ACS 12 Hour Relay for Life
I will be celebrating being almost 6 years cancer free by running as far as I can through the middle of the night at the ACS Relay for life and I need company.
If you can get to NJ on June 11th
... and you like to run, walk, camp, cheer
... and you like a good challenge (like staying up all night running around like a fool or counting how many laps the other idiots on your team are running)
... and you have an extra $10 and want to do something to fight cancer
... then please come join me for 12 hours of night time running/walking on June 11th from 7pm thru 7am in Sewaren NJ and lets Kick Cancer's A@# One Lap at a Time!
Why at night? Because Cancer Never Sleeps!
Why run the whole time? Because I can and so can you!
If you cant come to the run, please consider making a small donation to help me raise some money for a great cause.
Thank you for your support!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Racing and Pacing ... My first experience as an official pacer.
A few months ago, I volunteered to be an official pacer for the Long Branch Half Marathon 1:50 group here in NJ. I have paced individuals in races before, but that is a much different experience. Goal paces and effort can be readjusted as you go along in order to help the runner have a good experience.
To pace a group, means I need to run a specific time and the race needs to be evenly paced. To the extent possible, every mile should be run at the same pace. This is a challenge.
I should not sound so worried. After all in March I ran a 50k (31 miles) in 8:14 pace, with such little variation per mile that I was in awe of myself. I did this without using a Garmin or even checking my watch each mile. I just ran what felt good and tried to not fade. I ended up negative splitting that race by 5 seconds. I then went on to run a few other very evenly paced runs and races, again without using anything but how I felt.
However, Official Pacing means not running for me but running for others at the pace they need or want to run. To make sure I didn't mess this up, I decided that it is time that I learn to use my Garmin as a tool for telling me what to do rather than as the record keeper that tells me what I have just done. I adjusted a few settings to Average Pace and Lap Pace. I was able to see what my pace for the lap and my cumulative pace for the entire run.
I needed a test run so I ran a 15k on Saturday just to try out the settings.
April 30, 2011. Clinton Country Run, 15k
This race started a little hectic. To keep a record of my races, I pay by check. I threw my check book in my pocket and jogged to the start, only to discover I had no check book upon arrival to register. Panicked, I retraced my steps to find nothing. I called Martin to tell him that I lost my check book. While sorting out what I needed to do, a runner said he saw it and someone had picked it up. The DJ announced my dilemma. A woman heard and hollered out, "I found it! I gave it too the police". I retrieved my book and I was able to register in time. Phew!
I decided to run this race in 8 minutes per mile. I wanted to see how hard it is to hit a goal pace when using the watch to guide me. I did not trust the watch when it said Mile 1 was a 7:22 pace, but it turns out it was right. From Mile 1 onward, I was able to run every mile in 7:58 or 7:59 except for uphill Mile 9 which was just over 8 minutes.
It was liberating to not be racing. I was able to cheer on the women near me and not feel bad when I didn't feel compelled to beat them. By the end of run I reached my goal of running a 7:57 paced 9.3 mile run. Close enough to 8's and I was happy.
May 1, 2011 Long Branch Half Pacing.
Confident with my Garmin's ability to help me, I arrived at about 7:45 for an 8:30 start. I got my pacer balloons, which blew off the stick. A runner in my pace group suggested we tape it with athletic tape! She was a genius. We all waited for a port-a-potty, but the line was slow. We jumped into the corral (literally jumped in over a fence) because the alternative was to walk to the back of the corral.
We were just short of a minute behind the start mat. My group was small maybe just 3 runners at the start., but as I ran we collected more runners along the way. Between Miles 3 and 7 we had a nice group. At 3 miles, Martin who was also part of today's group, pulled ahead (not too bad for a 65 year old man!)
At 7 onward runners started to drop off. I was sad to not be able to drop my speed as well to offer encouragement, but I had to stay on pace. My splits were mostly 8:22 -8:24. It was really nice to see the watch guide me to what I needed to run.
At about 6.5 miles, one runner said "I am so glad I found you!" I responded, "Wow, that is always so good to hear ;)". She laughed and explained that it takes the pressure off. I wanted to add that I actually know where that pressure when, I am fully carrying it, but that is my job and not her concern. I must say that a part of me was worried about messing this up somehow. However with 6 to go, I knew I was going to be just fine.
At 10 miles in I was losing most of my group. I knew we had a little time buffer to play with, technically 60 seconds between 1:50:00 and 1:50:59, so I slowed down to see if they would come back to me. Once down to 8:35 pace and they were not gaining on me, I had to get back on pace. I am sure others were pacing off me and I didn't want to no do my job.
The last 2 miles I ran pretty much along, trying to encourage everyone around me to beat me to break 1:50.
Here is where I saw a man on the ground getting chest compressions. It was tremendously upsetting to witness. I pray that he was attended to in time and his life was saved. All I could think is that someone is waiting for this man to finish and he almost made it.
I caught up to an older man, who was working hard to finish but starting to fade. We had less than .4 to go so I encouraged him to try to finish strong with me, but honestly I couldnt help but worry about him after what we both just saw. He still found a way to dig deep for a strong finish. I stayed with him and at the end I could see him get wobbly. He leaned on me and I am lucky to not have collapse since I am less than 5ft 2in and not very good at catching jelly-legged dudes about to go unconscious. I started calling for help and eventually people seemed to understand that I meant it, but no until after I asked about 3 different people to get me some help. Once a wheelchair came out of the crowd, I felt at least he had a place to sit and catch his breath. He was wheeled off and I continued on through the finish area, a bit rattled and hoping that there are reports that the man survived his collapse today.
I got home to do some research on cardiac issues in marathoning and despite the fact that reports of collapsing runners seems to be on the rise, studies do show that we are generally better off running than we are not.
I think a few issues are contributing to so many emergencies on the race courses.
I think that fact that race courses are staying open longer to encourage walkers are somehow encouraging untrained runners to take part as well. I believe in the past, average marathon finishing times were much faster and race participation was lower. Runners who were well trained and ready to compete were able to register right at the race and at registrations fees that were much lower. I suspect that all those factors create a situation where people who are prepared to run end up running and those unprepared do not not feel compelled to show up, register, and push themselves too hard.
I wonder how many runners show up at races feeling unprepared. If someone asked me this morning, do you think you could run a marathon today? I would say yes, with confidence. If they asked why, I could say that because I have logged enough miles in training to know I could finish. I wonder how many runners at the start of our races can say for sure they feel they did the work required to finish the race.
I wonder how many runners show up, not having logged nearly enough miles, but since they made a commitment they feel compelled to race. A marathon trip could cost a person's a months rent or half their mortgage. Hundreds of dollars are spent on hotels, race numbers, flights, car rentals, food, and many other things. I wonder if this sense of feeling obligated to race after spending so much in advance acts to contribute to those being taken away in ambulances on the race course.
Lately races require pre-registrations months in advance. Runners think they have time to train later. Race Directors do not allow refunds, or even transferring of race bibs to others who may be better prepared to tactle the challenges.
For all those runners who felt unprepared to race, I wonder how many would have gladly transferred their bibs to runner willing and able to take their place. I bet a compelling case for bib transfer can be made in the interest of public policy, but that is just me rambling.
Thanks for reading. Prayers to the man I saw on the course today.
To pace a group, means I need to run a specific time and the race needs to be evenly paced. To the extent possible, every mile should be run at the same pace. This is a challenge.
I should not sound so worried. After all in March I ran a 50k (31 miles) in 8:14 pace, with such little variation per mile that I was in awe of myself. I did this without using a Garmin or even checking my watch each mile. I just ran what felt good and tried to not fade. I ended up negative splitting that race by 5 seconds. I then went on to run a few other very evenly paced runs and races, again without using anything but how I felt.
However, Official Pacing means not running for me but running for others at the pace they need or want to run. To make sure I didn't mess this up, I decided that it is time that I learn to use my Garmin as a tool for telling me what to do rather than as the record keeper that tells me what I have just done. I adjusted a few settings to Average Pace and Lap Pace. I was able to see what my pace for the lap and my cumulative pace for the entire run.
I needed a test run so I ran a 15k on Saturday just to try out the settings.
April 30, 2011. Clinton Country Run, 15k
This race started a little hectic. To keep a record of my races, I pay by check. I threw my check book in my pocket and jogged to the start, only to discover I had no check book upon arrival to register. Panicked, I retraced my steps to find nothing. I called Martin to tell him that I lost my check book. While sorting out what I needed to do, a runner said he saw it and someone had picked it up. The DJ announced my dilemma. A woman heard and hollered out, "I found it! I gave it too the police". I retrieved my book and I was able to register in time. Phew!
I decided to run this race in 8 minutes per mile. I wanted to see how hard it is to hit a goal pace when using the watch to guide me. I did not trust the watch when it said Mile 1 was a 7:22 pace, but it turns out it was right. From Mile 1 onward, I was able to run every mile in 7:58 or 7:59 except for uphill Mile 9 which was just over 8 minutes.
It was liberating to not be racing. I was able to cheer on the women near me and not feel bad when I didn't feel compelled to beat them. By the end of run I reached my goal of running a 7:57 paced 9.3 mile run. Close enough to 8's and I was happy.
May 1, 2011 Long Branch Half Pacing.
Confident with my Garmin's ability to help me, I arrived at about 7:45 for an 8:30 start. I got my pacer balloons, which blew off the stick. A runner in my pace group suggested we tape it with athletic tape! She was a genius. We all waited for a port-a-potty, but the line was slow. We jumped into the corral (literally jumped in over a fence) because the alternative was to walk to the back of the corral.
We were just short of a minute behind the start mat. My group was small maybe just 3 runners at the start., but as I ran we collected more runners along the way. Between Miles 3 and 7 we had a nice group. At 3 miles, Martin who was also part of today's group, pulled ahead (not too bad for a 65 year old man!)
At 7 onward runners started to drop off. I was sad to not be able to drop my speed as well to offer encouragement, but I had to stay on pace. My splits were mostly 8:22 -8:24. It was really nice to see the watch guide me to what I needed to run.
At about 6.5 miles, one runner said "I am so glad I found you!" I responded, "Wow, that is always so good to hear ;)". She laughed and explained that it takes the pressure off. I wanted to add that I actually know where that pressure when, I am fully carrying it, but that is my job and not her concern. I must say that a part of me was worried about messing this up somehow. However with 6 to go, I knew I was going to be just fine.
At 10 miles in I was losing most of my group. I knew we had a little time buffer to play with, technically 60 seconds between 1:50:00 and 1:50:59, so I slowed down to see if they would come back to me. Once down to 8:35 pace and they were not gaining on me, I had to get back on pace. I am sure others were pacing off me and I didn't want to no do my job.
The last 2 miles I ran pretty much along, trying to encourage everyone around me to beat me to break 1:50.
Here is where I saw a man on the ground getting chest compressions. It was tremendously upsetting to witness. I pray that he was attended to in time and his life was saved. All I could think is that someone is waiting for this man to finish and he almost made it.
I caught up to an older man, who was working hard to finish but starting to fade. We had less than .4 to go so I encouraged him to try to finish strong with me, but honestly I couldnt help but worry about him after what we both just saw. He still found a way to dig deep for a strong finish. I stayed with him and at the end I could see him get wobbly. He leaned on me and I am lucky to not have collapse since I am less than 5ft 2in and not very good at catching jelly-legged dudes about to go unconscious. I started calling for help and eventually people seemed to understand that I meant it, but no until after I asked about 3 different people to get me some help. Once a wheelchair came out of the crowd, I felt at least he had a place to sit and catch his breath. He was wheeled off and I continued on through the finish area, a bit rattled and hoping that there are reports that the man survived his collapse today.
I got home to do some research on cardiac issues in marathoning and despite the fact that reports of collapsing runners seems to be on the rise, studies do show that we are generally better off running than we are not.
I think a few issues are contributing to so many emergencies on the race courses.
I think that fact that race courses are staying open longer to encourage walkers are somehow encouraging untrained runners to take part as well. I believe in the past, average marathon finishing times were much faster and race participation was lower. Runners who were well trained and ready to compete were able to register right at the race and at registrations fees that were much lower. I suspect that all those factors create a situation where people who are prepared to run end up running and those unprepared do not not feel compelled to show up, register, and push themselves too hard.
I wonder how many runners show up at races feeling unprepared. If someone asked me this morning, do you think you could run a marathon today? I would say yes, with confidence. If they asked why, I could say that because I have logged enough miles in training to know I could finish. I wonder how many runners at the start of our races can say for sure they feel they did the work required to finish the race.
I wonder how many runners show up, not having logged nearly enough miles, but since they made a commitment they feel compelled to race. A marathon trip could cost a person's a months rent or half their mortgage. Hundreds of dollars are spent on hotels, race numbers, flights, car rentals, food, and many other things. I wonder if this sense of feeling obligated to race after spending so much in advance acts to contribute to those being taken away in ambulances on the race course.
Lately races require pre-registrations months in advance. Runners think they have time to train later. Race Directors do not allow refunds, or even transferring of race bibs to others who may be better prepared to tactle the challenges.
For all those runners who felt unprepared to race, I wonder how many would have gladly transferred their bibs to runner willing and able to take their place. I bet a compelling case for bib transfer can be made in the interest of public policy, but that is just me rambling.
Thanks for reading. Prayers to the man I saw on the course today.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Self Transcendence 6 and 10 day races
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| Enzo at his first mult-day race |
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| Just after Start/Finish, Runner have units in a two long tents that line the course. |
Enzo, Dave L.and I went to visit Ray at about 10 hours into his 6 day race. He had logged about 46 miles by the time I left and was working on 47. We were allowed to hang on the course and Enzo logged 4 miles at his first mult-day. Not a bad start for my crazy little dog.
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| Ray's is prepping for another lap back in his unit. |
This race is incredible. Runners from all over the world are here in Queens to run a 1 mile loop for 6-10 days straight. They eat, sleep, walk, and run as desired. The winner is the one who logs the most miles. Runners in the 10 day were up to 255 miles by the time I left. 10 hours into the 6 day had the leader at 54.
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| Ray, me and Enzo. I just LOVE this photo. |
I will be back tonight to cheer on Ray, one of the most inspiring amazing people in my life. Go Ray, you are awesome!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Photos and Blogs from other Team Awesome Teammates!
Ray posted a ton of photos on facebook here: Hampton 24 set 1 , Hampton 24 set 2 , Hampton 24 Set 3 , Hampton 24 Set 4.
Frank posted some great photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/triple_f/sets/72157626393965309/
Frank also posted his race report on his blog here: http://hurryslowlybuthurry.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-
Jonathan posted his race report here: http://fellrnr.com/wiki/2011_Hampton_Park_24_Hour
Sabrina posted her race report on her blog here: http://notallergictoadventure.blogspot.com/
Frank posted some great photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/triple_f/sets/72157626393965309/
Frank also posted his race report on his blog here: http://hurryslowlybuthurry.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-
Jonathan posted his race report here: http://fellrnr.com/wiki/2011_Hampton_Park_24_Hour
Sabrina posted her race report on her blog here: http://notallergictoadventure.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Race Report: Virginia 24 Hour Ultra Run and Relay for Cancer - Team Awesome!
The Event: Virginia 24 Hour Run for Cancer: Ultra Run and Relay for Cancer in Hampton Va. 4/16 - 4/17.
Video by Peter Wolf Please check out this video of the race.
Video by Peter Wolf Please check out this video of the race.
Team Awesome: Jonathan Savage, Sabrina Moran, Tom Gabell, Cheryl Lager, Ray Krolewicz, Jessi Kennedy, David Lettieri, Jim Plant, Amy Perris-Schimmel, Alanna Garrison-Kast, Frank Lilley, and myself.
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| OCD Shoe tying before the gun |
With a lot of help from Jim, I put together a 12-person team of really great people. I had one secret criteria for the team selection process: The capacity to endure endless hours of me once I became a cranky, whiny, starving, suffering, sleep-deprived zombie.
The Crew: Charles West, Todd Kast, Sidney Dos Santos and Cheryl's family. They did an amazing job handling us while dealing with the impending Armageddon predicted to hit late in the day.
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| Sid, Me, Sabrina, Ray, Jessi, Charles, Dave, Jim, etc. |
The Point: To work together to log high mileage drawing attention to our effort and this race in order to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Please consider making a donation to help all those who truly endure a much more difficult struggle than anything we could have faced running around the woods at night in a tornado. Please direct donations at any time to this link: http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=33505&team_id=843107
Pre-Race: I had a great start. Sid rented a Cessna and the weather cooperated. While Sid did his pre-flight check, I got cross-examined by the woman at the desk who was baffled by the amount of stuff I had packed for a 2-day rental.
Her: "What are you doing, moving to Virginia!?"
Me: "Uh, no. I have a race."
Her: "Hmm? A race?" (confused look)
Me: "Well, it's kinda like camping. It's a camping-race!"
Her: "Oh! That makes perfect sense now!" (walks away.... seeming less confused)
Me: (What? That makes no sense at all... a camping-race??)
Thanks to Sid, my trip took 1.5 hours instead of 7 hours of driving.
My Goal: I have not put in the work for high mileage and you really can't fake a 24 hour. I just started a harsh medication, so I wasn't sure what was going to happen. My goal was to run at least 75 miles and ideally to continue on for 100. I figured 12 minute paced for the first 12 hours would get me to 60 miles and then getting 40 more in next 12 hours seems almost too easy. Ha!
The Weather: Torrential rains with thunder, lightning, and tornadoes were predicted starting at 4 pm lasting a few hours. At 4 pm the weather began to change, but nothing significant happened. At our aid station, people were battening down the hatches. I took some time from my running to sort out my essential gear. I gave Sid everything I was not wearing to put in the car to keep it dry. (Remember this!)
At 12 hours in I had ended up behind my pace plan by about 3 miles. But nothing hurt and I had plenty of time. I was still hoping the rain would sneak by and miss us. I grabbed Sid and together we headed out into the dark.
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| Sid and I before the storm |
At 8 p.m. we were less than 1 mile into the 3.75 loop when the sky just opened up. The WORST of the weather was upon us. Water was falling in a sheet that was broken up only by the branches above our head. Cracks of lightning lit up the woods. I was convinced I was hit with hail. Runners were running in the opposite direction as fast as they could just to get out of the weather. But together Sid and I moved onward commenting on how awesome our rain jackets were. :)
Within minutes the trail became ankle deep rivers. I was in shock at how fast inches of water accumulated. At first, the cold water felt good like a refreshing mid-race ice-bath. But over the course of the next 2.75 miles, my body temperature lowered too much and I was freezing cold.
* * * * *
Links to weather related news: News reports indicated that a storm had split forming two tornadoes. One had touched down miles north of us. We caught the mess between those spiraling cones of destruction. We were very lucky. See Video: Destruction from the tornado hitting just several miles north of our location.
* * * * *
Links to weather related news: News reports indicated that a storm had split forming two tornadoes. One had touched down miles north of us. We caught the mess between those spiraling cones of destruction. We were very lucky. See Video: Destruction from the tornado hitting just several miles north of our location.
* * * * *
Once safely out of the woods, I was shivering uncontrollably. Jonathan had concerns of hypothermia and suggested I move inside. Together, Tom, Amy, Charles, Sid, Jonathan, Jim and I set up a little justified pitty-party in the one warm building we had access too. My fingernails were blue and I couldn't formulate clear sentences. I was not in a good mental place. Sid ran to the car about half a dozen times to retrieve me some warm clothes. Charles ran to get Amy and me some coffee. Thank you so much guys!
The rain was a Mojo Killer! Many had dropped out, packed up, and left once it arrived. But I had only 3 more laps for 75 miles. I sent Sid back to the hotel to sleep so he could fly us home safely. Jonathan was worried for us and schooled us on the signs of serious hypothermia before sending us off into the darkness, encouraging the buddy system. I was so cold that I could not keep up with Amy and Jim. Frank hung back with me. Thank goodness for Frank! His company during one of the hardest laps of the day distracted me from my misery.
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| Still pre-storm - Jim, Alanna, and Dave |
The beginning of my turn around: On our way in, we saw Jim and Amy. I asked about the female leader's mileage. Sabrina had logged 82.5, gaining a commanding lead before the storm rolled in and she went home. Since the rain hit, most people either left, were trying to get back on their feet, or were moving slowly through the mud. Some lucky ones had missed the it completely and were fresh and happy to run, but their mileage goals were lower, which allowed them to be safe and dry during the worst of the weather.
"Wow, I can still win this," I said. I am sure the only person who believed that was me. "My competitive drive is kicking in! I really think I can do it." And then off I hobbled with Frank who handed me off to Alanna who immediately triaged my situation and took care of me. My feet were soaked. It was only now that I remembered I had sent Sid to the hotel with all my clothes, my extra socks, and my second pair of shoes (everything I asked him to keep dry in the car earlier).
I saw Cheryl who was still ahead of me. She decided she was done for the day. I tried to convince her to stay out letting her know that all she needed was 2 more loops and a mile for the win. She humored me by pretending to think about it, but for whatever reason Cheryl (who just got back from the toughest ultra ever invented, the Barkley) decided she was happy to call it a night at 75. She gave me a hug, telling me the win "is yours if you want it, so go get it." I told her that is my plan and I will try.
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| Jim, Alanna, and Amy |
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| Cheryl and Tom |
My teammates took great care of me. Jonathan covered me with his giant down coat. Alanna had her husband Todd find me his hooded fleece. Some one grabbed my towel from inside to cover my legs. Someone propped my feet up. Someone else grabbed me some more mashed potatoes. I ate, sat, then decided to dip my chin to my chest, close my eyes and take a 25 minute power nap.
I then headed off and did two loops alone.
When I had only two loops left, Ray was just coming through the start/finish area as I was getting ready to head out again. I had not spent any time with Ray, so I was happy to see him now. I told him I could win it, but my feet are in a lot of pain. As we assessed my risk of getting passed by any women, we caught up to my closest competitor who declared she was calling it a night. I had the win if I wanted it, but by then my feet were a hot mess. My painful fibromas have returned making every step increasingly painful.
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| Frank |
Planning to use all the time I had so as to not unnecessary tear up my feet any further, I timed it so that at 6:00 a.m. I would be tied for the lead. With no reason to rush, I sat down to take my shoes off and rub my feet. Oh wow that felt good! I waited for sun to rise before I put my wet racing flats back on and finished this off.
By 6:10, glimmers of sunlight began to peak through the trees and I headed out to the blue cone turn around (which was really the .625 mile mark. The double orange cones were .5 mile mark, oops). This gave me technically 83.75 miles for the day. George told me I had time for 1 more and to not quit early! Ha!
I found Sid at the finish with a huge smile and I knew he knew I won. He had left me when I was just recovering from my worst low of the day and I am sure he doubted I would even finish the 3 laps for 75. I was thrilled to be able to tell him I did almost 10 more miles in wet gear since I last saw him! I was happy he was present to see me win something.
Keeping Things in Perspective: This is not the highest mileage I have ever run in a 24 hours. This is low mileage for an overall women's win on a flat course. I believe that I was unlikely to go much more than 83 miles at this race. I am not yet trained for a good 24 hour run and my foot pain would have come whether or not the rains did. Regardless of whether I should have won or not, I somehow managed to endure longer than any other woman on the course (and there was some amazing talent out there!).
The second half of the race was not as easy as it should have been. After all I only covered 27 miles in those 12 hours. However, I was caught for almost an entire loop in potentially dangerous horrid weather. I have never been outside for so long in worse. I had to stay focused while taking time to recover from mild hypothermia (and thanks to my teammates I did). I had to keep moving slowly when my feet were in excruciating pain. I was fighting sleep deprivation and hunger-related mental and physical fatigue by the last hours of the race (but that is the name of the game). Finally my shoes and socks, sports bra, and shorts were all soaked with sweat or water. I desperately needed to change them but I had sent off ALL my gear to a hotel for the night! 83 miles may not seem like a lot for a win, but I am very proud that I was able to get it done. Thank you to my teammates and crew for helping me secure this victory.
As a cancer survivor it means a lot for me to take home the winner's award since this a fund-raiser for the ACS. I am also sure Team Awesome won the Team race, since we unofficially accumulated 813 miles in the day.
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| Sid and Me |
Sunday, April 10, 2011
RR: Ship Bottom 5k and Cherry Blossom 10k
This was a nice weekend of racing.
Ship Bottom Sprint for Life 5k. April 9, 2011
I started off by participating in the Ship Bottom Sprint for Life 5k on LBI in New Jersey. It was a very well organized event. Although I haven't feel very speedy or strong lately (since starting that new medicine I have felt terrible), I was compelled race it since it is a fund-raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
I can't resist lining up towards the front. I was right behind a row of teeny-tiny teenage girls who I hoped would race like most kids, by sprinting as fast as possible once the gun is fired until they realize they are really tired by a .25 miles. This did not happen. I was securely boxed in for the first quarter mile until I found a hole. I took my line and dropped the pace, somewhat too aggressively... oops.
The course zig-zagged through a little neighborhood for just about half the race. We hit a turn-around and then made our way out to the final mile long straight-away, down two-lane very head-windy highway. This was a nice flat course, but the wind made it a bit tiring at the end.
I was pacing off a guy ahead of me with a really fantastic T-shirt. It said "Run Tall, Run Easy". I kept trying to get tall, but at 5' 1 3/4's nature is not on my side. I decided to focus on the Run Easy part. I can honestly say that I felt like I was running "smoothly", but not necessarily "easy". I felt great. I hit mile 1 in 6:32.
However, it was at that point I regretted forgetting, for the first time ever, my inhaler in my car. From there onward, my pace slowed and my chest felt tight. With each mile, I felt more discouraged. No PR today as I watched my watch read 7:12, 7:28 for the last two miles.
I finished the race in 21:40. Because I wore my TNT shirt and this was a fund-raiser for LLS, there was a lot of cheering "Go Team!" as I tried to not die of oxygen debt on the way in. Although it hurt, I was happy to have secured 4th place overall female finish. I am eternally grateful for the guy who finished slightly before me who turned to ask if I take Albueterol for my asthma and he gave me his inhaler to help me regain my lung capacity. Normally I dont take drugs from people on the street, but in this case it was so appreciated!
Cherry Blossom 10k, April 10, 2011
Today I was admittedly a little nervous about this morning's 10k. 800 runners lined up in Branch Brook Park for the Cherry Blossom Festival race. I took a spot 3 rows back with inhaler in hand.
I felt so much pain at the end of yesterday's 5k, finishing with a 7:28 3rd mile that I had low expectations for what would happen at miles 4,5, and 6.2 of today's 10k. Ideally a 6:59 paced 5k should predict a 7:15 paced 10k, but this race was hillier than the 5k and I was more tired today than yesterday. A 7:15 pace would be a great accomplishment right now for me.
I decided to make this event an exercise in self-control and do what I could to stay at 7:15 pace. First mile: 7:14 (excellent)... I was so thrilled to run a perfectly paced first mile, that I let the second one get away from me... 7:03. This just wrecked me on mile 3, where the final uphill section took up most of the second half of that mile. 7:40! Oh man.
Here I caught up to Ross, who I met exactly this race at this same place, as he caught me and dubbed me with my new nickname "Asthma", since I was suffering then badly. Today saw me approach, said "Hey! It's Asthma! You sound good!" (Apparently that inhaler does do something!).
Because I knew we had some downhills after the uphill mile 3, I decided to challenge myself to a negative split by slowly creeping my pace back down...
7:23 for mile 4 beats mile 3 so that's a good start.
7:17 for mile 5 got me close enough to my mile 1 (7:14), so all I needed was a strong finish.
I hitched a ride on the mojo of two dudes who were cruising well and got a burst of inspiration when a woman called out "10th female". Awesome! At this point, I broke a rule and glanced back to see if I was at risk of losing my 10th place finish.
Ha! I was surprised to see a chick I met at this very race two year ago, as well, running with Ross. I heard him say some words of encouragement to her. I met here at the end of this race, when I was able to drop a speedy kick and pass her just before the finish. All I could think was, "Man! She is going to pay me back and steal my 10th place finish right out from under me." So I drop the pace to add some distance.
Mile 6 was 7:07, slower than my 7:03 mile 2. I was hauling anyway, b/c now getting passed was my most pressing concern. Last .2 was 1:23, which is a sub-7 pace and the fastest running of the race. I finished in 45:09 and secured 10th place female overall, 4th in my 10 year AG.
Now off to get some mileage with Enzo, and prepare for my new interview with the pediatric oncology unit.
Ship Bottom Sprint for Life 5k. April 9, 2011
I started off by participating in the Ship Bottom Sprint for Life 5k on LBI in New Jersey. It was a very well organized event. Although I haven't feel very speedy or strong lately (since starting that new medicine I have felt terrible), I was compelled race it since it is a fund-raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
I can't resist lining up towards the front. I was right behind a row of teeny-tiny teenage girls who I hoped would race like most kids, by sprinting as fast as possible once the gun is fired until they realize they are really tired by a .25 miles. This did not happen. I was securely boxed in for the first quarter mile until I found a hole. I took my line and dropped the pace, somewhat too aggressively... oops.
The course zig-zagged through a little neighborhood for just about half the race. We hit a turn-around and then made our way out to the final mile long straight-away, down two-lane very head-windy highway. This was a nice flat course, but the wind made it a bit tiring at the end.
I was pacing off a guy ahead of me with a really fantastic T-shirt. It said "Run Tall, Run Easy". I kept trying to get tall, but at 5' 1 3/4's nature is not on my side. I decided to focus on the Run Easy part. I can honestly say that I felt like I was running "smoothly", but not necessarily "easy". I felt great. I hit mile 1 in 6:32.
However, it was at that point I regretted forgetting, for the first time ever, my inhaler in my car. From there onward, my pace slowed and my chest felt tight. With each mile, I felt more discouraged. No PR today as I watched my watch read 7:12, 7:28 for the last two miles.
I finished the race in 21:40. Because I wore my TNT shirt and this was a fund-raiser for LLS, there was a lot of cheering "Go Team!" as I tried to not die of oxygen debt on the way in. Although it hurt, I was happy to have secured 4th place overall female finish. I am eternally grateful for the guy who finished slightly before me who turned to ask if I take Albueterol for my asthma and he gave me his inhaler to help me regain my lung capacity. Normally I dont take drugs from people on the street, but in this case it was so appreciated!
Cherry Blossom 10k, April 10, 2011
Today I was admittedly a little nervous about this morning's 10k. 800 runners lined up in Branch Brook Park for the Cherry Blossom Festival race. I took a spot 3 rows back with inhaler in hand.
I felt so much pain at the end of yesterday's 5k, finishing with a 7:28 3rd mile that I had low expectations for what would happen at miles 4,5, and 6.2 of today's 10k. Ideally a 6:59 paced 5k should predict a 7:15 paced 10k, but this race was hillier than the 5k and I was more tired today than yesterday. A 7:15 pace would be a great accomplishment right now for me.
I decided to make this event an exercise in self-control and do what I could to stay at 7:15 pace. First mile: 7:14 (excellent)... I was so thrilled to run a perfectly paced first mile, that I let the second one get away from me... 7:03. This just wrecked me on mile 3, where the final uphill section took up most of the second half of that mile. 7:40! Oh man.
Here I caught up to Ross, who I met exactly this race at this same place, as he caught me and dubbed me with my new nickname "Asthma", since I was suffering then badly. Today saw me approach, said "Hey! It's Asthma! You sound good!" (Apparently that inhaler does do something!).
Because I knew we had some downhills after the uphill mile 3, I decided to challenge myself to a negative split by slowly creeping my pace back down...
7:23 for mile 4 beats mile 3 so that's a good start.
7:17 for mile 5 got me close enough to my mile 1 (7:14), so all I needed was a strong finish.
I hitched a ride on the mojo of two dudes who were cruising well and got a burst of inspiration when a woman called out "10th female". Awesome! At this point, I broke a rule and glanced back to see if I was at risk of losing my 10th place finish.
Ha! I was surprised to see a chick I met at this very race two year ago, as well, running with Ross. I heard him say some words of encouragement to her. I met here at the end of this race, when I was able to drop a speedy kick and pass her just before the finish. All I could think was, "Man! She is going to pay me back and steal my 10th place finish right out from under me." So I drop the pace to add some distance.
Mile 6 was 7:07, slower than my 7:03 mile 2. I was hauling anyway, b/c now getting passed was my most pressing concern. Last .2 was 1:23, which is a sub-7 pace and the fastest running of the race. I finished in 45:09 and secured 10th place female overall, 4th in my 10 year AG.
Now off to get some mileage with Enzo, and prepare for my new interview with the pediatric oncology unit.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Price of Altruism is 9 months of Isoniazid.
About a year ago, I heard an interview with Oren Harman, the author of The Price of Altruism: George Price and the Search for the Origins of Kindness. George Price was a scientist who eventually took his own life after joining the ranks of the homeless he was trying to save.
I debated whether or not I wanted to share the following details about my daily life, but after my 29 mile "run" yesterday I decided I do want to write about my newest annoyance, Isoniazid.
When I first decided to enter the field of therapy, I volunteered to provide free art therapy at a supportive services center for HIV positive homeless, drug addicted, mentally ill clients. With almost 100% certainty, I can remember the exact moment that impacts me today. A client came in and seemed very very sick. He was coughing terribly but wanted to come to an art therapy session. Sessions took place in the back room, with no windows and poor ventilation. Rules of confidentiality require that we shut the door. I distinctly remember thinking, "Man, he sounds terrible. It can't be good to be back here." The whites of his eyes were looking a bit yellowed and he looked so very ill. I was concerned about him, but I did not know what was making him so sick... his HIV? Possible alcoholism? Something else?
When you work with homeless clients, many are sick. All of our clients were HIV positive. I was in my early 20's and invincible back then. After a few weeks, I had gotten over my fear of catching HIV by just standing in the same room. However, I just didn't think I would get sick from someone's cough. Catching the flu was not my first concern when faced with a very ill man who came in off the street with a bed-roll (likely his only possession) under his arm asking if he would be able to make some art today.
It was about a year later, during a physical exam required to work at the prison that I discovered that I have been exposed to TB. In hindsight, I am pretty sure that TB was causing his jaundiced appearance as well as his cough. I inhaled a germ and was exposed. I am not sure how much longer he lived. This doesn't mean that I have active TB. I am not sick. I can't give anyone else TB.
Apparently, the protocol should have been to offer me TB medication once my exposure was discovered. Instead, I was simply cleared to work after my chest x-ray came back "unremarkable" I recall some brief discussion about some harsh medication, but was I advised that I may be too old for it. I was counseled that it was not necessary since my body had built up anti-bodies that would keep this germ suppressed , similar to how chicken pox is a one-time disease.
Apparently this is not entirely accurate. Yes my body has built up a defense to this disease, but if I ever find my immune system compromised, the latent TB can become active TB. In fact, I am extremely lucky to not have had to fight TB during my chemotherapy.
I had a new physical recently, to be cleared to work in an inpatient psychiatric unit in a hospital. I was advised that I have been exposed to TB. "No kidding." This is old news. However, this time I was counseled more accurately and adamantly advised to take Isoniazid to rid my body of the TB germ.
From what I understand, Isoniazid is a rough medication. It is highly toxic to the liver and requires me to avoid things, like alcohol and Tylenol. In addition, I understand that fermented food (e. g. cheese, yogurt, soy, tofu, etc) need to be avoided because they could cause some type of reaction. There are other foods with stimulants in them (chocolate, coffee, tea) should be avoided b/c they can raise my blood pressure, cause migraines and other symptoms. Other side effects are things like irritability, anxiety, and fatigue.
I have been hoping that I could just take this stuff and not have any issues. After all, I continued to tough out workouts (albeit light workouts and eventually just walks) during cancer treatment, so I shouldn't even feel this medication, right?
Well unfortunately, about 20 miles into my run yesterday, I felt my heartbeat throbbing in my ears and noticed a little blood smudged on my hand. I was confused until I realized I had a little nose bleed. I was not sure what was going on. Once I blew my nose and saw blood was coming from both nostrils, I realized this was a high-blood pressure thing. It was really just a minor nose bleed, yet I continued to feel "not right", light headed, tingly, and a little dizzy. Walking helped and thanks to the company of Will, Alanna, and Lindsay, I was confident that I would be fine. I was saddened to walk when I wanted to run and just before this happened I felt so good I was planning on completing 40 miles before going home.
So now, in order to ensure that in the rare event I have a cancer recurrence that I don't find myself at risk of dying from TB I will need to take this medication for 9 months. Nine months is not forever. I just hope my running doesn't suffer too much. I finally have been feeling strong again and would hate to lose almost another year to fatigue.
So now, each night this week when I stopped everything to take my Isoniazid, I am also reminded that I need to find that book by Harman. I wonder if my local library has The Price of Altruism on CD for me.
I debated whether or not I wanted to share the following details about my daily life, but after my 29 mile "run" yesterday I decided I do want to write about my newest annoyance, Isoniazid.
When I first decided to enter the field of therapy, I volunteered to provide free art therapy at a supportive services center for HIV positive homeless, drug addicted, mentally ill clients. With almost 100% certainty, I can remember the exact moment that impacts me today. A client came in and seemed very very sick. He was coughing terribly but wanted to come to an art therapy session. Sessions took place in the back room, with no windows and poor ventilation. Rules of confidentiality require that we shut the door. I distinctly remember thinking, "Man, he sounds terrible. It can't be good to be back here." The whites of his eyes were looking a bit yellowed and he looked so very ill. I was concerned about him, but I did not know what was making him so sick... his HIV? Possible alcoholism? Something else?
When you work with homeless clients, many are sick. All of our clients were HIV positive. I was in my early 20's and invincible back then. After a few weeks, I had gotten over my fear of catching HIV by just standing in the same room. However, I just didn't think I would get sick from someone's cough. Catching the flu was not my first concern when faced with a very ill man who came in off the street with a bed-roll (likely his only possession) under his arm asking if he would be able to make some art today.
It was about a year later, during a physical exam required to work at the prison that I discovered that I have been exposed to TB. In hindsight, I am pretty sure that TB was causing his jaundiced appearance as well as his cough. I inhaled a germ and was exposed. I am not sure how much longer he lived. This doesn't mean that I have active TB. I am not sick. I can't give anyone else TB.
Apparently, the protocol should have been to offer me TB medication once my exposure was discovered. Instead, I was simply cleared to work after my chest x-ray came back "unremarkable" I recall some brief discussion about some harsh medication, but was I advised that I may be too old for it. I was counseled that it was not necessary since my body had built up anti-bodies that would keep this germ suppressed , similar to how chicken pox is a one-time disease.
Apparently this is not entirely accurate. Yes my body has built up a defense to this disease, but if I ever find my immune system compromised, the latent TB can become active TB. In fact, I am extremely lucky to not have had to fight TB during my chemotherapy.
I had a new physical recently, to be cleared to work in an inpatient psychiatric unit in a hospital. I was advised that I have been exposed to TB. "No kidding." This is old news. However, this time I was counseled more accurately and adamantly advised to take Isoniazid to rid my body of the TB germ.
From what I understand, Isoniazid is a rough medication. It is highly toxic to the liver and requires me to avoid things, like alcohol and Tylenol. In addition, I understand that fermented food (e. g. cheese, yogurt, soy, tofu, etc) need to be avoided because they could cause some type of reaction. There are other foods with stimulants in them (chocolate, coffee, tea) should be avoided b/c they can raise my blood pressure, cause migraines and other symptoms. Other side effects are things like irritability, anxiety, and fatigue.
I have been hoping that I could just take this stuff and not have any issues. After all, I continued to tough out workouts (albeit light workouts and eventually just walks) during cancer treatment, so I shouldn't even feel this medication, right?
Well unfortunately, about 20 miles into my run yesterday, I felt my heartbeat throbbing in my ears and noticed a little blood smudged on my hand. I was confused until I realized I had a little nose bleed. I was not sure what was going on. Once I blew my nose and saw blood was coming from both nostrils, I realized this was a high-blood pressure thing. It was really just a minor nose bleed, yet I continued to feel "not right", light headed, tingly, and a little dizzy. Walking helped and thanks to the company of Will, Alanna, and Lindsay, I was confident that I would be fine. I was saddened to walk when I wanted to run and just before this happened I felt so good I was planning on completing 40 miles before going home.
So now, in order to ensure that in the rare event I have a cancer recurrence that I don't find myself at risk of dying from TB I will need to take this medication for 9 months. Nine months is not forever. I just hope my running doesn't suffer too much. I finally have been feeling strong again and would hate to lose almost another year to fatigue.
So now, each night this week when I stopped everything to take my Isoniazid, I am also reminded that I need to find that book by Harman. I wonder if my local library has The Price of Altruism on CD for me.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Resistance Training on Stage I and II Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study
Effects of Aerobic Exercise and Resistance Training on Stage I and II Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study
Background: Lack of physical activity has been noted in breast cancer survivors and been attributed to decreased physical function.
Purpose: This study assessed the effects of a moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise program on body fat percentage, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), body mass index, and bone mineral density (BMD) of breast cancer survivors.
Methods: Eleven stage I and II breast cancer patients, 40–65 years old, were recruited to assess VO2 max, BMD, weight, and percentage of body fat before and after an 8-week exercise (aerobic and resistance training) intervention.
Results: Supervised exercise significantly improved aerobic capacity (+4.227 ml/kg/min; P=0.004) and increased, though not significantly, bone mass densities of hip (+0.433 SD units; P=0.061) and spine (+0.224 SD units; P=0.350). No significant changes were observed for body mass index (+0.0196 kg/m2; P=0.927) or body fat percentage (-0.737%; P=0.639).
Discussion: Understanding how breast cancer survivors tolerate and respond to a moderate-to-vigorous exercise program is an important step in developing programs for this population following recovery.
Translation to Health Education Practice: Moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise may be an effective and well-tolerated intervention for improving physical function in breast cancer survivors.
Background: Lack of physical activity has been noted in breast cancer survivors and been attributed to decreased physical function.
Purpose: This study assessed the effects of a moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise program on body fat percentage, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), body mass index, and bone mineral density (BMD) of breast cancer survivors.
Methods: Eleven stage I and II breast cancer patients, 40–65 years old, were recruited to assess VO2 max, BMD, weight, and percentage of body fat before and after an 8-week exercise (aerobic and resistance training) intervention.
Results: Supervised exercise significantly improved aerobic capacity (+4.227 ml/kg/min; P=0.004) and increased, though not significantly, bone mass densities of hip (+0.433 SD units; P=0.061) and spine (+0.224 SD units; P=0.350). No significant changes were observed for body mass index (+0.0196 kg/m2; P=0.927) or body fat percentage (-0.737%; P=0.639).
Discussion: Understanding how breast cancer survivors tolerate and respond to a moderate-to-vigorous exercise program is an important step in developing programs for this population following recovery.
Translation to Health Education Practice: Moderate-to-vigorous physical exercise may be an effective and well-tolerated intervention for improving physical function in breast cancer survivors.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
TNT Training Run 18 miles w/ C.
Today I ran 18 miles with a runner who has never run that far before ever in his life. It is nice to witness someone accomplish something they are not 100% sure they can do. We negative split our run and finished with a tremendous sense of pride!
He is training for the NJ Full marathon for Team in Training as a way to do something to help those with leukemia, like his little girl. C. is amazing. He is always in a good mood and has a great sense of humor, which is important when running with someone, side-by-side, stride-for-stride for just about 3 hours. He also underestimates his ability to tolerate things that most people find very hard. For example, he mentioned causally that he does his mid-week runs, buy jogging over to the high school track, running 40 laps then running home. That is simply amazing.
I can honestly say that if not for C. being there, looking for someone to keep him focused or distracted, and on a reasonable pace (which today was about a 9:30 pace), I would have been unlikely to drag myself out into the cold for a 3 hour run. However, I find running with people like C, tremendously inspiring and I know that as much as he thinks I am there to help him, he is also helping me in the same way.
Now off to run a few more miles with my dog, Enzo, so that he doesn't feel neglected.
He is training for the NJ Full marathon for Team in Training as a way to do something to help those with leukemia, like his little girl. C. is amazing. He is always in a good mood and has a great sense of humor, which is important when running with someone, side-by-side, stride-for-stride for just about 3 hours. He also underestimates his ability to tolerate things that most people find very hard. For example, he mentioned causally that he does his mid-week runs, buy jogging over to the high school track, running 40 laps then running home. That is simply amazing.
I can honestly say that if not for C. being there, looking for someone to keep him focused or distracted, and on a reasonable pace (which today was about a 9:30 pace), I would have been unlikely to drag myself out into the cold for a 3 hour run. However, I find running with people like C, tremendously inspiring and I know that as much as he thinks I am there to help him, he is also helping me in the same way.
Now off to run a few more miles with my dog, Enzo, so that he doesn't feel neglected.
Friday, March 25, 2011
One for the Books has partnered with Sloan Kettering Cancer Center!
One for the Books (OFTB) has partnered up with Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Our first donation will go to the children undergoing cancer treatment at their facility.
OFTB is working hard to provide therapeutic and age-appropriate reading materials to children undergoing cancer treatment. Our goal is to provide our smallest patients with understandable information about pediatric cancer and treatment as well as to provide non-cancer related reading material that can offer a healthy escape into the world of books.
One of the main sources of fund-raising for One for the Books is the Run for the Books (RFTB) charity runner program. This unique program allows you to pick a race of your choice of any distance in any location. You agree to raise funds for RFTB. We agree to provide you with a personalized training plan, online (and in-person when possible) coaching support, and we even pay your race entry fee.
We also assist your in your efforts to fund-raise by setting you up with a free online fund-raising account and provide you with tips for creative fund-raising ideas. We have decided to keep minimums low to make joining us less intimidating, especially for new runners and new fund-raisers.
I hope you consider joining our team!
Thank you so much for reading!
OFTB is working hard to provide therapeutic and age-appropriate reading materials to children undergoing cancer treatment. Our goal is to provide our smallest patients with understandable information about pediatric cancer and treatment as well as to provide non-cancer related reading material that can offer a healthy escape into the world of books.
One of the main sources of fund-raising for One for the Books is the Run for the Books (RFTB) charity runner program. This unique program allows you to pick a race of your choice of any distance in any location. You agree to raise funds for RFTB. We agree to provide you with a personalized training plan, online (and in-person when possible) coaching support, and we even pay your race entry fee.
We also assist your in your efforts to fund-raise by setting you up with a free online fund-raising account and provide you with tips for creative fund-raising ideas. We have decided to keep minimums low to make joining us less intimidating, especially for new runners and new fund-raisers.
Event Description: | Fund-raising Minimum: | |
Any event 10 kilometers or less: (ex: 5k, 8k 5 miles, 10k) | $800 | |
Any event over 10 kilometers through Half Marathon (ex: 15k, 10 miles, Half) | $1300 | |
Any event over Half through Full Marathon (ex: 18 miles, 20 miles, Full) | $1750 | |
Any ultramarathon (ex: 50k, 100k, timed races: 6hr, 12hr, 24hr, 48hr etc) | $2400 |
I hope you consider joining our team!
Thank you so much for reading!
Healing Through Art Therapy, Family Health Magazine - Fall/ Winter 2006
Healing Through Art Therapy
For Shannon McGinn, art had always been a way to help other people to heal. With a master’s degree in art therapy, she had worked as a registered art therapist at several New Jersey prisons. Though she knew the therapeutic value of art, Ms. McGinn never realized the extent of that healing until she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 29 in September 2005. Then it was her turn to receive the benefits of art therapy at The Cancer Center of Saint Barnabas Medical Center.Though she had no family history of breast cancer, Ms. McGinn was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer and had her left breast removed by Elissa Santoro, M.D., attending general surgeon at Saint Barnabas. Two small invasive tumors were found in the breast tissue and she began three months of chemotherapy. Months later, Ms. McGinn decided to also have her right breast removed. Another small mass was found in that breast, although a biopsy confirmed that is was benign.
Now a law student, Ms. McGinn met art therapist Stephanie Buck M.PS, A.T.R., and began to attend some of the group art sessions, as well as scheduled individual sessions with Ms. Buck. She started a series of clay sculptures, several busts with closed eyes and smooth, bald heads. For Shannon, the heads illustrated both the trauma of losing hair to chemotherapy—the inability to hide the sickness any longer––and the concept that baldness does not necessarily have to be bad. “I wanted to create pieces of artwork that were bold so that people would have some positive connection to them,” says Ms. McGinn, who has since returned to law school in Miami and will continue to fly back to Saint Barnabas every three weeks for remaining treatments.
Many people are enjoying and being inspired by the work of Ms. McGinn and other cancer patients at Saint Barnabas through “A Creative Healing: Patient Art Exhibition,” currently displayed at the Medical Center. The exhibition can be viewed Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Works displayed include acrylic and watercolor paintings, clay sculpture, mixed media and collage.
“The most important thing about this work is not to create masterpieces, but rather to express yourself,” says Ms. Buck, an art therapist for 30 years. “This art room is full of joy very often even though people are talking about hard things. The creative process itself is profound, potentially joyful, and healing.”
Ms. Buck relates that those who create artwork speak of the sense of empowerment they feel in a health situation that otherwise results in feelings of helplessness, anxiety and fear. Through art, which also includes written forms of expression such as journaling, patients can transform these emotions. Anxieties and fears can be addressed safely in a supportive environment. Discovering, recognizing and using inner resources allows for the strengthening of those resources. Patients’ emotions and thoughts can be transformed into something hopeful, symbolic, and often beautiful.
After surveying the impressive range of outstanding works of art, Ms. Buck tentatively approached the artists with the idea of an exhibition as a meaningful way to share the art with others. She was pleased to find such a positive response to the idea.
“The artists were very excited about the exhibition and extremely proud to make the choice to share their work with other people,” says Ms. Buck. “There is so much profound work and it is very meaningful to share it.”
For the official opening on June 14, works of art were framed and hung or mounted on displays that were often accompanied by the artist’s thoughts on his or her work. Friends, relatives, physicians and staff from throughout the hospital attended and wrote comments about the experience in a guest book. Since then, several hundred people have viewed the exhibit.
“I feel so lucky that I could participate,” says Ms. McGinn. “Stephanie did the exhibit in a way that respected each artist’s personal experience.” Perhaps one of the most important parts of the art therapy process is the emotional freedom provided to each artist during the creation of the pieces. A painting called “Mountains of Peru” by Vickie Sanchez hangs in the exhibit. In it, the sun is rising over mountains and a donkey stands in the pastoral scene. Ms. Sanchez writes about her work, “For a moment I lived in my country while I was painting.”
In 2007, The Cancer Center Art Exhibition will be funded by the Richard M. Wasserman Fund, in his memory, at the Saint Barnabas Medical Center Foundation. If you would like to make a contribution, please call (973) 322-4330.
To learn more about the Art Therapy Program at Saint Barnabas, please call (973) 322-2171. For information about The Cancer Center at Saint Barnabas, please call (973) 322-5200.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
"Team Awesome" and Virginia's 24 hour run for Cancer 4/16-4/17
On April 16-17, I am running a 24 hour race as part of an ultra-relay team ("Team Awesome"). This is not a traditional relay because we are all allowed to run as much as we want in 24 hours. We then combine our mileage at the end of the day. The team with the most mileage wins . . . nothing! (because this is for fun and fund-raising.)
The race director, George Nelsen, puts on this 24 hour run as a way to raise money for his local chapter of the American Cancer Society. I like George and his race. I wanted to do something special. With the help of my friends, (and with a lot of help from Jim Plant) we put together a really fantastic team of 11 ultra-runners (Jim Plant, Ray K, Cheryl Lager, Sabrina Moran, Jessi Kennedy, Dave Lettieri, Amy Perris-Schimmel, Frank Lilly, Charles West, Alanna Garrison, and Tom Gabell) plus myself. Some are very talented runners. Cheryl currently holds the women's course record at this very race. Others are maybe not as competitive, but all possess an amazing amount of positive energy and enthusiasm. This is helpful when running all day and night and part of the next day.
I hope that we will work together to set an untouchable new Team Course Record, while setting the bar high and challenging each other as individuals to run hard, fast, and far. I hope this formula makes for some exciting racing. At the end of the day, George will eventually write a Race Report. If he has some good things to say, I hope that maybe more teams and more individuals will be inspired to come out next year, raising even more money for the ACS. We have all been touched by cancer in some way and hope this makes some difference.
If you would like to help now, please consider making a donation to George's ACS Relay for Life page. http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11SA?px=4311901&pg=personal&fr_id=33505
The ACS "Relay for Life" is not the same at the Ultra relay event and will take place on a different day than the 24 hour race, but all the funds go to the same place.
Thank you for your support in any way! Go Team Awesome!
The race director, George Nelsen, puts on this 24 hour run as a way to raise money for his local chapter of the American Cancer Society. I like George and his race. I wanted to do something special. With the help of my friends, (and with a lot of help from Jim Plant) we put together a really fantastic team of 11 ultra-runners (Jim Plant, Ray K, Cheryl Lager, Sabrina Moran, Jessi Kennedy, Dave Lettieri, Amy Perris-Schimmel, Frank Lilly, Charles West, Alanna Garrison, and Tom Gabell) plus myself. Some are very talented runners. Cheryl currently holds the women's course record at this very race. Others are maybe not as competitive, but all possess an amazing amount of positive energy and enthusiasm. This is helpful when running all day and night and part of the next day.
I hope that we will work together to set an untouchable new Team Course Record, while setting the bar high and challenging each other as individuals to run hard, fast, and far. I hope this formula makes for some exciting racing. At the end of the day, George will eventually write a Race Report. If he has some good things to say, I hope that maybe more teams and more individuals will be inspired to come out next year, raising even more money for the ACS. We have all been touched by cancer in some way and hope this makes some difference.
If you would like to help now, please consider making a donation to George's ACS Relay for Life page. http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY11SA?px=4311901&pg=personal&fr_id=33505
The ACS "Relay for Life" is not the same at the Ultra relay event and will take place on a different day than the 24 hour race, but all the funds go to the same place.
Thank you for your support in any way! Go Team Awesome!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Race Report: The Art of Racing 50k in the Rain.
Location: 50k Nationals. Caumsett Park, Long Island. March 6, 2011 (http://www.glirc.org/race-results.php)
So who’s up for some repeats? 10 x 5k? In the rain? I am!
2010 Recap: My health was a mystery. Hives attacked at random from February on. I felt weak all the time. I failed a Pulmonary Function Test (what?!) and needed a Nebulizer. My thyroid was erroneously blamed. I was possibly anemic. Specialists started pointing fingers at each other. I was allergic to “something”. After 250 needles, I was declared allergic to myself. I was given antihistamines, three inhalers, steroids, and some “emergency” pills. I have huge zip-lock bag full of medications that served mostly to make be bloated, fat, tired, and anxious. Eventually I just got better.
During all that, my training took a back seat. When the hives calmed down, I jumped back in where I left off and I ended up with fibromas (marble-sized lumps of painful scar tissue) on my plantar fascias. I had a hard time walking. I got the fibromas removed with cortisone. I felt good, so I ran over 65 miles in 12 hours and strained my under-trained ACL. I spent most of 2010 running less, gaining weight, and just feeling cruddy.
So who’s up for some repeats? 10 x 5k? In the rain? I am!
2010 Recap: My health was a mystery. Hives attacked at random from February on. I felt weak all the time. I failed a Pulmonary Function Test (what?!) and needed a Nebulizer. My thyroid was erroneously blamed. I was possibly anemic. Specialists started pointing fingers at each other. I was allergic to “something”. After 250 needles, I was declared allergic to myself. I was given antihistamines, three inhalers, steroids, and some “emergency” pills. I have huge zip-lock bag full of medications that served mostly to make be bloated, fat, tired, and anxious. Eventually I just got better.
During all that, my training took a back seat. When the hives calmed down, I jumped back in where I left off and I ended up with fibromas (marble-sized lumps of painful scar tissue) on my plantar fascias. I had a hard time walking. I got the fibromas removed with cortisone. I felt good, so I ran over 65 miles in 12 hours and strained my under-trained ACL. I spent most of 2010 running less, gaining weight, and just feeling cruddy.
The first of my very many DNF’s of 2010 happened at Caumsett 50k. I finished 2009 by crushing my PRs in every distance. By February 2010, I was cruising through 24 mile runs on my treadmill during blizzards and racing marathons all around 3:25 or less just as training runs. I felt ready for a great Caumsett, until the week before when I ended up in the ER covered in hives.
Heavily medicated, I still arrived. I started fast and felt horrible. By loop 2, I saw the red welts surfacing. By loop 3, my abdomen was itchy. By loop 4 I called it a day. In about 150 races since my cancer treatment, I had only DNF’d once (at my first ultra in a snow storm). This was #2 and it unfortunately set the tone for the rest of that disappointing year.
2011: I started 2011 with a “come back plan” that involved returning to my roots. I started again with low mileage and weekly short races. I was "found" driving up the highway by a small dog sitting roadside in the sleeting rain. I named him Enzo (like Enzo Ferrari, like Enzo the dog from The Art of Racing in the Rain) and as it turns out he loves running fast and far. He got me out the door when the weather was miserable. He pushed (er… pulled) our pace. My mileage finally made it back up to 80 miles per week and then hovered around 60. My fastest long effort was only a 1:41 half marathon at the end of January (7 minutes off my best). Looking at those numbers, I was not ready for a great 50k so I ran a slow 20 miles the day before. I had a dream I ran a 4:33. I decided that would be my goal.
The Race: My friend Ray came up to run. We decided to spend some time together. Ray has had faith in me, most often when I have the least in myself. Having him around always brings out my best.
A rainy road 50k with water stops twice per loops is pretty easy to pack for: 8 Endurolytes, a few gels, a pack of shot bloks, a 20 oz bottle of Gatorade and some dry clothes. I took 4 Endurolytes and drank the Gatorade on the ride to the race. At 8:25 am, I put one (1) Roctane pomegranate gel in one pocket and the 4 Endurolytes in the other. I ate one pack of black cherry bloks and walked off to the start.
Oh no, Ray is not there! I feel a pang of disappointment as the gun is fired. But as the crowd lurches forward, Ray makes his fashionably late entrance and off we go! First split 8:14. I pass up the AS on the first loop and then wonder if I should have grabbed something. On the back stretch of loop 2, I grab a few ounces of Gatorade. I am very comfortable and wonder when I should take that gel.
Loop 1: 25:45
Loop 2: 25:36
Loop 3: 25:15
Halfway through loop 4, I feel a surge of confidence. I’ve made it further than I did last year and I feel GREAT! As long as I am happy I will finish. At the end of loop 4, I take that gel. I decide to take the 4 Endurolytes too. Why wait? I feel good. Nothing hurts. I’m still grabbing about 6 oz of Gatorade total per loop. My legs are steady. I feel strong. Then they run out of Gatorade on the back half during my 7th loop.
Heavily medicated, I still arrived. I started fast and felt horrible. By loop 2, I saw the red welts surfacing. By loop 3, my abdomen was itchy. By loop 4 I called it a day. In about 150 races since my cancer treatment, I had only DNF’d once (at my first ultra in a snow storm). This was #2 and it unfortunately set the tone for the rest of that disappointing year.
2011: I started 2011 with a “come back plan” that involved returning to my roots. I started again with low mileage and weekly short races. I was "found" driving up the highway by a small dog sitting roadside in the sleeting rain. I named him Enzo (like Enzo Ferrari, like Enzo the dog from The Art of Racing in the Rain) and as it turns out he loves running fast and far. He got me out the door when the weather was miserable. He pushed (er… pulled) our pace. My mileage finally made it back up to 80 miles per week and then hovered around 60. My fastest long effort was only a 1:41 half marathon at the end of January (7 minutes off my best). Looking at those numbers, I was not ready for a great 50k so I ran a slow 20 miles the day before. I had a dream I ran a 4:33. I decided that would be my goal.
The Race: My friend Ray came up to run. We decided to spend some time together. Ray has had faith in me, most often when I have the least in myself. Having him around always brings out my best.
A rainy road 50k with water stops twice per loops is pretty easy to pack for: 8 Endurolytes, a few gels, a pack of shot bloks, a 20 oz bottle of Gatorade and some dry clothes. I took 4 Endurolytes and drank the Gatorade on the ride to the race. At 8:25 am, I put one (1) Roctane pomegranate gel in one pocket and the 4 Endurolytes in the other. I ate one pack of black cherry bloks and walked off to the start.
Oh no, Ray is not there! I feel a pang of disappointment as the gun is fired. But as the crowd lurches forward, Ray makes his fashionably late entrance and off we go! First split 8:14. I pass up the AS on the first loop and then wonder if I should have grabbed something. On the back stretch of loop 2, I grab a few ounces of Gatorade. I am very comfortable and wonder when I should take that gel.
Loop 1: 25:45
Loop 2: 25:36
Loop 3: 25:15
Halfway through loop 4, I feel a surge of confidence. I’ve made it further than I did last year and I feel GREAT! As long as I am happy I will finish. At the end of loop 4, I take that gel. I decide to take the 4 Endurolytes too. Why wait? I feel good. Nothing hurts. I’m still grabbing about 6 oz of Gatorade total per loop. My legs are steady. I feel strong. Then they run out of Gatorade on the back half during my 7th loop.
Loop 4: 25:47
Loop 5: 25:29 (2:07:52 – first 25k)
Loop 6: 24:55
Loop 7: 25:27
Since I missed those crucial 3 oz of blue Gatorade on the back stretch, I grab another gel at the start of loop 8. It takes me two full laps to sip that down. As I approach the end of loop 9, I start to feel a little wobbly. I can feel my form weakening just a bit and I catch my self grunting a little. With so little consumed, I know I am running off a combination of momentum and awe that I am really almost done.
There is no one to catch and I am not being chased. It is a relaxing finish. I give once last push as I see the end. I almost fall over from a head rush once I finally allow myself to stop running for the first time in 4 hours and 15 minutes and 31 miles straight.
Loop 8: 25:52
Loop 9: 26:03
Loop10: 25:30 (2:07:48 – 2nd 25k)
Caumsett volunteers print you a receipt within minutes of your finish. It contains your lap splits, final time, pace, place, etc… I look at the pace and see that it is 8:14 per mile. I remember Ray calling out our Mile 1 split as 8:14 and I knew immediately that he had something to do with this! I suspect that he was out there with me just to help me find my rhythm and beat this demon. I see Ray and show him my receipt. Like the human calculator that he is, he quickly adds up my splits and declares “You negative split this!” Holy cow, I did! (sure by only 5 seconds). I tell Ray how much I needed this to be a good race. He tells me he already knew that.
Stats:
4:15:32 for 31 miles (negative split by 5 seconds)
8th Female OA
27th place OA
What a great day for Racing a 50k in the Rain!
Caumsett Park, I can’t wait to see you next year!
Thank you so much for reading.
Loop 5: 25:29 (2:07:52 – first 25k)
Loop 6: 24:55
Loop 7: 25:27
Since I missed those crucial 3 oz of blue Gatorade on the back stretch, I grab another gel at the start of loop 8. It takes me two full laps to sip that down. As I approach the end of loop 9, I start to feel a little wobbly. I can feel my form weakening just a bit and I catch my self grunting a little. With so little consumed, I know I am running off a combination of momentum and awe that I am really almost done.
There is no one to catch and I am not being chased. It is a relaxing finish. I give once last push as I see the end. I almost fall over from a head rush once I finally allow myself to stop running for the first time in 4 hours and 15 minutes and 31 miles straight.
Loop 8: 25:52
Loop 9: 26:03
Loop10: 25:30 (2:07:48 – 2nd 25k)
Caumsett volunteers print you a receipt within minutes of your finish. It contains your lap splits, final time, pace, place, etc… I look at the pace and see that it is 8:14 per mile. I remember Ray calling out our Mile 1 split as 8:14 and I knew immediately that he had something to do with this! I suspect that he was out there with me just to help me find my rhythm and beat this demon. I see Ray and show him my receipt. Like the human calculator that he is, he quickly adds up my splits and declares “You negative split this!” Holy cow, I did! (sure by only 5 seconds). I tell Ray how much I needed this to be a good race. He tells me he already knew that.
Stats:
4:15:32 for 31 miles (negative split by 5 seconds)
8th Female OA
27th place OA
What a great day for Racing a 50k in the Rain!
Caumsett Park, I can’t wait to see you next year!
Thank you so much for reading.
This is my blog.
Today I start my blog. (See, here it is).
I hope to use this space to chronicle my efforts to create some momentum in my life. There are many things I would like to accomplish, like to become a successful private therapist and coach; maybe teach a class or write a book. I dislike stagnation, since I feel not much good happens to people when they sit still.
This blog will be about me getting moving, literally (through my running) and metaphorically (through my work). I plan to post my race reports and my thoughts about my work as a therapist, counselor, and coach. I'm sure I will comment about the things I study. Without a doubt, I will discuss being a cancer survivor from time to time and any projects I am working on for that cause. Although I am not likely to discuss my family that much, I am very likely to talk about my dog. Finally, I am sure comments about food, travel, and other random acts of living life to the fullest will make there way to the wall because as you see, I tend to ramble.
It would be nice if anything I say interests or inspires others in some way. However, I assume that I'll be posting things mostly for me to reflect upon later (for a good laugh). Maybe I can learn a little more about myself from this, along the way.
If you have stumbled upon this, I sincerely thank you for reading.
:)
I hope to use this space to chronicle my efforts to create some momentum in my life. There are many things I would like to accomplish, like to become a successful private therapist and coach; maybe teach a class or write a book. I dislike stagnation, since I feel not much good happens to people when they sit still.
This blog will be about me getting moving, literally (through my running) and metaphorically (through my work). I plan to post my race reports and my thoughts about my work as a therapist, counselor, and coach. I'm sure I will comment about the things I study. Without a doubt, I will discuss being a cancer survivor from time to time and any projects I am working on for that cause. Although I am not likely to discuss my family that much, I am very likely to talk about my dog. Finally, I am sure comments about food, travel, and other random acts of living life to the fullest will make there way to the wall because as you see, I tend to ramble.
It would be nice if anything I say interests or inspires others in some way. However, I assume that I'll be posting things mostly for me to reflect upon later (for a good laugh). Maybe I can learn a little more about myself from this, along the way.
If you have stumbled upon this, I sincerely thank you for reading.
:)
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