't traveling for her job at a pharmaceutical company, Wagner tries to get together with Tuttle for 45-minute pre-work runs three to five days a week. Tuttle, who is a medical epidemiologist at the Georgia Health Department, feels that running gets her day off to a good start.

"It really wakes me up in the morning," says Tuttle. "It gives me an edge when I go in to work."

Conventional wisdom holds that the pounding from years of running leads to excessive wear and tear on the body as we age, resulting in joint injuries, knee replacements or arthritis. So-called weekend warriors -- people who aren't in the type of shape needed to safely run sprints, dive for passes or make cuts on the basketball court -- add to this misconception when they hobble into their doctors' office after an injury.

But a study out of Stanford University that looked at healthy aging runners found that running did not damage joints or leave runners less able to exercise. Researchers discovered that if you're healthy and generally free of injury, there are few reasons to put away your running shoes, even into your 70s and 80s. Video Watch more on running as you age »

"Moderate [running], three to five miles at a time, three times a week will actually help your joints to be more resilient and function a little bit better," says Dr. Amadeus Mason at Emory Sports Medicine Center in Atlanta, Georgia. But he stresses that keeping the joints healthy in the first place may be the key to running longevity.

That includes not running through pain, and resting if you have an injury, something Tuttle takes seriously. "I try to rest maybe if I'm having some specific pain that seems to be over a couple of days," she says.

Mason also warns against running if you suffer from a chronic knee injury. In this case, the continuous pounding could accelerate damage and lead to arthritis. Instead, choose joint-friendly exercises such as swimming, walking or a workout machine such as the elliptical.

Even if you have remained healthy, as Wagner and Tuttle have, don't get overzealous and overdo it.

"The biggest risk that runners will face as they age, with regard to injury, is overtraining, by far," says Mason, who recommends giving yourself a day of rest between runs, or cross-training on the non-running days.

In addition, Mason advises wearing the proper footwear and making sure to stretch before and after a run.

Beyond the good news about aging joints, the Stanford researchers also discovered some surprising overall health benefits for senior runners when they compared them with non-runners of the same age: Those in the running group were less likely to die from heart trouble, stroke, cancer, neurological diseases or infection. Video Watch Dr. Gupta explain the study findings »

"The survival rate of the runners was again twice that of the controls," study author Dr. Eliza Chakravarty says. She says the findings were a surprise to the researchers.

Additionally, runners enjoyed a better day-to-day quality of life in old age than their more sedentary peers. "Members of the running group, it took them 16 years longer to reach certain levels of disability," says Chakravarty.

"Running is not the only thing that's going to make you live longer and be healthier; it's actually probably engaging in any kind of exercise that people enjoy," notes Chakravarty. "It's never too late to start incorporating regular exercise into your routine ... health benefits can last for decades."
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But running is still the exercise of choice for Wagner and Tuttle, who have remained relatively injury-free throughout their 30-year running careers. The women don't plan to hang up their running shoes any time soon.

"I really can't imagine not running; it's that much a part of my life," says Wagner. "And I do expect and hope to be running when I'm 60 and when I'm 70 -- I truly do."

Coping Philly to LA on Foot Again!

2009-03-19T17:04:00.000-07:00

So here i am copying again! but whats not to like?? He has articulate posts that i wasn't enough creative to come up with!! And He was totally nice enough to answer my email about a blogger question and we're running the same race on May 3rd aka LV 1/2 Marathon!

Once again my thoughts are in bold:

What people say to runners (in no particular order):

1. I only run when I'm being chased. Pretty sure i haven't seen you on cops which means you never run
2. Did you enjoy your jog? Um yes and no really no good answer here i like to run but my runs now are not for pleasure but rather i must push myself at all times making it not so fun but the again i do enjoy exploring and running new streets tossup here
3. You know, the guy they named the marathon after died at the end. Which one is this??
4. You run voluntarily? Yep there isn't anyone chasing me with a cattle prod or anything although Coach threatened to follow me with a golf cart and bullhorn...
5. How can you eat half a pizza and still look that good? Running is 500 calories or so per hour... run for 18 miles like last weekend that's 2000 calories give or take to replace in addition to the regular 2000 you need per day
6. How can you run when it's that cold? i hate to sweat
7. How can you run when it's that warm? Not sure yet... treadmill perhaps
8. You ran a 5K/10K/half-marathon? I could never run that far. Most people out there could totally walk a 10k over a day at Disney and never know it...
9. I just don't have the time to run. You make time when its important to you
10. You ran the entire time? Mostly i still don't have the GU and run coordination down so i walk while i GU
11. Why would you do that to your body? it's totally good for my body
12. Don't you get bored? Nope you'd never believe the things i see while i run
13. Can't you just run on the treadmill at the gym? Sure can and do but you won't see a castiron dog taking a poo there
14. I hear running's bad for your knees/back/hips/other body part, which is why I don't do it. i hear stilling on the couch doing nothing is bad for you heart/lungs/causes weight gain then joint issues etc....
15. (after telling them how far you ran) Wow. I can barely drive that far. And i though Americans could not reach a new level of lazy apparently i was wrong
16. Aren't there easier ways to lose weight? Because the 48 hour miracle diet totally works.. yeah until you start eating again!

So why do we do it? For me, it's my favorite running quote: There will be a day when you can no longer do this. Today is not that day. There are days when i crawled to the bathroom... today is not that day, tomorrow will not be that day. And cancer if you even think of coming back expect this girl to come out swinging!

Naked Running

2009-03-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

So i have come to the revelation that much to my shock i am a naked runner... lol that mean not totally naked but minimal clothes for running. i hate to sweat and the more clothes i wear the more i sweat so yes i am that person outside/at the gym in 34 degree weather wearing shorts and a sports bra... although i do have to say prior to this past month i was the total opposite... this is what mass working out does to your body!

i went from always being cold and never wearing shorts in the summer because it was to cold to running outside in shorts at 30 degrees... Here to hoping this all levels out soon!

PS the preface for this whole naked running as the naked bike riding protest which i am totally not doing but is kind of funny... coming soon to a city near you! http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/ Link not safe for work or children!!!

Copy Cat

2009-03-18T20:24:00.001-07:00

Meow! Since i am off running for a few days to give me knee time to rest (not to worry did 60 min spin and rowed after) expect more life posts this week... so i borrow this from someone who commented on my blog and in turn i became a follower of theirs... hence the copy cat thing... (i added my comments in bold)

You Might Be a Runner If...

1. You're pleased to find a cheap pair of running sneakers for $100. This is so true
2. It's 50 degrees out and you are psyched to finally run in shorts while everyone else is still wearing pants and long-sleeved shirts. Yeah i hate sweating so i break out the shorts at 33 degrees
3. Wiping snot on your sleeve doesn't phase you anymore. Nor does picking and flicking boogers that is
4. A tree off the main road is quite private. Never gone there
5. All of your birthday/Christmas gifts are running related. Or tri related in my case
6. You only wear "wicking" fabrics and can't remember the last cotton shirt you bought. Total snob here i don't race for anythvng less than a tech shirt
7. A significant portion of your wardrobe is race t-shirts. Not significant but they are all tech shirts see above
8. You wear long-sleeved shirts under your racing shirts in the winter so you can wear them all year long. Not so much...
9. You find yourself frequently flexing your calves just in case someone notices. ironically i do do this....
10. You wear shorts even when it's too cold for them just so you have an extra opportunity to flex. Very probable
11. You crave toast with peanut butter. Totally eat this every day
12. You refer to the machine at the gym as the "dreadmill". No because i am addicted to watching Jim Rome and Around the Horn while running at the gym... loves me some ESPN who would have guessed??
13. A "short run" is 5 miles. A long run is anything longer than 15 miles. Very true
14. You've done more than 15 minutes of research on lactate threshold. Coach knows all this so i just don't bother but i know what it is
15. You feel a need to tell non-runners about lactate threshold. Not so much
16. You've gone through more boxes of pasta during training than you have for the rest of your life. Eat it every day Barilla in the yellow box
17. You finally fit into that pair of pants. They are totally all falling off me currently

I could go on and on and on. But you get the point. We runners have an odd kinship with one another. We get the eccentricities and we understand how terrible GU can be sometimes. But we suck it down and hit the roads. Tri berry is the BEST GU even though you still need to make the mandatory GU face

http://www.phillytolaonfoot.com/

Knee issue

2009-03-17T19:12:00.000-07:00

So i am experiencing some knee issues and have to not do impact workouts for a few days ie no running... so i am having a pretty big freak out needless to say...

A post from a fellow survivor:

2009-03-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

This comment was left by a fellow survivor and i wanted to share it more publically! Thank you and congrats on 7 years...

What an inspiring story Sarah. You took a terrible situation and turned it into a positive in your life and the lives of others. We have more than ovarian cancer in common - we have the same gyn/oncologist. I was diagnosed almost 7 years ago and I'm forever grateful for his presence in my life.

My husband and I were in his waiting room one day and I remember seeing a very young woman in obvious distress, accompanied by her husband who toted a baby carrier that was holding a very young infant. My heart went out to them and I said a prayer that they would get through this awful time. After reading the article in the paper I knew that you were the same young woman I'd seen a couple of years before and I was thrilled to see a renewed spirit and determination.

I'll also be sending a donation to help you reach your goal of running in the Boston Marathon. I had to post to let you know how terribly proud I am of you and what you're doing. I'll continue to keep track of your progress and pray that your marathon experience is everything you hoped it would be.
Prayers and Peace.....

Happy Post!

2009-03-16T18:56:00.000-07:00

Phew after two downer posts some happy posting time!!

i can't remember the last time i wrote about my workouts!!

Friday off and had a awesome evening with the fab five Mommies! Welcome to our newest member!!

Saturday a hour and a half run

Sunday 18 miles in just under 4 short hours

Today 5k run on 5.0 incline and then 60 min spin class!

For a Friend

2009-03-16T18:54:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine who is a super cheerleader asked me today to keep her sil in my prayers and i ask the same of you. His name is Scott and he's fighting ALS. http://www.alsa.org/

Just a few things...

2009-03-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

i really have yet to post much on this cancer thing and how much it for lack of better word sucks. it sucks that it happens and a young ages. it sucks that so many people fall victim to it...

On a parenting board that i frequent i am very open to answering any questions about my experiences (okay open to this anywhere) and Mama messaged me about recently being diagnosed with stage 3c colon cancer at age 34. About the same time my mom's group buddy Ciao Bella's husband was diagnosed with the same thing, same age.

Though i watch Ciao Bella's husband on a more visual level go through his struggle, i kept in contact with the other Mama... cancer is without heart and it's picky and choosey in who lives and who dies. For Ciao Bella's husband his battle has been won, with today being his post chemo 'i'm all clean' pet scan. For the Mama yesterday her battle was lost.

Two such young people, two different outcomes, same age, same diagnosis... cruel is cancer, playing god and deciding who lives and who dies...

This is why i run, i raise money, i raise awareness and share my life so openly... so that others may not ever have to experience what i did, Ciao Bella's family did or most horrifying Mama's family.

My heart aches for Mama's family and i pray that her life will not have been in vain that something that was the difference between her and Mr. Ciao Bella can be discovered in order for there to be better outcomes in the future.

i when was diagnosed signed up for every single study on ovarian cancer that i could so they could learn from my case (seriously i went in and they took 12 vials of blood for all the different ones). i encourage others to do so as well that one day soon we may find a cure!

Friendly Public Service Annocument

2009-03-15T17:57:00.000-07:00

As you know i have taken to the streets for my long runs (18 miles today) and have noticed a disturbing trend.... dog poo all over the side walks!!! Not only is this gross its unsanitary.... apparently others have noticed this problem as well as i saw several signs asking people to clean up after their dog and even a cast iron dog taking a poo with the word 'NO' on it... so please people pick up after your pets! Make the sidewalks a less smelly place!!

Love, Me

How Can You Watch Me Run??

2009-03-15T17:53:00.001-07:00

A comment was left by a fellow ovarian cancer survivor asking how you can watch me run... if your in Boston the day of the race I'll post my bib and wave number as soon as i get them. if you would like virtual alerts by email or cell phone (this is for those either not there that day or for more accurate tracking) please send me your email address as a comment to this message and i will not publish it (i approve all comments before they are published on the blog)... which means only i can see the email so the whole world doesn't have it!

Easter Bunny Breakfast!!

2009-03-15T05:19:00.000-07:00

Sunday March 22 at Applebees on Catty/Airport Rd 8 to 10am

All you can eat pancakes and sausage and appearances by the Easter Bunny

Adults are $5, Children 10-2 $2, Under 2 are free!!

Come support us as we run!

Donation Link

2009-03-15T05:18:00.001-07:00

http://www.tinyurl.com/support-sarah

Morning Call Article

2009-03-15T05:17:00.000-07:00

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-b4_5marathon2.68135862mar15,0,4561090.story

Euphoria...

2009-03-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

Tuesday~ 10 miles was the plan... small babysitting hickup and it was more like 7.5 pushing Lotte the jogger... worst run ever... more painful than running 18 miles

Wednesday~ 1 set of intervals, 60 min spin class, 1 more set of intervals and then ed ball 400

Today~ 12 mile run, for the first time in ever on a long run i reached a place where i was one with the run and the run was one with me. i kept at it plugging away going mile after mile. Not thinking about how far i had to go but instead picking out something every 50 yards or so and concentrating on that until i was almost there and then picking the next thing. i also had my best run time ever running in 2 hours and 25 mins. Yea Me!!!!

Personal Highlkights of the Past 2 Weeks

2009-03-09T19:49:00.001-07:00

*set the bathroom on fire only casualty was a towel...

* Lotte got her first doll

*discovered my car key only works in the ignition and not the doors... yeah...

*dinner with the Foxes

*new weight set for Matt and i

*lost a toenail... curse of runners feet!

Behind

2009-03-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

Ugh....

Thursday: More intervals

Friday: off

Saturday: 10k (should have been longer.. stupid car, stupid one key, stupid doesn't unlock the car doors just starts it which leads to borrowing someone's child to help me unlock the door).

Sunday: 18 mile run (took a little kick in the pants from Coach and Canuck but i did it in tow segments)

Today: 1.5 hour swim and med ball 400

Just catching up

2009-03-04T17:21:00.000-08:00

So behind (the story of my life!)

Sunday 1 hour swim, 1 hour bike

Monday 10k run, this was all over the place, i was in the wrong hr level and ended up puking three times stopping driving home and finishing the run in 10 degree weather pushing Lotte in the jogger in the fresh snow! And then Med Ball 400!

Tuesday 15 mins of plyometric's and 15 min easy jog.

And today 7 sets of jog/sprint intervals then 1 hour of spin class then Med Ball 400!

Coach's email with my weeks workouts was titled 'Time For Pain' he wasn't kidding!

Off to hot shower, stretch and dope myself up!

Long Run Fun

2009-02-28T15:10:00.000-08:00

Today i was scheduled to do a 15 mile run, that is not exactly what went down.... i was running the 6.18 mile lv parkway loop (according to mapmyrun.com) and things were going swell. i rounded off the first lap like nothing (this was so good for me with cold air breathing problems) The second lap was going decently as well, around mile 10 i was starting to hobble, but kept pushing. Coach gave me very strict instructions that i had to finish this and no stopping!!! So onward i went, by mile 12 i was full out limping and made the educated decision to call it a day.

My pace was slightly faster than last weeks long run, and it was the first one not on a treadmill, so i'm pretty happy with myself. in addition i wore my new under armor socks (in teal no less to match my teal Boston outfit) and for the first time came out of the long run with no blisters!!!! They must be magic socks as this is the 5th type i have tried.

For next weeks long run, lesson learned: the parkway is next to the river and all paths slope slightly towards the river, so to keep the hobble thing from happening again i need to run one lap on way and the next lap the other way!

Fab Friday

2009-02-28T15:07:00.000-08:00

Friday's are my 'off' days which means no aerobic exercise but it doesn't mean i am off the hook completely. i had to do the men's health med ball 400 workout. Want a good core workout?? this is what you have been looking for! i started this week with a 4lb ball but am on the hunt for a 6lber to upgrade to in the near future. The bast part is this was designed for the UNC mens basketball team, of whom i happen to be a big fan! Cannot wait for March Madness!!!!

The mental/spiritual side

2009-02-25T19:17:00.000-08:00

Cancer is a very spiritual journey. Knowing and believing with all your being that the treatments that nearly kill you will make you better is a very important part of success. Whether you follow God, Allah or Budda to principal remains the same, that there is a higher power and that power can heal you. You get better and suddenly that higher power gets put on the back burner til they are needed again. i decided to move on this not in a time of need being the proactive gal i am.

Today is the beginning of the Lenten season and Lotte and i went to mass following gym. During homily Father B talked about the three most important things: Sacrifice of time, olms and prayer. So as i examine my life there is not much left for me to 'give up' i don't have any real vices so what is a girl to do? Look at the three things from mass. So time, i can't tell you the last time we made it to mass, so i am going to go to mass every week; olms, when attending i'll put some in the collection plate (also something i don't know the last time i did); and lastly the prayer meditation part... i am going to get up (ugh i hate mornings) and spend 15 mins with my thoughts and my wii fit yoga to think about life and 'center myself' with all parts of my life....

Hopefully these are not to lofty of goals!!!

The beginning of the home stretch

2009-02-25T19:13:00.000-08:00

So i met Coach at the gym Tuesday to do max heart rate testing and that was oh so fun. Coach was really rooting to see me vomit at the gym, too bad for him the worst thing that happened was something i would call an 'urp... you know when your burp and throw up in your mouth a little. So based on all that fun he started me on a new training schedule.

Based on that today i ran a 5k in 35:55 at a 1.0 incline and then went to 34 mins of spin class... oh the fun!

Why I hate walking to the locker room...

2009-02-23T18:35:00.000-08:00

Figure i owe at least one of these posts!

My least favorite part of workouts is the part where i walk back to the locker room. On the way i pass the wall of mirrors and have the chance to scrutinize my every flaw. Not withstanding the fact that after a hard workout my thighs just seem to expand... not sure the physics of that one but in any event it just blows... all the hard work and seeing less results than when i showed up.... ugh!

Catching Up

2009-02-23T18:20:00.000-08:00

Lets see i haven't written since last Wednesday ugh life just has a way of running away from me. So the short and dirty version... Thursday was my long run, Friday i took off, Saturday i went for a nice 5 mile jog which brings me to Sunday.... So Coach ordered me to run a 1/2 (aka 13.1 miles) last week to see how my training was coming and i finally did (while watching HSM 3 don't judge!) and i had to run at a treadmill level of 1.5 (usually i run at 0.0)... so off to the neighbors garage i went to run and run and run. it took me a little over 3 hours meaning we have serious work to do!!!

So today i went to spin aka easy day and tomorrow i'm meeting coach to do some fun heart rate max tests and other run things... just don't eat anything after lunch he says or you'll puke... just station me on the treadmill next to the garbage can i say.... should be all kings of fun... especially if Canuck does come to watch and laugh at me like she plans, lol.

i broke it

2009-02-19T18:46:00.000-08:00

Yes those were the word coming out of my mouth after running 6.97 miles in 1 hour 23 mins and 30 second, a ere 30 seconds away from completing y 7 mile run today the treadmill stops. i hit all the buttons and nothing so i haul my behind down to the desk to try and explain to the staff that somehow i've broken their treadmill and hope they don't end my membership and/or bill me. So the guy follows me back up to the treadmill and low and behold the emergency thingy came unmagneted and it was fine (how any made up words in that sentence i count 2 at least lol).

As for everything else Sunday was rough, Monday was rough but i made it for a 45 min walk wit Chao Bella and our kids and to MMM and to lunch. i was sick again Monday night. Matt was sick Monday day.... are you noticing a theme there ugh stupid daycare super germs.

Tuesday was my day off and yesterday i ran 3 miles at the 5 mph pace... ans that should bring us back up to speed!

Easter Bunny Breakfast!!

2009-02-15T13:56:00.000-08:00

Come have breakfast with the Easter Bunny and help raise $$ for NOCC/Boston!! March 22nd 8 to 10 am at the Applebee's on Catty in Bethlehem.

Tickets for adults are $5, children 10 and under $2 and children under 2 are free!!! Breakfast is pancakes, sausage, juice and coffee!

Post here or email me for tickets!!! sarah.heydinger@gmail.com

PS if your child has fear of the Easter Bunny not to worry he'll be confined to a corner!

Why I dread kids parties...

2009-02-15T13:46:00.000-08:00

So as the parent of an 18 month old (officially yesterday) we're regularly invited to kids events. As much as i love my child and the child for whom the event is for i dread going.... for those non-parent's out there, there is nothing like a room full of toddlers hopped up on sugar to make you never want kids ever.

i adore the neighbor who's birthday we went to today at Chuck-e-cheese (never ever going to this place again well until the next party there in like two weeks) and the rest of the neighbor kids are all super sweet (sure they all have moments but are good kids all in all). But the other 150 screaming children was a little much, especially after being up throwing up the night before..... oh and Lotte throwing up all over herself and the table there....

Anyways Happy Birthday shout out's to the party boy! i hear 2 is the best and here are a few quotes from the from the party boy: "La, la la la Elmo's worlds" and "Charlotte, no hit" and "Boce, boce (spelling unsure of Syrian word for kiss).

Thanks for sharing...

2009-02-15T13:37:00.000-08:00

Lotte was kind enough to once again share her germs with me!

Friday night we had the photo shoot for the family shots for newspaper article, which did not make the deadline for today so it'll be in next Sunday's paper.

Valentines day had a slow start for me. i was up during the night with super bad heartburn (note i haven't had heartburn since prego with Lotte and no i am not prego). That should have been my first clue, Sat morning i was feeling a little nauseous, so i had a martini last night maybe that was too much.... i drug myself (literally) to spin class and made it 45 mins before i stopped because i was no longer sure i could keep myself from throwing up and being clipped in to a bike is not a good place have this feeling happen.

From there i went to the farmers market for my Saturday ritual, Lotte's milk and fresh fruits and veggies.

By the afternoon i could no longer eat or drink and it was all i could do to keep from running to the bathroom. i made it through bookcase shopping and birthday present shopping and then came home where Matt felt pity and made me plain rice to eat.

1/2 hour later let the toilet pyrotechnics's begin... didn't i just have this a month ago???? Ugh so another long night hugging the toilet but at least it wasn't as bad as last time... thanks for sharing Lotte!!

Failure is not an option

2009-02-12T17:01:00.000-08:00

Today started on low note, well a gross note. i went to get Lotte from her crib and she looked up at me and said 'M'ma utoh' famous last words. Yea she was laying in a pile of vomit. (i hate vomit anything to do with vomit and am the biggest sympathy puker ever). So i strip her and into the tub she goes, Matt is charged with cleaning up her bed. Three hair washed later and she still smells, ugh, so i go for the no tangle spray in an attempt to cover the smell.

So i stayed home with her and was useless all day, pretty much. i went to the gym for a run, 7 miles was the schedule and that did not happen, i made it 3. i just could not get my head in the game. i was worried about Lotte throwing up in gym day care. i know there can be no excuses and i need to get my head in the game.

So here is were you come in... i need to go tomorrow before work to the gym, that means feel free to call and make sure i am up at 4:45am!!!!

Onward

2009-02-11T16:37:00.000-08:00

So the usual so far this week... spin on Monday off on Tuesday and 3 mile run today.... i have a long run tomorrow and think i am going to run before work... despite my hate of mornings i will be more focused.

Why I hate winter

2009-02-11T16:31:00.000-08:00

Winter is the most miserable time of the year, yeah so there is that moment when it snows the first time and it's all cute until you have to shovel... i hate cold and slush and yuck and grey skies... i hate being cooped up inside all the time and having to run on the treadmill all the time.

Grey Beard

2009-02-09T18:48:00.000-08:00

So there is this old man i always see at the gym pool. i call him Grey Beard because of his Grey Beard and gold hoop earing,and is big boned it seems appropriate....

Anyways for your mental picture laugh of the day... yesterday while running laps in the pool he was walking.. picture savvy me running and getting lapped by Grey Beard... yeah that happened.... he overtook me, passed on the inside and nearly took me out with his wake (it was enough to go over the rim of the pool which is a good 10 inches above the surface)

Guess the tortoise does beat the hare....

Manic Monday

2009-02-09T17:48:00.000-08:00

Just another Manic Monday, Wish it was Sunday that's my fun day..... lol well aybe wish it was Tuesday that's my off day... Just the usual spin class!!

Weekend Workouts

2009-02-08T18:32:00.000-08:00

Yesterday i hit up my fav spin class with Mrs. Fox. Today i had a long run scheduled and i kind of did it....

i ran three miles on the treadmill got bored and then decided to run three miles in the pool... so yea... my legs hurt like they have never before and Coach still say i cheated... bah

Coach does know best... silly OCD me should listen to him a bit more often....

Fun Filed Weekend

2009-02-08T18:25:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we had a double baby shower for two of the neighbors. Which with the group of ladies here its always a blast! Then Last night we went out to dinner for Mrs. Fox's birthday, even more fun and food.

This morning was the annual tsts planning brunch. Had a great time talking about this season and races. it's always good to see my fellow TSTSers!!!

And the most important thing... we finally got our Wii!!!!

See where the priorities lie around here, lol, now i just need to track down a Wii fit....

Oh yes and i must also mention i love my husband very much and am super happy he fixed our tub/shower!!! Thanks honey!!!

Woo Hoo i'm Official!!!!!

2009-02-07T18:55:00.000-08:00

So i just got this email from Boston AA...

113th Boston Marathon

Dear Sarah B. Blakeley,

This is to notify you that your entry into the 113th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, 2009 has been accepted, provided that the information you submitted is accurate.

You can verify your acceptance into the field by searching the 113th Boston Marathon "Entrants" database on the B.A.A. web site, www.baa.org/2009/cf/Public/EntryLists.cfm. Additionally, an acceptance postcard will be mailed to you via US Postal Service mail.

In early April 2009, an official Number Pick-up Card and extensive information regarding the B.A.A. Boston Marathon and related race week activities will be mailed to you via US Postal Service first class mail. If you do not receive your Number Pick-up Card (required to claim number) and brochure by April 11, please contact our Registration Office at registration@baa.org. Registration related inquiries may also be directed to 508-435-6905.

Note that bib numbers will not be distributed on Race Day. Your travel arrangements should take into account picking up your number at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston on Friday, April 17 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., or Saturday, April 18 or Sunday, April 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you in April! Best of luck in your training!

Sincerely,

Boston Athletic Association

That's right if you go onto their site and search 2009 entrants my name now comes up!!! Pretty darned cool!!

Donation Report!!

2009-02-06T18:34:00.000-08:00

So i am at $650 give or take a bit and need to get to $3,000, so please take a sec a give a few to a awesome cause!!!

http://www.tinyurl.com/support-sarah

Blog Setting Changes...

2009-02-06T18:32:00.000-08:00

So i changed my setting and you no longer need an account to leave a comment, i however have to approve all comments now! So come out of the wood work and comment away lurkers!

Fridays Rock

2009-02-06T18:24:00.000-08:00

So today's run seemed to take forever, i was so excited for the weekend to begin i couldn't get done running fast enough. For the first time today i managed to get to the gym without forgetting anything. Yea me! Just your average 3 mile run at the 5.0 pace. The last 1/4 mile i sprinted to start lowering my times and build speed.

Just want to give a shout out to Mr. Stairmaster (you know who you are!) he's a loyal reader and he always tells me i inspire him. Well Mr's SM just want to let your know your dedication to the step machine inspires me because you don't catch my lazy behind on that machine ever!

Same story next day

2009-02-05T17:29:00.000-08:00

So yesterday i forgot my top today it was my shoes, yeah there was no way around this so home i went to get my shoes. Had an awesome 6 mile run with no breaks, no stopping and no walking at my fav 5.0 pace!!! Yea me!!

And Continuing with the OCD my OCD run

2009-02-04T17:03:00.000-08:00

i have a very specific list of things i take with me up to the treadmill every day: 1 bottle of water, 1 bottle of gatoraide, 1 power bar, my phone, a hand towel and my inhaler. i do this because it keeps me from finding excuses to leave the treadmill and cut my workout short, i have everything i could possibly need right there and always in the same place of course.

So today as a result of the snow falling/pants changing i never finished packing my gym bag and forgot my sports bra/top. Digging in the bag of stuff i haul to the gym i find my lap swimsuit, yeah i might as well run topless.... next... uh nothing. i settle for the bra i am currently wearing, victoria secrets pushup thank you very much and the undershirt i wore to work. i tighten the straps all the way thinking that'll hold those puppies in place (never do this... seriously should see the raw marks on my shoulders).

improvised outfit and all my junk off to the treadmill i go. i was getting in a pretty good run and had gone 2.26 miles at the 5 mph pace when my shoe is suddenly untied. i am struggling to continue the workout at this point due to.... uh well... i really need to use the facilities... Shoe tied i start running again and make swipe at towel to wipe my face, miss and hit the 'stop' button. So i come to a screeching halt, somehow manage not to completely fall (near miracle there). i am so irate at this point, i am tired of squeezing my butt cheeks together and want to quit but being the sadist i am i instead turn the treadmill up as punishment for my idiocy and run the remaining .74 miles at 5.5mph and raced my behind off to the bathroom....

Somewhere during all of this (okay right after hitting the stop button) i left out a loud 'dammit' so not a person in the place missed my show.... so much for that i'll have to find a new gym... just kidding

Why I am OCD

2009-02-04T16:52:00.000-08:00

This should really be titled all about my ocd but that would stray from the 'Why' topic and my need for order disallows this.

So those who know and love me are used to my ocd, i am not super ocd but i tend to be neurotic about doing things the same way all the time and get miffed when it doesn't go that way. These are some examples of how i like things.... you'll understand this whole thing more when i get to posting about my workout today.

Oh and we're not even getting into my food issues related to ocd that is a whole other long post. So i get up and do the exact same things in the same order every morning, give or take a smidgen due to Lotte. This morning i was off because i left my snow boots at work yesterday and so had to tackle scraping the car in my dress shoes. End results me falling in the snow multiple time and needing to change pants and being late for work. This threw off the whole day making it not a good one.

LVRR Superbowl 10k

2009-02-01T11:23:00.000-08:00

So going into this race i had wanted to run it under and hour this was the goal. After being sick and missing all of last weeks workouts the goal became to finish without dying, a little bit different.... This was supposed to be my big i ran the whole thing and can totally take Boston Race... yea in need of another race!

So i managed to keep a steady pace up until i saw mile marker one, what is it about races that the first mile is by far the longest...., and proceeded to have a coughing fit. From there one it was hard to tall if i did more coughing or walking as it seemed to go from one to the other. But i finished in 1 hour and 26 mins. And i had 2 of the MMM with me, one of them Chow Bella (unsure but this should be the Italian spelling)... jogged right along with me as i walked most of the race and kept giving me encouragement the whole way.

Lessons learned: 1. Racing while sick not a good plan. 2. Cheerleaders make a huge difference thanks so much to Chow Bella and Mrs. Kangaroo. 3. i need a new training plan to kick my butt a bit harder and already called Coach to ask for one!

Until tomorrow napping, watching the superbowl and bed!

Crawled back on the bike

2009-01-31T17:42:00.000-08:00

So i did crawl back to the gym to loosen my legs up before the race tomorrow and after not doing anything all week.... superbowl 10k here i come!

Donate to my cause!!

2009-01-31T17:21:00.000-08:00

http://www.tinyurl.com/support-sarah

So the sickness continues...

2009-01-31T17:09:00.000-08:00

Lotte had a super high fever and was out of school Thursday and Friday. Matt stayed home Thurs and i did on Fri. By Thurs my virus progress to an infection of some sort and one of the fab five mommies hooked me up with the pa in her office, three nose sprays and a nice chat with a fellow runner and i was on my way. Since then i have slowly been crawling back to health, today i made it all day without needing and nap and i am no longer contagious!! Woo hoo which means i got to see Chip and Dale's Baby P again, nothing like two week old baby smell!! And she is oh so cute!!

Tomorrow i have the super bowl 10k aka 6.2 miles. My goal was to run at the 5.0mph pace meaning finishing at about 1 hour 12 mins, give or take a bit for the .2, we'll see how this works out with my sickness....

The diseased state continues.....

2009-01-28T09:48:00.000-08:00

So while i am better than the 102 fever yesterday i am still dragging pretty hard core. it snowed about five inches then sleeted, and is currently freezing raining so a whole lot of yuck but in good news i was paid to take the day off without using sick time!! Even better!!

Anyways today's workout is so not happening b/c 1. i feel like crap 2. i can't get to the gym in this mess 3. i am so not running while sick in sleet!

Off to nap!

Offically Virus Ridden

2009-01-27T11:55:00.000-08:00

Good news no infection, bad news some super ucky virus but should be fine in a few days... guess til then Matt can keep on laughing at me fr wearing my sunglasses to watch tv at night b/c its too bright!

Sickness invades again...

2009-01-27T10:47:00.001-08:00

So Lotte has pink eye and I'm home with her today and she has been so kind to share her cold with me which has elevated into a major sinus issue so off to the doc we go!

Missed yesterdays cross due to Lotte's needing to be picked up and go to the doctor and then the pharmacy for her eyes, ugh, but she does come first!

Possibly running later today, even though its my off day....

Sucking at life

2009-01-25T10:17:00.001-08:00

Today was one of those workout where i just couldn't get my head in the game. i was all over the place and generally just sucking. So i quit and went home after 3 miles instead of 7. My new plan is to move long runs to Saturdays in hopes that i can get past this mental block. I'm meeting Canuck for coffee here in a bit so, maybe just maybe after that I'll give running outdoors a shot in penance for my earlier failure to complete.

A little bit faster now

2009-01-25T10:13:00.000-08:00

SO Friday i did my 3 miles at 5.2 instead of 5.0 which in real terms means each mile was 20 seconds faster, not a lot when your thinking in terms of 3 miles but in 26 its 4 hours and 56 mins to the finish instead of 5 hours and 12 mins....

5, 5 mile, 5 miles is long

2009-01-22T16:50:00.000-08:00

Today i did my 5 mile run and finished! Not only did i finish i did so in 1 hour and 30 seconds, just 30 seconds over my goal time. i only stopped to walk for 1 min three times all after the three mile mark. So proud of myself. Yea me! Tomorrow is a three miler and i plan to step the speed up a bit from 5.0 to 5.2.

Passed all my Tests!

2009-01-22T16:47:00.000-08:00

Got the results from my oncology blood work checkup and i passed! Woo Hoo! Also as it turns out i have really good numbers for cholesterol and triglycerides. The tri's were 38, to which the nurse said that's the lowest she has ever seen!

Blah

2009-01-21T18:38:00.000-08:00

Life has a way of being slow when i have time and super busy when i don't. We seem to have settled into our new routine and are doing well around! i had my oncology checkup this week and 'passed' all my tests, another three months in the clear making it 1 year, 1 month and 18 days. Cheers to this whole cancer free thing!!

Why I love Cats

2009-01-21T18:35:00.000-08:00

Okay so those in the know know i am a total cat person! i love cats because they are so cute and cuddly and warm and furry. They know when i am upset and come sit on y lap, the snuggle with me when i am down and i don't have to take them for walks when its 3 degrees out. i can go away for the weekend and not get a pet sitter and they are just fine. They also seem to know when i need space and stay away. They are silly when i need to laugh and yes if Husband would let me I'd be the crazy cat lady!

Week so far

2009-01-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

Monday there was a frickin billiard and i didn't make it to spin. Tuesday was off, Why i post coming right up.

Today was 3 miler and i am very proud to say not only did i complete the whole 3 miles i ran the entire time without any breaks, a first for me!! Yea me!! i also figured out a way to motivate myself to finish workouts, food, yeah i get to indulge in a guilty pleasure for every workout i complete. Today it was a whopper, that's a once every onth thing, but on a regular basis things like bagels and mac & cheese. You know the fattening foods you love, but don't allow yourself to eat, or at least i don't. i figure i need a few hundred extra calories per day so why not use this as my motivation!!

Congrats!!

2009-01-18T09:01:00.000-08:00

Congrats to one of the fab five couples, Chip and Dale, on the addition of Baby P this morning!! So excited and can't wait to meet her later today!!!

Long Run Day

2009-01-18T08:58:00.001-08:00

So today was a long run day. Everything went pretty well with the exception of me completing the distance, sigh, again i know! i did go for 4.5 miles and then the hamstring thing started up again. On the advice of my 'thon advisor E i stopped while i was ahead... tomorrow is cross which helped a ton between today and Friday so hoping it gets even better after spin tommorrow!!

Give me all your money

2009-01-17T14:59:00.000-08:00

So i have raise $80 out of $5,000... yeah i need some help!! Would love your donations/suggestions for fundraisers/anything you can think of to help out!

Donate here!!!

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=277980&lis=0&kntae277980=E5D313CFC0A84DF0AFB0F637B24B2719&supId=244321506

The rest of the week's workouts in review

2009-01-17T14:55:00.000-08:00

So Wednesday went awesome. Thursday i just could not focus and went for 12 mins and then just couldn't seem to get it together to run longer. Friday V ran for 15 mins and was going strong and all the suddent had sharp shooting pains in my right hamstring so i stopped. it wasn't a muscle cramp pain it was a weird pain, so to prevent injury stopped while i was ahead. Today was scheduled as'off' but due to hamstring issue i went to spin class to stretch my hammy's in a different motion. Seems to of worked as i no longer have the pain while walking!

Big props to Mrs. Fox! We drank a little wine last night while the boys went out, by a little i mean 2 bottles.... and she got up this morning to go to spin class for her first time ever!! And she loved it!! Looks like i have a new spin buddy!!

Awesome Run

2009-01-14T18:24:00.000-08:00

So i had a awesome run today!!. My sorry but didn't want to get out of the nice warm bed this morning so i had to go after work between picking Lotte up and the vet! i turned up the music and was reading sports center and just went! i did my 5.0 speed that i love and for 14 mins straight with one min walk and then ran for the rest of the 1/2 hour. That really good for me and proves i am getting better at this running thing! i didn't make it the whole 3 miles as i had to head off the the vet... but did 2.5.

So question of the day.... what can i do to keep myself from cutting my workouts short???

Why I Love the Bike the Most....

2009-01-13T14:33:00.000-08:00

Out of the three tri's, swim, bike and run, bike is my fav.

There was just something about spin class that sucked me in and refused to spit me back out. Spin was one fo the first things i tried when i dragged my sorry chemo ravaged body back to the gym. i tried a couple different classes and fell in love with one of them. i refuse to share when and where as the class gets full and people don't make it in already, so in my own selfish interest in having a spot.....

Anyways i love the people in the class, the are a huge part of y cheering section. Every class they ask how training is going and the instructor A always talks e and the race up and does a little dance in the front of class.

i love to bike outside too. the feeling of the wind in your hair is pretty incomparable. The built in air conditioning is a huge plus, says the girl who hates to sweat. (when i finished the tri the only thing on my mind was where is the nearest shower??)

And lastly i love the bike the most because it's going to give me one hot ass!

Why I 'Thon...

2009-01-12T18:17:00.000-08:00

Why am i marathoning??

i 'thon for a cause, for NOCC, and all of the people my hard eared dollars will help.

i 'thon for the publicity i hope my story will gain to educate others.

i 'thon for E, because she will be preggo and not be able to, so someone has to pick up her slack

i 'thon to prove my high school cross country coach that i am more than just the last person to make the team

i have 'thon'd before (dancing mind you) and if i can dance for 18 straight hours i can so run this thing

i 'thon to cross one thing off that bucket list and to be able to say i did it in Boston.

i 'thon to be the first ovarian survivor to ever run for NOCC at Boston

and lastly i 'thon for the big shiney medal!!

Life Goes On

2009-01-12T17:54:00.000-08:00

So merrily the week went on.Wednesday we had a storm so the best part about the new j-o-b was a 4 four hour delay. Loves it! The run on Wed was cut short because i wanted to leave enough time to drive in the storm.

Lotte got sent home from school sick on Wed and Matt had the joy of dealing with that. Yes him.

Thursday was your average 4 mile jaunt. And Friday was a wash. Good thing since Matt and i alternated throwing up all night Thursday. Thank god we could take Lotte to school while we attempted to recover. Saturday was off, Sunday was a wash as was today's cross training.

So Wed i will crawl back to the gym until then i will sleep a whole lot. it takes a whole lot longer to recover than what i remember.... must be getting old, ugh!

Why I Tri!

2009-01-06T14:29:00.000-08:00

Ever since the triathlon people have asked why??

I try for myself, for my family, for my daughter, for those both men and women struggling with cancer, for those who have lost the battle, for those whose battle has yet to begin.

I tri for my daughter, for the future, for awareness, for the others whose diagnosis makes them 1%.

i tri for the days when I was too weak to do anything other than crawl to the bathroom, for the days when I wanted to give up, for the days in isolation, for the remission that these days granted me.

I tri for a CURE!

I try for others that my struggle will inspire them to get routine health care screenings, that they will never have to go through what I did, and that their loved ones never have to either.

I tri for the big shiny medals (look out Phelps here I come).

I tri because Lotte needed a Mommy who could keep up with her.

I try because bald is beautiful.

I tri because my husband needed a wife.

And lastly I tri for me, for my future, my health, my life and for a long one at that. Here's to looking at 100 and speeding right on bye.

Why I.....

2009-01-06T14:27:00.000-08:00

I decide to start a line of posts for my off days to have something to say other than 'day off.' Please suggest things! I have ideas for about three weeks worth and then I am out!

Also accepting Guest posts... please submit via email to me (subject to my editing!!)

My Donation Page!!

2009-01-05T18:24:00.001-08:00

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=277980&lis=0&kntae277980=E5D313CFC0A84DF0AFB0F637B24B2719&supId=244321506

Please support me!!! Every $$ counts!!

Me loves the indoor running!

2009-01-05T17:20:00.000-08:00

So I have been trying to run and sucking it up. Previous personal best was 4 mins without stopping to walk. I had some extra time before spin class today and went for it. It seems that my idea treadmill speed is 5 mph and I ran for 12 mins straight! Pretty exciting stuff!!

So today was technically a cross day so to spin I went. Great class as always, love my fellow regulars and instructor, not telling when and where so I'll continue to have a spot!! One thing caught my attention for the second time tonight.... um the lady who ride the spin bike similar to how one would dance with a pole... I have a hard time not laughing out loud at the show she puts on. I guess it goes as they say, 'To each their own.'