By Trish, on February 8th, 2012
Yikes. The last time I posted was more than a year ago? Oh my. I have tons of excuses but I’ll post those later.
Last Saturday, I ran the YMCA Snowshoe Shuffle at Camp Manitou-Lin in Middleville, MI. It is not too far from Yankee Springs and Gun Lake Casino. It was supposed to be a snowshoe race, but without any snow on the ground it became a trail run.
The turnout was small except one big group of ladies that were part of Team Priority Health.
This was the first year of the race and it was very well organized. Everyone delightful and very friendly. One of the people who put it together came up to me afterward to get my take. That was very nice.
The race started from a main building and ran along the edge of a woods. The cool part? They have horses and they ran with us. I don’t dig horses but it was fun to see them race us. The course was full of rolling hills but no mud! It took us through the woods for a short time and all the big roots were well marked.
Our shirts were wicking shirts (see pic) and everyone who finished received a coaster – very unique! Everyone could make their own smores in the cabin afterward and drink up hot cocoa.
It was a delightful morning and I liked the fact they had a backup plan in case of “no snow.” Results were emailed to us that night and they had photographers all over the course. It was truly ran like a big time race…. only better. I hope to do it again next year.
By Trish, on January 14th, 2011
I wrapped up my cleanse last night. Five days of starvation! But I dropped about eight of those 10 pounds I gained over the holidays.
The surprising part? I thought real food today would taste AMAZING. Nah, little excitement. And oddly, after eating a little salad and an egg salad sandwich, I’m still very hungry just like the time on the cleanse.
But this little experiment and the 10lb weight gain has been a bit of a wake up call. I’m not 20 anymore and heart disease runs in the family. I need to eat more veggies and be smart about my food choices. The not doing any running in December didn’t help either. It’s fine that I rested my legs, but I should have employed other exercises to keep up my fitness. Instead, I’m basically starting all over.
The one good thing about this winter is the stocking of the freezer. We have filled the freezer with tons of venison and perch, crappie and blue gill from ice fishing. Also, we have some birds – goose and pheasant and a rabbit here and there. That’s what I call sustainable eating.
Plus, my winter CSA is keeping me stocked with root veggies – potatoes, carrots, onions, etc. This summer I need to have a garden.
Will I do a cleanse again? Not likely. I don’t feel like I cleansed anything, but I do feel like I have reset my body to start up healthy habits.
By Trish, on January 12th, 2011
I picked up a lifetime concealed weapon permit two years ago. I did so because I live in Indiana and at any point I could be driving someone’s vehicle who has a gun it, not know it and I wanted to be covered. Also, if I walk to the creek with my dogs I may want to carry. I have a pitbull and I live in a neighborhood where people like pitbulls… not to pet them, but to do bad things when them. Therefore if I have to defend me and my dog I can.
 Who would want to hurt this cute pitbull? I have never carried a gun when I’m running. I’ve thought about it and I have access to a small one and am told to take one… but really? Yes, really I probably should when running in certain areas. I don’t want to be the next Chandra Levy or Central Park jogger. Sometimes when you run, you’re all alone. Some of the most beautiful places, especially parks, to run cover vast areas. Unfortunately, creepy psychopaths sometimes lurk.
Check out the story of a runner who did have his gun and who used it to defend himself. While I would never run at midnight, we don’t know this guy’s working schedule. Also, shooting someone eight times is excessive but I would imagine when you’ve been acosted you’re pretty freaked out.
I’d be interested in your take of running with a gun.
Fla. jogger won’t be charged for shooting teen
TAMPA, Fla. – A pistol-packing jogger in Florida won’t be charged for shooting and killing a teenager who attacked him during a midnight run.
Prosecutors said Tuesday they are convinced Thomas Baker acted in self defense when he fired eight shots at 18-year-old Carlos Mustelier near Tampa in November .
Prosecutors say Florida’s “stand-your-ground” law was a factor in their decision. The law, passed in 2005, gives people the right to use deadly force as long as they “reasonably believe” it is necessary to stop another person from hurting them.
Baker told police he reached for his gun when the teen punched him in the face. Baker has a concealed weapons permit.
The teen was hit four times in the chest, back and buttocks. He died at the scene.
By Trish, on January 12th, 2011
A former colleague posted this bike with a sweater he found in NYC to Twitter. I just had to share.
By Trish, on January 11th, 2011
In 2009 and 2010, I participated in YSC’s Tour de Pink. It’s a bike ride from Hershey, PA to NYC to raise money for breast cancer survivors under 40. We are required to raise at least $2,500 to participate and Hershey Chocolate company is so gracious to take care of everything else – absolutely everything else.
They pay for our hotel rooms, our food, our snacks, our SAG support, the motorcyclists helping us on the route, the logistics company, the goodies – basically everything that needs to happen to make it the great event it is. Then they donate a few hundred thousand on top of the few hundred thousand they dished out for the riders…. all so all the money we raise goes to the survivors.
Each year I was so grateful to raise more than $3,000. There are people who raise $20,000 – now those people have some friends!
In addition to the fundraisers I put on, the e-mails I send out, the businesses I contact, I donate to YSC as well. Also, I donate to just about anyone who asks. I do this because when I grew up we couldn’t donate to any organization. We didn’t have any extra money and I hated selling candy bars for school myself. Now that I can donate I give whenever I can but especially to organizations I can relate to or want to support.
I’ve given to friends doing the Komen walk, the Leukemia Association, NAMI (mental illness), OE (local organization helped the mentally and physically disabled go to work) and on and on dishing out nearly a $1,000 of my own cash each of the past two years. I’m grateful to be able to give and I’m even more grateful to those who have chosen to given to me when that money could have bought them a nice steak dinner or even just a latte. Fundraising is as much an experience as the event itself.
This little bike ride is not a joke. It is incredibly challenging and what gets me through the ride is the fact that others gave up their steak dinners to help me help a great organization. I have to finish this. But things do happen. I know a rider who was thrown off a horse two weeks before the event and couldn’t ride but she had already raised all her money. She made sure to let all her donors know and then she also volunteered at the event which was awesome!
But I was disappointed this last fall. A casual acquaintence and Facebook friend continually kept asking for money for whatever organization he was supporting while running some marathon. It wasn’t an organization I had a passion for or been touched by their cause…. and he never sent me a personal note…. but after a dozen posts I finally gave $25. He continued to post these generic requests and then after while they stopped.
Months later I remembered he should have had his marathon. I checked out his fundraising page and he had nearly raised all the money but I never heard how the marathon was. I sent him a note to see how it went. He responded that he got injured and didn’t run. I get it, that sucks… but how about a post to everyone he had been pestering to donate? How about volunteering handing out water at the race? How about a thank you note? That was disappointing.
Another blogger I follow who has a similar story to me became injured and couldn’t do her half marathon that was at a very fun place. But she was raising money for another organization that if you raise enough they take care of your airfare and hotel. She let her readers know but not before raising all her money and then making her announcement right before the raise and not before putting in lackluster training. All while pestering everyone on twitter. And she did not volunteer.
Running and charities are starting to go together like nachos and cheese. Marathons are filling up at record speeds and people are grabbing on to charities so they can get in the race. Most of these require a $2,500 commitment. My advice? Pick an organization close to your heart. If you delayed entering in the race are you really going to put in the training to get the race done? (Unless of course you were a race lottery victim) Keep donors posted on your progress – that will keep you honest with your training. Send thank yous. Do it for the recipients of the charity – not for your PR. This is about them, not about you.
By Trish, on January 10th, 2011
The weeks following my last birthday I was experiencing some intense brainfog. I always feel like I’m in a little bit of a fog – too much going on – but this was one of those hazes you get when you’re on cold medicine.
After some online research one theory behind the brain fog was my diet. As I’ve grown older I have found a little sweet tooth. As soon as I finish a meal I would eat some chocolate. I decided on Jan. 1 I would give up soft drinks, get rid of any chocolate, amp up my water consumption and start a detox.
I went with the Easy Cleanse by Brenda Watson’s company. Picked it up at Whole Foods and it was easy enough… take one capsule in the morning and another at night; after three days step it up to two in the morning two at night… nothing was happening. Actually I was not using the bathroom at all. The directions called an extra couple capsules…. still nothing. My stomach felt so bloated. I got on the scale. I was 10 lbs heavier than I was just two weeks before. I had been 11o lbs for years … never so much as gaining two pounds and now I gained 10 lbs? WTF. I immediately stopped taking that nonsense and began to use the restroom again. The thing about that cleanse is there was no direction on how to eat… so beyond cutting out sweets I ate mostly the same.
My pilates instructor has been pushing this RESET program for a year or so…. it reminds me of one of those pyramid deals – you know, like Amway. Well she wasn’t asking me to buy into it and I like that the kit provided you with everything you needed for five days. The shakes you make with water are a soy-based protein and taste like cake mix. Then there are granola type bars – peanut butter, oatmeal raisin and then there are the supplements/vitamins/fiber. Also, you should eat one serving of veggies, one of fruit and very easy exercise like walking.
Well, I’m starving. Since yesterday morning the pangs in my stomach are nonstop. I have blended frozen berries into my shake and still felt like I haven’t eaten in a week. I have three more days to go and would seriously eat bugs for substance. I’ve only lost like two pounds but I can say my mental clarity is back…. except for the fact that my mind continuously thinks of food.
I also haven’t really had to use the restroom. I’ve gone, but it’s no big deal. I’m not doing this for the weight loss… but rather the whole point of the program, RESET. It should curb my sweet cravings. I’m not doing the weekly webcasts… boo on that. I’ve worked in nutrition and grew up with a mom in the nutrition world. I know what I should be eating… but wow, it’s hell getting older. Gained weight just like mom said I would. But also, I haven’t really exercised in more than a month.
My gym membership just expired and now I can’t run b/c of this cleanse. I tried yesterday and felt like I was going to pass out. My body requires a lot of calories and I really do think I have a tapeworm named George.
At this point, b/c the hunger is so intense, I’m doing it for the challenge. Even though I’m consuming calories this is honestly one of the most difficult things I have ever done.
By Trish, on January 9th, 2011
After the November baseline I got a call back for more pictures. I had to wait three more months to go for the next round. I wasn’t freaked about it, but I wanted to get it over with… b/c why did they want more pictures?
This time I went to the main hospital and was happy to learn they read the results right there rather than wait a week.
This mammogram visit was very different. At the Northwestern Lynn Sage Bucktown location I was in and out. At the downtown Lynn Sage center at Prentice Women’s Hospital it was a half day experience.
The hospital, staff and volunteers were outstanding. Everyone was so nice and helpful. You go to a changing area and then sit in a second waiting area to get called in. It sort of felt like prison (not that I would know!). Here I am sitting with five other women in light blue scrubs – opening facing out. We looked like we were going to board the bus to San Quentin.
I get called in to the mammogram room. They have four areas, each with a few machines – that’s a lot of mammograms going on at once. On the computer screen I can see four images from my last mammogram with areas circled. The circled areas were a bit more white.
The tech explained how this may have a bit more pinching. And sure enough they were squeezing down hard on areas and then as she walks away, she’d turned the lever one more time to squeeze more and then ask me to hold my breath. I got six more images taken.
Then back to the waiting room I went. I needed to get an ultrasound next. I was there for two hours when all these ladies started complaining about the wait for their reading. I know it sucks but what do you do? I took a half a vacation day – not what I call a vacation – but something that is necessary. One former survivor just went on and on and then another lady went and changed. Sure enough, she had to get more pics.
After three hours I went to the ultrasound. It wasn’t painful of course – just maybe a bit awkward. You don’t know why the sonogrammer is taking particular attention to a certain area. As she leaves, she says, don’t worry everything looks benign. Hold on – I didn’t know I had anything to begin with to look benign!
The doc comes in and says all looks good. The reason they wanted more pics was because my breast tissue is so dense that some of the areas overlap – breast tissue appears white and so does tumors. They needed extra pictures to really flatten out areas to see what stuff was. Also, the ultrasound showed a couple cysts. They knew they were cysts because they appear black which means they contain liquid not a mass.
The doc suggests, due to my history, I continue to come back every year for pics. She says I may qualify for a high risk group and that would include a yearly MRI. We’ll see; I need to learn more about the group – I guess they assess everything about you and give you a risk level.
All in all I was very relieved. And happy to tell my mom.
By Trish, on January 2nd, 2011
I have never made a New Year’s Resolution. Can’t say that I have too many bad habits – or at least bad habits I want to part with. Sure, I’d like to keep my car clean and I’d like to clean up better after cooking, but I can live with those things. I’ve never been overweight so I haven’t resolved to diet and I’ve never smoked or done any of that nonsense to want to give that up.
This year I have resolved to cut back. I’m not a typical girly girl so I don’t shop very often and I don’t get things like pedicures. However I spent a lot of money in 2010. I had to purchase so many more pieces of attire for running and cycling to go with the seasons. I had to get things fixed and adjusted on my bike. I had fees into races and cycling events. Although I can’t cut back on the fees, I really don’t need any new attire. I’m hoping I’m set there; I even purchased an extra pair of running shoes just in case.
I plan to cut back on all my nonessential purchases. Therefore I’m not buying anything new – except for necessitities like food and toilet paper. But even then, I plan to bring my lunch at least four of five days. I was so bad there before. Also, I’m giving up soft drinks. I love my Coca-Cola. I’m not one of those to just sit and drink a Diet Coke all day, no I drink a true Coke with dinner and occassionally lunch. But I’m cutting that out too. I won’t do that forever but I want to challenge my cravings. And then there is chocolate.
I’ve never had much of a sweet tooth but then as I got older I find myself looking for a chocolate or sweet treat after a meal. My mom said that would happen.
Lastly, I think I’ll add that I will actually train for a run. I usually wing it because of my work schedule, but I’m thinking this time I’ll make myself stick to one – even if I’m traveling. I can do it, right? Yea… I’ll keep you posted.
By Trish, on December 28th, 2010
For about two years now I’ve been battling pretty persistent shin splints. Shin Splints is one of those “things” that no one knows what causes them and so many pains/ailments fall in the shin splint bucket.
I had them so bad in HS I had to drop out of softball because the pain from running laps became intolerable. I never thought I would pick up running for fun and well I did and didn’t have shin splint pain for two years. Then they came back with vengeance.
I went to podiatrist after podiatrist…. and good ones too. I went to the podiatrist/sports medicine doc for the Bulls and Blackhawks. She suggested just taking a few months off. So after the 2009 Chicago Marathon I did. But then they came back as soon as I started running after three months off. A Northwestern doc told me to just not run at all… like ever… some people are not meant to run.
Then I went to a doc for the Notre Dame football players. He put me in physical therapy. It was in physical therapy that they noticed my toes don’t bend, one leg is shorter than the other and that I can’t balance on one leg very well. All the exercises to help those issues did nothing for my shin splints.
Next was my local podiatrist. The podiatrist who used to try to burn off my plantar warts from the YMCA when I was in Girl Scouts. I sat in the waiting room for more than an hour with nine social security recipients…. these poor people could hardly walk. Man, I don’t want to get old! Finally I go in and I tell him my plight and he says so what do you want me to do? Great, your enthusiasm if fantastic…. so he x-rays my feet and shows me I have these bunions that are preventing my toes from flexing and sticks my feet in foam and tells me to come back to pick up my orthotics.
The orthotics were miracles! For six weeks. Then the shin splints were back in a big way. I read an article by the Penguin – a former Runner’s World columnist. He had tried the Running Institute in Chicago. All reviews on Yelp were five stars… so I thought I’d give it a shot. I went in; told the doc my history and then on to the treadmill I went. At first he explained the compartment syndrome and stress fracture possibilities but then he noticed how I really hit hard on my heals. He explained by landing on my heads I drove 4.5 times my body weight onto my feet whereas landing midfoot would be about my 1.5 times my body weight.
He suggested I get a bone scan to run out a stress fracture and then take up ChiRunning. I promptly picked up the book and am testing it out. Basically you run with your core driving you and fall forward. Sorry if that doesn’t make sense – ha. I get it – but I’m not sure I can do it… But January 1st is my day to start back… back to healthy eating and exercising. Until then it is cookies and shin rest.
By Trish, on November 29th, 2010
I had my first mammogram a few weeks ago and I got the call AND letter, make that two letters now that I have to go back for more pics. The woman who called from the doctor’s office said the images were incomplete. The letters sound much more ominous. Well, I couldn’t get in for mammo #2 for two months so there must not be too much concern.
I’m guessing the listing of three ages for my mom having breast cancer and the two ages for my grandma, may make the radiologist think they should get a couple more pics – which I can appreciate.
My friend who lives in Minneapolis discovered a lump on Wednesday morning. She was able to get into the doc that day. Doc told her great job for detecting it and scheduled her for a mammo and ultrasound for today. My friend already had both images taken and the results read. She’s free and clear. Yay! They can’t explain that lump that is no longer there that the doc felt… but they told her if she feels it again, come back. Or come back when you’re 40.
A) that makes me happy and B) Wow, they got her in and read her results right away. I’m jealous.
But on a side note, Wired magazine had a great cover story about Regenerative Breasts last month. I guess it’s difficult for plastic surgeons to reconstruct breasts from current tissue. It’s hard to get breasts to match if one has an implant and another has real tissue. Also, a number of young women with the BRCA gene are opting to get their breasts removed ahead of their 75 percent increased chance for breast cancer, then get reconstruction.
Researchers have found that our body fat contains stem cells, with the help of blood, can create new tissue – a la breasts. I highly recommend the article. My mom did not want implants, but her oncologist convinced her. She had to have multiple surgeries over a year b/c her body would not accept them. My grew up seeing my grandma’s scar across her chest. She only put in her “breasts” on Sunday for church. I hope I never have to make that decision, but I’m thinking I’m leaning toward grandma’s route. What would you do?
 Wired cover story - November
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