Running Update:

11/28/2019		5.1 mi	43:44
11/29/2019		5.0 mi	49:02
11/30/2019		3.2 mi	32:02
12/1/2019		6.3 mi	1:03:06
12/8/2019		3.3 mi	32:47
12/11/2019		5.0 mi	50:47
12/13/2019		5.0 mi	50:44
12/15/2019		7.6 mi	1:16:02
12/16/2019		3.2 mi	30:47
12/18/2019		5.0 mi	49:16
12/21/2019		5.0 mi	48:22
12/22/2019		15.1 mi	2:35:24
12/23/2019		8.1 mi	1:22:45
12/24/2019		5.0 mi	50:33

I was sick at the beginning of this month and missed some time running, so had given up on the thought of breaking 1000 miles this year.  But when I did the math this week, I realized 1000 miles was still within reach, so I’ve made a final push this week to get in as many runs as I can before we leave for Canada for New Years.  I’ve run 33.2 miles in the past 4 days (OMG!) and am now at 997.2 miles.  I’ve run 7135.4 miles in 7 years.  Of course, I ran lots before that, but I didn’t get a Garmin until 2013 :) 

I think I might go for 10k in 10…

Jane Update:

We knew shortly after Jane’s MRI on the 11th that the new abdominal tumor had not grown since the end of September, but yesterday we got an official review from one of our team leaders at NIH, Dr Andrea Gross.  The MRI on 12/11/19 included contrast and imaging method called diffusion-weighted imaging which helps to determine how worrisome a tumor is.  Not only did the abdominal tumor not increase in size but did not “enhance” or become more pronounced with contrast, which indicates it is not actively growing; and it did not show any “diffusion restriction”, which is also a good sign.  Also reassuring was the fact that, though it is right next to them, the tumor is not pressing on Jane’s kidney or ureter.

Left: 9/30/19.  Right: 12/11/19.

 The plan is to repeat an abdominal MRI along with the usual MRI of Jane’s facial plexiform neurofibroma when we return to NIH in March 2020.  During that visit we will also meet with the team’s neurosurgeon to see how difficult it would be to remove the abdominal tumor.  Though it currently has reassuring features, this type of tumor (a “distinct nodular lesion”) has a somewhat higher chance of becoming cancerous than other neurofibromas.  The neurosurgeon would be able to help us weight the risks of surgery, given the tumor’s deep location, against benefits of removing it.  Dr Gross will present the case to the neurosurgeon in January, so he is familiar with it when we meet with him in March.

NF Update:

I am thrilled to report that, with your help, in 2019 Jane and I raised

$20,151

for the Children’s Tumor Foundation!  

Thank you to everyone who donated to help us #EndNF <3

Happy Holidays to all!

Our tree

Running Update:

11/1/2019	Run		3.2 mi	31:48
11/3/2019	Run		5.0 mi	48:25
11/4/2019	Run		3.2 mi	29:43
11/6/2019	Run		5.0 mi	47:35
11/8/2019	Run		5.0 mi	45:55
11/11/2019	Run		5.0 mi	46:05
11/13/2019	Run		10.3 mi	1:41:04
11/15/2019	Run		5.0 mi	47:02
11/17/2019	Run		7.6 mi	1:13:25
11/20/2019	Run		3.2 mi	30:10
11/23/2019	Run		13.1 mi	2:02:58

A bit unexpectedly, I ran the Philadelphia Half this past weekend!  I've always been curious about the Philly Marathon because it's in mid-November and guaranteed to be cool, and I confess because I knew that in the past the medal was a replica Liberty Bell that really rang :)  After the Marine Corps Marathon was a rainy bust, I didn't want to waste all my fall training, and Philly gave me a full month to recover from the MCM.  I signed up last minute, drove down Friday night, ran the race Saturday morning, and drove back Saturday afternoon.  My friend Emily (one of my rockin’ college roommates) lives there, so I got to have dinner with her the night before the race and brunch afterwards. 

My dear friend Emily

Had to bundle up.
Pro-tip: wearing surgical booties with a hand warmer tucked inside will keep
your running shoes toasty warm while waiting for a the race to start.

What a great event in an awesome city!  The race was really well organized, mostly flat, scenic, and had  lots of spectators.  It was bright and sunny for the half marathon (unlike the following day, which was rainy for the full marathon) and it was cool, in the 30s.  The race started at Eakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (AKA the “Rocky” steps).  Champion marathoners Meb Keflezighi (who I once met at the Vermont City Marathon) and Desiree Linden were there at the start to see us off.  Early on we ran past Philadelphia City Hall (incidentally, the largest municipal building in the world) at the intersection of Market and Broad Streets.

Philadelphia City Hall

Next, we passed Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell where we were greeted by Ben Franklin himself (an actor in period garb) who gave high fives to the runners.  We ran through the lovely Old City to the waterfront, along the Delaware River, and back through Center City and Rittenhouse Square.  Then we headed over the Schuylkill River into University City near the University of Pennsylvania, past the Philadelphia Zoo, up into hilly Fairmount Park and then finally downhill back along the Schuylkill to the finish line at the Oval.

I ran 2:02:58!  It's not a PR, but it's my best time since the 2018 NYC Half.  I felt good.  (And the medal DOES have a bell that rings!)

Check out the video below!

After a warm shower and change back at my hotel, I met Emily for brunch and a tour of her neighborhood.  How did I not know about Philadelphia’s murals?  Philly has a series of stunning building-size public murals located all around the city.  They are simply gorgeous.

In one of the more important moments of my visit, I got to meet Emily’s new cats!

Look at this handsome boy!

I was back home in a little over 24 hours and would totally do it again.  Thank you, Philadelphia!

Jane Update:

Jane is scheduled for her MRI December 11 here in Connecticut to follow up the new abdominal mass that was discovered during our visit to NIH in September.  We are hoping for no change—that would be a nice early Christmas present.

NF Update:

In happier NF news, the FDA accepted the submission of selumetinib, Jane’s study medication, for review  on November 14th! 

Jane and her friend, Phillip

Here is the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s announcement:

https://www.ctf.org/news/fda-grants-acceptance-to-file-of-treatment-for-neurofibromatosis

FDA approval is a long and complicated process which I still don’t fully understand, but this infographic helps:

We've just passed Step 8 of a 12-Step process.  Jane entered the picture all the way back at Step 3.  Getting closer. 

~~~

On a non-running, non-NF note, this is our first Thanksgiving without our dear Aunt Anne.  I bought a bouquet of her favorite flowers today to have her with us <3

Once you’ve enjoyed your Thanksgiving turkey and done your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, don’t forget Giving Tuesday!  You can always donate to our favorite charity, the Children’s Tumor Foundation here:  www.KRath4Jane.com

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone <3

Running Update:

9/25/2019	Run		3.4 mi	34:26
9/27/2019	Run		5.0 mi	47:41
10/2/2019	Run		7.2 mi	1:13:29
10/5/2019	Run		22.7 mi	3:59:25
10/6/2019	Swim		1700.0 yd
10/7/2019	Run		3.6 mi	35:08
10/9/2019	Run		7.6 mi	1:14:53
10/11/2019	Run		5.0 mi	45:50
10/12/2019	Swim		1700.0 yd
10/13/2019	Run		14.0 mi	2:18:52
10/14/2019	Run		3.2 mi	30:27
10/16/2019	Run		5.0 mi	46:57
10/18/2019	Run		5.0 mi	45:41
10/20/2019	Run		8.1 mi	1:18:12
10/23/2019	Run		5.0 mi	49:31
10/27/2019	Run		26.2 mi	4:57:13

The 2019 Marine Corps Marathon

This is the first marathon I’ve attended without Todd and the kids!  The kids are old enough now not to want to miss school and weekend activities by accompanying me to a race, but still young enough that they need to have a parent stay with them.  Thus, I traveled to DC by myself, away from home on my own overnight for the first time since 2012!

Saturday morning, I visited the MCM Expo to pick up my race bib.  I did all the dorky Expo stuff :)

I got my name on the "Why We Run" board!

And the "Share Your Inspiration" board

I spent a fun Saturday afternoon at my cousin Barbara’s house with Barbara, her husband Joe and their family, my cousins Mary and Theresa who had come down from the Boston area for the race, and my cousin Gerry and his wife Mary, who also live in DC.  Mary, Joe, Barbara’s daughter and her boyfriend were all running the 10K race that accompanies the Marine Corps Marathon.  Barbara and Joe prepared a hearty pre-race carb-filled dinner so we would all run strong the next day!

Barbara and Joe and lots of pasta

Obligatory pre-race gear photo

The weather forecast the night before the race :(

I’m sorry to say that the weather forecast for race day was accurate.  It poured rain from the time I got to the starting area at 7am until the last mile of the race!  Rain covers fashioned from garbage bags and grocery bags on shoes were everywhere, but they only briefly postponed the inevitable soaking we all got.  However, it did foster even more camaraderie than a usual marathon does because the weather was so miserable! 

I’m happy to report there were a surprising number of enthusiastic spectators, despite the rain.  And even though Todd and the kids weren’t there, I still had a few courageous friends cheering me on.  My friend, Glen was visiting from New York and held a sign for me at mile 18. 

He even made it in NF colors! <3

Then Barbara and Mary were waiting for me at mile 19!  Barbara managed to get some pictures in between downpours.

I looked much for energentic than I felt at that moment

The sun came out right for the end of the race.  While we were waiting to exit the finish area, we witnessed a man proposing to a woman who had just finished the race!  She said yes, and everyone cheered, though one fellow called out, “Your decision making is impaired when you’re fatigued!”

Barbara also was waiting for me at the end of the race—she took such good care of me!  She made sure I collected my gear and made it to the shuttle to get me back to my hotel.

Another photo by Barbara!

My poor, soaked running shoes!

That evening after a hot shower I didn’t have the energy to eat out, so I holed myself up in my hotel room with a take-out dinner from a place a few blocks away.  I didn’t have any problem walking there, and it was a gorgeous night—warm and breezy (in stark contrast to the morning).

NF Update:

Now I’m back at home and can report that so far this year with my races we’ve raised $17,312 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation to find better treatments for NF!  Thank you very much to everyone who has donated!  I’m going to continue collecting through the end of the year, so if you haven’t had a chance to donate, you can still do so!  (Help us get to $20,000 this year!)

www.KRath4Jane.com