Something Happy

The next few weeks (months?) are going to be crazy...

Friday morning I'm leaving for the High Sierra Music Festival. This will be my first Festivaaaaal, and the devotees of the event assure me it will be my first of many. The next weekend I'll be going on a camping/fishing weekend for Tyler's BDay.

My family didn't camp. I've only been camping about 5 years, I'm still a novice newby. I love camping, for 2 big reasons. One is the sense of community, the other is how capable it makes me feel. Often during a camping trip you're working together with someone accomplishing something that at home would take maybe 10 minutes. But when you're camping you have to be resourceful.

Making coffee- at home it takes about a minute. Measure water, grind beans, place in coffee maker, hit a button and come back in 5 minutes for your coffee. Camping it goes something like this: start fire to heat water (or light up the camp stove), heat water, measure coffee grounds, transfer hot water and grounds into french press, wait about 5 minutes and press. You have to work for that coffee just a little more, and it tastes better for it.

Still have to keep training through these trips. There are yoga and pilates classes up at Festivaaaal. And Hula Hoop! Hopefully I'll be able to get in a long walk/run.

And to clear up any confusion regarding my thoughts about testing for the Brca mutations and the measures some women go to to prevent breast cancer: I'm not going to have genetic testing and while I understand why some women opt to go these routes it isn't even a possibility to me. I'm going to be proactive about mammograms, self exams, healthy lifestyles, etc. No worries! Just the ramblings of a crazy girl :)

To Test...Or Not To Test

Yesterday I received some all around bad news, Gram has breast cancer. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is early stage, we'll know more tomorrow.

In case you're not keeping score I am. My mom has breast cancer, both of my Grandmothers have or have had breast cancer along with assorted maternal Aunts. This raises the question for me of genetic testing for the Brca genes. As I've already spent a considerable amount of time pondering this I believe my answer is no.

I don't really see any value for me. I don't think that finding I have a mutation on this gene would be useful. With my family history I already have yearly mammograms (or sonograms as the case may be for me.) I'm losing weight, I've cut back on alcohol and don't smoke.

What else could I do? Well some women opt to have a preventive mastectomy. Ok, but this surgery isn't going to remove 100% of your breast tissue, so it doesn't guarantee you won't have breast cancer. But it does lower your risk by 90%.

The other new therapy for women who have this genetic mutation is chemoprevention. That's right, Tamoxifen for those who don't actually have cancer. Early studies show this lowers your risk by 49%.

With those numbers I can see why some women opt for the testing, and take these measures.

My *good* news is that none of the women in my family developed breast cancer before menopause.

Where does the money go?

There are two major elements to Team In Training, and so far I've been focusing on the training. But why are here? For the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In exchange for coaching and the support of a team we are raising funds for this organization.

75% of the funds we raise go directly towards research and patient services. That's an amazing figure when you really think about it- and not one that many organizations can boast. My experience with watching a loved one cope with cancer shows that patient services are just as important as the research.

Straight from the LLS, here's a breakdown of what our money can do:

$1000 supports one week’s salary for a medical researcher at UCSF, Stanford, or Berkeley who may discover key information to developing curative treatments for blood cancers.

$500 provides a blood cancer patient with financial assistance for one year.

$500 allows 10 patients to log on to a webcast and hear the latest information in treatment for their disease.

$200 provides a Family Support Group Program for one year for a patient and their family.

$150 allows 5 patients to make a First Connection with a trained peer volunteer.

$100 provides 3 patients access to an information teleconference.

$75 is the average cost of tissue typing to become a bone marrow donor.

$50 is the cost of a CT scan

$40 is the cost of sending a comprehensive packet of information for children with cancer.

$35 pays for transportation expenses for a patient living in Northern California’s most rural areas to treatment at a comprehensive cancer center.

$25 covers a single prescription co-payment.

$5 is the cost of sending a newly diagnosed patient information about support and their disease.

So you know what- if you're thinking you'd like to donate something to this cause, but feel like what you could spare isn't enough think again. Nothing is scarier than the unknown. If you can only donate $5 you should feel great because you're helping to educate someone newly diagnosed with a blood cancer. If you can spare $10 you're helping to cover the cost of their medication.

Just something to think about.

More running gear

Just in case you're wondering how an endowed lady like me can run...the Enell sports bra. Recommended by Oprah, and by me. Their slogan "the bounce stops here." In conjunction with another sports bra the bounce has stopped for me.

Tiger Balm + Treadmill = Success

Tiger Balm + Treadmill = Success

Or so I hope. Since I've been having problems with my shins since the beginning of training I gave in and saw the doctor. Although I'm a self-professed hypochondriac I actually hate visits with the doc.

The good news- doesn't look like stress fractures, which is a relief. The advice (which was also given to me by one of the TNT coaches) train on a treadmill for a couple weeks. Treadmills have softer surfaces. The other great thing about the treadmill is I'll feel better about pushing myself. When you're running on the trail and you keep going forward you actually have to get back as well. The couple times I've had intense pain I've envisioned not being able to get back and stopped my run/walk short.

The Tiger Balm is awesome! I tried this out on Monday- it soothes the muscles and actually seems to warm them up as well. And I now smell like chai tea.

Improvement= Training X Rest

Improvement= Training X Rest

Wise words from Coach Tim. Kinda wish he shared them at the beginning of the planned rest week, but I’ll know better next time I see 2 (count them) 2 rest days in one week.

Yep, rest = only working out 5X in one week. With 2 of those being “big” workouts. Welcome to the world of training for an endurance event.

I went on my half hour run/walk this evening, in accordance with the training calendar. No Shin Pain! Go ice, ibuprofen, new shoes and adapting to running.


To quote Paula Kate “running isn’t fun.” Now I know there are many people in the world who would differ that opinion. But to me running isn’t fun. So far it’s been many ups and downs. For sure my VO2 max has improved, I can go further without panting. I can hold conversations while running. I don’t enjoy the jarring motion of running, and I don’t enjoy how badly my muscles ache and burn.

I’m hesitant to attempt to run through the pain, because obviously I don’t want to hurt myself. Sooner or later, with sooner being better I’m going to have to test the waters.

"For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn."

I have no idea if this is the literary equivalent of the urban legend, but the story is that Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in 6 words, and he wrote "for sale: baby shoes, never worn."

Last year Smith Magazine had a contest where they challenged readers to write a 6 word memoir, and they compiled them into the book "Not Quite What I Was Planning." I haven't read this yet, but yesterday someone was telling me about this. Of course I had to immediately start writing my 6 word memoir. After much deliberation, here it is:

"Don't always have great impulse control."

Training Update

We had our first Circuit Drill work out tonight, which I missed because of traffic. I was kind of dreading this and felt very guilty for missing it, as if I had somehow willed the traffic's existence. (If I do have this sort of power the universe should know I would also like one million dollars...) Traffic combined with those last minute issues at work are going to be obstacles.

But oddly it may have worked out for the best. I had my best run to date, with the least amount of pain since I started. I warmed up with walking for about 10 minutes, then using the 1:3 ratio went for another 32 minutes. 8 minutes running, 24 minutes walking. Might not seem like much, but trust me, if you are not a natural athlete and you've never run before it's an accomplishment.

My new running shoes seem to be making a huge difference. I experienced what I believe to be a normal amount of discomfort for a beginner, not lots of pain. I felt burn, and had shaky legs at the end but was able to keep going. I came home and iced down the legs and popped some ibuprofen and I think all is good.

I'm going to try for the 5:30 am (yikes!) buddy run on Thursday...it really doesn't sound pleasant, but I get so stressed trying to get back to Walnut Creek by 6:15. If I'm not trying of course I'm easily home by then.

The Team

My perfect summer:


High Sierra

Running a mile, as a warm-up to the main event

Raising lots of money for the LLS

A special camping trip for us fishing people in the group

Manresa

Seeing the Counting Crows in September (by myself apparently!)

Tuesday update

I had that rare instance this morning, waking up and just feeling happy. It's happened a few times this last month, since I moved into my new apartment. Something about this space is homier, feels happier.

This last week hasn't exactly equaled waking up happy. I'm unhappy with my job. I'm overwhelmed with training for the 1/2. And overwhelmed with the fundraising. I'm having some severe shin pain. Oh yeah, I'm completely broke.

But I'm happy.

I started really dieting again about a month ago, and am seeing results already. The diet hasn't even turned me into mega-bitch (yet, just wait for it because it will happen.)

Missed our first track work out tonight because of my shin pain. More than one person has told me that new running shoes will help, which I'm going to get Friday. My legs are actually bruised, a bit swollen and tender to the touch. Ice helps. On my way to my next run I'm going to put heat pads on both legs to warm them up. Apparently your shins are the last muscles to warm up, and the first to cool down.

My house smells like chocolate, I have a glass of a spicy zin and brought home books today. Right there, every reason in the world to be happy.

Training Week 0

On October 19th I'll be running the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco on behalf on Team In Training (TNT). TNT is a program through The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society where in exchange for fund raising they provide coaching for different endurance events. The unofficial motto of TNT is from the couch to the finish line.

The last couple weeks I've been working out and basically training for the training. I was hesitant to do too much running. Yesterday we had our first short group run followed by a series of clinics.

I ran about 1/4 mile yesterday, before transitioning to a walk. Mostly due to shin pain. I need to go purchase better running shoes this week, and always warm up. For me I think the warm up needs to be about 5-10 minutes of a normal walk, without doing this I always end up with shin pain.

A group of 5 of us signed on to TNT together. It seemed as if it dawned on us yesterday that this was going to be hard. But we also have plenty of time to train. On Tuesday we'll have our first track workout, where our coaches will go over proper running form.

We also had a series of clinics yesterday: about proper running shoes, injury prevention and nutrition. Turns out (I did suspect this) that I supinate, meaning I walk on the edges of my feet. This mostly happens when you have high arches, and years of ballet as a child left me with pretty high arches.

Injury prevention was great- I'm really looking forward to learning proper running form. I don't think I'm using my core as much as needed in my running efforts. I'm going to concentrate on my core for cross training days, as well as adding back in some basic yoga everyday to strengthen my core.

Nutrition was the eye opener. In retrospect it seems like a huge 'duh' moment but...we're going to have to basically carb-load the next 5 months to sustain our training. After years of being told not to eat carbs it felt frightening to hear someone talking about making sure you eat lots of carbs. He said words like pasta and rice. My friend reassured me by whispering in my ear "it's okay, if you eat pasta eat whole grain pasta, and brown rice." Which I already do.

And I learned my lesson yesterday about eating before working out. I skipped breakfast, mainly because I got up at the last possible moment. Even with just a short workout I was feeling a lack of energy from not eating. Much better to learn that early in the season, when I only had to make it back another mile than later in the season.

The best email ever

I kind of had a bad day today, but an email exchange with a close friend kept me laughing!

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Dear Jess,

Please give my Tupperware back.

Best regards,

J

From: Jess
Sent: Friday, June 06, 2008 1:28 PM
To: J
Subject: RE: culinary adventure

Dear J,

I've reviewed your request for your Tupperware back, and in light of the snapware top at this time I have to deny the request.

JMM

Dear Jess,

Resistance is futile, you’ll be assimilated. Have a great day! J

Best regards,

J

Dearest J,

You haven't considered how stubborn I am.

(alright, I'll let you get back to work! Don't mistake that kindness for a weakness)

Jess

To my assimilated subordinate:

It has been a long time since I had an opportunity of writing to you, and I gladly avail myself of the present opportunity. I am not certain that I will have a chance of sending this but I will write a few lines any how and try and get it off to let you know that I am among the living.

We have been on a raid into your house to find the Tupperware but I have not time to give you the particulars of our trip. I will write in a few days if I can get a chance to send it and write you a long one. I just came off of picket and found the boys all writing to send by a man that has been discharged who is going to start home this morning. I must close for fear I do not get to send my letter off. Write often I will get them some time. I will write every chance, do not be uneasy when you do not get letters, for when we are scouting around as we have been it is impossible to write or to send them off if we did write. We feel that we’re closing in on our objective and anxious to leave fire hell beast.

- J