Punctuation Mark

Congratulations to Moira…she raised $2,500 for the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor this spring.  When she set out to do this, the goal was ultimately to run a half marathon with a team of fundraisers in Seattle.  Ultimately, though, she kept it local and raced the Solstice 5k in Northville instead.  It was a fun experience and this was she was able to have Leo and I both there at the finish, she was able to run with her great friend Sarah Lacy, she was able to train for a shorter race and her neuropathy wasn’t as big a deal, and 100% of her raised funds went to the Cancer Support Community (rather than helping pay for the trip to Seattle).  

The little guy on his bike

To say I am proud of her is an understatement.  It has been just over 2 years since her diagnosis and since then I have become a marathoner, trail racer, and soon-to-be ultramarathoner.  Since then Moira and I have raised about $6,000 for local cancer support.  In that time Leo has grown from a wiggly pink screamer to a little guy with a funny personality.  At 2.25 years old, he is already bartering with us for one more book, one more show, a few more minutes at the playground, etc., in exchange for his gentle compliance during diaper changes and eating his dinner.  He is definitely half Moira and half me.

I have a backlog of posts to get up and running through the summer, including a few product reviews, some cancer news, and some trail racing and ultra news.  In short, I have been trying lots of new gear and training techniques to get my not-so-gifted average physique ready for the rigors of long-distance trail racing. 

On the trails

I will let you know that I did my first 20 mile training run so far this year just last week (I am doing 2 before the Grand Island Trail Marathon in a month).  It was epic…there was rain the entire time, almost 1,400 feet of climbing (which is hard to find in SE Michigan), a mile of thorny bushes that tore my legs to shreds, and a goat.  Yes, there was a goat.  The goat was being walked like a dog on the trail, and he and his owner were the only other souls I saw that long, long run.  It was more than a run, it was an epic solo adventure and I thank everyone who has helped me get this far for giving me the gift of being able to undertake challenges like that nowadays.  It was just two years ago when I was having terrible headaches, serious chronic stomach issues, and a long list of aches and pains.  Now the only aches and pains I get are the good ones that come from enjoying the trails. 

More to come.  I am hoping to have some good news about my summer schedule and arrangements for the Stumpjump 50k soon, and I will definitely relate some of my new experiences and favorite training gear to you as well.  Congrats again to Moira, and thanks to Sarah Lacy for coming along.  The Solstice run really put a punctuation mark at the end of our two-year cancer ordeal, and I, for one, am so happy that we are still here, still running strong, and ready to move on to life’s next great adventure.