A Post in Pictures, Chemo #1

Today was my first chemo treatment at 10am.

I met Tammy and April, the nurses.
Tammy was my nurse.

After about 10 minutes in the facility, guilt overcame me.
The first time I came to the facility when I was diagnosed and meeting my oncologist, Dr. Cotant, I didn't like the atmosphere. It was cold and depressing. It had no windows either.
I actually asked Dr Cotant if there was another place I could have my treatment, he looked at me like I had 2 heads. No fault of him at all.
I am ashamed of myself for my initial thoughts. I mean I do have cancer, and no windows are going to make that go away, so to some degree, yes I suppose my initial thought was me still dealing with the reality of my cancer.

BUT Today...

I was whistling Dixie. I feel comforted. Tammy, my nurse is fresh and bright. She is very good at informing me of all the information and procedures she was doing. 

My biggest concern was getting shot in my port. She would be putting it through my skin. I just didn't know what to expect. 

It was a piece of cake!

Once the port has the poke they begin to administer 4 drugs BEFORE the chemo:

1. Aloxi 250 mcg anti nausea 
2. Adivan .5mg anti nauseas
3. Decadan 5mg steroid
4. Cinvanti 130mg Anti nausea 

THEN...AC: The Red Devil

By the time they slipped me my chemo about 20 minutes had passed and I was DROWSY!

Feeling a little bit drowsy...

Andy sat with me coloring.  I really wanted to play a game, 5 Crowns. It didn't take much to talk him into that. Before we played mom and dad showed up. Mom joined in. 

The chemo was no big deal, my speech was slurring and they were making fun of me. I laughed but I didn't like that feeling.  

Playing cards took my mind off it.

After the Chemo was finished, I still had one more procedure, my Neulista, its a bone morrow stimulant to help your body produce more white blood cells. Originally, my insurance didn't cover this 6000$ drug that is part of my treatment, but thankfully their office worked their magic. You can see how it is a small bubble. It stays on my skin for 27 hours and administers the drug through a very tiny catheter that was poked from the bubble. Seriously, some major scifi stuff. 

HOLY CRAP that poke hurt. I squealed, then laughed. It feels like someone pulls back a rubberband and nails you.

It was close to 1 by the time we left. We set up my next 3 appointments and headed home.

I just wanted to lay down. Andy made me lunch, roasted chicken breast, cheese slice, hummus, and berries.

Andy must have snapped a picture while I was cashed out!

I ate and cashed out. I woke up trying to scramble. I had XC to go to. 

And after that I was heading to Fenton. Our AD, his daughter plays soccer for Fenton and today was their breast cancer awareness game.  Macy was playing in my honor. It was the sweetest thing. My heart was melted.

Macy Melero and I, so sweet. 

It was almost 7 pm by the time I got home. My head was hurting and my belly was flipping. 

Andy was so excited for dinner, Claudia and Rachel made us meals. Tonight was Tacos. This was great, my family loves Mexican food. Monday we had Kathleen's enchiladas. 

These busy days, I am trying to do everything I can do, but today, today I am toast. Andy could make a meal, Alec could set the table and I just had to get off the couch. Thank YOU. 

Its Just another Marathon..

"Romans 5:3-5 ³Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Anita~

Angels Unaware.

I started getting little messages before I had announced my diagnosis.
I hadn't even told my boys yet.

After I had shared the news of my breast cancer with my boys, a very very hard thing to do, Andy told me I really should announce it.
The news was spreading like wildfire and I wasn't able to keep up on the inquiries.
Andy said it will be like a "Statement".
I really didn't want to announce it on my FB. So I blogged it then posted it, that way you could read it if you chose and if you didn't want to you didn't have to open it.

I was overwhelmed with all the love, prayers, and support I received. I am overflowing.

Today I had a "Cancer Class". It was just for us. "Deborah" was incredible. She was fast talking, direct, her information flowed smoothly and kindly.
She asked how I was doing,
"I am doing very well, I have been circled around so much love and support that I almost feel guilty for this process going as well as it has."

Everyday I am showered with love, kindness, support, encouragement, prayers, I can seriously go on and on.

From past XC runners of mine to old running partners, I have gotten so many texts and messages just to say "HI, I am praying for you..."

I have gotten messages from people I don't even know, clients, old neighbors and so many church members offering support, I have been lavished with LOVE.

Thank YOU, I have read every message, every text, every comment.

Last week was very difficult on me. Everyday I had Dr, appointments or procedures. It kicked me in the teeth a bit. I maintained a smile and tried really hard to stay pleasant.
I slacked on a lot at home and tried to play catch up but the reality has been tough, I cant keep up.
But we have been given special homemade dinners and desserts.
Today, my running friends spoiled me, I was given enough meals for a week with a goody bag of gift certificates for dinners and stuff to pamper myself.
In my quiet place, I am tearful. Soo Much LOVE.

"We entertain Angels Unaware." God has more than just love and support for me, he has also taken care of my boys. My family is used to a mom that makes dinner most nights, I am so blessed to be given dinners for them.
I don't believe God gave me cancer, He allows things, But I do BELIEVE HE gives comfort, healing, love, support through His word and through others.

My Angels. thank you to all my ANGELS. Words can not express how grateful I am for everything, from meals to prayers to a sweet text...I want you to know from the bottom of my heart...Thank YOU. 

Love You ALL. 

RUNDOWN
Distance: 16miles

Erin called me this morning to "Power Walk". I was down with it.
"I will run to your house and run back.." I responded
I should have waited to get the response on how far she wanted to walk.
I ran towards her house getting close to 4 miles in until I realized I was on the wrong road to her house! I had to call her to pick me up, this turned out great because I also needed her to drive me home....Because she about KILLED ME!
My run was awesome, I was running in the low 8's and feeling amazing.
Everything felt great, until it didn't. 
I saw myself running down the road in my tomorrows, I saw myself running slower, more deliberate without hair, I saw a different Anita.
An Anita with Cancer.
Tears welled in my eyes. They came so abruptly. Big tears, alligator tears streaming down my cheeks. I didn't want to be Anita, with Breast Cancer. I didn't want people to recognize me because they saw my Cancer running down the road. I had so many bigger reasons to cry, but I found this image emotionally grasping me. I gave myself 5 minutes, a tool I use to prevent myself from getting choked by emotions. Then I took a deep breath, wiped the warm tears from my chin and reminded myself how thankful I was to run in in shorts, in the misty rain.
Erin never saw anything less than a smile when she picked me up.
I did my best keep my wobble sticks walking next to her. My watch kept beeping with our miles. I thought we must me doing a loop, only we passed every road moving farther and farther from her house. When we hit Milford road, I though she might have some short cut back home. "Ok, lets turn around and go back...."
I was puttering out and confused...."wait, so we are walking back the way we came....?"
OH yeah! It was a 9 mile WALK! I still had to run at XC.
My squatty legs were TOAST when we arrived back at her house. I was cracking up, over 13 miles, there was no way I was running back home! Erin kindly drove me home. We had a very sweet time.

We had Fun.
"Deborah" my nurse today told me to keep running, to run until I can't. To listen to my body, but to keep going.
That's what I will do. With thankfulness and grace. I have so much to be thankful for.

Anita~

A Gigantic Thank You

I started getting little messages before I had announced my diagnosis.
I hadn't even told my boys yet.

After I had shared the news of my breast cancer with my boys, a very very hard thing to do, Andy told me I really should announce it.
The news was spreading like wildfire and I wasn't able to keep up on the inquiries.
Andy said it will be like a "Statement".
I really didn't want to announce it on my FB. So I blogged it then posted it, that way you could read it if you chose and if you didn't want to you didn't have to open it.

I was overwhelmed with all the love, prayers, and support I received. I am overflowing.

Today I had a "Cancer Class". It was just for us. "Deborah" was incredible. She was fast talking, direct, her information flowed smoothly and kindly.
She asked how I was doing,
"I am doing very well, I have been circled around so much love and support that I almost feel guilty for this process going as well as it has."

Everyday I am showered with love, kindness, support, encouragement, prayers, I can seriously go on and on.

From past XC runners of mine to old running partners, I have gotten so many texts and messages just to say "HI, I am praying for you..."

I have gotten messages from people I don't even know, clients, old neighbors and so many church members offering support, I have been lavished with LOVE.

Thank YOU, I have read every message, every text, every comment.

Last week was very difficult on me. Everyday I had Dr, appointments or procedures. It kicked me in the teeth a bit. I maintained a smile and tried really hard to stay pleasant.
I slacked on a lot at home and tried to play catch up but the reality has been tough, I cant keep up.
But we have been given special homemade dinners and desserts.
Today, my running friends spoiled me, I was given enough meals for a week with a goody bag of gift certificates for dinners and stuff to pamper myself.
In my quiet place, I am tearful. Soo Much LOVE.

"We entertain Angels Unaware." God has more than just love and support for me, he has also taken care of my boys. My family is used to a mom that makes dinner most nights, I am so blessed to be given dinners for them.
I don't believe God gave me cancer, He allows things, But I do BELIEVE HE gives comfort, healing, love, support through His word and through others.

My Angels. thank you to all my ANGELS. Words can not express how grateful I am for everything, from meals to prayers to a sweet text...I want you to know from the bottom of my heart...Thank YOU. 

Love You ALL. 

RUNDOWN
Distance: 16miles

Erin called me this morning to "Power Walk". I was down with it.
"I will run to your house and run back.." I responded
I should have waited to get the response on how far she wanted to walk.
I ran towards her house getting close to 4 miles in until I realized I was on the wrong road to her house! I had to call her to pick me up, this turned out great because I also needed her to drive me home....Because she about KILLED ME!
My run was awesome, I was running in the low 8's and feeling amazing.
Everything felt great, until it didn't. 
I saw myself running down the road in my tomorrows, I saw myself running slower, more deliberate without hair, I saw a different Anita.
An Anita with Cancer.
Tears welled in my eyes. They came so abruptly. Big tears, alligator tears streaming down my cheeks. I didn't want to be Anita, with Breast Cancer. I didn't want people to recognize me because they saw my Cancer running down the road. I had so many bigger reasons to cry, but I found this image emotionally grasping me. I gave myself 5 minutes, a tool I use to prevent myself from getting choked by emotions. Then I took a deep breath, wiped the warm tears from my chin and reminded myself how thankful I was to run in in shorts, in the misty rain.
Erin never saw anything less than a smile when she picked me up.
I did my best keep my wobble sticks walking next to her. My watch kept beeping with our miles. I thought we must me doing a loop, only we passed every road moving farther and farther from her house. When we hit Milford road, I though she might have some short cut back home. "Ok, lets turn around and go back...."
I was puttering out and confused...."wait, so we are walking back the way we came....?"
OH yeah! It was a 9 mile WALK! I still had to run at XC.
My squatty legs were TOAST when we arrived back at her house. I was cracking up, over 13 miles, there was no way I was running back home! Erin kindly drove me home. We had a very sweet time.

Worth a Thousand Words.

“There's doubt in trying.
Just do it or stop thinking.”
― Toba Beta, Master of Stupidity

I just want to run. But I am scared.
Yes, Scared. I feel like fine china.
I am afraid I will fall on my port.
I am afraid I am doing damage to my chest where the port is inserted.
I am afraid that my muscles are pulling..
But I just want to run.

The problem with not running for me is that depression sets in. I am not going into all the physiology of not running and how it affects you, just trust me.

I had my chemo port put in last Wednesday.
Wednesday morning I was able to run with Lacey.
Thursday I tried to run, NOPE..I walked. I even tried again at XC with the kids, it felt like my chest muscles were tearing apart.

(The Chemo Port aks a mediport)

4 days since I had my mediport inserted

I actually have the latest design of ports.
I have struggled breathing with it. It feels like there is a stack of books on my chest. Trust me when I say my double A's carry NO weight. My chest feels heavy. My breathing is more like work. I am not sure how long this will last but it is cumbersome. And it makes me scared too.

Worth a thousand words.

All I wanted to do was RUN.
I wore the skirt Lacey brought me home from Boston with excitement. I LOVE running clothes.
I picked the loosest fitting sports bra I have to not have any friction on my port and met Lacey.

"10 miles, I WANT 10 miles!" I repeated to Lacey. Lacey looked concerned, not for herself, but for me.
"I haven't started chemo yet, I want 10 MILES!"

The sun was shining, it was almost 70 degrees out. I just wanted to run.
I wanted to not feel all that fear.
I wanted to not think about me having cancer.
I wanted to feel normal for just a couple hours.
A couple hours of laughing, gabbing, catching up and catching my breath.

Lacey wouldn't let me go fast, she wouldn't even let me run any hills and there were a lot of hills.
I wanted to RUN and I was so grateful to run I did whatever she said!

We ran into Andy about mile 5, right around the time we saw a coyote on the road. (That was cool) Andy was on his way home from work and gave us water, I was out and Lacey was low.
Andy asked Lacey what she thought of running with a 14 year old boy, that would be my new hair cut!
It was so weird not putting a pony tail holder in my hair. I could literally feel the wind through my new pixie cut. It was pretty cool.

When we saw the coyote there was a car parked at the road. A gal got out and confirmed we had seen a coyote. I only had my sports bra on at that time. I quickly put my hand over my port. I didn't think she would want to see that. It is kinda nasty to look it.

I was grinning from ear to ear getting to run. I told Lacey I am going to RUN and RUN until I can't. I don't plan to run fast, I don't plan to run hard, I just plan to RUN.
Run until I can't. Then I will walk. I will do the best I have for each day.


The Haircut:

I have had a lot of people say I am strong. But I wonder can you still be strong and have fears? Can you still be strong and be scared?
One thing I wasn't afraid of was CUTTING MY HAIR OFF.
I needed to emotionally prepare myself. My hair has not been my identity for a long time. But cutting a pixie, that's next level.
However, loosing my hair is all together a level all together different, therefore cutting my hair boy short, No Big Deal.
I asked Michelle to cut my hair. We have worked together over 20 years. And Michelle works FAST. There was no turning back when I hear those shears. I just smiled bigger. Until Michelle started to cry. "No NO NO, don't cry Michelle...This is a happy moment...."
I was happy. Michelle was helping me into this next stage. She was going to make me feel beautiful when this cancer inside me wanted to make me feel ugly. She was giving me something fresh and helping me transition into that next stage of the journey.
I AM going to loose my hair. And this too is scary. She was helping me to build my courage.
It was a happy moment.

It turns out, the haircut was good for all the family! Alec said I looked like a mom, then made it even more antiquated by saying I looked like a teacher. I know a lot of beautiful teachers so I made light of it. Andy sounded like he had rehearsed his line, "No hunny, it looks good...." Andys main line! I know he liked it, but I could tell he was trying to get used to it.
I think Andy saw my cancer when he looks at me. He like it, but it makes me look smaller, even frail.
I thought I was cutting my hair for me, but I think it was more important for my family to see and prepare themselves.

"Alec, I am sorry, I am still trying to figure this whole thing out, please forgive me, I am going to say and do things wrong, it is not intentional, I just don't know what I am supposed to do with all this..." This was something I said to Alec when I first found out I had cancer a few weeks ago. Because this IS all NEW to me.
I hope to not hurt anyone in this season. I am still trying to figure this all out.

“Who you are tomorrow begins with what you do today.”
― Tim Fargo

Anita

The Chemo Port.

Today I had my Echo.

Today is day one with my port. 

My Chemo Port. 

I slept surprisingly well. Last night I took 3 Motrin. They actually prescribed me enough Ativan for a heard of elephants. "Andy, I am NOT taking those!" I am so pill shy, especially anything addicting.

I wanted to run so bad. I feel great, other than this port in my left upper chest. The one that makes me feel like fine china. The one that I feel all my muscles pulling making it hard to holding myself upright. The one that is bandaged and taped up and hiding from my fearful eyesight.

My run..turned  into a 4 mile walk.
I tried to run, and the pounding felt like my muscles were ripping out.

I even tried running again at XC with the kids, Yeah, I had the worst form. I could have ran to show the kids what one SHOULD NOT look like when they are running.

I am staying hopeful that my port will heal or I will be able to run with my confidence in my uncomfortable state.

Today I went to lunch with an old workmate, a friend.
"A friends greatest gift is time spent together." Megan tagged me in this.
I have been overwhelmed by such love and support as I enter into a new season of my life. Seasons don't last forever.
But friendships can.
I am thankful for all my friendships.

Anita~

"Anita, Its Just another Marathon"

I had my hair cut in a process to prepare myself. 

Isaiah 40:31

"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint." 

If you have been following this blog you will know that for months I have been struggling with my health.

I have had ultrasounds, a mammogram, a girly check, I have been poked countless times, had more blood drawn than a vampire could drink, I have had iron infusions, a colonoscopy and have seen multiple Drs.

Mostly because of the decline in my running, just being honest. This is how I gauge my health. 

My symptoms:

• restless legs
• shortness of breath
• fatigue
• vomiting prematurely at races.
• insomnia
• Pica, (Craving of chewing on ice) 

From one Dr. to the next I just kept marking them off. 

We discovered I was very anemic. This diagnoses would explain most of my symptoms and a couple iron infusions would remedy those. 

But there was one Dr that gave me an all together different diagnose. 

" Anita, This is just another Marathon...." Dr. Daniel Sullivan tried to explain so I could understand what I was going to be battling. 

"Its going to be a 6 month Marathon, and you are going to have to take it one day at a time..." 

I sat there stoic. Strong. Composed. I was listening but nothing was penetrating. 

"Anita, you are strong, you are brave, you can do this...." I spoke to myself trying to drown out his words. 

"Anita, You have to start answering these questions, you need to start thinking about these things...." 

All I could hear was "You have Stage 2 breast cancer." 

It just bounced around in my head, my ears were ringing. I was trying to be so courageous. 

"...your going to need to start thinking about who is going to help you, how you are going to get to chemo, if you are going to continue to work, how you are going to do when you loose your hair, how you are going to tell your children...."

"My God, My God, my boys" tears welled in my eyes, my boys..." 

Just the Facts:

• I had a mammogram in December, I was aware of a lump. Turns out it was one "camped" out next to another.
• My radiologist told me it didn't appear to be cancer but made me promise to get another mammogram in 6 months or he would do a biopsy right there. I promised 6 months I would return. 
• Within a few weeks I discovered another lump under my arm.
• In the midst of all my Dr appt, each of my other DRs all looked at my "lumps" and each one said "You need to have that biopsied." 
• I went back to my physician to share all my information with him and then told him about my lumps. He gave me a very brief exam and with great concern responded, "Anita, THOSE have to be biopsied, 90% of mammograms are correct, but 10% are not, If you were my wife I would have those looked at right away." 
• They were biopsied April 4th. 

From there it has been a whirlwind. 

My Todays:

In the last week I have had a test every day.

MRI, bone scan, CAT scan, blood draws, Colonoscopy, I had my chemo port put in, tomorrow I have an echocardiogram and next Wednesday I will start Chemotherapy. 

Things are moving fast. 

say hello to my little friend, my port is in!

"Its Just another Marathon"

I can relate to this. I know how to go one mile at a time. I know what "heartbreak hill" feels like. I know what it feels to want to quit and remind myself its NOT an OPTION. I know that there are miles that you feel amazing right before you crash...

I know the marathon, I know every mile. I know the miles I cry with gratitude, and the miles I am praying for strength and perseverance. 

I can relate to this. One mile at a time, one day at a time. Its going to be a 9 month marathon. 

I'm not all that courageous. 

I am scared. But like most races I have done, I am going to do it scared. I am going to do this and trust my training. God has prepared me. God has equipped me for this. 

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 

2 Timothy 1:7. 

I will add more details and share my journey on my blog. My breast cancer is now just another odd that I will overcome. It is not my identity. 

But it will impact me. I will NOT post every blog on social media. 

I hope to share this journey in a transparent way. I will continue to share my running and how my breast cancer will impact that in hopes of encouraging other athletes going through this similar journey. 

Anita~

"No Wimps"..50k Recap

No Wimps, Trail Weekend.
Saturday:
I had signed up for this months ago. That means for months I have looked forward to it.
Even though my health has given me a couple sucker punches I was NOT throwing the towel in.

I knew I had to run smart. Again, not pushing myself. I can not afford to over tax my body right now.
Saturdays half marathon was a BLAST. We finished it with a big group, we were having so much fun that runners kept joining us.
Because I was running the following day Sunday we made Saturday our "Fun Run".


SUNDAY: 50K
Sunday morning was a mirror image of Saturday. Blue skies bursting at the seams.
I was a HOT MESS. I had forgotten my bib at home. Typical Anita. With less than 30 minutes I had to get to the registration table, get my bib fixed, make sure my name was correct (They had me under Andy for both the races) and I had to pee before the 7:30 bell whistled.
I DIDN'T make it!
I was still in line for peeing when the first and second wave took off.

I did make it in for the 3rd wave smiling and not too frazzled.

I really didn't have a plan. I was using the information Claudia gave me from her experience. After running the half marathon the day before I was familiar with the trail. The trail is not the yellow brick road for sure.
The Potawatomi trail is as beautiful as it is as difficult. It has a lot of climbing, several bridges and hugs the river, winding through the woods. It is breathtaking.
I planned to run conservatively. I wanted to run at least one loop with Claudia. I was looking forward to her company.
I was hoping for a 6 hour 50K. That would be running about 1 hour every 5 miles.
I just knew I couldn't push myself. 

THE FIRST LOOP:

The energy was not as high as it was for the half marathon the day before. I was still in good spirits and very excited but more focused.

"Cupless" We had to bring our own vessels. 

Claudia took the lead and I tucked in behind her. We ran a very steady pace. Because we were in the third wave we really didn't have a lot of people clustering around us.
We were looking forward to seeing Rachel. Rachel was volunteering at the aide station at mile 4 and 17.

Claudia and I

At mile 4, I started yelling "MARCO"  through the trails listening for her. It took a couple times then we heard "POLO"!
Rachel was holding a jug to fill our containers. The race was "Cupless", you had to bring your own vessel. I of course made the joke, I know all about "Cupless"!
We exchanged some laughter, I removed a layer, grabbed an orange slice and off we went.
The clock doesn't stop.

The last mile of the first loop is BRUTAL. The hills are massive, topped with roots and rocks. You can hear the crowd as you come out of the woods and head past the start/finish area.
Back out you go for loop 2.

THE SECOND LOOP:
Claudia and I were still keeping a steady pace. We ran into STU, another runner friend of ours. We ran a couple miles with him, he was aiming for a 6 hour 50K as well and doing the same strategy, 5 miles an hour.
Claudia had me take the lead this loop.
I had really wanted to FACETIME my brother while I was running. My brother had been out in Colorado this past week and had FaceTime me while hiking "The Arches".  I know it seems ridiculous to FaceTime someone while running a race, but my brother is one of my biggest fans and I knew he would like that as much as I would.
While we were chatting and laughing Claudia jumped in front and took the lead. She picked up the pace a bit so I quickly said my goodbyes and got my head back in the game. Claudia had put her music in her ears and whenever she does that she drops a gear.
I tucked in behind her and just let her do her thing.
After a few miles, she asked me to take the lead back.
We came back into the Rachels aide station, this time I dropped a lot of clothes. everything but my sports bra and vest, I was so hot.

Rachel and I

Again, I grabbed another orange and a PBJ square. We hightailed it out of there.

I would ask Claudia how we were doing but she couldn't hear me. I knew she was still with me because I could hear her. At mile 20, we were still on pace and doing great.

But somewhere between mile 21-23 I lost her. I was feeling good and had started to pick up the pace a little bit.
The cool temps and blue skies allowed me to run good. I started passing runners.
Every runner I passed I said "Good Job, your doing great" or something along those lines.

As I finished up the tail end of the last loop, the hills felt a lot more painful. My ankle was beginning to ache and I had to be more cautious of how I was landing my feet. The inside of my knee on the downhills actually felt like it was pulling a bit.

When I ran past the finish line for my 2nd loop I still had another 5 miles. I also had no idea where I was going!
I ran right by the aid station without grabbing anything in my confusion. You have to run across the parking lot towards a different trail head. It was here by a fluke I saw Rachel and Matt. Matt had finished the race and Rachel was all done volunteering. They both just happened to be there and hear me yelling for directions!
They confirmed I was going in the right direction and I quickly gave high fives and bolted towards the trail.
Between mile 27-30 it was flat and not technical at all. I was able to pick up my pace. I found myself passing several runners through this section. This is like fuel.

So many thoughts ran through my mind that last mile. I wished it was never going to end. I didn't want it to end because I knew it was really going to be THE END for a long time.
This race was going to be my "Last Hoorah".
My health was going to have to take the reigns over everything this summer. That meant many races planned and paid for were probably NOT going to happen.
So I smiled more, I took in every moment of this 50K. I embraced it with full gratitude. I felt my emotions welling up as I ran that mile. I wiped the tears down my cheeks with love, Thanking God for every mile, every breath and every victory.

The Finish: 
I came out of the woods now for the 3rd time. This time I got to actually run through the chute. I picked up the pace, smiled and gave it my last wind.
Finishing I had to give my bib number to a volunteer documenting each runner and time. I discovered I was 1st in my age group! I got aa MUG!
Time: 5h 52min.

You can allow your circumstance to dictate your actions or you can Overcome them with Strength, Positivity, and Gratitude. 

I choose to Own My Todays. 

I choose to do the BEST I can with each day I am given. 

Anita~

My Bling!