Back in the Saddle...Again

A few months back I decided to have all my posts on this blog bound (thank you Blog2Print!) and call it done.

Let's face it, I hadn't written since February 2014, a lot of the weight I had lost had been "found", and my last effort at a triathlon had been an abysmal DNF.  Not only was it a Did Not Finish but it was almost a Didn't Even Start.

A DNF is still trumped by a DNS.

In the months since that November morning when I allowed a big, fat, bloated, DEAD alligator gar to turn my triathlon into a duathlon, which later ceased at a 26 mile bike ride, I have done some soul searching.

Training for these events takes time.  Time, effort, dedication, desire.

I wasn't ready that day.  I wasn't even close to being ready.  Billy told me so.  A good coach is supportive, and honest.  I had used every excuse in the book to not put in the time I needed.  I arrogantly believed I could rest on the work I had put in and complete a half Ironman distance, 70.3 miles, triathlon.

So, I hit the reset button.

I could stop training and find something else to fill my time, or I could start back over.  Fortunately for me, busy season was just around the corner so I had some time to think about it.  I had finished my weekend of running for the inaugural Natchez Half (three races in two days - 1 mile fun run, 5K, and half marathon) and had no future events scheduled.  If I never competed in anything again, who would know?

Me, that's who.

Part of bring a Type A personality is finishing what you start.

But I was still hesitant.

In March I rode in our annual Belles on Bikes event.  I only did the 16 mile route but I did it without training.  And I realized how much I missed riding.

 I missed the beauty of the Natchez Trace, the peace, the tranquility, the wonders of God's creation.   Just me and my bike, rolling through the countryside.  I truly wanted to get back out there and ride; ride like the wind.

The very first triathlon I ever did was Rocketchix.  (You can read about it here http://deanneislosingit.blogspot.com/2013/11/youll-never-know-until-you-tri.html
 I enjoy all the events sponsored by the RFK Foundation, and wanted to support them in a venue change this year.  LSU couldn't accommodate the race and I wanted to be a part of it in the new location.

Even if it meant breaking my personal vow to never compete in an open water swim again.

So, I signed up, and training began this weekend.  It is a Sprint distance - 300 m swim, 12 mile ride, 2 mile run.  Race Day - July 29.

Not trying to please anyone other than myself.  Not trying to prove anything.  Still trying to achieve the perfect balance between work, life and training.  If my only mission in life was to prove to myself that I actually could complete a triathlon I could have stopped trying years ago after I crossed that finish line.

But something inside was left undone.  Triathlons can be an addictive sport. I don't know how far I'll go; how much I'll push myself.  I know I will stop one day, but it will be on my own terms.  Not because a dead fish got into my head.

Moving the Bar

Today, I thought of Daddy.

I have two major biking events planned this year.  Belles on Bikes on May 3 and the Big Dam Bridge 100 on September 27.  Last year was the first time I did the Belles on Bikes and I rode 16 miles.  I did 50 miles in last year's Big Dam Bridge 100.  This year I want to do the maximums in both - 62 and 100 miles, respectively.

So, this morning I strike out to train.  Last Sunday I did an easy 9 miles to try and get back into the groove, as they say.  I drive out the Natchez Trace and get started .  Round about mile marker 6, I started an internal dialogue with myself .  "How far did I want to go today?  20 miles seemed good, but that would be double last week.  Would I pay for that later in the week?  Maybe, but I feel good right now.  No, 20 is too far."

I finally decided to turn around at the 8 mile marker.  That was a good spot.  I would give me 16 miles on the day.  Not quite double last week, but a good push.  And then I started thinking about next week, and the next.  I could go from 16 miles to 22, then to 30.  Push to 35 and then 42.  Working up the 62 since I felt like I had plenty of time to do it.  In my brain I said, "just gotta keep moving that bar."

Out of nowhere, literally, I had a very vivid visual memory of swimming in the "big pool" towards Daddy.  And him stepping back.  He wouldn't wait until you'd almost reach him, he'd start easing back after you started towards him.  I remember reaching him and sputtering "You moved!  You aren't supposed to move!  I want to do it again and DON'T MOVE this time!"

And of course, he did.  Never much.  Only a step or two.  "See how far you've come!  You can do it!"

"But, Daddy, I don't want you to move!"

While pushing me, he also allowed me to push myself.  Because I don't remember quitting.  Maybe I did, but I don't remember ever getting out of the pool and stomping off with a "if you aren't going to play right then I'm not going to play!" kind of attitude.  I just kept swimming out to him.

I know when you're a child, you don't really understand words like faith and trust but you know your daddy isn't going to stand there and let you drown just because you couldn't put in two more strokes.  He's going to scoop you up and hold you until you catch your breath, take a step or two up, and send you back on your way to the steps.

Today, I was mentally moving my own bar.  Not intimidated by 62 miles, or 100 miles, but figuring out a plan of how to get there.  My plan.  My terms.

Moving that bar.

I actually think of Daddy pretty much every day, but rarely do I see him they way I did this morning.  I could see the water in my line of sight and Daddy's big chest as the target.  I like to think that was his way of getting on my bandwagon and showing me that I can do. I will do it.  May end up in the Baptist Hospital mobile unit again in September like I did after the 50, but I will reach my targets.

And set more goals.  And move more bars.

You'll Never Know Until You "Tri"!

July 27, 2013.

A day that will live on in my personal infamy.

The alarm "brinngggeedd" at 3 AM.  Who sets an alarm for 3 AM on a Saturday morning?

I did.  I had an almost 2 hour drive to my first triathlon, and it started at 7, packet pickup and transition closed at 6:45.  We needed to be on the road by 4.  Fortunately, "getting ready" only involved pulling on a swimsuit, shorts, a ballcap and brushing my teeth.

We hit the door at 4:12 for the drive to Baton Rouge in a slight drizzly rain.  I silently whispered for the whole 90+ miles that is would stop.  I don't do "wet" well.  At all.

5:50 AM and the parking lot at LSU's Natatorium was filling. Prior to signing up for this triathlon I had never even heard the term "natatorium".  Ladies everywhere.

I just stood there for a minute.  I honestly had no idea where to start.  Billy asks what he can do to help.  No answer from me.  I watched and saw others dressed as I headed up to the registration tables.  Some pushing bikes and carrying gear, others not.  So I asked him to just get my bike out and put together while I went to get the lay of the land.

As luck would have it, my number (personalized bibs, mind you) had been inadvertently passed out the day before during the early packet pick up.  But they felt certain that it would be returned as it had my name on it.  In the meantime, I could get set up in transition and just check back later.

I headed back to the car.  It seemed so far away.  Billy had "Bella", as I named my bike, up and ready to go.  Riley was quietly sleeping in the backseat.  The rain seemed to trying to hold off, just misty.  I gathered my "tri bag" and we started walking toward the transition area.  Again, I had no idea what to expect when I got there.  I found a friend from Natchez who had been here before and she gave me direction.  I got my ankle cuff with the timing device.  I got marked with my number on my arms and legs.  I found the bike rack assigned to my number.  Staked a claim on what I thought was a good spot.  Another friend that is a triathlete (and an Ironwoman now!) had been giving me tips, both in response to my direct questions and through her Facebook postings, so I spread my towel under Bella and started laying out my equipment, in the order I would need it.

I thought it looked good.  Time to go see about getting my bib and numbers.  Billy would head back to the car with the bag and check on Riley.  No number yet.

I walked to the pool (natatorium - indoor pool), stomach tightening.  I probably had not been this quiet in a long time.  I was just trying to take it all in.  Ladies were swimming laps.  I wanted to, but I was more concerned with my numbers.  Registration was getting close to closing.

They gave me handwritten numbers and the rain was washing them off.  Billy and I ran to transition to put the numbers on my bike and helmet, as required.  Transition was closing.  The lady with the microphone kept saying that "all participants should be out of transition unless the transition coordinator knew why".  We were the only two there so there was no question as to whom the comments were directed.  It was hard to pull the backing off the adhesive numbers with shacking hands.  My nerves were now full blown.  But we did it.  As we were running out of the area one of the registrars came to us with my packet.  There was no time to pin on the bib but she agreed to change out the bike tag.  There was nothing left of the numbers they had written so it was important from an identification standpoint.

I headed to the group of participants to hear the instructions.  They were starting to stretch and warm up.  Billy just looked at me.  Where was he to go?  How did he get there?  What did I need him to do?  I showed him how to get inside the natatorium and explained how I believed the flow of the event would unfold.  He was videotaping this moment in time and didn't want to miss anything.

I stood there as they explained the swim seeding.  We would seed ourselves based on how quickly we could swim the distance.  I saw them hold up a sign for 6 minutes.  To my great amazement, ladies actually started heading that way and lining up.  Who swims 350 meters in 6 minutes or less??  First group went in.  I found my voice and started talking to some of others who, like me, seemed to swim at a more leisurely pace, shall we say.

Groups continued to go in.  7 minutes.  8 minutes.

The first athlete comes running out of the natatorium and into transition.  We all cheered.  My stomach tightened some more.

What in the world was I doing here!?!

They finally got to my time - the last and final group.  We made our way inside.  I simultaneously scanned the bleachers for Billy and the water for all the other participants.  I needed to see how this was going to work.  I had been thinking that I would swim as I had trained - all up and back in one lane - but it wasn't.  We swam up one lane and then back down in the adjacent one.  Zig zagging our way across seven lanes until we reached the exit ladder.  Swimmers only starting seconds apart so there were multiple swimmers in each lane.  Looked crowded to me.

I spotted Billy.  Video camera trained right on me.  Big smile on his face.  Waving to me.  Some quieting inside as I knew he was there.    I get closer to the front.

I hear the instructions.  Goggles on.  Getting closer.  "You're next.  Ready?"

No, but here I go!

I slide in the water and find my way.  I start out pretty well in the freestyle, until I get to the crowd.  I decide the breaststroke is going to be my friend at this point.  I can keep my head above water, see better and adjust quicker for other swimmers.  At the end of the first lane I realize I am not going to like going under the ropes to the next lane but it is what it is, so I do it.  Down the next one. Under again.  Back up.

I'm doing it!

I pass a couple of ladies.  For some reason that makes me feel a little better.  Not that I want to "beat" anyone, but that I'm staying within myself, doing what I had trained to do and focusing only on me and my swim.

I reach the final lane.  I see Billy right there.  He follows me all the way up the side.  I want to smile I'm so happy but I have to focus on swimming.  There are two young men at the ladder to help everyone out.  They grab my arms and I'm off!

The floor is slick and the mat isn't much better but I'm out of the building and headed into transition.  I had left a towel hanging on the fence and I grab it as I run by.  The transition area is freshly cut grass on wet feet and I hate that.  I'm trying not to obsess about getting my feet clean before shoving them in my socks.  Shoes on.  Jersey on.  Helmet on.  Bike off the rack.

Off I go!

The ride had to be the longest 12 miles of my life.  It felt as if we were riding into the wind in both directions. I pedaled and pedaled and pedaled.  Riders headed back in tossed out words of encouragement.  "you're almost there!  gets easier on this side!  keep up the good work! you can do it!"

I made it a point to do the same when I had made the turn and was headed in.

Then the rain started.  And it was hard.

But I pedaled, and pedaled.  Finally, I can see the turn back towards the main LSU campus.  The policeman directing traffic shouts encouragement.  I turn.  Headed back to the main road.  Pedaling.  Looking for Billy. I see him.  Standing in the rain, watching for me.  (Side note, he told me later that one lady yelled out to him that he was the best husband EVER for standing out there in the rain.  I agreed wholeheartedly).  He turned for a minute and almost missed me, but the video does show me riding in front of him and then off to the dismount line.

I try to follow the directions but one thing I don't do well is dismount off the bike.  But that is another story for another day.  I do manage to get off the bike in the proper area and head back into transition for the final leg.

Being a novice in all areas, I don't have special biking shoes - no clips or cages for this gal!  So all really had to do is rack my bike and change the helmet to a ballcap and I was off.  Slowly.

Yes, I did walk a little during the run.  As my friend the Ironwoman as said, no shame in my game.  I walk very quickly.   My time ended up being almost the same as if I'd run the entire 2 miles.

I am, however, determined to RUN across that finish line.  I told myself that.  I would swim the whole thing, bike the distance and run across the finish line - even if that was the only time I actually ran.

And I did.

As I came around the corner and headed across the parking lot, I could see the finish line.  That big, beautiful finish line.

And there came the emotions.

I willed myself to keep them in check, if only for a few more minutes.  I was afraid I'd fall if I allowed my eyes to fill with tears.  I can see Billy off to the side.  Running with the camera.

And then I hear my name.  Deanne Tanksley of Natchez, Mississippi.  I had done it.

My first triathlon, completed.

And then the tears fell.

Again, no shame.  Only pride.  Pride like I'd not known before.  Billy "interviewed" me and I came out of the finish area.  There were no words I could get out.

We had to wait until a specific time before we could go back into the transition area and retrieve our belongings so we walked around.  Eating my snack.  Waiting on times to be posted.  And then the announcement came.

Coming across the field toward the finish line was the physically challenged participant.  There was absolutely nothing handicapped about this young woman. I had seen her in the bike portion, and again during the run.  Her teammate was nothing short of extraordinary either.  There behind her the whole way.  Amazing.  The music played Alicia Keyes' "This Girl is On Fire!" as she (they) crossed the line and the crowd roared.  More tears.  She'd been in a car accident the previous year and was told she wouldn't be able to walk.  But that didn't stop her from participating in a triathlon.  Her specially-designed wheelchair gave her all the freedom she needed to get it done.

The sponsoring organization for this triathlon is the RocketKidz Foundation.  We participants - Rocketchix. This event is for ladies only - all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities.  On that day, we are all triathletes.

We are Rocketchix.

(Official time:  Swim 13:16  T1 4:39  Bike 1:09:55   T2 1:48  Run 26:56.  Finished 32 in my class, 280 overall.)

What Will 47 Bring?

This time last year I was basking in the knowledge that I had done something new and challenging that day.  I had run a 5K.  I had run the whole way.  I had finished, and not in last place.   That day, I opened doors of which I was, and still am in a sense, totally unaware.  I was pumped up and not long after laid out that I would also run a half marathon in October 2012.

OK, that part didn't happen.  I managed to find any number of excuses  -  too hot, too humid, etc.  But I did run 3 more 5K races before the new year.  Each time I bettered myself and tried harder than before.  I almost reached my goal time of finishing in 30 minutes.

Then winter set in.   Billy bought me a treadmill so I could keep running and not have to do it in the cold and dark.  Busy season - long hours and it was tough to even stay awake night, much less train with any regularity, but I kept trying to do what I could do.

So, let me tell you about my April, 2012.  I went through one of those opened doors.  I decided in March to participate in our local Belles on Bikes event.  Cycling.  Hadn't done that in a long time, other than just to work and back, or to pick up the newspaper on Sunday mornings.  The event had four distances - 16, 30, 52 and 60 miles.  I only did the 16 miles, but I was so proud of myself!  I was only able to train on Sundays since we were still working weekends and I pushed myself and finished with a very respectable time.

Two weeks later, I ran another 5K.  First of the season.  I posted a decent time.  Not my best, but not bad considering the timing.

So, thinking I had two legs of  a triathlon, I decided to try one of those.  Now, having learned my lesson last year of speaking with no follow up, I know I have to pay my registration and make it real. Not just a dream.  If I pay for something, I will do it.  Don't want to look back next year and see that I had, once again, tossed out a declarative without giving it a whirl.

So, July 27, LSU campus, women only.  Swim 350 meters, bike 12 miles and then run 2.  The only fly in my ointment right now is finding a training place to swim, but I'm working on it.  

Also in the works, December 12, half marathon, Jackson.  I usually work in Jackson that week so maybe all I have to do is spend one more night to make that one happen.  Still looking for one that is sooner, just to keep to pushing myself.

Now, my really good news from all of this is my cholesterol finally dropped below 200 - without medication.  I had tried it for a while but stopped taking it.  My last test showed 194.  I was pretty darn proud of that number, too!  

So, ready to step through two doors this year.  Pushing myself and trying new things.  Who knows what else is out there?  I just know I need to get these things off my list before I hit 50. 

December

Day One:  Ran 35 minutes.  Covered 3.1 miles.
Day Two:  Cleaned house - about an hour and a half
Day Three: Recovery day
Day Four: Nothing - Chamber After Hours function after work
Day Five: Nothing
Day Six: Nothing - Company Christmas party after work
Day Seven: Nothing
Day Eight: Ran 43 minutes and covered 3.71 miles.
Day Nine: Cleaned house for an hour
Day Ten: Ran 35 minutes - VERY obvious I haven't exercised in a week!  Ran on a treadmill and didn't track how far I ran.
Day Eleven: Recovery day.
Day Twelve: Ran 35 minutes on the treadmill - noted 3.1 miles.
Day Thirteen: 32 minutes on an elliptical trainer.  THAT is a workout!
Day Fourteen: Nothing.  After being in hotels all week and driving 4 hours from Alabama to home I was beat.
Day Fifteen: RACE DAY! Ran 32 minutes and covered 3.12 miles!  PERSONAL BEST!!
Day Sixteen: Nothing
Day Seventeen: Nothing.  I rarely run on Mondays.
Day Eighteen: Ran 31 minutes.  Not a good night at all.  Only covered 2.55 miles.
Day Nineteen: Nothing - working an hour and half away from Natchez.  Driving back and forth every day.
Day Twenty: Nothing.  Still have the hour and half commute.
Day Twenty-one: Nothing.  Friday night and packing for the holiday!
Day Twenty-two: Rode my bike 32 minutes - covered a 3.76 miles.
Day Twenty-three: Nothing.  VERY full day of visiting family and friends!
Day Twenty-four:  Walked 40 minutes.
Day Twenty-five:  MERRY CHRISTMAS!  IT SNOWED 12 INCHES!  But the weather was really miserable all day.
Day Twenty-six:  Nothing.  Enjoyed the snow from the inside.
Day Twenty-seven:  Nothing.  Took 8 hours and two tow trucks to get back to Natchez.
Day Twenty-eight: Nothing.  Just glad to be home.
Day Twenty-nine: Ran 43 minutes.  FELT GREAT!  Covered only 3.51 miles but I enjoyed the feel of being outside again.
Day Thirty: Rode my bike for 34 minutes.  Covered 4.31 miles.
Day Thirty-one:  Nothing.  Started getting a cold yesterday.  Was miserable all day. Came home from work and crawled in bed.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I have to say, 2012 was one of my most proud years.  I did something I never thought I could do - and then I did it 4 times!  I RAN a 5k.  RAN one!  And each time I ran, except for the one with the busted knee, I ran it about 3 minutes faster than the previous one.  I could not be more proud.  This is almost as good as when the scales at HealthQuest hit the 50 pounds lost mark.  It just goes to show you CAN do anything you set your mind, and your heart, to.  ANYTHING.  Next on my list - moving up to at least a 10k this year.  I really think I can do it.  I ran 4 miles twice in November and I think I can build back up to that and then past it.  I'd like to aim for a half marathon but I did learn this year that I have to go slowly.  I'm not a spring chicken anymore and it just takes me a little longer to progress than someone half my age but I do progress.

My heart will thank me for it.

May your 2013 be your best ever!

Day Thirty-one:  Home, in the bed, with a cold.  Happy New Year!

November

Day One:  Knee getting better, walked around downtown.
Day Two: nothing.
Day Three: Walked 35 minutes.
Day Four: Walked 67 minutes.  Cleaned the house for about an hour.  It counts!
Day Five:  Recovery day.  Also, got my knee X-rayed -  doctor says it could be cracked.
Day Six: Doctor said yesterday I wasn't ready to be working out yet.
Day Seven: nothing.
Day Eight: Still waiting on X-ray results.
Day Nine: Still waiting.
Day Ten: 5K fundraiser race for the Ellis Malone Foundation.  I wasn't supposed to run it, but I couldn't help myself and ran part of it.  It felt so good to run!  I did the run/walk in about 38 minutes  - within a minute of my first run.
Day Eleven: Worked out in the yard and cleaned house.
Day Twelve: recovery day, Billy out of town and running is hard when he's gone.  Fixed food for a friend's party tomorrow night and had a board meeting.
Day Thirteen: nothing - Billy came home today.
Day Fourteen: nothing.  Had to prepare for another board meeting tomorrow night.
Day Fifteen: Had one board meeting, a Chamber After Hours and a SW Chapter of the MSCPA meeting.  There was really no time for exercise - unless you count running from event to event!
Day Sixteen:  Friday night - family night.
Day Seventeen: Ran with Doozer, 47 minutes.  We're trying to get to 4 miles!
Day Eighteen: Walked to get the Sunday newspaper, took about 40 minutes.  Knee still doesn't bend right for riding the bike.  Then Dooze and I went out for 55 minutes.  We hit 4 miles, but we couldn't run the whole thing.  I wasn't dress correctly and we left at the height of the afternoon instead of waiting for it to cool off a little bit.
Day Nineteen: recovery day.  Two runs over the weekend was a lot for me.
Day Twenty: missed it - had a long annual meeting and then I had to take care of something after the fact.
Day Twenty-one: getting ready for Thanksgiving!
Day Twenty-two: Ran/walked for 51 minutes with Doozer.
Day Twenty-three: Worked out in the yard with Billy
Day Twenty-four: 39 minute run - closing in on 4 miles!
Day Twenty-five: Rode my bike to pick up the newspaper, worked out in the yard with Billy
Day Twenty-six: recovery day
Day Twenty-seven: missed it - very cold and wet and rainy outside.
Day Twenty-eight: I DID IT!  Doozer and I hit the 4 mile mark without stopping or walking!
Day Twenty-nine: REPEAT PERFORMANCE!  Hit 4 miles again, a little slower tonight, but it counts!
Day Thirty: family night at home.

Love, love, love that I have gotten over one of my humps!  I didn't think I would EVER break the 4 mile mark.  Now that I have, I'm convinced I can do anything!

October

Day One: nothing.  Mondays are my recovery days.
Day Two: missed it.
Day Three: missed it.  11 hour car trip to Jonesborough, Tennessee.  Not much time or energy left.
Day Four:  Took Riley on a walk in Persimmon Ridge Park.  Beautiful day to be outside!
Day Five: Storytelling festival - walking around the grounds all day.
Day Six: Storytelling festival - walking around the grounds all day.
Day Seven: Last day at the Storytelling Festival.  Cold, wet and rainy.  Spent most of the time in one tent.
Day Eight: 11 hour car trip back to Natchez.
Day Nine: Recovery day.
Day Ten: Missed it.  Billy left town and there was too much to take care of.
Day Eleven: All my time spent holding down the fort.
Day Twelve: Ran 38 minutes.
Day Thirteen: Ran 46 minutes.
Day Fourteen: Cleaned the house (it counts!) and rode my bike to pick up the Sunday newspaper.
Day Fifteen: Recovery day.
Day Sixteen: Ran 50 minutes.
Day Seventeen: Night off.
Day Eighteen: Ran 45 minutes.  Almost race day!
Day Nineteen: Billy's birthday!  We went out to eat and I got ready for tomorrow.
Day Twenty: Race Day!  3.1 miles in 35 minutes!
Day Twenty-one: Walked for 20 minutes.  I forgot to be somewhere and Billy dropped me off when we remembered and I had to walk home.
Day Twenty-two: Drove back to Natchez from Monroe and attended board meeting.  No time to run.
Day Twenty-three:  Ran 41 minutes on the hotel treadmill.
Day Twenty-four:  Missed it.  Working out of town and we worked later.
Day Twenty-five: Ran 30 minutes on the hotel treadmill.
Day Twenty-six: Nothing tonight.  Just got home after being gone all week.
Day Twenty-seven: Chili cook-off and board function.  Got some walking in between activities.
Day Twenty-eight: Face plant on the sidewalk after running, hard, for 25 minutes.  In pain and so disappointed.
Day Twenty-nine: Nothing.  Knee still doesn't bend and is swollen considerably.
Day Thirty:  Nothing.  Knee still swollen.
Day Thirty-one: Nothing.  Can maneuver some upstairs, but still not downstairs.

Injuries are the pits!  But you have to take them seriously or you'll end up doing more damage, possibly permanently.

35:24

Two of over 4,300 pairs of feet ready to run in Alexandria, Louisiana on October 20, 2012. 

My friend, Kathy, and I left Natchez at 5:30 in the morning to make the 2 hour drive.  Opening ceremonies were at 7:30.  It was dark and it was COLD!

But what a celebration we found when we got there!

The streets were packed with people!  Walkers, runners, all colors, shapes and sizes!  And all there for one purpose.  To shed light and support on breast cancer research.

We "Zumba'd" in the middle of the street to warm up.

We stretched and walked and paced.

We cheered as the promoters pumped up the crowd.

And then we lined up.

The "competitive" runners got to get in the front.  We will be competitive runners next year.  And we wiggled in not far behind them.  Just the two of us.  No pets or strollers or anything like that. 

And then the longest 30 minutes of our lives started.  We waited.  And waited, and waited.

Finally, countdown,

5....4....3....2...1 Go!

We had agreed earlier that we would each run our own race and meet up at the finish line.  And so we took off.  

I ran to my music.  Not really ordered like I would prefer, but good, fast tunes.  I started working my way through the other runners.  Some would pass me, and I'd pass others.

Before the first mile mark, there was a group of young cheerleaders on the street corner.  Probably 6th grade or junior high school.  And as I and the others ran past we heard " YOU'RE. AWESOME.  YOU'RE. AWESOME".

I admit, I had tears in my eyes at that point.  I don't know why. 

I guess because I didn't feel awesome.  The awesome ones are the ladies fighting the fight everyday.  Chemo.  Radiation.  Doctor's appointments.  Surgeries.  And still getting up every day and living their lives.

That's awesome.

But Alexandria certainly did make me feel special.  The high school band drum corp was there along with more cheerleaders as you made the final turn before the finish line.  The residents of the neighborhood through which we ran had their homes decorated and stood outside and cheered, some even passing out water.

And the finish line was festooned with pink balloons and surrounded by supporters.  The local television station even streamed the entire run live.  

As I approached the finish line, I could see the official time clock.  From my angle, all I could see was the last three numbers - basically the seconds and the second number of the minutes.  I could see a 5.  Well, I thought, that must be a 45.  I felt like I'd been running slower than normal.  I usually run with Doozer and without him to set the pace, I was sure I'd been lagging.  

Imagine my shock and surprise to see it was a 35!  

Almost 3 full minutes faster than my last race.  Such a proud accomplishment! 

It was Kathy's first run.  She finished in about the same time as I did on my first one - 38 minutes and change.  I waited for her at the finish line and cheered as she crossed over.

We had our bananas and water and grabbed our freebies and recovered.  Then started the two hour journey back home.  On our drive, we were already planning what we'd do differently next year.

I like running for causes.  I'm learning to love running in general, but knowing that I'm helping someone while doing something good for me, makes it all a no brainer.

Now, my goal every time is just to finish.  If I can do better than the last one, then so much the better.  My only competition is me.

And that always makes me a winner.

Why I Run

This Saturday is a Susan G. Komen breast cancer run. I am really looking forward to it, and for a lot of different reasons.

First off, I believe Susan G. Komen for the Cure does, and supports, good work. And I want to know that if I ever need them, I can benefit from that work. And that, hopefully, the funds I'm helping to raise now will go towards even better treatments, diagnostics, and prevention.

If I remember my family history correctly, my grandmother was a breast cancer survivor. She survived it twice, as a matter of fact. And since she passed away in 1980, you know that when she received her diagnoses, it was at a time when the word Cancer carried much more ominous tones.

Not that cancer is any walk in the park now, but not all types of cancers carry the same Death Sentence toll that they used to. Many have good diagnostic tests that can catch cancers early, and early detection often leads to more treatment options and better results.

In my own case, because of the family history, I started getting my mammograms at age 35. A couple of years ago, they saw something. So we tested again. It wasn't there anymore. So I went to a different doctor for another opinion. Some people thought I should just leave well enough alone and if the spot wasn't there anymore just be glad and just move on. I'm not wired that way. The spot had been there the year before as well. I needed to know for sure.

I'm proactive.

I'm also one of the lucky ones. Turns out I just have a sensitivity to caffeine and that was making me "lumpy". All I had to do was a couple more tests and drop my morning coffee for 6 months and all was better. Some of my friends, and friends of friends, are not so lucky. Some are younger than me. A friend had her own double mastectomy less than a year ago. And how many people do I pass every day on the street, or have lunch with in Kiwanis, or sit next to at a show that have dealt with breast or other cancers?

Too many.

Billy and I recently went back to the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. On Sunday afternoon they have a longer session and have probably 7 or 8 tellers come in and do 10 to 15 minute stories. Well, one of the ladies we'd heard a couple of times over the festival came in and did a "bit" about exercises you could do to get ready for your annual mammogram. "Grab two metal bookends, place them in the freezer, then have a total stranger come over and slam them together with you in the middle." And so on, and so on. All of the ladies in the audience were rolling with laughter. The next teller even found a way to incorporate her story into his story and eventually everyone in the tent was laughing so hard we were crying! But as we left and got back to our car Billy turned and looked at me and asked "Is is really that bad?". "Worse" I replied. And then I explained to him, in great detail, what it is like to get a mammogram. And how grateful I am to only have to get once a year.

It is because people before me ran in races like the ones going on all over the country this month that we have the technology we have. And I run so that my niece, Brett, and my younger second cousins, Caroline, Brittany, Savannah, Adi, Natalie, Ashley, Lily Beth and Mary Mason, and all their friends and the ones I can't even think of right now (it's always a mistake for me to try to name people because I forget folks, but never intentionally) may benefit from even more advancements 20 and 30 years from now.

It is for them that I run.

I continue to hope that I'll never need it.

 

July, August and September

So, anyone been wondering where those months went? Me too! I swear, I looked up and it was October. So, I must have been busy, huh. Well, yes I was. Too much to list it all here like I had been doing, but I will share. First, July was the hottest month on record, ever. So the running slowed up considerably. I can't take the humidity with my asthma. Not a good combination. But I did exercise. As a matter of fact, I burned up 4,180 calories in the month of July alone. August saw another 6,300 burn up, with only 3,300 in September. So, not sedentary! The biggest issue was consistency. I could run some nights, but I'd have to wait until 8 or 8:30 (still light outside) and that isn't good for sleeping, and sometimes it would still be way too humid to make it a good run. But running wasn't all. Mom, Andrea, Brett and I had a wonderful long weekend in Chicago where we walked the Miracle Mile many times over - usually carrying packages! In August, Billy and I took our annual trip to New York City where we walked mile after mile after mile. Sometimes even on purpose! September, the weather change made me a little under the weather so I didn't make much progress on anything. But I didn't lose any ground either so I was proud of myself. So, what did I miss? The half-marathon I wanted to do this past weekend in Mandeville. I'm not even quite up to 4 miles yet so 13.1 was out of this question. This time. It is still on my list and there are some in November, December and January that I might actually be able to make. The training programs, which I'm working, just not progressing quickly, are all well within that timeframe. So, my dream didn't die, it just got pushed back a little. And that happens to all of us from time to time. I am running in another 5K this weekend and again in November. I find that I have to have a goal. Once the half-marathon wasn't feasible, I filled in two more. They may not be pushing my limits right now, but they are pushing me to get out there and keep moving. Hopefully my absence from the blog didn't slow YOU down! And I will get back to regular reporting since it makes me feel better and helps keep me accountable. You know us CPAs, all about being accountable. So, I hope everyone had a fantastic summer and a great start to fall! It is starting to really feel nice outside and I'm going to do all I can to enjoy it!