Running Update:

11/8  5.0 miles in 42:57

11/10  7.6 miles in 1:12:23

11/13  5.0 miles in 45:11

11/16  7.1 miles in 1:03:33

11/18  4.9 miles in 44:47

11/20  5.0 miles in 43:29

11/22  5.0 miles in 45:08

11/24  3.1 miles in 27:54

11/28  5.0 miles in 42:00    

Happy Thanksgiving!  Today I was gently reminded by a friend that I haven’t posted since the beginning of November, so here is the tally.  Less than 50 miles to go to 1000 for 2013.

It was a bright though chilly and windy morning at the Madison Turkey Trot, but I ran a personal best!  Even better, my husband Todd ran today, too, his first road race in many years—and beat me, of course :)

Jane Update:

Jane, Alec, and Helen all got into the act, too, walking the Turkey Trot two-mile Family Fitness Walk with our dear friend, Marcia.  Had to warm up with hot chocolate once we got home.  No pictures from the event as we were all participating!

NF Update:

Jane and I are featured in the Children’s Tumor Foundation holiday letter!

www.ctf.org/item/hope-for-the-holidays.html

Running update:

10/23  5.0 miles in 44:42

10/25  5.0 miles in 43:25

10/27  7.6 miles in 1:07:49

10/30 7.2 miles in 1:05:29

11/2  4.7 miles in 41:58

11/5  5.0 miles in 46:07

Have cut back quite a bit since the marathon, but want to maintain some level of fitness as training for Boston begins again in December!  Am still planning to run the Madison Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving—our family tradition—despite trying to rest an injured shoulder.

Am at 903.1 miles for 2013, hoping to make 1000 by the end of the year!

Jane update:

Just some fun pics of Jane from the last couple of weeks.  Soccer season winding down.  Here’s Jane and her teammates on a particularly blustery fall day:

A triumphant Halloween.  Jane’s math homework that night was to tally her five favorite candies from her haul:

NF update:

Have scheduled our return trip to Indiana University for the beginning of February.  Jane has tolerated Gleevec remarkably well this year—hope it’s doing some good.

Running update:                                      

10/12/13  The Hartford Marathon!  26.2 miles in 4:10:00!

It was a gorgeous day in Hartford!  We couldn't have asked for better weather—sunny, breezy, mid-60s.  (Last year it was freezing--28 degrees at the start!)  I had a great run, felt strong.  I faded in the last two miles so didn't set any personal records, but finished faster than I did in Boston.  I was sore for a couple of days, but not as much as I remember from previous races.  (Getting stronger?)

NF update:

The best news of all:  we raised over $17,000 for the Children’s Tumor Foundation this year!  Thank you to everyone who supported us!  With your help we will find a cure for NF!

Jane update:

Jane received a postcard from her principal today!  Had to share it :)

Alec update:

Have to highlight another athlete in the family!  Alec’s soccer team got to play a short game under the lights on the turf of the new playing fields in Madison.  Look at that kick!

Running update:

9/25  5.0 miles in 45:43

9/27  5.0 miles in 43:49

9/29  14.8 miles in 2:24:27

10/2  5.0 miles in 45:39

10/5  7.6 miles in 1:11:57

10/9  5.0 miles in 46:39

Last run before the Hartford Marathon!
Hoping for weather like today:  sunny, dry, mid-50s.

This is the bracelet my oldest daughter, Helen, made for me to wear in the marathon.  She said, “I made it with NF colors!”  So proud of her :)

Jane Update:

Jane had her three-month Gleevec check-up and blood work with our hometown pediatrician last week.  The appointment was first thing in the morning, and we had planned to bring Jane straight to school afterwards.  I remembered to bring lidocaine cream to numb her arm prior to the needle stick, but forgot one key item vital to blood drawing success—Puppy!  When Jane was in Kindergarten she had brought her favorite stuffed animal, Puppy, with her to school every day, so I never had to think twice about Jane having him with her.  But now that she’s a “big” first grader, she no longer carries Puppy in her backpack.  On our drive to the lab Jane asked, “Where’s Puppy?!”  When I told her I’d forgotten him, she said, in a small, resigned voice, “It’s OK.  I’ll snuggle with my jacket instead.”  So brave and resilient!

NF Update:
I attended my first Children’s Tumor Foundation fund-raising dinner last week!  I'd never actually been to an NF benefit (or any kind of benefit, for that matter) before--it was wonderful to meet some other families and individuals with NF, and to see so many people supporting our cause!  I was thrilled to meet the president of the Children’ Tumor Foundation, John Risner, too!  He thanked me for my fund-raising efforts :)

Running update:

9/6  5.0 miles in 43:01

9/8  18.0 miles in 3:00:09

9/11  9.6 miles in 1:32:47

9/13  4.7 miles in 44:17

9/15  10.2 miles in 1:34:24

9/18  7.6 miles in 1:12:45

9/20  3.1 miles in 30:44

9/22  22.2 miles in 3:42:05!  Whew!  It’s time to taper!

Running-inspired songs from my playlist, volume 2:

(To see volume 1, go to my original blog, and read the post from 3/22/13.)

The Killers “Runaways”

Key lyrics:  “Maybe I’ll just run…”

The 1975 “Chocolate”

Key lyrics:  “We're building up speed as we're approaching the hill.” and “No, we’re never gonna quit…”

Biffo Clyro “Black Chandelier”

Key lyrics “We’re always running…”

Daft Punk “Doin’ It Right”

Key lyrics:  “Everybody will be [running].”

Fitz and the Tantrums “The Walker” 

Key lyrics:  “Crazy's what they think about me, ain't gonna stop cause they tell me so, ‘cause 99 miles per hour, baby, is how fast that I like to go.”

Matt & Kim “Cameras”

Key lyrics:  “Don’t forget to breathe now.”

Dan Croll “From Nowhere”

Key lyrics:  “Every now and then I fall a bit behind.”

(Oops!  Not the last one...)

Jane update:

I recently signed Jane up with the NF Registry, a database of individuals with NF that has a goal of better understanding NF as a disorder.  One of the questions asked was “Have you ever suffered from itching?”  Oh my goodness, yes!  Jane is always itching!  I thought it was just dry skin!  I dutifully slather her with moisturizer after every bath, in all seasons, with only marginal effect.  I couldn’t understand why Jane’s brother and sister don't experience the same—I had no idea that itching could be a side effect of NF.  I confess, I was pretty disgruntled to learn of the association.  What, disfiguring tumors aren't bad enough?

NF update:

Some inspiring news regarding the generosity of strangers:  Those who read this blog regularly know I was in our local paper a few weeks ago as "Person of the Week" (link here) and got to talk about NF and my fund raising.  Well, a kindhearted gentleman who I’ve never met saw the article and called me last week saying he wanted to help!  He owns a condominium in the Cayman Islands, and four times a year he donates vacation time there to a different charity for auction.  I was amazed!  It will be part of a silent auction during the Ladybug Annual Benefit Night for the Children’s Tumor Foundation on October 3rd on Long Island.  (If anyone would like to attend and/or bid, more info is here:  http://grow.ctf.org/Ladybug2013)

Will end with a happy photo from our friend Olivia, who spent yesterday afternoon with the kids at the Madison town beach :)

Sisterly love!

Running update:

9/2/13  12.6 miles in 1:59:44

Had our first race of the season today!  It was a very hot and wet 20K New Haven Road Race this morning—amazing how many people still came out to cheer us on.  Thanks to Todd and the kids, my Mom and Aunt Anne for waiting in the rain to see me run past!  I was two minutes slower than last year, but at least I squeaked in under 2 hours…

Me at the start (in the blue CTF shirt, waving)

Me at the finish!

Alec update:

Alec lost another tooth this afternoon!  Tooth Fairy comes tonight :)

Running update:

8/25  18.2 miles in 3:00:02

8/28  7.2 miles in 1:07:00

8/30  7.5 miles in 1:12:55

The 20K New Haven Road Race this weekend!  This is the fifth NHRR that I’m running for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, but I had run it once before twenty-something years ago.  I recently found a picture of myself at that race, at the tender age of 19:

Jane update:

School started this week!  Jane started first grade at a new school, and took the bus for the first time.  All the kids seemed to have a great first day.  We’re looking forward to a wonderful year.

NF update:

At orientation Jane’s new teacher asked me how I wanted to handle inquiries from other children about Jane’s tumor.  I told her I was hopeful it wouldn’t be an issue, but that if another child did ask, Jane may be able answer for herself.  That night I asked Jane what she would say if someone asked why she took medicine.  She said, "For my cheek".  I asked why she took medicine for her cheek.  She said, "Because it's puffy."  I asked if she knew why it was puffy.  She said, "Because I have a boo-boo?"  I asked her if she remembered us talking about NF (which we have done in the past), but she said no.  I told her if someone asked her why her cheek was puffy, she could say, "That's the way it grew."  I told her the reason was because of NF, which is a condition that can make people's cheeks puffy or can cause other bumps.  Later, I asked her again what she might say if someone asked her about her cheek, and she said, "That's the way it grew."

Well, I didn't think the issue would come up again so soon, but when I picked Jane up after the first day of school an older boy (maybe 3rd or 4th grade) asked me (and Jane), "What's wrong with her cheek?"  Jane immediately answered, "That's the way it grew!"  (She's such a good girl!)  Unfortunately the little boy persisted (innocently), "But why did it grow that way?"  I confess I wasn't prepared!  I tell adults about NF all the time, but wasn't entirely sure how to explain it to another child, especially with Jane present.  I said, "Well, she has a condition that made her cheek grow that way."  He accepted this answer, and said, "That's too bad."

(As an aside, during my conversation with Jane the night before, she said, "Maybe I could puff up my other cheek to make it even."  I told her absolutely not!  I told her her cheeks were beautiful as they were, and not ever to believe anything different.)

I think I was spoiled having Jane in the same school for so many years!  I thought I was prepared for this transition, but obviously not.  Still lots to learn.