Courage Through Cancer

I was recently featured in a bi-monthly column in the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper called Courage Through Cancer. I'm glad I had a chance to share my story because I feel that the awareness of incurable cancers is low, even among the medical community. Each time I see a new doctor and we are going over my medical history and they see that I have cancer and we start to talk about it, they are baffled by the fact that I went through treatment, am not cured, and am currently not on any treatment to fight this disease. My tumor has been stable for the past four months since I've been off chemo which is great. Stable but still present. In the mean time I am still living life. Working, spending time with friends and family, and running regularly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can read the full article here:
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/17/allen-brain-tumor-marathoner/

 

 

 

 

 

Napa Valley Marathon - #21

It has been over two weeks now since I ran the Napa Valley Marathon ... Marathon #21! I'm happy to have crossed yet another marathon off my list and had fun coming home to the Bay Area for the weekend for the race. For years I heard people rave about this race having a beautiful course and having a nice negative elevation which was ideal for PRs, and since hearing that I have wanted to run it. Several months ago I talked Tara into running this race and we had plans of shooting for a 4:20 PR for her, and a big cancer PR for me. (My previous races on chemo were 5:30 and 5:00.) Our training didn't go exactly as planned in the months leading up to the race though so in the end I was really just hoping for a sub 5:00 finish to at least prove to myself that I was making improvements and recovering from the chemo which I finished back in December.

 

 

Napa Valley Marathon Course

 

 

The race has a strict no-headphones policy which they threatened all of the runners about repeatedly leading up to the race, including a grumpy sign at the expo. I know there are runners who don't need music and who prefer to run without it. I'm not one of them. I find running in silence to be torture. I stressed about what to do about the headphones for weeks. Buy wireless headphones? Run in misery without headphones? Run with headphones and risk disqualification?)In the end I decided ... well ... let's just say that I have a friend who kept her headphones in her shirt and would take one ear out to listen to when it was "safe".. and then tuck it back into her shirt when it wasn't. I hear it worked out well for her. :o)

 

 

BOO on No Headphones!

 

 

David and I flew up to San Francisco Friday night and had dinner with my Dad, and then had breakfast the next morning with my best friend and her family. We also had a chance to see her beautiful new optometry practice downtown called Lunettes Optometric. Check it out if you need to have your eyes examined or need new glasses!

 

 

Lunettes Optometric

 

 

Lunch at Cornerstone Sonoma

 

 

We drove up to Napa after breakfast to go to the expo and to get my race bib. We stopped at Cornerstone in Sonoma along the way and I couldn't resist taking a picture on the giant purple Adirondack chair. I have a normal sized purple one at home.
 

 

Napa Valley Marathon Duffel Bag

 

 

We all stayed in Yountville that night at my friend Tom's house and had a nice carbo loading dinner at R+D Kitchen. Such torture to be in wine country and to have a nice dinner and not be able to enjoy some wine ... but I didn't want to break my rule of no alcohol the night before a race.

 

 

Dinner at R+D Kitchen

 

 

In addition to stressing about the earphones for weeks I was also worried about the weather. A big storm was coming through California and the weather reports were showing rain on race weekend. Luckily most of the rain hit on Thursday and Friday and by Saturday things started drying out. On race day we managed to stay dry until the last hour or so and were only hit with a light drizzle. (Which running through still leaves you soaked, but at least it wasn't pouring.)

 

 

San Diego Storm Watch

 

 

The course was a point to point and wasn't great for spectators, but we did get to see  David and crew around mile 18. I felt bad that they had to stand around in the rain, but I guess it could be worse. They could be running 26 miles in the rain! Ha.

 

 

Race Morning Mustaches

 

 

10 Miles Down, 16 To Go

 

 

20 Miles Down, 6 To Go!

 

 

Running In Rain - Ewwwww

 

 

We ended up finishing the race in 4:46:51, a time that both Tara and I were happy with. This was still much slower than any marathon I ran before being diagnosed with cancer, but hey, I'm making progress from my races last year when I was on chemo, and my doctor said that it could take 3-6 months for me to be fully recovered from its effects.

 

 

Napa Valley Marathon Finishers 

With Our Race Support Crew

Finisher's Medal - It's a Spinner!

 

  

We flew back to San Diego that night and then I actually took the entire week off of running! I probably could have run again by Wednesday but decided to give my body a rest until Saturday when a group of us got together to celebrate our friend Allison's recent wedding with a "mustache and wig" run. Why? Why not! (Okay, the real reason is that Allison loves mustaches and wigs. I mean, who doesn't??)

 

 

Allison's Mustache & Wig Run

 

We only ran 3 miles that morning and for the last mile and a half I was running between a 8-8:30 pace and felt great. I was recovered! Well, not really.  The next day I ran the San Diego Half Marathon for a friend who couldn't run because she was injured. I decided to start out with the 1:50 pacer running sub 9:00 miles. I felt good for all of two miles before I started to hurt, then get really tired, then wanted to quit. I considered calling David at one point to come pick me up but figured I'd just slow down, take walk breaks whenever I needed them, and just treat the race as a recovery run.

 

 

My Thoughts on the San Diego Half Marathon 

 

 

Finished - But It Was Painful

 

I finished in 2:12 ... and I started with the 1:50 pacers! I must have been crazy. Oh well, live and learn! I'm done with running races for a while and will be switching gears to triathlons. Next up is the Spring Sprint Triathlon May 4th!

 

 

2014 Race Schedule

Happy New Year! 2013 flew by and I can't believe it's 2014. This is a somewhat special year for me since it is my year - the Year of the Horse!

 

 

New Years Lunch with Mom

 

 

Last year I completed 15 races (all running) ranging from 5Ks to full marathons. This year I'm cutting back on my racing a bit and mixing things up as I prepare for my next big goal. So far this year I've run one 15K and two half marathons. My first race this year was the Resolution Run 15K in January which is my standing 15K PR from 2012 when I finished in 1:14 (7:58 pace). This year I finished in 1:26 (9:15 pace). Not my best time, but not my worst. After finishing race after race last year with my slowest times ever, I'm happy to be slowly recovering from chemo and getting my speed and endurance back.

 

 

Resolution Run 15K

 

 

World's Happiest Runners

 

 

Best Husband/Race Support EVER

 

 

Earlier this month I ran my next two races, the Mermaid Half Marathon and the San Dieguito Half Marathon. These races were on Saturday and Sunday of the same weekend, and I'd like to think that they take the place of a second 20 mile training run which I wasn't able to squeeze in this marathon training cycle.

 

 

Mermaid Half Marathon - Team Peacock Pants

 

 

The Mermaid Half Marathon is also the course of one of my PRs, with my 2011 finish coming in at 1:49 (8:23 pace). My finish time last year was a far cry from that - 2:13 (10:09 pace) - so I was happy to have somewhat split the difference at 2:03 (9:24 pace) this year.

 

 

Twinsies! My Favorite Running Partner

 

 

I was a bit slower in my second race for the weekend and finished San Dieguito in 2:09 (9:52 pace). Not great, but I'll take it. There were a lot of hills and I walked most of them, with the course rivaling the difficulty of the San Francisco Marathon for me.

 

 

San Dieguito Half Marathon - Team CAT PANTS

 

 

Cat Pants in Action

 

 

Cat Pants Close Up - Don't Be Jealous!

 

 

Next up on my race calendar is the Napa Valley Marathon ... this weekend! Marathon #21! David and I are flying up to San Francisco on Friday, having dinner with my dad Friday night and spending the night at his house, and then heading up to Napa on Saturday. I'm excited that my two marathon wifeys are both running this race (love you Christina & Tara!) and I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with them and several other friends in Yountville.

 

 

Final 20 Mile Training Run

 

 

After the Napa Valley Marathon I'm actually going to *gasp* cut back on running a bit as I gear up for my next big challenge. My original goal for 2012 was to finish marathons 19 and 20, and then complete a Half Ironman (70.3) in 2013. Well, cancer got in the way and I didn't cross marathons 19 and 20 off my list until last year ... so that means this year is the year I'm going to cross a Half Ironman off my list by completing Barb's Race - a women's only Half Ironman on the same course as the Vineman full Ironman.

 

 

First Bike Ride in Over a Year!

 

 

I've also signed up for two shorter distance triathlons to help me prepare for Barb's Race and to get used to triathlons again, and will be doing the Spring Sprint Triathlon in May and the San Diego International Triathlon in June. I'm also doing the San Diego Century again (metric distance) in May to stay accountable with my biking.

 

 

Morning Swim Lessons in Coronado (Not Mexico ... my iPhone is confused)

 

 

The swim leg of a triathlon is definitely my weakest leg and to help myself prepare I've hired a swim coach that I will be working out with once a week for the next several months. We've had two sessions so far and just in the few hours we have spent together I've already seen noticeable improvement.

 

 

New Swim Tools

 

 

I'm excited for my marathon this weekend and even more excited for the races following it! Send good vibes this Sunday!

 

 

 

2013 Year in Pictures

Happy New Year! I'm a bit late for the calendar New Year but I'm just in time for Lunar New Year. Whoo hoo for the Year of the Horse!

 

2013 was a big year full of a lot of races, a bit of travel, a lot of doctor's appointments ... and best of all a wedding! The wedding and surrounding trip to Maui was the highlight of my year, and I'm excited to be starting 2014 as Mrs. Allen.

 

 

2013 Races

In 2013 I ran five 5Ks, one 4 mile run, one 10K, two 15Ks, 3 half marathons, 2 full marathons, and was the runner in one triathlon relay.

January - Resolution Run 15K
(first race during chemo)

 

 

 

 February - Cardiff Kook Run 5K

 February - Mermaid Half Marathon
(first long race during chemo)

 (Cardiff Kook & Mermaid Half Recap)

March - LA Marathon 

(Marathon #19, first during chemo)

 (LA Marathon Recap)

June - San Francisco Half Marathon

 (San Francisco Half Marathon Recap)

 

June - Los Angeles Brain Tumor 5K

July - Coronado 15K

 

August - End of Summer Fire Run 4 Miler

(first race with Devika!)

October - San Diego Brain Tumor 5K

(Team Mokie representing!) 

(Brain Tumor 5K Recap) 

 

 

October - Long Beach Marathon

(20th marathon, 2nd during chemo)

October - Long Beach Marathon with Barb

(Long Beach Marathon Recap)

 October - Esprit de She Triathlon Relay

(participated as the runner)

(Esprit de She Recap) 

November - Silver Strand Half Marathon

(Team Minion for the win!)

(Silver Strand Half Marathon Recap)  

November - Hagerstown Turkey Trot 5K

December - Jingle Bell 5K

 

 

 December - Hot Buttered Run 10K

We made the news!

I also participated in one non-endurance event called Over the Edge which involved rappelling 365 feet down the side of a building while raising money for brain cancer research.

 

 

Over the Edge for Brain Cancer Research 

(Over the Edge Event Recap) 

2013 Giving

Speaking of fundraising, in addition to the $1225 that I raised for Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure for the Over the Edge event, Tara and I also raised $2310 for brain cancer research for the Kesari Lab, and also returned for the fifth season as a $500 Mile Marker Sponsor for the Girls on the Run San Diego 5K via our tutu business Glam Runner.

Selling Tutus at the GOTR 5K 

2013 Travel
This past year I traveled a lot less than usual, and visited:

• San Francisco, CA (2 times)
• West Allis, WI (1 time)
• Las Vegas, NV (1 time)
• Nashville, TN (1 time)
• Maui, HI (1 time)
• Shepherdstown, WV (3 times)
• New York, NY (1 time)

 

 

Easter in San Francisco 

 

 

 Carlson Reunion in Wisconsin

(Two Weeks in Wisconsin recap) 

Stupid Cancer Conference in Vegas

(OMG Cancer Summit Recap)  

Getting Married in Maui

Marrying the Love of My Life

 (Wedding Recap)

 

Wedding Celebration Part 2 in West Virginia

 (Wedding Celebration Part 2 Recap)

2013 Cancer Fun

I spent the majority of this year going through treatment for my wonderful brain cancer, and had bi-monthly blood tests, monthly (and then some) doctor's appointments, and quarterly MRIs. Over the course of the year my tumor managed to slightly shrink (~5%) and as my body adjusted to each cycle of chemo I got more used to things and felt better each month.

Blood Tests, Blood Tests, Blood Tests

Pills, Pills, and More Pills

 

 

 

December Celebration Dinner

(David's Birthday & My Last Night of Chemo)

 

 

 

Christmas Cookies for My Oncologist

 

 

 

2013 Hair Watch

Most important of all this year ... my hair started to grow back! Half of it was shaved for my Oct 2012 brain surgery and then another ring of it fell out the following month when I went through 6 weeks of radiation. The shaved part started to grow back right away but the part that fell victim to radiation didn't start growing until a few months later. Over the course of the year I had hair extensions to make up for most of what was missing and in November after 11 months of extensions I finally took them out, chopped my hair off (several inches longer than the length of shaved hair growing out underneath), and dyed it back to my natural color. As much as I loved maintaining my full, long hair, I just couldn't deal with the extensions anymore. Neither could my wallet. My shorter hair continues to grow out underneath and I'm hoping that by the end of this year everything will be even again.

 

 

My Hair Sloooooowly Growing Back

Radiation Hair Grew Back in Curly!

Hair Extensions Out, Cut, & Color

2013 Crafting

I dabbled in crafts this year and went to a Paint Nite event with Tara and also relearned how to knit over the holidays with David's mom. My grandmother would be so proud! I obsessively worked on a knit infinity scarf over Christmas and am now the proud owner of a beautiful merino wool creation of my own!

Paint Nite with Tara

Future Picassos

 

 

My First Big Knitting Project

 

2014 Outlook

This coming year will be full of more races, more travel, but fortunately less doctors appointments. I've finished chemo for now and I've started the quarterly MRI "wait and watch" protocol. It is such a relief to be done with chemo, but absolutely TERRIFYING to be going through no treatment at all. At least while I was on the chemo I knew that something was working for me in my corner. Now I have nothing ... but healthy eating, healthy living, exercise, and a good attitude. Which together, really isn't nothing, it is everything I have.

 

I'm looking forward to a great 2014, and hope you have one too!