Mammo-No-Go

Miles to Date: 380

This week we decided to rest on Tuesday after our long weekend.  Thursday we got up and were back at it.   Leah and I took off on our warm up to see if we could maintain and figure out the right pacing to get a 2:42 in a half marathon we are running next weekend.  After that we walked 3 miles at a really fast pace to try and practice keeping our 1 minute walking pace up.  This morning we got up to do as we like to say now "just 10 miles."  We took off again and assuming I can do the math correctly we ran the entire 10 miles right at the pace we are going to need to in order to achieve our time goal, which will also insure us a better starting corral placement for the Disney races we have on the horizon.  Also, right at the end of the 10 miles I hit a milestone, I've officially logged 1,000 miles since I started running 16 1/2 months ago!  Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would run 1,00 miles in my lifetime!

Today was my appointment to go get a mammogram done at one of Florida Hospital's Mobile Mammogram locations at the Track Shack.  However, they wouldn't let me get one today.  First, I was in the waiting room and could hear the tech talking to the check-in girl about me "she's 31", then on the phone "I  should be caught up because I probably won't be doing this next one." She came to talk to me and I was most likely a little snappy with her - I explained that while yes, I am under 40, my best friend was just diagnosed, I'm trying to be proactive, etc.  She explained that my insurance was likely not to cover it because I was too young, so I asked about their $35 self pay program.  I was willing to pay the $35, but apparently even that I had to be approved to do as well.  So as far as they were concerned, I could go to my doctor, get a script and then go to one of their non-mobile locations - so much for the convenience of a mobile location and a good hour of my Saturday morning.  Florida Hospital has a "healthy 100"initiative, but apparently I can't work on being/keeping healthy until I'm 35.

The most frustrating experience of this whole process is being told things like "you're too young."  Sadly, I am not in fact too young.  Women are getting diagnosed younger and younger these days - which amazes me since you have to jump through fiery hurdles to get appointments that can diagnose you, imagine what the statistics would look like if they didn't give those of us in the 30-39 bracket so much static when it comes to mammograms and other diagnostic tools, I bet they'd be surprised at just how many more women weren't "too young."

Tomorrow I am doing the Susan G. Komen race for the cure at UCF with some of the girls - so expect another post after that!

New Nike Breast Cancer Shirt

1,000 miles?!?!?!

Healthy 100, Pink Army, and Long Runs Ahead

Miles to Date: 342

This week I was able to wake up and make it to running both Tuesday and Thursday morning!  We've been slacking a lot on the weekdays so it felt pretty good to make it this week.  Yesterday was a chemo day for Jen so I threw on some purple running gear for our run.  We decided to do some "easy" 1:1's with Kathleen because we are running a lot of mileage this weekend.  Even at that interval we were averaging 13 minute miles when I checked my watch.  This weekend we'll be adding another 24 miles to the toal with a 16 mile run tomorrow, and 8 on Sunday.

Today I recieved an email from the Track Shack promoting mobile mamograms at their store next Saturday.  This is done through Florida Hospital's Healthy 100 campaign.  For those of you who don't know me, I avoid the doctor at all costs. Unless I feel like I am so sick I'm gonna die, I don't tend to go in to the office.  I'm very much a "if it ain't broke then don't fix it" kind of girl, so preventitive medicine is not really in my vocabulary.  But, I decided that I should go ahead and sign up for this just to be safe.  Jen never thought that she would be going through this at her age and was adamant with her doctors about getting checked out, so I feel pretty inspired to take care of myself and get checked out too!  They say about 1 in every 8 women get breast cancer and that's a pretty scary statistic, so better safe than sorry!  While I was doing that I also signed up for Florida Hospital's Pink Army.  You should go join too!  My recruiter ID is 23406.

Track Shack-O-Holic!

Miles to Date: 318

This week has already been a busy one!  Monday Night I went to The Track Shack for a Meet and Greet with Bart Yasso.  I met him at the Pittsburgh expo, and I have to say in terms of the Running World he is one of my favorite people.  He tells the best stories and is really entertaining, but also is laid back and down to earth and seems like a guy you could go grab a beer with.  I offered him the highly thrilling chance to pace 4 girls who run real slow and swear alot while doing it in the Mickey Marathon.  Not sure if I convinced him - but hey it's worth a shot!

 

 

Tuesday morning we met for a short run and skipped our usual 3 mile warm up.  Leah and I ran a fast for us 2 miles in the low 11 min mile pace and walked another mile and half.  Tonight was Ladies Night at the Track Shack.  Our entry fee went to the Florida Hospital Breast Cancer Care Fund which helps women afford to get mamograms.  With a raffle, snacks, fashion show, and a goody bag of Betsy's favorite things I knew it would be a great night!  I also won an entry to the Disney Princess Half Marathon and the Royal Family 5k in a silent auction.  I paid less than it was worth online and my money went to the cause, so I could truly feel great about running for a reason!  Leah also went and bought one of the flamingos that Florida Hospital was selling.  One goes home with her, and the other gets tagged and goes out in a flock to somewhere in Winter Park, so she let me stick Jen's name on that one.  We run past a flock of flamingos every weekend and it always makes me smile!  Up tomorrow is another easy morning run and then 14 miles this weekend!