Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Running Update:
10/22/2014
5.0 mi
44:16
10/26/2014
5.0 mi
46:25
10/29/2014
5.0 mi
45:57
10/31/2014
5.0 mi
45:09
11/2/2014
7.3 mi
1:06:50
11/5/2014
5.0 mi
44:33
11/9/2014
5.0 mi
44:33
11/12/2014
7.6 mi
1:13:08

I’ve been taking in easy since the marathon, but I’m still running.  I’m at 908.6 miles for the year, with a goal of 1000 miles for 2014.  That’s another 91.4 miles in the next 6 weeks—it will be close!  I do have one more race this year, the Madison Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day.  Todd and the kids will participate too—it’s become our family tradition.

A note to my local readers.  If you have ever passed by me in your car while I was running on the back roads of Madison or Guilford and I didn’t acknowledge you—I apologize!  I usually can’t see through the windshield of oncoming cars due to glare.  By the time I can see in the passenger side window and recognize the driver, you’ve already passed and it’s too late to wave.  Unless you have a distinctive car (say, a yellow jeep) or vanity plate (“12 PAWS”), I won’t know it’s you.  I almost didn’t recognize my own mother once until I noticed the familiar license plate!  There are also rare times when I am too exhausted or zoned out to acknowledge anyone.  It’s not that I don’t pay attention to traffic; it’s just that I focus on the car, instead of the driver.  Finally, if you drive by right as I’m belting out a song along with my iPod, even if I do recognize you I’ll pretend not to see you :)

Speaking of iPods, here’s a few more running-related songs on my playlist:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Zero”
Key lyrics:  “Can you climb, climb, climb higher?”

Vampire Weekend “Step”
Key lyrics:  “Step…”

Bleachers “Rollercoaster”
Key lyrics:  “Now I’m running and I won’t stop.”

Finally, I want to share a one-minute video from the New York Times that beautifully illustrates what it feels like after finishing a marathon:  After the New York City Marathon.  Quite amusing!

Jane Update:
We had an uneventful overnight trip to NIH in October just for blood work and a physical exam (no scans).  Jane has her monthly local check-up and blood draw tomorrow.  Our next big trip to NIH starts the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  We’ll be there for four days and Jane will have her full complement of testing:   blood work, physical exam, eye exam, EKG, echocardiogram, and MRI.  We’re hoping for at least a “stable” report, though of course would love to see even more reduction in her tumor size.                                                                                                            

NF Update:
It’s not too late to donate to our 2014 campaign!   Every dollar brings us closer to a cure for NF.  If you are looking to give to a worthy charity on #GivingTuesday (yes, that’s a thing now—the day after Cyber Monday), or any other time, for that matter, think of the Children’s Tumor Foundation!  Here’s the link:  http://ctf.kintera.org/nfechooseyourownevent2014/krath4jane