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So excited about my anniversary present! Jeff got me my own SUP board! Next month I'll have it at Harbour Towne Beach for the Stand Up for the Cure event! Join #teamhalfrack on July 9th! #standupforthecure #whatSUP #myhusbandrocks #WATCHmUSkeGOn (at Bear Lake Beach)

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Learn to be Still

Dear Cancer, I would like to thank you for the unexpected gifts which this journey has given me. When I heard the words invasive cancer, stage 3, chemotherapy, radiation and the mind blowing "more thorough mastectomy" they rang in my ears like bombs exploding in the distance. They were just far enough away that I couldn't connect them to the carnage and destruction. The sounds, while frightening were far enough over the horizon that they weren't visible and therefore hadn't manifested into reality. Instead they hung there pulsing in this muted haze that engulfed me. I didn't know what the future held but I did know how and with whom I would face it. Often it takes these moments for you to take stock of that but I am blessed with an amazing battalion of friends, prayer warriors and a husband that not only loves me but knows how to love me through this, for all of that I am grateful. Some people never take stock of those around them, assess and celebrate their tribe. I was immediately surrounded by prayer, love and friendship. Cards filled my mailbox, flowers appeared at my door, gift baskets, gift cards, letters, food, offers to help with kids, even someone to help with my laundry...everyday something showed up that reminded me of how loved and blessed I am. I would go to my running group and be lifted up with words of encouragement every week, often someone would slow their pace or run back to be by my side. Friends and family have taken time out of their days, used up their lunch hours or driven across town to sit by my side at treatment. I was blown away. These days there always seems to be work to get do, kids to play with, dinner to cook, a house to clean, something to fix...my list never ends but I have been blessed by so many who despite the whirlwind of busy have taken the time to be with me, to lift me up, to run by my side, to pray for me. This overwhelms me some days, I don't even have the words to say thank you, to express my gratitude (add thank you cards to the To-Do list). You see I struggle to be still, to stop in the moment and allow myself to be there, to hang my toes over the water and let all of the blessings I've been given swirl around me. So, the other day I rode my bike in silence, in the rain, it was one of the first rides of the season and as the rain washed over me I thought about how blessed I am, about how fortunate I am for the tribe that is willing to push aside the busy and encourage me, for a family that makes me smile and fills my heart everyday and for a husband who loves me-even when it's hard. I thought about the fact that I am still able to ride, to run, to swim, to play with my kids, to pray, to clean my house (I don't but I am capable), to work, to travel and to love and live everyday and then I tried to remind myself that it's also ok to be still, but that lesson, I'm still learning. Psalm 116:7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

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Gazelle Girl-What a Difference a Year Makes

I was not born a runner-I actually refused to call myself a runner for a very long time but somehow it became a part of who I am. I think that’s because running, like a good friend, has a way of giving you what you need in the moment and teaching you to run the race that you’re in now, accept your best today and set wildly insane goals for tomorrow. In 2013 I set one of those wildly impossible goals for myself which included running 5 5K’s-at the time I couldn’t run a mile without stopping to catch my breath. When I stepped up to the starting line at Gazelle that year my goal was to run the whole race without stopping and the joy I felt having completed that goal almost outweighed my pain and exhaustion. I looked around at all of the amazing women running their own race and cheered as I saw one after another cross the finish of the 5K and half marathon. What an inspiration, some crossed arms in the air, some tears in their eyes but they crossed.

For those of you that know me you know that goal 1-3-5 (1 century ride, 5 5K’s, and 3 triathlons) changed my world in so many ways, but in simple terms it turned me into a runner. I found myself cherishing prime number Friday’s so that I could meet up at some crazy location to run one of Mark’s Friday 5K’s and don my magical clothespin race number (135), I started to fit in a quick run whenever I could and I met the Run Muskegon crew, not only was I a runner but I was part of a running group, a community, a family of runners. There I met Heidi, wearing the same shoes and quickly spotting the fear in one another’s eyes as the mileage on the group runs ticked up we would reluctantly smile and rack up the miles. We were both training for longer runs than we thought we could do (I was running the Marine Corps Half and she was doing 5/3 25K). I can’t remember the point we decided to run The Gazelle Girl half but I remember every week we celebrated the furthest we had ever run, 7 miles, 8 miles, 9…it felt unbelievable and the best part is that the people around us celebrated with us, encouraged us and ran by our side. Mel would almost laugh when I would ask her if she even believed it-she is always encouraging and an inspiration in my running journey. Our 13 mile training run it was snowing, freezing, ice everywhere but we still had a sense of pure joy when we hit that number. So in 2014 Heidi and I stepped up to the starting line of Gazelle Girl and after one beast of a hill, one (or 2) emergency port a potty stops for me, a killer pep talk at mile 11 from Heidi’s sister and 13.1 unforgettable miles we crossed the finish line of our first half marathon, breathless, teary, battle worn and smiling.

That was it, I was hooked and I was a runner although at that point I don’t think I called myself one. That following winter we started marathon training and our crew could not have been closer. As Heidi says the miles forged on the road… Gazelle Girl fell close to the marathon so my friend Jen was going to be Angel again for Team Triumph and asked me to join her. I couldn’t have loved an idea more and we signed up. Unfortunately, Jen wasn’t able to run that race. In 2015 I stepped up to the starting line of Gazelle Girl as an Angel and had the amazing opportunity to help Emma run her race. The feeling of being part of someone’s journey, the joy in Emma’s face as the crowd cheered her on, and the thought that I could share my ability to do this with someone else were overwhelming as we crossed that finish line.

This year brought its own set of challenges for me, diagnosed last fall with stage 3 invasive Breast Cancer, I began chemotherapy treatments in January and was warned that the first round would be tough. I committed to try and keep running and with the encouragement of Run Muskegon I continued to keep showing up for Wednesday night runs. It’s been a lot tougher to run, I’m not able to go as far or as fast and I often need to catch my breathe but I keep running. Often a friend will slow their pace and run a few miles with me and with their encouragement, the support of my family and the grace of God, I have been able to continue to run. The Wednesday night before Gazelle Girl, I ran 3 miles with my friend Sofia and she suggested that we do the 5K. So this year I once again stepped up to the starting line at Gazelle Girl, this time with the same goal as I had my first time, run the whole way. So with Sofia by my side, counting down the kilometers (Sofia is Italian) I ran and as we turned into the finishers shoot I saw my family and running partners cheering us in. We crossed the finish line arms up, smiles on our faces. I didn’t stop running. I was breathless. I was grateful. I run because I’ve been blessed with this day. I run to show my kids I am strong. I run because I am inspired by others and encouraged by many. I run because I can.

#RunAndNotGrowWeary #GazelleGirl #TooInspiredToBeTired #SoleSisters #SoleMisters #TeamTriumph #GazelleGirlHalfMarathon #WhyIRun #RunHappy #BettyDesigns #KilometersOrMiles #RunMuskegon #OneMoreMile #wotv4women #runningovercancer #chemosucks #pigeonsflytogether

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Crossroads

Every runner comes to a crossroads. We decide to take the flat route or embrace the hilly scenic one, run into the headwind or cut through the side streets, commit to the out and back or go for the loop that allows us to cut it short if needed. Every time we come to that spot we must decide. Today I did just that I took the left that lead me into the headwind, up the hill and left without another choice but to finish the mileage I’d committed to. Why do we do that? It doesn’t look any different on my Garmin, 3 miles is 3 miles, right? I can’t help but think those decisions are the ones that help us when life hits us with a headwind, a hill, a journey that feels too long to complete. Cancer is a formidable opponent and it has tried everything to get me to take the flat course but that’s not where the beauty is. The beauty is just over that hill, its in pushing ourselves to be greater, to fight through the mental block that says you can’t do it, it’s the smile you get when your inner dialogue realizes that you’ve made the commitment to be stronger today, to lean into the challenge, to embrace the hill, to face it head on. #runandnotgrowweary #tooinspiredtobetired #runningwithcancer #chemo #takethatchemo #halfrack #embracethehill #newtoblogging #running #runhappy #runningischeaptherapy

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Running with Cancer

Lacing up my running shoes has been more challenging since starting chemotherapy, add on that the weather is arctic and the roads are covered in slush and I had every excuse not to go. I made a decision though that cancer wasn’t going to take running away from me. So today I strapped on my shoes, layered up and headed into the winter wonderland. The first mile is always the toughest and today was no exception but right as I turned the corner I heard a folksy tune radiate from my headphones, “Round, round, I wanna go round wanna see the rock of ages. ‘Til my body gives out gonna read the gospel pages,” and my body kept moving as if to say it hasn’t given out. The sun shined through the clouds, the snow glistened and I settled into my stride. The sound of my feet pounding the pavement was meditative and I thought of all that running had given me, wonderful friends that have supported me and lifted me up when I didn't think it was possible, the knowledge that despite how challenging the hill is, it is always worth the climb and a serenity on days when everything feels chaotic. I was interrupted by a second set of footsteps only to see my husband racing up behind me. He started training to do a half marathon for me, knowing that I probably wouldn't have the distance in me. As he set out for his sixth mile I settled in for my second, again I felt grateful for the love of my life who supports me on the course and in life. Chemotherapy has certainly slowed my pace and cut down my distance but I gratefully am still able to run a few miles a few times a week. Today my legs felt strong and as I saw my turn to go home I thought of a running partner that always pushed me one more mile-she used to say there was something amazing about going a little farther than you thought you could, it was almost as if I could hear her. Jen lost her own heartbreaking battle with cancer recently but she never stopped inspiring those around her. So as I pressed on I smiled as my playlist kept me moving, this time "Life is beautiful" and I know it is. I am blessed with the ability to run today and to run an extra mile. Yes, I am running with cancer but I am running, and as my favorite verse says, "Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary" Isaiah 40:31. So to all of my favorite #solesisters and #solemisters don't let a little weather keep you inside, get out there and go the extra mile, enjoy the sunshine, after all #LifeIsBeautiful. #RunAndNotGrowWeary #newtoblogging #GillianWelch #PlainJaneGlory #running #runningwithcancer #chemo #chemotherapy #breastcancer #cancerunder40 #TooInspiredToBeTired #halfrack #exploreyourmountains #keepabreast