This is a weekend of milestones. Today, Sunday may 18th marks six months since I had surgery. On that date, my surgeon removed half of my pancreas, my spleen and a bunch of lymph nodes.

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I have been extremely tired and breathless during my runs lately. In fact, over last weekend, I had been in such sorry condition that I said to my husband, "I wonder if I will EVER feel like I used to feel. What if this is all I've got going forward?" My friends are all getting in better shape as they train for upcoming race, and right now I am always the slowest one in the group. While I understand what is going on with my body, I…

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People talk about being "strong". I hear, "you are so strong" a lot. I know it is meant as both a compliment and a way of encouraging me to remain "strong" (whatever that means). It is not that I do not appreciate people believing in me. I need people in my life who have my back. We all do. However, it all makes me feel a little uncomfortable. I wonder, if I express fear or sadness, will I no longer be "strong"? I wonder how our society…

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As we do every week, my husband and I went for a ten mile pre chemo run on Monday. It had snowed over night and was cold to start, but the snow was truly beautiful. I snapped this picture of Pikes Peak from the car on the way to the trailhead.

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I had the week off from chemo this week. Physically I felt ready for it. After three weeks of medications being pumped into my body, I was tired. When I say tired, I mean so tired that the bags under my eyes are truly too terrifying to document. Still, it was my goal on my week off to try to enjoy life as much as possible. I ran every day. I ran by myself, I ran with my husband and I ran with friends. I ran the Santa Fe trail. I ran at…

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This past Monday I had my 9th chemo infusion. I am getting a total of 18, so that means I am now half way finished with treatments! I am on a 3 week on and one week off chemo schedule, so I have completed 11 of 24 weeks. My husband and I continued with our pre chemo tradition of running 10 miles in the morning before heading to the cancer center. I was nervous going in on Monday. I do not normally get particularly nervous, but I had…

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Yesterday I read a disturbing story involving Self magazine. Apparently Monika Allen was contacted by Self magazine. Self wanted to use a picture of Ms. Allen running the LA marathon in a tutu. Monika Allen consented to the use of her image in the magazine thinking it would be great publicity for her company Glam Runner. Glam Runner makes tutus and a percentage of the proceeds supports the girls running program "Girls on the Run". Ms. Allen was mortified when she found out that she was featured… Continue

I started running at the age of 28, after my first child was born. Along the way, I have run a bunch of marathons as well as some shorter races and several ultra marathons. Over the years, running has kept me happy and sane through a divorce, a remarriage, and while raising my two children. My best friendships have been formed on the roads and trails. My relationship with my husband started and grew out of time spent on Barr trail, Section 16, Palmer Park and Waldo canyon. Running is still how… Continue