Why I run

If you would have asked me a year ago if I considered myself a "runner" I would have laughed in your face.  Sure, I ran errands, ran to the mailbox, ran after my kids, but that was the extent of my running.  I had never been a runner, not even when I was younger.  I was always that kid in gym class that tied my shoes numerous times when having to run, and I think the furthest I had ever run in my life was maybe a mile in college.  All that being said, it wasn't much, I didn't like to run.  I didn't like to diet either, but that's a whole other post.

In January, a friend of mine, as well as some of my closest internet friends, challenged me to train for my first 5K.  Never to turn down a challenge, and wanting to lose those last 40 post-baby pounds, I accepted and on January 3 started running.  Fast-forward to today and I have successfully completed 3 5K's and started training for my very first half-marathon today (Ahhhhh!).  During my run tonight I started thinking about why I run.  What is it that makes me now enjoy something that I used to despise?  Why do I look forward to my evening runs and miss it when I can't do it?  Well, now you will know.  I hope you will read this and be encouraged, and feel free to comment and add your own.  :)

I run because:
-  it is the only hour of the day where NO ONE touches me
-  I get to pick the music
-  The sense of accomplishment I feel when I cross the finish line at a race
-  To teach my girls the value of being fit
-  No matter how slow I run, the kids can't catch me
-  I don't have to listen to anyone whining
-  For the first time in my life, I can set a goal and accomplish it in real time.

Why do you run??

Sprint for Life

This week I'm running for EGGS.  That's right, eggs, as in, Ovum.  Since I finished the Scope 5K back in March, I have been chomping at the bit for this next race.  I set a goal for myself to try to do one at least every other month, if not every month.  Well, since I obviously didn't run one in April, I'm running one in May.  I am super stoked about this week's race and know I will be crying through the whole thing.

Sprint4Life is the race put on by MD Anderson cancer center to raise money and awareness for Ovarian Cancer.  This is a cause I am super passionate about.  My sophomore year of college my BFF Shannon (who happened to be one of my roommates) was diagnosed with Ovarian cancer.  She fought HARD and beat it, after months of chemo.  Here we are shaving her head:

If you can't tell those are some FAKE smiles.  This was probably one of the hardest things I've done in my life.  A 19 year old girl should not have to go through chemo and a 20 yr old should not have to shave her best friend's head.  

As I said before, she beat it with grace and beauty and was by my side when I said "I do" to the hubs.  

There's the real smiles

Her sister Shawna, another college roommate, also is an Ovarian cancer survivor and their beautiful Grandmother unfortunately was lost to the disease in January.  This weekend, I run for them.  In honor of the two beautiful women, who beat this silent killer, and in memory of their beautiful grandmother.  To make it even better, I am running with Shawna and their family.  

If you are not in the Houston area and would like to join our team, "SAVE THE EGGS", you can always Sprint in Spirit.  I am hoping for a great time this weekend, along with running for these women and those like them.  

Everyone is always worrying about their boobs, and yes, the tatas are important.  But let's think about our insides as well.  I've included some info, read it and pass it along.

What every woman should know...
 

Ovarian cancer is a serious and under-recognized threat to women's health.

• Ovarian cancer kills more women than all the Gynecologic Oncology combined.
  
• Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States.
  
• Ovarian cancer occurs in 1 in 57 women, up from 1 in 70 several years ago.
  
• Deaths from ovarian have risen. 2004 statistics released from the American Cancer Society show that ovarian cancer deaths have risen by close to 20% over 2003 statistics.
  
• More than 16,000 women will die this year alone and more than 25,500 will be diagnosed.

Ovarian cancer is very treatable when caught early; the vast majority of cases are not diagnosed until too late.

• When ovarian cancer is caught before it has spread outside the ovaries, 90+% will survive 5 years.
  
• Only 24% of ovarian cancer is caught early.
  
• When diagnosed after the disease has spread the chance of five-year survival drops to less than 25%.

Ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose

• There is no reliable screening test for the early detection of ovarian cancer. The Pap smear only checks for cervical cancer.
  
• Symptoms are often vague and easily confused with other diseases. However, new studies indicate that ovarian cancer has recognizable symptoms, even early stage disease. Knowing those symptoms can help save women's lives. See:
  
  • JAMA, June 09, 2004 --- Volume 291, No. 22
  • Goff et al. Cancer 89:2068-75, 2000 
  • Eltabbakh et al. Gynecol Oncol 75:476-9, 1999

Raise Your AwarenessEarly recognition of symptoms is the best way to save women's lives. Early symptoms include:

• Bloating, a feeling of fullness, gas
• Frequent or urgent urination
• Nausea, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea
• Menstrual disorders, pain during intercourse
• Fatigue, backaches.

Take action if any symptoms last more than 2-3 weeks.

If ovarian cancer is suspected, ask to see a gynecological oncologist. 



What You Should Ask Your DoctorWhile everyone has these symptoms from time to time, it is important to know your own body and know when something is not right.

If you have these symptoms and they are not normal for you neither you nor your doctor knows why you are having them,

Then ask to have these important tests to help you rule out ovarian cancer.

• Bimanual pelvic exam
• Ca125 blood test (If it comes back elevated, ask your doctor to repeat this test monthly for several months. If it comes back progressively more elevated each time, even if the values are low, this is an indication that the condition could very likely be serious.)
• Transvaginal ultrasound

Who Has the Greatest Risk?

• Have 2 or more relatives who have had ovarian cancer
• Have a family history of multiple cancers: ovarian, breast or colon cancer
• Were diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 50
• Have a personal history of multiple exposures to fertility drugs
• Are of Ashkenazi Jewish decent
• Have had uninterrupted ovulation (never used birth control pills, or no pregnancies)
• Have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
• Are over the age of 50

Most women experience one or more of these symptoms from time to time, and only rarely do they indicate ovarian cancer. And remember - if you have ovarian cancer, and it is caught early, survival chances are excellent. 


Raise the Awareness of All the Women You Know

Turtle Club

My mom called me today and said she had spoken to some OOOOLLLLLDDDD family friend's of ours.  I mean, back in the DAY!  She mentioned they had blogs, so the cyber-stalker that I am I had to look them up.

I stumbled across Lauren's blog.  Lauren was just a few years younger than me, and I can remember us riding bikes and playing together when we were younger.  I do not recall her being this fit and fabulous.  I was snooping around her blog and found that she, like me, has recently started running and doing 5Ks.  She even has a club!  How awesome is that??  Of course, I had to join.

She encourages you to write about why you run.  I started running as a challenge to myself.  I wanted to lose 30-40lbs and I love food, so I figured I needed to figure out a way to do this without giving up food.  As my motto has always been, "I like to eat too much to diet."  As all runners will tell you, I got hooked.  I now run to clear my head, to escape from the madness of my house for 30 minutes, and because I'm addicted.  I will continue to run 5K's because I love the feeling I got when I crossed that finish line.  So, I will proudly join the turtle club, because even when I KNOW I'm going as slow as a turtle, I push through to the end.

My first 5K and other random musings

So, originally I started this blog as a way to share great deals that I found and fabulous recipes.  Then I got bored with that so I stopped blogging.  Then I got a really awesome job finding great deals in my area and I thought, I really need to blog again.  Then I got promoted and didn't have the time to blog anymore.  It really has been a vicious cycle.  I constantly have thoughts pop in my head that I think, "Man, I should blog about that, but I have a couponing blog, it's not relevant."  So, I have decided that even though my blog is a couponing/deal blog, I am going to post random things as well.  I apologize if you've stumbled across my blog expecting simply deals, but I promise there will be some fabulous ones coming.  :)

Yesterday I ran my very first 5K.  Let me just tell you, before January 3 I had never run in my life.  I was that kid in PE that had to tie their shoe every 100 yards.  I think the fastest I had ever run a mile was somewhere around 16-18 minutes.  On January 3 I started training with my friend Lisa.  We trained telecommutely (used the same training schedule but never actually trained togther) using a schedule made by a friend of her's that does IronMan competitions.  On January 3, I ran 9 minutes without stopping, and actually didn't die.  I felt pretty good about myself.  Over the next 3 months I gradually increased my running until I was running for 30 minutes straight and on March 26, 2011, I ran 5K in 33 minutes and 20 seconds.  I have never been so proud of myself in my entire life.  I have graduated from college and had 2 children and still running for those 33 minutes seemed like the greatest achievement of my life.  I actually did something by myself, with no help from anyone.  It felt AMAZING!!!!!

Here is the picture of me crossing the finish line:

I cannot wait for my next one!!!!