Friday Five

This has been one of the longest weeks I can remember in awhile, with it feeling like the 10k is headed toward us a thousand miles a minute.  But after Sunday's snow, spring really arrived, making everything seem just a little bit calmer.

Downton Abbey marathon = much needed relaxation.

I've loved watching this guy bloom all week

I ran that!

Gorgeous view for an early morning meeting

A new wreath for my door from my crafty mama

I Get [Through 6.2 Miles] With A Little Help From My Friends

I'm sorry I just did that to you.  Here - listen to the song and it will be out of your head.  Promise.

Sidenote: I really can't stand the Beatles.  My dad had a ton of positive influence on my musical tastes and knowledge, but growing up he used to make us watch Help and A Hard Days Night and I think it just killed them for me.  Don't ask me what he did to my opinion of Elvis.

As the 10k creeps up - we're only 16 days away! - I am counting down not only to my favorite event in RVA, but to the arrival of two of my favorite people.

My sidekick Tim is coming back for what I think is his 6th 10k.  Tim keeps me sane and organized each year, never failing to roll into town with bananas and gatorade for the early morning to come.  And hes a master at squeezing every last bit of fun out of 10k day - which will be an even crazier day this year with the run, the Massey Mile, and the COTU after party (which I hope to see all of you at!).

It seems like each year Tim and I are accompanied by someone new.  And this year is no exception, as two weeks from today my little bro will be landing in RVA for the 10k - all the way from Portland, Oregon!

To say I am excited would be an understatement.

I cant wait to spend one of my favorite days with my three favorite guys (yup - Greg will be running too!).  Now hurry up and get to town, Tim and Ty!

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Psst - we crossed the $13K mark last week!  Still need to make your contribution?  Click above - time's awastin!

Running Streak Rehash - Week Nineteen

I'm not going to belabor the point, but lets all take a moment to recognize the asinine fact that I am still running in snow during week 19.

Fortunately, at this moment I was just enjoying watching it during my weekly post-Mass dinner date with Mike

I will admit that while most of RVA was complaining about this late-season snow, I was quite delighted outside of the fact that I really didn't need another frozen run.  This Yankee misses New England winters now and again, and I was pleased as punch to get myself an evening of fat, fluffy flakes like I grew up with.

Notice anything in this run down that might have also had me happy as a clam?

Week Nineteen

Day 127 Wednesday March 20, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 128 Thursday March 21, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 129 Friday March 22, 2013 - 3.00 miles
Day 130 Saturday March 23, 2013 - 7.70 miles
Day 131 Sunday March 24, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 132 Monday March 25, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 133 Tuesday March 26, 2013  - 2.3 miles

Week Total - 17.00

Yes, my friends, I ran 7.7 miles on Saturday.  And there were hills.  Some big, long, hills.  I was totally elated as I realized that the intermediate coach at the Chicahominy YMCA who told me I could do it was right.  What a great way to break in this baby:   

Mantra Monday

This week's mantra comes from my dear friend Stacey, who never fails to make me feel like I am taking life by storm even when I feel more like a wet puddle than a bolt of lightening.  She randomly posted this on my Facebook wall Saturday night - making reference to an event that occurred a little over seven years ago:

You're the only girl I've ever met who let a hibachi guy

try to fling the shrimp into your mouth.

And you caught that mf-er.

 

I'm planning to treat this week like its one of those flying shrimp. 

Friday Five

As things speed along toward April 13, 2013, I'm appreciating more and more the chances to stop and smell the roses.  This week brought some great pauses among some ridiculously stressful times.  Check it:

Selba's Tiffany lamps are just another reason to love the place.

Loved joining Davenport & Co. for Massey Day!

Gotta love St. Patrick's Day

Best thing about my hearing in Cville?  Checking out Stacey's new digs.

I want an invite to the next meeting.

Calling All Team Captains

Join us tonight!

On The Road

Yesterday marked eighteen weeks of running down.  At least one mile per day for more than 125 days.  That is utterly insane to me for lots of reasons.  But from the conversations I have had during that time, it seems that it is utterly insane to lots of other people for one specific reason:

Only two of the miles logged have been on a treadmill.

Thats right.  From gorgeous late-fall days to sloppy Connecticut snow to Arizona mountains, my running streak has been nearly entirely completed in our great outdoors. 

I used to be a gym rat.  630pm rolled around and you could bet you'd find me on an elliptical with my nose in a book, or reading the captions on a Jersey Shore repeat, grumbling about the meatheads dropping weights in the corner.

But when I took but Muay Thai, I found that leaving the machines behind opened lots of other doors.  So I gave up the typical gym membership in favor of runs through the Fan, and yoga classes, and kickboxing. 

And while the lack of a treadmill posed some interesting challenges for this running streak - like that crazy one mile run through my house - I haven't missed the human-hamster-wheel at all.

This running streak has definitely been a new creature for me - finding a way to run each and everyday regardless of whether the trees were painted the gleaming golden yellow of fall:

Or my hometown was blanketed in new-fallen snow:

Or Bellevue was beginning to bloom:

And I'm a little sad to see it reaching its close.

Or is it?  I'll be just 32 days short of half a year . . . . stay tuned!

Running Streak Rehash - Week Eighteen

So that evil cold hung in for most of last week, making me really concerned about the Shamrock 8k.  Lauren and I had been planning for eons (okay - weeks) to head to Virginia Beach to run it together, and I had really been looking forward to it.  Plus, it would be Lauren's first race ever, and I also really wanted to be there for that.

After plodding through a Challenge presentation Friday morning, I hopped into Lauren's car with a lot of uncertainty about how I would actually do the next day.  Which is why the 52 minute time we scored left me elated!  It was a good run and and even better day.

Reenactment

So proud of this lady!

So with that race under our belts, my mileage for this week looked a lot better than the last few:

Week Eighteen

Day 120 Wednesday March 13, 2013 - 2.40 miles
Day 121 Thursday March 14, 2013 - 1.20 miles
Day 122 Friday March 15, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 123 Saturday March 16, 2013 - 5.20 miles
Day 124 Sunday March 17, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 125 Monday March 18, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 126 Tuesday March 19, 2013  - 2.50 miles

Week Total - 14.30

Although my elation was slightly tempered when I checked my Strava feed a few hours later and found my brother's crazy time for HIS first ever race:

Who the hell runs a 6:30 minute mile? #siblingrivaly

Super proud of that little bro too!

Mantra Monday

Amen.

Source

Friday Five

This cold is still kicking despite all efforts to banish it, but I'm off with Lauren this morning to take on the Shamrock 8k.  Should be interesting given how little I have run these days.  And the fact that I can barely breathe.  But even with a full-scale cold happening, lots of coolness went down this week too.

Thrifting with Tim in Cville

My office doubled as a pharmacy this week

Bellevue rocked out some gorgeous sunsets that I was able to see thanks to daylight savings time

Give me a stuffed rhino and Im a happy girl

JMU wins the ACC!

Don't Set Yourself Up For A Case Of FOMO

This post is potentially the most important one you will ever read on my blog.  Why?  Because if you dont mark these dates on your calendars/get your tickets/gather your friends, you will spend the first two weeks of April looking at Facebook and thinking:

Oh my gosh I am missing so much amazing fun that also supports a crazy good cause. 

Why didnt I listen to Kaity back on March 14?????

Seriously.  I promise.

There are some really fantastic ways to support the Challenge coming up in its last month.  So here you go:

April 2 - Help us Strike Out Cancer with a bowling night at AMF Sunset Lanes.

16 teams of 5 will gather for a non-competitive bowling tournament to support VCU Massey Cancer Center and my goal of raising $25,151.  The entry fee is $50 per person and gets you unlimited bowling for 2 hours, shoe and ball rental, and - wait for it - the chance to win $1,000!

Yes - you read that right.  One lucky participant will be selected at random to win $1,000.

Email me as soon as possible to get your team on the roster.  Spaces are limited and already filling up.

April 3 - Date Night at Arcadia

Yummy and for a good cause?  Join us at Arcadia for fabulous food and company - and for a meal that benefits a great cause.  Nom.

(Why did I write "nom".  I hate the "nom" phenomenon.  Hard.)

April 9 - The Flying Squirrels Fight Cancer!

Even Nutzy is on the cancer-fighting bandwagon!  Join us at the April 9 Flying Squirrels game as we fight cancer and kick spring off right!  Tickets must be purchased in advance and sales end when March ends.  So head here to snag yours.

April 13 - The Massey Mile

You all know by now that April 13, 2013 is the Ukrops Monument Avenue 10k.  And if you arent running or walking - or if you run or walk fast enough to finish up before noon - come join us at the Massey Mile!

The Massey Mile will be located between mile markers 3 and 4 of the 10k course.  Come join some amazing spirit groups, bands, DJs, and cancer haters as we celebrate the amazing work being done by VCU Massey Cancer Center!  We'll have loads of noisemakers and other fun swag for you so get there early and spend the morning with us!

April 13, pt. 2 - Post 10k Party to Benefit VCU Massey!

Here is my suggested schedule for your 10k day:

8-10 - Run or walk the race!
10-12 - Head out to the Massey Mile to celebrate the folks who have fought, and who continue to fight, cancer!
12-3 - Brunch, shower, quick nap
3-9 - Join us at:

Center of the Universe Brewery for beer ($1 each goes to VCU Massey!), local music, and Richmond's greatest food carts.  How else would you choose to unwind after the 10k?  No entry fee - and it wont be as hard to get in as it will be in some of the Fan bars. 

Thanks to

For their help in putting this together.

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Time is coming to a close to make your donations folks!  Click above to join in the race to $25,151 today!

Family Ties

I mentioned last week that the good folks over at CBS 6 asked me to work on a project with them.  But it wasnt just a project about me, it was about my mom too:  

My mom survived breast cancer back before I could drive.  And back before I had any idea that one day I would wear the "survivor" label too.

The folks over at CBS asked if they could do a story about my mom and I, and what being tested for the BRCA mutation means to a family.  The story went live on Thursday.

I tried forever to embed the video here, but couldnt figure it out.  (Apparently nearly 5 months of blogging does not actually make one technologically savvy).  But you can watch it, and read the story, here. 

Running Streak Rehash - Week Seventeen

As I am creeping up on the last month of my 150 day running streak (and how on earth did that happen??) it seems that the universe is testing my resolve.  You will recall the airport running incident of last week (discussed here).  Well, this week brought a similar trial, when Wednesday looked like this:

All. Day.  Long.

Now, we all know Im willing to run in some crazy weather.  But I draw the line at snow-covered, slushy streets while it is still actively precipitating.  Call me a wuss, but Ive got a line, and thats it.

Upon texting Greg that this looked like the bitter end for my streak, he suggested a run around the house.  Which I did.  If you've ever visited my house you'll understand how boring this was - it took a lot of around the kitchen, through the den, up the stairs, down the hall, and back laps to make a mile happen.  But it happened.

Which is why the cruel twist of fate that is the virus from hell arriving on Thursday was even less appreciated than it would have been otherwise.  Just in time for some great running weather - and a 5K I was really looking forward to - I got hit so hard that leaving the couch has been a feat.  But Tim insisted during his visit this weekend, that I had come too far to stop. 

And while he conceded that a great friend would have joined for for the miles he was here for, he insisted that a best friend would be the one waiting at the end with tea and cheese.  Notably, neither were waiting for me after my runs.  Hmmmm . . . .

Its been no more than one slow as molasses mile a day since.  But I am SUPER hopeful this thing will have cleared out in time for the Shamrock 8k on Saturday.   

Week Seventeen

Day 113 Wednesday March 6, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 114 Thursday March 7, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 115 Friday March 8, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 116 Saturday March 9, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 117 Sunday March 10, 2013 - 1.10 miles
Day 118 Monday March 11, 2013 - 1.00 miles
Day 119 Tuesday March 12, 2013 1.00 - miles

Week Total - 7.10
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In other news, my brother got me to try out this app rather than Runkeeper this week:

It doesnt seem to have the issues with the GPS skipping that I've had with Runkeeper.  But it also tracks miles only to the .1 and not the .01 that Runkeeper does.  So right now, the jury is still out.  But im going to give it a bit more time before I decide the winner in my world.  Hopefully in a few days Ill be able to take it for a spin longer than a mile to help figure that out!

Mantra Monday

I am sick.  Like missed the Run for the Hills 5k and a yoga workshop I REALLY wanted to attend sick.  Like can barely keep my eyes open to get through this day sick.  Like, as Greg put it, I've clearly been burning the candle at both ends sick.

Which, while not fun in the slightest, has served as a good reminder that sometimes we just have to slow down and be patient with ourselves.

Source

Friday Five

I think Im finally back on east coast time.  Just in time to welcome the early-spring cold everyone else seems to have already dealt with.  But the jet lag and cold didnt make for an uninteresting week.  In fact, some crazy excitement went down last night.  Check it:

Its hard to complain about spending the first half of your week in these parts.

Some final touches on a project CBS 6 and I have been working on for a few weeks.

 I returned home to find spring had sprung in Bellevue.

 

 Got a homemade hashtag shirt?  We can be friends.

 

 

 We reached 50% y'all!!!!!!!

 

(Is anyone else thoroughly entertained by the fact that I supposedly sent that email to myself?)



 

Enjoy the beautiful weekend all!

Courage

Wrapping up February also meant wrapping up my time with my first focus word of 2013:

Wrapping up my courageous months felt like a good time to throw a major fear of mine out there into the blogoverse (blogosphere?):

I am scared to death of becoming "the cancer girl"

Yup.  You read that right.

Greg and I have talked this one into the ground, but the fear still lingers in my mind.  I know speaking out about my experiences and circumstances is what I should be doing.  I have a unique position from which to speak to twenty-somethings about their own risks, the importance of their lifestyle choices, the care they need to take in listening to their bodies.  And I have a unique position from which to explain to people why their donations are so important to places like Massey.  After all, the odds are clearly in favor of my being the beneficiary of the work those donations make possible.  And I have a unique experience from which my passion for the subject matter is drawn.  And its a passion that I probably couldnt squelch even if I wanted to.

But as I speak more and more, and as I write more and more, and as I attend more and more events, people around RVA recognize me - and do so specifically in my capacity as "the girl who had cancer" or "the girl raising money for Massey" or "the girl who talks about the Massey Challenge".  Which is awesome.  So awesome.  It means something resonated with them enough that they remember.

But what about the other things that make me me?  Because, after all, part of what I love about Massey is the way its staff didn't allow me to lose those pieces of myself in favor of my cancer diagnosis.  They nurtured them instead - helping me study for the LSAT, reminding me that I would run again one day, discussing the books I was reading during chemo treatments.

So I find myself wondering, from time to time, if people will fail to notice those other parts - ones that I think are quite fabulous - because the word CANCER is obscuring all the rest.  The attorney, the vintage hound, the yogi, the dive bar addict, the flutist - will they all disappear into nothing in favor of my cause? 

I've often asked myself why I have been given the chance to survive when others have not, and I know part of the reason is so that I can spread awareness, create hope, and raise funds for research.  So maybe that means I am supposed to be "the cancer girl".  Maybe thats what its my job here to be.   

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Whats up next?  Patience.  A virtue I certainly could stand to have a bit more of.

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In other news - We're just $750 away from reaching 50% on the way to $25,151 - so close!  Want to help make that happen?  Donate now by following the link above.