My title says it all.
Of course, I’m sick again, (damn low white counts!), it’s never ending, my chemo is giving me a belly ache, and my students were balls of energy. Along with “lady problems”, it was a perfect storm of days.
So what did I do? Got home, let Ace run around the living room a couple times, put on my running stuff, cranked my ‘teach me how to dougie ‘ Pandora, (what most of you don’t know about me is I’m somewhat ‘gansta’ when it comes to my music choice – shhh, don’t tell my students, they beg me to listen to Lil Wayne Pandora almost daily), and Ace and I went for a nice 30 minute jog outside.
I used to run a lot. When I say a lot, I mean, A LOT! It started my freshman year of college. I used to get bored in the dorms and would avoid homework or assigned readings by suiting up in my running gear and would sprint around campus for an hour or so. Some days, I did this twice! I went to University of Minnesota, Duluth, so this didn’t keep up outside for long, but it was an awesome way to relieve stress and clear my mind. It was also a way to get out of the stinky, dim hallways of Griggs R. Once I moved indoors, I would run anywhere from 5 miles to 7 miles on the treadmill, daily. I would even go work out after a good night of drinking multiple cocktails.
I have ran a handful of half marathons – Grandma’s in Duluth & the Fargo half marathon, as well as numerous 10Ks.
A couple years ago I stopped. I’m not sure why I did. Maybe I had been ‘runned out’ and needed a break? I’m not positive. But I miss it.
I vowed to myself this spring I would become the runner I once was again. I had cleaned out my closet, and got teary eyed pulling out all my old running memorabilia. I know it’s going to be a journey – my energy is no where it used to be, I have ‘dry mouth’ from my chemo, and I’m not in running shape at all. But I told myself I wasn’t going to let cancer dictate who I was, make my decisions, or lead my way of life.
So, NO EXCUSES!
Yes, it was a balmy 40 degrees here in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Yes, I can’t breathe out of my nose. Yes, I’m getting severe cramps in my stomach from my chemo. But, I’m trying to lead a life of no excuses. Treat every day as it’s my last.
So, I had bumped my ‘teach me how to dougie‘ Pandora, threw on multiple layers, and ran. It was only for 30 minutes, at a slow pace, but I felt like a little bit of the old kaylee itched her way to the surface.
