Let me begin by saying....

Being a participant with Team in Training last fall season was one of the most remarkable experiences of my life. I did not start out a runner, and to be honest, I still don't refer to myself as one. I had never done a 5k (and still haven't) and had run my first race ever with K-Dubs last May...a 10K that almost killed me. But I felt an overwhelming draw to TNT because of the mission. My dad died 4 years ago this coming July 28th from complications of a bone marrow transplant that was meant to cure him of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Myelo Dysplasia. The transplant actually DID cure him...the cancer DID disappear…and was that ever a happy day hearing that news...however, pneumonia set in a few days later. He fought and fought for a few more heartbreaking and tortuous weeks and he ended up dying July 28th, 2006. He had just turned 66 at the time of his death and was still working at a job he loved. My son, about 21 months at the time, was the light of my dad’s life and it was torture for him not be able to spend as much time with him as he wanted because of the risk of infection due to his compromised immune system. He never got to meet my second son, who was born about 3 weeks after my dad died. My dad would have adored him too! Cancer is awful and his death was an absolute tragedy for us.

I had never before heard of TNT. One morning a year ago this past spring I happened to see a running group on River Road having a great time. My friend and running partner said they might be the “Team in Training” group. Of course I looked up TNT when I got home and was shocked to see that these people were running and fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! I felt it was a “calling”, if you will. It was fate! Anyway, perusing the TNT website and attending the information session brought me back to the countless hours sitting with my dad at the U of M Hospital. I vividly remember sitting and looking out the same window overlooking the Mississippi River watching the runners, bikers, walkers, etc, and thinking "do they have any idea that I am up here sitting with my dad who is suffering so?" I also thought, as I'd see many of the same people go by every day, "Who ARE these crazy people who RUN every day??? What on earth are they doing?" For some crazy reason I had always wanted to BE a runner. I envied people I’d see running on the sidewalks. At night I’d dream I was running. However, I had never exercised a day in my life, disliked sports in school because of the competitiveness and, to be honest, I loathed sweating. Since joining TNT I can honestly say that I know that "feeling" that running can bring...the feeling of escape, of challenge, and of appreciation that my body works. When I complete at run I feel absolute shock that I did it. Then I think, “Am I dreaming this?” Last season, one of the TNT runs was right under the same window at the U of M hospital. Of course I burst out crying and made a little point of giving a smile and a wave up to those windows for whoever was sitting where I was 3 years before. The TNT people I was running with that day were so great at listening to my blubbering. Every one of us has a story.

Joining TNT was so wonderful for so many reasons. It helped me heal both physically and emotionally. The team surrounded me with caring and uplifting folks ALL dedicated to the mission of helping people in need. During every team training I am reminded that there are good people out there wanting to do good things for others. Some people don’t know of anyone who has had a blood cancer, some people have lost friends or family to blood cancer, some people have battled cancer of their own, while others simply want to fulfill a goal of completing an endurance event. Whatever the reason for joining, everyone has a story.

K-Dubs... Why I Run

I have never been a runner. In high school, I played tennis and rowed crew, for which I occasionally stumbled through a few painful training miles. They only served to deepen my dislike of running. Throughout college and my 20's, I would briefly flirt with running, the pinnacle being a 10K in 1999 at the urging of an in-shape friend and colleague who did not take no for an answer.

The early 30's brought my beautiful little boys, a career shift to at-home mom, and an additional 40 pounds that had accrued over the years and were going nowhere fast. Again, a motivating and fit friend served as my inspiration. In September 2008, she presented me with the "opportunity" to join a boot-camp workout group which met 2 mornings a week at 5:30 AM (!) for an hour of serious exercise. She also did not take no for an answer and 2 years later, I continue to get my butt kicked at boot-camp twice a week with my wonderful, supportive neighbors and friends.

Boot-camp was, and is, hard; made more difficult by being overweight and out-of-shape. Yet another highly motivated (and very persistent!) friend invited me to start running with her as a way to increase my fitness level, while simultaneously visiting with a fellow mom uninterrupted by our little ones. We ran together all spring, then she joined Team in Training to honor her father who lost his battle with leukemia in 2006, while I continued running on my own. I am proud to say we both completed half-marathons in October 2009.

Running those 13.1 miles brought me to my knees. I cried at mile 10, certain that I would fall short of my goal. The unwavering emotional and physical support of my friends and family pulled me across that finish line, actually smiling. I was exhilarated by the accomplishment, humbled by the amazing people in my life, and certain that I'd never try a marathon!

And yet here I am, 6 months later, writing to you about my running journey and asking for your support as I train for the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco on October 17, 2010 as a member of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Team in Training (TNT).

Suzy Q - It Don't Hurt Anymore

Someone hijacked my iPod. Its red, I call it Ruby and its engraved with “Music is an outburst of the soul” on the back. But it doesn’t seem to be loaded with the music that is an outburst of my soul anymore. Somehow in the three years since I trained for NWM ’07, someone reprogrammed my “best friend.”

I couldn’t tell you exactly what was on it before, but surely it wasn’t the soundtrack from The Sound of Music, complete with exclusive interviews with the actors, country songs and the “best of” Johnny Cash. This summer is shaping up to be quite busy, so I’ve just taken what I can get from Ruby. Never bothering to set the old girl straight and restore the old mix that better represents my soul. However, I think it’s time to draw the line.

On Sunday night I drank a lot of water before bed to make sure I was properly hydrated. It’s not surprising that I awoke in the fours to go to the bathroom. What was shocking was to hear the ghost of Johnny Cash serenading me in his gravelly voice…”It don’t hurt any more… “ I love you Johnny. Wish I’d run into you at Noshville across from Vandy in the late 1990s. But truth be told I’d much rather be soothed by tales of Julie Andrews favorite things and how to solve a problem like Maria in the wee hours.

Betty - Just Press....Pause

So only a month into the whole training business and I'm already ditching the program. But wait, i have good reasons. It all started with a sore achilles heel....it came on slowly then little by little it became difficult not to do the hobble walk but strangely it felt fine when I was running, so no big deal. Well, i have come to learn that there is this little know fact about your body and it compensating for other parts that are hurt. So then my other leg (shin/calf) started hurting. But this time it's wasn't just a little - nothing unlike little gnomes hacking away with their pick axes at my leg while I was running. The pain would lessen after about 40 minutes and I could carry on with the rest of my run, provided that I was running more than 4 miles. So that lasted for about 2 weeks and THEN the hip on the other side decided to compensate for that leg and reared it's ugly head. I mean really. I have put many long years into the sole dedication of fattening up that hip so it could withstand any and all abuse that came it's way. The good news was all that work did pay off and the hip recovered rather quickly, but last night when me and some of the ladies headed out for a short run my legs screamed up at me in their best Jewish grandmother voice and hollered "enough with the running already!"

So i have made the decision to take at least a week (maybe two) off and just focus on some cross training and see how it goes. I have been reminded by several knowledgeable women that it's better to slow down now then really hurt something and have to be out for 5-6 weeks. I'm just hoping that I can run again soon and not have to be in so much pain so i can actually enjoy it.
So, today I went biking and tomorrow is the Latin Hip-Hop class at the gym. Yes, you read that right...Latin Hip-Hop. Which is an entirely different post that I will share with you at a later date. Until then...Broken Betty signing out!