Marathon #19 - On Chemo

Tomorrow I will be running the LA Marathon! On chemo! Okay, well not technically on chemo - I took my last pill for this round on Monday night. Even though its been almost a week, I still feel the effects. I'm on chemo 5 days a month, and then get the next 23 days to recover. I usually feel pretty tired during the two weeks after the chemo, enjoy several days of feeling "normal" again ... and then its time to start the next round.

LA Marathon 2006

Marathon #4 on my 4 year anniversary of racing!
First race was the Mercury Times 10K in 2002.

Last year before I was diagnosed with a brain tumor I was in the middle of training for the Marine Corps Marathon. I had run marathons #17 and #18 earlier in the year, Carlsbad (recap) and San Francisco (recap), and was planning to run #19 and #20 in October and December. Well, life had other plans and my training came to a screeching halt and I soon found myself in the hospital for brain surgery, followed by radiation and chemo for six weeks. As soon as I was cleared to run post-surgery, I started to go for easy 3-4 mile runs in Balboa Park. The more I ran, the more I felt like my old self. After a few weeks, the idea of running marathon #19 crept back into my head. I thought about it for a while and looked at what races were coming up next year and decided on the LA Marathon in March. 

First Long Run with GOTR Friends

In December I officially started training for the LA Marathon and started up with my Saturday long runs. As always, life had other plans. Chemo was pretty rough on me in January and I barely got off the couch for two weeks. February was much better but still had me out for a full week. I'm proud to say that in March though .. I ran throughout the whole month! Granted I missed a lot of training runs here and there since I was starting a new job and had less time in the morning thanks to a terrible commute, but I was still out there.

Mermaid Half Marathon - My First On-Chemo Race

There are so many reasons why I want to run the LA Marathon. First and foremost, its because I love running and I love running marathons. The second reason is because I feel like marathon #19 was stolen from me by cancer, and I want to take it back. Other reasons? I don't know, there are so many. Being able to run regularly makes me feel invincible, it makes me feel like I don't have an "incurable" cancer, and it makes me feel like anything is possible.

16 Mile Run - Furthest Since My Diagnosis

20 Mile Run - Unstoppable!

If you told me 10 years ago that I could run a marathon I would have thought you were crazy. It seemed as impossible to me as lifting a car with my bare hands. In the past 7 years though I've managed to do what I thought was impossible 18 times, and hopefully 19 after this weekend. Running has been an amazing part of my life, and I think it has conditioned me to face my new life challenges with cancer with more hope and determination. When you're tired, you keep going. When you doubt yourself, you try to dig deep and push further. If you think a goal is out of reach, try to create a plan for how you're going to get there, and then go for it.

LA/SF Marathon Challenge Medal - Getting Mine Sunday!

LA Marathon Outfit - Powered By Chemo

Tutu by Glam Runner

Tomorrow I'll be running the LA Marathon to prove to myself yet again that nothing is impossible. Its going to be a slow race for me, but one of the most meaningful. If you want to track my progress you can sign up for text or email alerts online here. If you're up early, say a prayer for me. And if you're out on the course, give me and Tara a high five!

Cheering at the San Diego Half Marathon