Cancer

  • Pikes Peak Conquered


    This time last week, I was running-er-hiking up Pikes Peak. In all honesty, there wasn’t much running for a couple reasons. There were just too many people on the trail to move much, and…elevation kinda slowed me down.

    The race was on a Saturday (August 19th), and we drove up from Phoenix starting on Wednesday. Arrived early afternoon Thursday. We got settled, met up with Addie and Joni to pick up our race packets, then it was into the “hurry up and wait for the race” mode.

    A brief run on Friday to shake out the legs was helpful in getting a little used to the elevation.

    But really, not much ability to do that in such a short time. I didn’t feel any effects at all really. Maybe a little more tired than normal, but that’s it.

    Race morning was nice. Chilly at about 60 degrees. We started out on time and I was able to run that first part, but as we hit the trail, early on, most everyone was walking, hiking or power hiking.

    But when it was flat enough, we’d run, even if only a few seconds…it helps move things along.

    I enjoyed the beauty surrounding me. Chatting with people-who were willing to chat **wink**. It often times felt like a death march it was so quiet.

    So, I passed the time taking pictures, videos, and thinking about why I was running. It was in memory of Mary Sue Seymour. I’m doing a fundraiser for a cause she held close to her heart, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, as I complete a few adventures on my road to the 2018 Boston Marathon. http://giftfunds.stjude.org/IRun4MarySue

    I also had the following names written on my shoe, so they were close to my heart this entire run: Lynn, Taylor, and Frank.

    The real fun started above the tree line – so maybe about 12,000 ft or so. I still felt pretty strong for the most part, just a little dizzy. I was still having a blast looking around at the beautiful views, taking pictures of the line of people ahead of and behind me.

    About two miles or so from the top, I could hear someone shouting out names from the finish line at the top. That was torture. But a sweet one. It motivated me to stay strong, encourage those around me, and keep plugging, one step at a time.

    It got pretty hard those last two miles. Breathing was pretty labored and my legs were getting tired. But I was just so happy I’d made it this far.

    Only two miles left.

    I could do this.

    For you, Mary Sue.

    For those who can’t.

    For me.

    I’d never climbed a Fourteener, so this was pretty darn exciting for me.

    The finish line…wow. Talk about an amazing event. The clouds had rolled in, so it got super cold. I was glad to have my special needs bag packed with a fleece, knit cap, and sweat pants.

    But the reception and encouragement by the people there. AMAZING. I guess I hugged the girls giving me my finisher medals. I was just so happy…and kinda delirious. LOL!

    The people there were amazing. I was so thankful to have my sweet hubby and coach there to meet me with wide open arms. He grabbed a fun little finisher video as well. He’s my rock. My encourager. My heart.

    Thanks to Addie for taking me under her wing. Addie challenged me to this last year, so when registration opened, I was on it within the first couple of minutes, because this historic race fills up fast. Thanks, Addie, for suggesting this.

    Thanks to The Mary Sue Seymour Foundation for choosing me to represent Mary Sue for these coming months. She was an amazing, encouraging and inspiring woman. It’s an honor.

    Thanks to those who have donated to the cause and to those who will. Any amount helps-we need to fight this terrible disease with all we have. Too many are taken from us before their due time. Click HERE for the donation site.

    Thanks to Jesus for giving me the ability and resources to do what I love.

    Thanks to you who follow my adventures and all the support you give me.

    Next up: 50k run in October. Let the training begin. . . .

    Stay strong, my friends.

  • #QuoteOfTheDay


    It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. ~Edmund Hillary

    ******

    Three more sleeps and then I really will be climbing a mountain. 

    Pikes Peak in Colorado.

    Yeah, I’m a little nervous, but also super excited.

    I’m running it as a fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in memory of an amazing woman, Mary Sue Seymour.

    I do all of my adventures with someone – or a few someones – close to my heart. 

    Running for someone (or a cause) helps me stay focused. Not so much focused on the event and winning, but the process.

    The challenges each adventure present remind me of how tough people struggling with cancer are. How strong they are for fighting through their struggles. How they’d rather be doing something they love, like I am, but can’t because of their illness. 

    I’ve lost family and friends to cancer and have some currently struggling with it.

    So this coming Saturday, while I’m climbing to the 14,000-foot summit, you all will be close to my heart and in my prayers. 

    Stay strong, my friends. 

  • Wow…


    All I can say is WOW!

    Marathon weekend was amazing. I’m nearly 100% recovered, just some residual foot pain, but it’s all good!

    Thanks for all your support, both financially by contributing to the American Cancer Society and those who cheered me on, whether it from the sidelines or virtually via Facebook, Twitter, etc.

    You guys are ROCK STARS!

    Here are a few pictures in case you missed them on Facebook and Twitter:

    Soooo, what should my next adventure be? 🙂

  • This is for you, Lynn


    Lynn 2Dear Mom II,

    Today, two years ago, you died. Finally went home to be with your heavenly father. Time has gone on since that day, though you were rarely far from thought. With every book I published, every award nomination, every sale made, you were remembered.

    You taught me strength. Passion. Determination. Not only from what you told me, but what you showed me. You were faithful throughout your struggle through treatment, right up until your death.

    Such a strong testimony.

    Saturday is my first ever marathon. I’m scared and excited all at once. Your name will be on my shoe, as with any endurance event I participate in to raise money for cancer. So you’re with me every step! Just like you are with every book I publish.

    Love and miss you, Mom II.

    Lynn 400x200

  • #CancerSucks Update


    Hey gang. It’s about that time again….#CancerSucks update.

    As you know a portion of all my sales benefit the American Cancer Society. Cancer hit my family hard and fast over the last two years, and I thank you for all the support you’ve shown.

    This update has both good and not so good news, so I ask you for your prayers.

    My Mum had another CLEAR blood scan this past week. This mountain climber and marathoner was reduced to a wheel chair at one point during her spinal surgery to remove her cancer. She’s back to walking just fine and had another clear blood scan. Next PET scan isn’t until January, so we’re praying for continued clear scans.

    My friend Sandy had another scan and a spot was detected, so now we’re in the waiting game again to find out what’s next. It was sad to hear this after she’d had good news the last one.

    My friend’s mother passed away a couple weeks ago. She’d only been diagnosed a month earlier. It happened so fast. My heart aches for the family.

    My dear friend, Frank, is still struggling through his chemo and radiation. Keep him in your thoughts as we continue to pray for healing for his brain tumor.

    CancerSucksNamesI’m running a race next week, and I’ve dedicated the race and my training to Lynn (my mother in law who passed away two years ago from cancer), Frank, Rachel and Linda. It’s the AZ Pain Train. CLICK HERE to get to the site.

    Spread the word, because you never know, it could be your dollar that helps find a cure. I’m ready to kick cancer’s butt. How ’bout you?

    If cancer is touching your life, feel free to leave a comment. I’ll add you to the cancer prayer wall I keep on my computer.

    Thanks for your support, my friends.

     

    Lynn 400x200

  • This is for you, Penny


    We’re getting closer to the big race. Just over a couple of weeks, so it’s “taper-time.” This is the period of training that’s pretty difficult for me. It’s where I have to back off on the miles I’m logging. Rest up a little, while still doing some running, so I’m fresh and ready to bang out twenty-six miles.

    26.2 miles for YOU!

    This post is for my Mum. Technically she’s my step-mom, but she’s from England, so I like to say Mum. It’s just fun.

    She’s ran twenty marathons in her life. Climbed quite a few mountains, too. Kind of an adventurer, like my dad. So, when Penny experienced some strange pain after a short race, they checked it out and found a four-inch tumor in her spine. Surgery rendered her wheelchair/walker-bound.

    All through chemo and radiation, she worked with her physical therapists to get her mobility back. It was amazing to see her progress each step. Wheelchair to walker. Arm crutches. Canes. And of course hiking poles. She said those just worked better. But I know it’s because she was keeping her goal in sight…climbing mountains.

    I’m happy to say she’s kicking cancer’s butt. Bigtime.

    She walk/jogged the VERY race she discovered the odd “pain” in her back this past May 2013. And very recently, she climbed one of the trails she loves in Sedona, AZ.

    I tell ya, Mum is one tough chick. And through everything, sickness, pain, baldness, she held on to the one thing that gives her the most strength. Her faith in Jesus. Always seeking out his purpose in all of this.

    So, Penny (Mum) this 26.2 miles are for you!

    CLICK HERE to donate toward our #CancerSucks fundraiser. Any amount will help. And I hope you’ll spread the word.

    Thanks for your support.

    Lynn 400x200