tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89479062543470756812024-03-13T11:17:10.003-04:00Beat breast cancer and still had time for a run...This is an attempt to describe my journey through cancer, postpartum hemorrhage and hysterectomy, pregnancy, birth, stillbirth and more. My life has not always been easy but I have learned a lot and strive to do better everyday.
My main passions are my family and running both of which make me ridiculously happy. Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-10245926686533592852014-10-06T13:38:00.001-04:002019-10-01T17:12:44.479-04:00Intro to Triathlons: Osprey Sprint (well MY intro into triathlons and we all know what kind of luck I have) (post 2)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmKvBqg-3hqwOMuKKhyKphQCF-f20_GAy5MKZKNBkmYN5LRuJTqAfq6MT9oLxqUaiA62ZF6q5qztO11xuu-krNh4CGqvWv2bwl8NY3eYqBBhmpBWCK6nETA-TguFHPQSps_EPaL7YyeI/s1600/10613063_10205250926458945_6406662768520502212_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmKvBqg-3hqwOMuKKhyKphQCF-f20_GAy5MKZKNBkmYN5LRuJTqAfq6MT9oLxqUaiA62ZF6q5qztO11xuu-krNh4CGqvWv2bwl8NY3eYqBBhmpBWCK6nETA-TguFHPQSps_EPaL7YyeI/s1600/10613063_10205250926458945_6406662768520502212_n.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b>The Silver Lining Sexy Bitches (mostly) of SOMD<br />
Look at those waves....</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Trying to tri is very new and different for me, unfortunately I'm still me so I have a certain set of expectations for myself. When running a race you can control MOST of the race day factors, not so with triathlons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
When I am running a race my list of things I cannot control are:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Weather;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Other Runners;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Unexpected Illness, Fall or Injury; and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Misleading Race Descriptions/Course Malfunctions/parking and transportation/traffic (or a ½ Marathon that was 12.7 miles or so, whoops).</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In Triathlons the list of things I have learned I cannot control based on my *VAST* experience of two tris include:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All of the above listed but replace Other Runners with Other Athletes;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Water conditions (too cold, hot, or choppy);</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jelly Fish</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Forgetting equipment needed in the transition area;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All equipment functioning and in perfect working order;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All replacement parts for said equipment packed and on board AND in working order; </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not drowning;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Wetsuit not coming unzipped;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Swim cap not falling off;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tire not getting a flat;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Air compressor not getting stuck and over inflating/popping the spare inner tube; and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">the list is freaking endless....</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxMWjyepr5b27gwsOjd2laePYLUg81cfn3JT9izQXPH_6Hx9EJO1Z8Lbj4bjnVzV0h2IebDY9PZBNLMU57nwtFxtSk2Pg-EhdKj1zaMJQTc4DX_d7ad0IiftoJINOWS7BsFbyZwnF9vw/s1600/10154176_10205250903658375_3369721009770400902_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxMWjyepr5b27gwsOjd2laePYLUg81cfn3JT9izQXPH_6Hx9EJO1Z8Lbj4bjnVzV0h2IebDY9PZBNLMU57nwtFxtSk2Pg-EhdKj1zaMJQTc4DX_d7ad0IiftoJINOWS7BsFbyZwnF9vw/s1600/10154176_10205250903658375_3369721009770400902_n.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;">A sea of people.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;">Photo by Nicole McGee</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Osprey Sprint Triathlon was to take place in Snow Hill Maryland on October 4, 2014 and a group of us signed up and began our training in June. I had had my eye on a triathlon for a long time but had never had the "perfect storm" of circumstances to get me motivated to try and tri. Working with a group of women who were mostly new to the sport was a huge motivator, my running partner always wants me to train with her but she holds a very high USAT ranking and does full IronMans--training with her sounds super scary (although she has spent a lot of time convincing me to try to tri). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
October 4th is also the anniversary of my postpartum hemorrhage and hysterectomy or <a href="http://cancerwineandultrarunning.blogspot.com/2012/10/clara-is-born-and-mommy-is-alive.html" target="_blank">"PTSD Frenzy/Flashback Day"</a> (think multiple blood transfusions and being awake in the ICU on a ventilator with a 3 day old baby) as I usually call it. It's a very hard day to get through with any amount of sanity and I always try to have something fun to distract myself with or I literally fall apart, it's a day where everything has to go perfectly or I lose my shit. So clearly signing up for a triathlon with the above list of non-controllable factors demonstrates my ability to make great decisions.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b>Fuck Logic!<br />
Yes, I did. Don't Judge.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Luckily the group of women that I trained and travelled with are dynamic, kind, PATIENT, and incredibly supportive sexy bitches. We all drove up the day before and had dinner together at a SUPER LOUD cabaret show/restaurant (which I chose (hanging head in shame) as I had been there for lunch and thought the food was yummy) but it was way too loud and long for folks who had to get up and race in the morning.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
When we got back to the hotel my roommate and I prepared our race day gear and read through the race description one last time. I actually slept incredibly well and after spending Sunday-Tuesday with a high fever I felt extra well rested and surprisingly healthy and ready for race day. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b>No race is complete without a pre-race selfie.<br />
Amirite?</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We arrived at the race start with just enough time to get our transition areas set up, port-o-john visit, wet suit on and get to the open water swim start. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
The Swim:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The water was ROUGH, i<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 15px;">t was a ½ mile of giant waves tossing you around and each time you went to get a breath you got a mouthful of the Chincoteague Bay instead. Spoiler alert--it did NOT taste good. My swim cap got kicked off my head about 3 minutes into the swim but I managed to hang on to it--why? I'll never know. I magically finished the swim in 14:46 which is about 6 minutes faster than I had anticipated even BEFORE I saw how rough the water was. I think I swam faster because I was desperate to get out of the water as I was terrified of drowning. My transition time was a smooth and easy 1:43.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/0438507b3ea687d22c158535b2d519af/tumblr_mvm6o6TtIA1rve9sno1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/0438507b3ea687d22c158535b2d519af/tumblr_mvm6o6TtIA1rve9sno1_500.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>All of this, yes. Tasty too.</b></span></td></tr>
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</span></span> <span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 15px;">The Bike:</span><br />
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 15px;">The first two miles I felt like someone had put a jet pack on the back of my bike. I was cruising at 20 mph and feeling amazing I was passing people younger than me and was in total shock at how strong I felt. Then it happened. FUCK. Flat Tire. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">So, I've changed one inner tube in my life and that was only so that I would know how to do it in a pinch--NOT for time. I pulled to the side of the road and got the tire off and was able to discern that the inner tube indeed had a puncture so it had to be replaced. FUCK. Put the new tube in, attached the CO2 charger and filled it but the attachment WOULD NOT come off no matter how hard I pulled so it popped the tire with too much air. FUCK. It was at this moment that I lost my shit. I had just wasted 10 minutes and did not have an extra inner tube--this is when I realized I was getting my first DNF on my PTSD day to boot, and the tears came, unexpected and unbidden. Someone asked me if I needed help and I just said tell them to send someone to get me when you finish. About 5 minutes later a van pulled up and I was getting ready to pack my bike in the back. But Buzz (who will forever be referred to as "Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue" in my mind) came flying out of his van with an inner tube and a pump. He had my tire ready to roll in under 5 minutes, I introduced myself, got his name so I could remember my hero, and pedaled off as fast as I could. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b>It's entirely possible I overreacted.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My Garmin shows a break of 21:23 on the side of the road but there is no way to calculate how that rest for my legs improved my time for the remainder of the cycle and then the run. I finished the cycle portion in 1:12:30 with my 21 minute break included and averaged (per my Garmin) about an 18.5-20 mph pace. Transition two was 1:17 but I was definitely starting to have a little pity party for myself.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b>An event like this might play to my strengths. <br />
Plus, wouldn't this count as a brick workout???</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">The Run:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 15px;">UNEVENTFUL, WHOOP!!!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 15px;">I just ran 3.1 miles on an out and back course. My pace was just under a 9 minute mile but given how I had just over extended my legs to try and make up lost time on the cycle I'm totally OK with that pace. I met a young athlete named Jason along the run who encouraged me to keep running and it helped, a lot, he was like a drill sergeant. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_AMxn121o7Ibmsn7gHUWicQ94qhyphenhyphenSS8V9YvOy0gmNe5RFZk3LNNTaDNyO6s_9NzSIN-Dxpt7Xc8nzeUVLVJRmLfhG5B2_Cc4GavkfrZEChHeh-cR5gMrBYfJqPS2g8MiCZnyoZLEcpY/s1600/10460778_10205250902418344_8923135306901493358_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_AMxn121o7Ibmsn7gHUWicQ94qhyphenhyphenSS8V9YvOy0gmNe5RFZk3LNNTaDNyO6s_9NzSIN-Dxpt7Xc8nzeUVLVJRmLfhG5B2_Cc4GavkfrZEChHeh-cR5gMrBYfJqPS2g8MiCZnyoZLEcpY/s1600/10460778_10205250902418344_8923135306901493358_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b>DONE!</b></span><br />
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b>Photo by Nicole McGee</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 15px;">My final time was 1:58:07. I wish I could just subtract the 21 minutes and say OK, that's what my time COULD have been but I do not think it's that easy. No matter how I try to reason it in my mind I know that the break my legs got gave me a lot more power in the cycle and run than I would have had otherwise. More importantly the setbacks made me realize that even when things go wrong triathlons are incredibly fun, the extra challenges and unknowns make the sport that much more intriguing to me. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">On the drive home it also gave me something to focus on besides ventilators, blood transfusions, a missing uterus, and a gorgeous baby that came home from the </span><span style="line-height: 15px;">hospital weeks before I was healthy enough to. Triathlons as PTSD therapy--this could seriously be a thing.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 15px;">As for the "Silver Lining Sexy Bitches" I hope we return each year and try to tri. Maybe the same race, maybe new challenges, but definitely the same group of tri-warriors (different restaurant FOR SURE).</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFF2MSD6Jw-BqnrcLZJbMx5k7zXQbG90NAl5WvS6WCa5vDcPd7tz6-DRtB1ZanuA-wHi63hlvaHlrZ3EwBKajNj7Z8N0HduJsIw9gDL0jnHG2t56GhwpkvcVFE16evtdvpnvzxq3YnU4/s1600/IMG_5990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFF2MSD6Jw-BqnrcLZJbMx5k7zXQbG90NAl5WvS6WCa5vDcPd7tz6-DRtB1ZanuA-wHi63hlvaHlrZ3EwBKajNj7Z8N0HduJsIw9gDL0jnHG2t56GhwpkvcVFE16evtdvpnvzxq3YnU4/s1600/IMG_5990.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b>I had to show the pumpkins I bought on <br />
the way home. Tri-Season is over--let the <br />
training for my spring races begin!</b></span></td></tr>
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</span> Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-46637307750759790402014-10-05T17:11:00.001-04:002019-10-01T17:12:44.957-04:00Intro to Triathlons (well MY intro into triathlons and we all know what kind of luck I have) (post 1)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwxkw7nzl34JDvBe46u8Hydi-dKC2xkFX4jkMHsTJ2R9aFNY1RLWPsx69TejIeZyqIHaEbLAyOwI5lsWTe_zapwLPXCmI2mdyOrkVBWetVaZtTB_YtfFnYniGkfzLZrY6E6zO-fSpWA8/s1600/IMG_5935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwxkw7nzl34JDvBe46u8Hydi-dKC2xkFX4jkMHsTJ2R9aFNY1RLWPsx69TejIeZyqIHaEbLAyOwI5lsWTe_zapwLPXCmI2mdyOrkVBWetVaZtTB_YtfFnYniGkfzLZrY6E6zO-fSpWA8/s1600/IMG_5935.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"><b>I think I can get used to starting lines that look like this.</b></span></td></tr>
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This summer has been all about training for a triathlon, I swam, biked, ran and bricked in every distance and variation that I could think of. As with many marathoners/ultra-runners one day you start thinking to yourself that as much as I love running it's probably better for my body to mix it up a little. My regular running partner does triathlons (um, Ironman Distance Triathlons) and while she has always been very encouraging and has tried to get me to train for one I have always been hesitant since she's so much more accomplished in the swim/cycle portion of the event. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN56XkJ4q6kL3vnCEIoOSjD3feATD2UwNU8ua91aivaFK0xD8RTYswb7XLyXqy7ISDZvVAc8zgnLUxHEi2Db84v5HdsvaG0P-PT5WZBjIOuWihBn7bkXhcRAhszZbAWXI7hgWsgNwZTwY/s1600/IMG_5938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN56XkJ4q6kL3vnCEIoOSjD3feATD2UwNU8ua91aivaFK0xD8RTYswb7XLyXqy7ISDZvVAc8zgnLUxHEi2Db84v5HdsvaG0P-PT5WZBjIOuWihBn7bkXhcRAhszZbAWXI7hgWsgNwZTwY/s1600/IMG_5938.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"><b>Age on calf, genius.</b></span></td></tr>
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Over the past year a friend of mine was diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer, given my history I spent a lot of time with her and helped where I could as she went through treatment. In an effort to finish her journey with a silver lining she organized a group of her friends who are mostly new to triathlons to "try to tri" for the Osprey Sprint Triathlon in Snow Hill, MD. Since most of us have never done a tri before this was far less intimidating for me and I was thrilled to jump on board and train with this amazing group of women (and they are completely awesome).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVM6Cvdes3tbcYXTN0NCD_DpG0f0Xq-2NGwkkPYrjUnC3e2ckeMXIh2xmtVvPVzFxTB36UFIiCvi_PNKjQ5ys7SP17k3goLc6IkU9abLbqNo3mCgeJeAn2uEcG690QVPOXYdPhcximMg/s1600/IMG_5944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVM6Cvdes3tbcYXTN0NCD_DpG0f0Xq-2NGwkkPYrjUnC3e2ckeMXIh2xmtVvPVzFxTB36UFIiCvi_PNKjQ5ys7SP17k3goLc6IkU9abLbqNo3mCgeJeAn2uEcG690QVPOXYdPhcximMg/s1600/IMG_5944.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"><b>All of the essentials laid out </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"><b>in order of use.</b></span></td></tr>
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As we trained I started thinking (I know--oh shit) that my body is geared more towards endurance, the distances of the Osprey sprint triathlon are: a ½ mile swim, 15 mile cycle and 3.1 mile run. I was training with a 2 mile swim, 20 mile cycle and 15 mile run. This does not seem right. The obvious answer was to sign up for an olympic distance triathlon less than a week before the sprint, right????<br />
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I signed up for the Giant Acorn International Distance Triathlon in Lake Anna. It was a 1 mile swim, 27 mile bike ride and 6.2 mile run. PERFECT. I got there early and got all marked up with my bib # on my arm and leg and my age and category on the back of my calf (I think all running races should do this--so if I am behind and see a woman with a 38 I know I don't have to give that extra push to pass her to win my age group and if you have not figured that I am competitive that way then I cannot help you). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14PZ2SnOeQSkWefqmM6MNh-_50ptsV5XO_FXBQ9lg1Nya9P_io_96rr_otge2RfMBMmku9MrYw9Jftlr0TzvCZT0DtNRiy9d8XiXgzkN3jy8tuD1pQuQX8LIjt99NZY5kMtos2YuhvUw/s1600/IMG_5948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14PZ2SnOeQSkWefqmM6MNh-_50ptsV5XO_FXBQ9lg1Nya9P_io_96rr_otge2RfMBMmku9MrYw9Jftlr0TzvCZT0DtNRiy9d8XiXgzkN3jy8tuD1pQuQX8LIjt99NZY5kMtos2YuhvUw/s1600/IMG_5948.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;"><b>Cycle and transition gear ready to go!</b></span></td></tr>
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After this I immediately saw a friend of mine from the gym in the restroom and our bib/transition area assignments were even close since we were both novices. This was the BEST way to start my first tri. I knew I was suffering from a case of pre-race/new-experience jitters but I just let it go and set up my transition area for the tri. Everything looked in order, so I got in the wetsuit and waited for my wave to start.<br />
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The water was perfect and calm in Lake Anna, I had people swimming over me and it was fine. I kept swimming way out from the buoys, then back in, then back out, but I was going for the experience so I was totally fine with it. As I made the last turn for the final ⅓ mile or so I started to realize that I really was not feeling very well. My head hurt and I felt a little weaker than I should, the water was way too warm and my level of exertion was way too high to have chills. I of course, ignored this.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/aba78f2af91ae562b2a22694006474b3/tumblr_inline_mjx628pSwy1qz4rgp.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/aba78f2af91ae562b2a22694006474b3/tumblr_inline_mjx628pSwy1qz4rgp.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;">Yup, that smooth. NOT.</span></b></td></tr>
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My very first transition ever was upon me and I was determined to rock it. I transitioned in 3:08 which was far better than I expected. On to the cycle. Soooooo....I have never cycled more than 25 miles or so on anything but flat terrain. I was not the tiniest bit physically or mentally prepped for the hilly 27 mile cycle, especially since it became increasingly clear to me that I was suffering from more than a simple case of pre-race jitters. Mike was home with a cold and fever and I was beginning to guess that he had shared with his dear and loving wife. More than once I thought--"DNF, why not?" Since I've never DNF'd ANY kind of race, I was not prepared to let my first tri be the race to carry those letters.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/E3eKaP2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/E3eKaP2.gif" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: small;">This I think I can do.</span></b></td></tr>
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<br />
On to T2. 1:43---YIPPEE. In and out. The 10K was VERY hilly but it finished with a wonderful downhill and I was able to maintain a sub 9:30 pace which I am actually proud of given that my temp was 102 when I got home. The Giant Acorn International was an extremely friendly and perfectly organized race especially for someone who had no clue what in the heck they were doing. Like, even a little clue. <br />
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Even though I had to spend the next two days in bed I am so glad that I went and tried to tri.<br />
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My final time was 3:22:35 which put me way at the end of the pack but I DID IT. Hooray for low expectations and exceeding them! The best part is that the two women I ran into from my area both won first in their category. One of them kicked ass as the overall female novice winner and the other was #1 in the Athena category. Way to go SOMD ATHLETES!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md6c7aAZbR1rnvwt1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md6c7aAZbR1rnvwt1.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #990000;">Why I normally stick to just running. In this instance I ½ assed two things AND whole assed one thing. I am leaning towards a tri-addiction. I cannot lie when I tell you that my Iron Man running partner is more than a little excited.</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Have you ever tried for a tri? </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">What went right and what went wrong? My transitions were good, everything else...meh?</span></b></div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-e1MMP5WX2js%2FVDGq4lgvhyI%2FAAAAAAAAAvA%2FcxGCk9f08xE%2Fs1600%2FIMG_5948.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14PZ2SnOeQSkWefqmM6MNh-_50ptsV5XO_FXBQ9lg1Nya9P_io_96rr_otge2RfMBMmku9MrYw9Jftlr0TzvCZT0DtNRiy9d8XiXgzkN3jy8tuD1pQuQX8LIjt99NZY5kMtos2YuhvUw/s1600/IMG_5948.JPG" -->Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-87338787548149230952014-07-27T23:15:00.001-04:002019-10-01T17:12:45.672-04:00Endless Summer 6-Hour Run 2014This is my second time running this race but it is the race that I spend the most time explaining. The concept is actually quite simple; there is a 4.1 mile course that you run as many times as you can in 6 hours--when you are fairly certain you are nearing your last lap you are handed a flag and when the air horns blare you plant your flag with your bib number on it and that is your total mileage.<br />
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When I ran this race two years ago I was in AMAZING shape and had the best running season I probably will ever experience. I was averaging sub 20 5K's and had PR'd my 10 mile, 10K, 50K, and marathon time--all in under 4 months. When I did it in 2012 partial laps were not counted so you stopped if you questioned whether you would be able to finish 4.1 miles in the remaining time. This kind of sucked because I had almost 20 minutes left so while my distance is clocked at 36.9 for 2012 I think I could have finished 39 miles easy. I was still cracking out cartwheels and headstands at this point and feeling zero pain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfutVPLg646-JZyvsXBdwkrN0LQ-oUvWXqrNy6AJ8r6hUs5tN-owE1xFitJbrHtOjwx31Ojr788s32YXnqgWL9pWa3ZuT1RJUKMHkWmcwx-Q8j5XbWEFNLoTbll7HWNig-W3VSC61hS9k/s1600/10513273_10203927904545590_7648904378130358271_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfutVPLg646-JZyvsXBdwkrN0LQ-oUvWXqrNy6AJ8r6hUs5tN-owE1xFitJbrHtOjwx31Ojr788s32YXnqgWL9pWa3ZuT1RJUKMHkWmcwx-Q8j5XbWEFNLoTbll7HWNig-W3VSC61hS9k/s1600/10513273_10203927904545590_7648904378130358271_n.jpg" height="400" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">⅓ of the way in and still loving life....</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">Photo by Denise Hyde</span></td></tr>
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Fast forward to 2014...<br />
This summer I have been out town, teaching aerobics, going to meetings and taking so many medications that I can't tell if I'm sick and need medicine or sick from the medicine. Either way the side effects are edema, weight gain, swelling, fatigue, nausea, headache, and dizziness. None of these are super for running but I went from averaging about 60 miles a week to 12-18 a week yet I still decided that ES6 was the race for me. It's the best ultra because you simply go for six hours and can drop out whenever or walk as much as you like as there is no set distance. <br />
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Here's the wrinkle--if I sign up on "UltraSignUp" this means I am running an ultra and that is defined as a distance longer than a marathon. No excuses, no discussion, donkey ass stubborn. Although I feel like I am designed to be an ultra runner, endurance, decent speed, and the ability to stop and walk and pick right back up--this was pushing my current abilities a bit beyond their limits. The fact that I had taught 3 Body Pump classes in 3 days and woke up crazy sore both Friday and Saturday should have clued me in to take things a little easier--but I'm not bright.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1ufFfgavijIg53hWJfpDQnVuAPAtpFt6gQwJVwDgnpm-sU7zCqu3nA4HHaO1z6HQfP4xE1BJfyBMZQMNDu6H6wUkueKRg3KB5dtUJZ26LP5e-UDYTWmlMEj1uhFOAEgdKLKPz_wegRQ/s1600/10388064_10203927947026652_399738856905919127_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1ufFfgavijIg53hWJfpDQnVuAPAtpFt6gQwJVwDgnpm-sU7zCqu3nA4HHaO1z6HQfP4xE1BJfyBMZQMNDu6H6wUkueKRg3KB5dtUJZ26LP5e-UDYTWmlMEj1uhFOAEgdKLKPz_wegRQ/s1600/10388064_10203927947026652_399738856905919127_n.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">You get to see this every 4 miles so it's all good.<br />
Photo by Denise Hyde</span></td></tr>
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5 of us drove up in the "Swagga Wagon" leaving Southern Maryland for Annapolis at 5:45. We got there in plenty of time to hear the pre-race instructions and even listen to the National Anthem (best way to get race ready--especially when you're raising money for the Semper Fi Fund). Temperature wise this was the coolest ES6 on record, we were excited and ready. Laps 1-4 were great, I was felt like I was on my average long run (all of the aerobics classes were still forgiving me for my lack of actual running time).<br />
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Lap 5 everything started to fall apart--I got a chance to run with our race director for a few miles and explain to him that we actually pack the van with women every year just by showing them his picture and explaining that they get to see him shirtless at least once every four miles. Although he thought I was joking--this is EXACTLY how we get a large SOMD contingent heading to this race. <br />
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Later in the lap I ran into a friend and while having a nice chat I managed to get stung by a yellow jacket right where my sock meets my skin (day two it's a gorgeous black and blue swollen mess--lucky lucky). This rubbed for the last three laps and while it slowed me down I think a lack of training and an abundance of health issues are what kept my mileage to incredibly low.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://p.fod4.com/upload/aff3567c9abaad4b798a350dc1e1b1a3/D5wRgvp4R4CsBNMgIQuc_Rob%20Cantor%20High%20Five.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://p.fod4.com/upload/aff3567c9abaad4b798a350dc1e1b1a3/D5wRgvp4R4CsBNMgIQuc_Rob%20Cantor%20High%20Five.gif" height="304" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">I finished my 7th look about one minute before the six hour mark--hell yeah! I kept running to plant my flag though.</span></td></tr>
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As always this race is just one of those that are incredibly well run, as error free and friendly as they get with the BEST VOLUNTEERS EVER. We always say that the volunteers are the best at almost every race--but they always are. I was smiling and car wheeling my way through but I have to say that I lacked my normal exuberance. My body and my mind were simply exhausted from just surviving this past year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/tH96Rnn.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/tH96Rnn.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">....and walking today. The best part is that I PAID to do this.</span></td></tr>
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While running makes me extremely happy--this year has been full of set backs and re-routes in my life (totaled car, thrown out back, and illness in general--driving my daughter to and from NIH twice a week for clinical trials has been the icing on the cake). Things are finally settling down and this race was truly an opportunity to just reconnect. Reconnect with running, racing, with my AMAZING running friends and the running community. It was the polar opposite of the <a href="http://cancerwineandultrarunning.blogspot.com/2014/03/frozen-toes-50k-swamp-tromp.html" target="_blank">Frozen Heart 50K</a> (pun intended) and even though every muscle in body ached and I chafed in places that connected with nothing but air--mentally I was soaring. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/Tw3V1mQ.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/Tw3V1mQ.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Holy Burning Quads Batman</span></td></tr>
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Once the final tally is in I believe that I will show a finish in the top half of the crowd mileage wise (29 miles and change) but mentally I feel like I WON. My quads and hams are singing heavy metal death songs and my back and calves are about to get their mouths washed out with soap given the language they set off in my mind. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-03/enhanced/webdr02/10/10/anigif_enhanced-buzz-12358-1394461892-30.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/2014-03/enhanced/webdr02/10/10/anigif_enhanced-buzz-12358-1394461892-30.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Hangs Head in Shame</span></td></tr>
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I feel ready again. Mentally and physically I am ready to get back on the running wagon...finishing gross and disgusting and having one of my favorite runners ignore all of that nastiness and give me a giant hug simply because he was glad to see me sealed the deal. <br />
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Wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter, RUNNER. For balance I need all of it. This year I hope to replace "patient with runner".<br />
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Let the race begin.Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-8420185148252621992014-03-04T11:30:00.000-05:002019-10-01T17:12:45.532-04:00Frozen Toes 50K Swamp Tromp<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
Race Recap—Frozen Heart 50K <o:p></o:p></div>
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February 15, 2014<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve done my fair share of ultras, on many different types of terrain and in all types of weather but none of these experiences quite prepared me for the Frozen Heart 50K. Going into this 50K I knew I was not in peak condition but I am NEVER lacking for motivation and rabid determination; I just assumed these traits would carry me through. At first my running partner and I were planning on running two loops but I decided that I have always wanted to run an ultra in St. Mary’s on my favorite trail so I was going for all three (heck I’ve run solo ultras there 4 or 5 times but my mini-van was the only aid station).<o:p></o:p></div>
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The week before the ultra was full of scattered showers and snowstorms, we even had actual accumulation on Wednesday the 12<sup>th</sup>, which we all knew was destined to melt and make for a fun and festive muddy mess. Almost everyone local had taken the time to run a portion of the newer section of the course and one thing I knew for sure was the new sections were going to be muddy—they just exceeded all of my expectations times at least ten.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CdZkCCBnDyQ/UxX3ih6392I/AAAAAAAAAg8/kvlRz4MTzQg/s1600/IMG_4691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CdZkCCBnDyQ/UxX3ih6392I/AAAAAAAAAg8/kvlRz4MTzQg/s1600/IMG_4691.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;">MILES AND MILES OF CREEK--I MEAN TRAIL</span></td></tr>
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Race morning was cold but I was feeling excited and ready. I was signed up to help with check in and was surprised at how many people were still planning on running all three loops given the multiple phases of weather forecasted for the day—rain, sleet, wind, and snow. The original prediction called for rain all night, continuing all day until it changed to sleet then snow, although I don’t mind running in the rain I HATE starting in the rain. Luckily the morning was dry and the real rain waited about two hours into the run to start, but it was COLD. <o:p></o:p></div>
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As the race began (down an icy slope onto the single track portion of the trail) my running partner and I situated ourselves at the back of the pack and we essentially walked until the dam crossing where runners started separating themselves by pace. After turning back on to the single track it got icy and wet—quick. Parts of the trail that tend to be slightly muddy were ankle deep with slushy icy mud and runners were already beginning to fall on a fairly consistent basis. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgur.com/pQlcqGZ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="I miss MXC sometimes"><img alt="I miss MXC sometimes" src="http://i.imgur.com/pQlcqGZ.gif" height="400" title="Hosted by imgur.com" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">It felt like this...with ice.</span></td></tr>
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The real fun began on the new section or fire road section of the creek (I mean trail)—this is where we discovered that we had signed up for a triathlon—swim, hike and run (the gymnast acrobatic falls and flips were just for extra points). For most of us we had reached the point where trying to keep our shoes dry was completely futile and began just trudging through the ankle to mid shin deep standing water/mud on the “trail”. “Frozen Heart” became the misnomer as everything but our hearts were frozen, staying upright with forward momentum took a lot of cardio-vascular warmth and strength—all appendages trended towards a purplish blue cold hue. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">Yes, I asked myself this more than once....</span></td></tr>
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I cartwheeled into aid station one and the spread of food and warm smiles and hugs we were met with puts this 50K above all others. We had energy balls, food, drink, more food, more drink, warmed up hand warmers, offers to open and refill our bottles, basically concierge service at its finest. As we tearfully left the warm welcoming sight of Tom, Sue, Becky, Marcus and Lara we continued running in the creek (trail) and made our way to the end of loop one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The next aid station with the warming tent was nearly impossible to leave, Kara had seriously put EVERY ultra to shame with the spread of food, soup and hot chocolate she had put together. Our hands had become useless extensions of our body that could do NOTHING. I had to ask everyone to open, unwrap, fill and fiddle with anything needing adjustments. Only 21 miles to go. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kUMKq6RGgw/UxX3lo4xhTI/AAAAAAAAAhE/X_W94BA52MM/s1600/12554423925_bcde8f1bae_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3kUMKq6RGgw/UxX3lo4xhTI/AAAAAAAAAhE/X_W94BA52MM/s1600/12554423925_bcde8f1bae_k.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: small;">I actually caught the bottle, then my fingers said "I'm sorry, I am no longer working"</span></td></tr>
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My running buddy was only signed up for two laps and she was convinced that the only thing stupider than showing up and running the first loop, was sticking to her commitment to run the second loop. This was definitely a “you had to be there” race to understand just how horrible the conditions were and just how cold you can be while maintaining forward momentum. Lap two was colder and it had begun to snow, an added bonus was growing gusts of wind; we forged ahead. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgur.com/MUp6OBv" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="swoopin' in for dat d"><span style="color: red;"><img alt="swoopin' in for dat d" src="http://i.imgur.com/MUp6OBv.gif" height="259" title="Hosted by imgur.com" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">WARNING--THIS IS HOW I GET MY FRIENDS TO KEEP RUNNING WITH ME IN SHITTY CONDITIONS.</span></td></tr>
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The hilarity on this lap was ridiculous because we KNEW just how bad it was going to get. One of us <i>possibly</i> slid down a muddy embankment into the deep water (I mean trail), another one of us <i>might</i> have leaned on a tree after losing a shoe in the mud (for the <i>12<sup>th</sup> time</i>) and broken the tree and landed on her bottom, there <i>may</i> have been some inappropriate language as brambles ripped open the skin on our legs as tried to avoid the thigh deep water on the “trail”. Yet as we came up to the aid station the promise of homemade brownies and Rice Krispie treats made all of this OK (and yes, there were still cartwheels—we run happy).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dctg3yXHhlo/UxX3e_YUz2I/AAAAAAAAAg0/BjWer1weRXI/s1600/IMG_4686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dctg3yXHhlo/UxX3e_YUz2I/AAAAAAAAAg0/BjWer1weRXI/s1600/IMG_4686.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Puddles--What Puddles?</span></td></tr>
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At the conclusion of lap 2 it was time for my running partner to head home and me to continue on. Poor Cindy had just shown up to volunteer and I had to ask her to pull off my socks—ewwwww—because I wanted to start this lap warm and dry (this was a very good call). My hands could no longer do ANYTHING so completing this task was a team effort, I don’t know who all helped me, but thanks!</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Having been at check in I knew that there were a lot of folks signed up to finish all 3 laps but as I ran (slowly jogged in order to not fall) I realized that I was ALONE. I saw a couple of runners/hikers not in the race along the trail but mostly I was by myself. The quiet snowy run was AWESOME and I just went at my own pace and managed to stay upright having fresh dry clothes kept me warm. Lara, Tom and Becky were still at the aid station and were peppy and helpful—since my hands were finally warm I had to opt out of the traditional aid station cartwheel.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1VQb79hvwF0/UxX3xhw70vI/AAAAAAAAAhk/eL8jxBKTELw/s1600/1011681_10202940615574333_1634927310_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1VQb79hvwF0/UxX3xhw70vI/AAAAAAAAAhk/eL8jxBKTELw/s1600/1011681_10202940615574333_1634927310_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e;">SORRY--WARM HANDS, NO CARTWHEEL, BUT I'M HAPPY!</span></td></tr>
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As I was finishing the final 2 miles Blaine ran up along my side collecting the flags and Perry and Becky made an amazing on course cheering squad in the final mile. Seeing the mostly empty parking lot and warm welcome smiles at the finish was AWESOME. Marcus greeted me with a bear hug and a twirl; I still had a cartwheel left in me and let’s be honest after 32.6 miles per my Garmin it was a well earned cartwheel. Crystal and team made sure I had plenty of snacks and drinks and the bonus was my husband and oldest daughter Gracie showed up to cheer me in. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3O4XBbDee88/UxX3v1hfgKI/AAAAAAAAAhc/IrSUr8SDTPE/s1600/1654189_10203164662418258_1772010201_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3O4XBbDee88/UxX3v1hfgKI/AAAAAAAAAhc/IrSUr8SDTPE/s1600/1654189_10203164662418258_1772010201_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">FINISH LINE CARTWHEELS ARE NORMAL--RIGHT????</span></td></tr>
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It took me 8 ½ hours to finish this beastly course but considering only 22 people completed all 3 laps I’ll take it as a personal victory and proof that if you try hard enough you can finish any race, in any conditions, given the right mindset. Mine was don’t throw in the towel, use it to wipe off the mud, grime and snow, and then keep on going.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">YUP! I AM THREE SLUSHY 10.5 MILE LOOPS O' CRAZY</span></td></tr>
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Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-83921659035791322212013-04-02T21:30:00.001-04:002019-10-01T17:12:45.477-04:00EXCITED...INDOMITABLE...HAPPY =)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KC8lWWvyuqlRMlWSP80MbqRwvgyM2tyLFQbEa72uAcrwI4v7qG2gSp37nMaBuaqN4g_6I6onGLwpsEZQT6S8jxbIhrDpViIcB4O-7zmhzmaH9mDvutreifrek-vUzz9qADpzu_nAP88/s400/65981_10200795843966852_715284258_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/runkathleenrun/fundraiser/kathleenhammett/donate" target="_blank">Please click here to donate if you are able, if not... kindly share this link with your friends and family. Thanks!</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Today
I cancelled my hotel reservation for The Boston Marathon and I thought I would
be sad, but instead I felt a bit of elation. July 30<sup>th</sup>, that is the date, I
will be running my portion of the <a href="http://coasttocoastforcancer.org/the-team/">Coast to Coast for Cancer
Marathon</a> into DC, as the date draws near I feel a spark and hunger for
adventure, it’s almost like a giant springboard towards something new and
amazing. Yes, I have run a marathon, I
have certainly raised money for different organizations, but to run 26.2 miles
FOR cancer as a cancer survivor while raising $7,500 to help other cancer
patients gives me a feeling that I do not think I can put into words. I truly hope that if you are able to run with me that day
you will join me for some, if not all of the miles. You can purchase a mile for $200, and dedicate it to whomever you wish (but you can run with me regardless of donation).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/runkathleenrun/fundraiser/kathleenhammett" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter'; font-size: 19px;" target="_blank">Donate Here</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Giving
back, paying it forward, call it what you will…I still deal physically with the
aftermath of a horrific birth experience as well as the many effects that
cancer and the treatment have had on my body, but here I am, running marathons to help people in my same situation; for the first time in my life I feel like
screaming “look at me, look at me”, the feeling is that invigorating...to be able to
give back as I am still going through it.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiycD7saChpaakXOz-d3PoGeb_pNGGBH9c3EaeCQGTyTZ_RhEGjkhyphenhyphen3dIaK2T_VKRQbRujoXnvOr0-10x0z46yvuJmhfihsDujy4OAfzl4LMXCS2-ZJTM6e2pvY5hHdtYN2uBeksYNR5w/s1600/IMG_0404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiycD7saChpaakXOz-d3PoGeb_pNGGBH9c3EaeCQGTyTZ_RhEGjkhyphenhyphen3dIaK2T_VKRQbRujoXnvOr0-10x0z46yvuJmhfihsDujy4OAfzl4LMXCS2-ZJTM6e2pvY5hHdtYN2uBeksYNR5w/s400/IMG_0404.JPG" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Running after cancer is </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">THE BEST!!!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: American Typewriter; font-size: medium;">As
I raise money through your generous donations I am helping other cancer
patients by providing direct patient care, yet on some level I am hoping that I may
offer someone a spark of hope, a beacon of hope. Having gone
through cancer at age 36 I did not have anyone I could look to or relate to…I
pray that you will share my story if you know ANYONE going through cancer and
the rigors and hell of treatment. Let
them know that you can thrive after and even during treatment, that cancer does
not end your life…it simply changes your journey. Your cancer may cause your body to eventually
fail but all bodies fail one day, my goal has always been to keep my cancer
from killing my spirit. God has blessed
me with an indomitable will, an unusual energy level, and </span><span style="font-family: American Typewriter;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">dauntless</span></span><span style="font-family: American Typewriter; font-size: medium;"> determination…cancer can take NONE of those things from me…unless I allow it to...sorry
folks, I am rooting for me on this one!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">If
you have been considering donating to my race please do so…do it now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-58980052481044405572013-03-18T16:24:00.006-04:002019-10-01T17:12:45.260-04:00Being a Medtronic Global Hero...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Medtronic Global Hero<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Medtronic Twin Cities
Marathon Weekend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">October 2, 2011
(Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota) </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8S2Lv31e-w/UUd2W2TkzfI/AAAAAAAAAVg/_JbKkGRseoY/s1600/400302_3012575681832_632573627_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8S2Lv31e-w/UUd2W2TkzfI/AAAAAAAAAVg/_JbKkGRseoY/s320/400302_3012575681832_632573627_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Each year the Medtronic
Global Heroes program chooses 25 runners from around the world who benefit from
medical technology to participate in the Twin Cities Marathon or Ten Mile Run (2011
included runners from Spain, Australia, Brazil, Sweden, Israel, United States
and more). Most of the runners chosen benefit from the use of insulin
pumps, pacemakers and stents but I was chosen for being a runner with an
Interstim device (sacral nerve stimulator). Further explanation perhaps….</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">On October 1st, 2007,
we joyously welcomed our third daughter into the family. The C-section
went smoothly and we were looking forward to a speedy recovery. Unfortunately,
things did not go as planned. Sixty hours after her birth, barely alive,
I was rushed into surgery to evacuate a massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage that
had displaced my bladder and kidneys and caused my lungs to collapse.
Unfortunately due to the size of the clot and the length of the pressure,
permanent nerve damage had been done to my bladder and it no longer emptied
naturally, requiring the use of catheters.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">I woke up in the ICU on
a ventilator, minus a uterus, 57 staples running from my chest all the way down
my belly and a long way from recovery. My baby, along with my dreams of a
large family, went home two weeks before I did. It took an amazing nurse,
numerous blood donors, extremely supportive friends and family, and a lot of
inner strength to begin my journey back to health. As we began to search
for answers for the bladder issues, with a seven month old baby in tow, I was
diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer and had to have a double mastectomy.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Enter the run…</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">I was extremely athletic
but never able to run long distances due to my large breasts. My
newly created physique from the mastectomies enabled me to run, and run I
did. Within a year I was logging 50 miles a week on average and found
that it really helped me heal emotionally as well as physically. During
this time I also found a Urogynecologist at Washington Hospital Center that not
only was able to diagnose the exact nature of my bladder issues, she was able
to FIX them with a sacral nerve stimulator, bye-bye catheters…hello long runs
with the ability to empty my bladder. I entered my first race, the Cherry
Blossom Ten Miler in 2010 and finished with a time of 1:22:01. My second
race, a week later was the Hospice 10K in Leonardtown; I came in second for
women and first in my age group. The seed had been planted and I was
hooked.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_58XcwzytBnKuHWiH4HKkOzEnM3Bv2WSz1YYQBnzaSkZ5ArVhzjZp99BCR7-0RZckDuEzzBcgKHMmjtII4lzQUDTcL6QpdP_87U_MPGUj27C1zmxI_HVK5abia5vbD1hT5krnQ0H270/s1600/562715_4588367835651_1312039117_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_58XcwzytBnKuHWiH4HKkOzEnM3Bv2WSz1YYQBnzaSkZ5ArVhzjZp99BCR7-0RZckDuEzzBcgKHMmjtII4lzQUDTcL6QpdP_87U_MPGUj27C1zmxI_HVK5abia5vbD1hT5krnQ0H270/s400/562715_4588367835651_1312039117_n.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Living LARGE in the Twin Cities!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">When I heard about the
Global Heroes Program, I decided to apply never expecting to be selected.
I really liked the premise of the program, it helps illustrate that your body
can overcome so much and with enough work, passion and dedication it is
possible to come back and be as strong as or even stronger than ever. We
are often surrounded by people with excuses or an “I can’t” attitude, this
program is for the people who stand up and decide that obstacles are meant to
hurdled, cleared or completely obliterated!</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RG66nsmhvE/UUd2WNSixAI/AAAAAAAAAVc/jmbtjWqP-Yc/s1600/308943_2557617708167_673366549_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9RG66nsmhvE/UUd2WNSixAI/AAAAAAAAAVc/jmbtjWqP-Yc/s640/308943_2557617708167_673366549_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Beautiful City, Beautiful People</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Medtronic paid airfare,
race entry, hotel, food, and limousine transportation for my husband and me while we were in the twin cities (in addition to making a $1000 donation in my
name to the National Association for Continence). As a Global Hero I also
had special race recognition and a ton of free swag from Medtronic and Twin
Cities in Motion. At some point I decided that this race was going to be
an experience for me, NOT just another race. I gave myself a broad goal
of a 5 hour finish time and decided I was going milk this experience for all it
was worth. As a mom to three young girls it is NEVER about me, I thought
that for these five hours I would make it ALL about me!</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Medtronic Twin Cities
is dubbed “The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America” and I have to
agree. For 26.2 miles we ran through park like settings, around four
beautiful lakes with historic homes on one side of the road and water on the
other. At about mile 20 we began a pretty good climb which took us across
the Mississippi River into St. Paul where we ran down streets, including infamous
Summit Avenue, with it’s gorgeous mansions and immaculate landscaping. We
started off in the heart of Minneapolis and finished in front of the State
Capitol in St. Paul. </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">From the start of the
race to the end, there was always someone nearby ringing a bell, blowing a horn
or banging blue Medtronic clappers, the course was stacked with people 3-6 deep
waving signs and wearing costumes. Most of these “cheerleaders” also knew
what the Global Hero shirt meant and gave us a little extra hoot and holler.
The whole city comes together for this race and it is literally a giant
block party. </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MAIWbwG-t7s/UUd2WDvto6I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/lOhFuFmlJnY/s1600/299588_2519935446134_608997293_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MAIWbwG-t7s/UUd2WDvto6I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/lOhFuFmlJnY/s640/299588_2519935446134_608997293_n.jpg" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Love Medtronic</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">At mile 19.5 I hit the
Medtronic tent and as one of their Global Heroes I felt it necessary to crack
out a few cartwheels for posterity (and because that is just the kind of energy
I have) and then move on my merry little way (with a few hugs and smiles (plus
I was only at 3:00:30 (a good 55 minutes ahead of my goal time)). At mile
21.7 I met a nice man named Jerry sitting in front of his HUGE MANSION handing
out beer, I decided that this would be a good time to sit down and make a new
friend while drinking a (3 ounce) beer (again, still at least 50 minutes
ahead). He even let me use his chair, since I was running a marathon and
had clearly exerted myself a trifle more than he had. At mile 23.2 I met
a lovely woman named Nora, she makes the best bloody Marys EVER. We sat
and chatted for a few minutes while sharing (a very small) drink and a piece of
celery but since I WAS in the middle of something I had to get going. At
this point I was still well ahead of my goal time so when I came along a line
of bounce houses at mile 24 I just had to take a turn. Surprisingly not
many of the runners took the time to enjoy the toys and games along the
way. I had fun taking off my sneakers for a few minutes and playing with
some of the children that had been cheering for the runners all morning. </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Making this an
experience rather than a race was probably the best plan I have ever had.
This is a race where the whole city is involved. The number of signs,
costumes and bands along the way was simply overwhelming. For the six
days we spent in the Twin Cities I truly felt like a hero and the marathon was
the ultimate expression of that feeling. As I crossed mile 25 the tears
came, unexpected and unbidden, tears perhaps of gratitude for being included in
something extraordinary, a once in a lifetime experience. Yet, as I
crossed mile 26.2 my cheers and screams of joy could be heard above the
announcer. I finished in 4:19:14, I ran well, I ran strong, I think that
if I had pushed just a little I would surely have had a Personal Best, but I
think there is a lot to be said for having a personal best time
emotionally. For me, this marathon was 259 minutes of consecutive smiles,
a chance to celebrate life and appreciate the obstacles that make each footfall
of each mile so meaningful. </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">Here is the link to the
Global Heroes Program, if you or anyone you know qualifies I encourage you (or
them) to apply. It is a once in a lifetime experience and truly a
celebration of life.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";"><a href="http://www.medtronic.com/2012globalheroes/index.html">http://www.medtronic.com/2012globalheroes/index.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">I leave you with a
thought that a good friend shared with me:</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bookman Old Style";">I do not run to add
days to my life but rather I run to add life to my day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLuTl20oCr8/UUd2WLkl_YI/AAAAAAAAAVU/aLgRRi8LmbM/s1600/313801_2514681354785_2099849696_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JLuTl20oCr8/UUd2WLkl_YI/AAAAAAAAAVU/aLgRRi8LmbM/s640/313801_2514681354785_2099849696_n.jpg" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is one happy Global Hero</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/runkathleenrun/fundraiser/kathleenhammett/donate" target="_blank">Coast-to-Coast for Cancer</a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Not this year for me...<br />maybe one day, <br />but then maybe not. <br />Life will certainly<br />go on...which is awesome.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">So as we all know I have been training for the Boston Marathon for quite some time now…Boston is officially out and I have been derailed, sidetracked and otherwise redirected. About 10 weeks ago I began having a lot of pain in my left tibia…I assumed this was a previous stress fracture from two years ago reasserting itself. Turns out my last tibial stress fracture was in my right leg and this one was brand-new. DAMN. Broken. THIS does not make Boston look very promising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Looking for a bright side to this situation I decide that I will take up swimming (immediately jumping into two slow miles a day) and preparing to unleash my inner triathlete. Since running is out I decide that it is time to get my Interstim replaced (bladder pacemaker) it had not been working for over 4 months and having the ability to empty my bladder is always an added bonus in my very unique little universe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Running Boston has never been a bucket list item or life goal for me and I am not devastated to miss it, but I am disappointed…for me there would be a kinship with people insane enough to train at that level, shocker right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/brT88wY.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/brT88wY.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Whatever happens at least I won't be doing this for 26.2 miles...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Still swimming and finding comfort working towards a new goal of a triathlon I find out about this AWESOME marathon opportunity. They are having a Coast-to-Coast marathon to raise money for cancer <a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/runkathleenrun/fundraiser/kathleenhammett/donate" target="_blank">(Donate Here)</a>…all types of cancer. There will be 160 runners passing a baton across the ENTIRE country traversing 4,000 miles from Washington State to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware and I am going to be one of those runners…WOO-HOO…this is WAY better than Boston for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is me knowing that I get run<br /> and help patients with cancer at the same time.</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oh yeah...I've got swagger.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">As a breast cancer survivor people always want to know why I do not do more Komen events, the three-day and all of the races…etc. I am a HUGE supporter of Komen and breast cancer fundraising in general, but so are a lot of people. The Coast-to-Coast marathon assists patients with ALL types of cancer and that makes me happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Having gone through breast cancer I can assure you that thanks to Nancy Brinker and the Susan G. Komen foundation every single aspect of breast cancer is either covered by your insurance or financed by any one of a number of amazing organizations. I have watched too many of my friends with other types of cancer fight tooth and nail to get even very basic needs covered by insurance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Please come and be <br />indomitable with me!</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Needless to say this race is the first of its kind…runners going from Coast-to-Coast with the goal of raising a million dollars towards cancer research and direct patient care. My portion is $7,500 and I am going to need your help to get there…please consider donating or even “buying a mile” for $200 (<a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/runkathleenrun/fundraiser/kathleenhammett/donate" target="_blank">Donate Here</a>). You can also form your own team or join mine and raise money with me and join me on race day (sometime around July 25<sup>th</sup> in the DC area…specific time and day soon).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I would love a crowd of my friends and supporters there to fight cancer with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Although Boston is not in my immediate future I am feeling lots of new and exciting things on the horizon…Boston Derailed…absolutely. Opportunity knocking? Always. Swimming, Triathlons, Coast-to-Coast for Cancer and a chance to give something back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Life is full of amazing blessings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I came across this just this morning:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, <span style="color: red;">“I used everything you gave me.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">-Erma Bombeck<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do you want to join me on my big run?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Can you <a href="http://www.crowdrise.com/runkathleenrun/fundraiser/kathleenhammett/donate" target="_blank">donate</a>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "American Typewriter"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do you always try to find the opportunity in the disappointments? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-87197854533960873422013-01-20T22:26:00.000-05:002019-10-01T17:12:45.586-04:00Boston Training: The Good, The Bad, The Stupid…<br />
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<span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">Boston is officially under three months away and I have amped up my training schedule slowly but surely. When my friends are training for Marathons or </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">½</span><span style="font-family: Chalkboard;"> marathons they often ask me for my advice or how I have trained for specific distances. Since my running consists of less than 4 years of experience and I am always in the hospital with a bowel obstruction or having surgery I am not sure I am the best person to ask…but I am always happy to help.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pretty much sums it up....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">Typically my response is to encourage them to look online and find a training plan that fits into their schedule and help them reach their goals (faster pace, longer distance, whatever). If they tell me they want to train like I do I remind them that I am crazy but will give them some of my “trade secrets”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard; mso-bidi-font-family: Chalkboard; mso-fareast-font-family: Chalkboard;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">I have never followed a training plan. With three children, one husband, two dogs, and recurring hospital stays I cannot consistently follow any training plan. When you layer in my part time job teaching aerobics it really becomes tricky…trying to run 15 miles after teaching two Spinning classes is not something I can do on a regular basis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard; mso-bidi-font-family: Chalkboard; mso-fareast-font-family: Chalkboard;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">On any given day I am *READY* to run a marathon. I may not be ready to have a BQ time but if I’m given 24 hours notice chances are I can pop out 26.2 miles…no problem (this is NOT sarcasm).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard; mso-bidi-font-family: Chalkboard; mso-fareast-font-family: Chalkboard;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">When preparing for a marathon I am typically registered for 2 or 3 ultra marathons as well…my long runs are actually long races. For example, the Boston Marathon is on April 15<sup>th</sup>, 2013 my training “plan” includes running an 8 hour race on February 2<sup>nd</sup>, and a full marathon on March 10<sup>th</sup>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My general attitude towards maximum weekly mileage.</span></td></tr>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard; mso-bidi-font-family: Chalkboard; mso-fareast-font-family: Chalkboard;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">To clarify, an 8 hour race is basically what it sounds like. A bunch of crazy trail runners line up in freezing cold weather and try to run as many miles as they can in under 8 hours. Whoever runs the furthest gets to win. I am not classifying this effort as sane, but it certainly helps you get your long run in for the week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Race Cartwheels...a must.</span></td></tr>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard; mso-bidi-font-family: Chalkboard; mso-fareast-font-family: Chalkboard;">5.</span> <span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">There are several things that I personally find especially helpful while in hardcore training mode. I do a lot of weight lifting (Body Pump) and yoga (Body Flow), granted as an instructor in these programs getting paid to train offers a bit more incentive. Additionally it keeps me strong and limber for when I need to do cartwheels at rest stops or headstands post race (and yes, these are necessary skills to demonstrate at races).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Always SQUEEZE YOUR BUTT!!!!<br />
It's just a good idea =)</span></td></tr>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard; mso-bidi-font-family: Chalkboard; mso-fareast-font-family: Chalkboard;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">Speed and hill work are always on my list of must-dos. Usually my idea of a speed workout is to go on a 10-12 mile run and sprint for </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½</span><span style="font-family: Chalkboard;"> a mile and then jog slowly for a mile. As for hill work I get on the Step Mill/Gauntlet at the gym for 60 minutes and try to climb 7-8 miles of stairs, it is not easy but it makes for a strong butt. Lately I have been reading a lot of articles saying that runners get a lot of injuries due to weak glutes, I hope to not have that problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The law of my run. Single track trail, slowest runner in front of me<br />
will NOT let me pass. No speed work today.</span></td></tr>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard; mso-bidi-font-family: Chalkboard; mso-fareast-font-family: Chalkboard;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">Lastly my general philosophy goes along the lines of: just because you’re training for a 10K does not mean that you cannot follow a </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">½</span><span style="font-family: Chalkboard;"> marathon schedule. When I train my goal is to increase my ability to run longer distances a little faster over time…without getting hurt. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">It has taken me almost four years to get where I am and I have no clue what I am doing. Essentially I have learned to run through trial and error, asking my running friends for advice, and a whole lot of research and reading. I have tried a lot of different methods and strategies and have finally found what works for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">I love to run really really far and as I get stronger my speed gets faster. My advice is to do what feels good for you and if it hurts...don’t do it. One thing I always remind myself when I start to overdo is that I would like to be able to run for a very long time. It’s my happy place and I pray I will be doing it into my 80’s…and yes, I realize I will eventually have to scale back my training.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Chalkboard;">Good luck!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff8006; font-family: Chalkboard;">What’s your next race?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff8006; font-family: Chalkboard;">Do you follow Hal Higdon or one of the other popular training plans?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ff8006; font-family: Chalkboard;">Which have you found to be the most effective?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-56058211989181309542013-01-01T22:45:00.000-05:002019-10-01T17:12:45.151-04:00TSA and No Resolution<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">First post on my new MacBook<br />
HTTR</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mid December I drove one of my friends and her baby from Maryland to Florida and then flew home. It was one of those situations that just worked out, she needed to get her parents house and I wanted to visit my sister who lives 20 minutes from her parents house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a long drive down with a 7 week old baby and we arrived exhausted but happy. Hanging out with my sister (who also loves to run) and her family was so much fun. I got to see my nephew play ice hockey, go to a show performed by the AMAZING <a href="http://www.wbttsrq.org/" target="_blank">West Coast Black Theatre Troupe</a>, and run a new and stunning route everyday in perfect weather. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I tried to get on the plane to get home my perfect trip took a drastic turn...TSA did not want to let me on the plane. Apparently I used to be a pretty hot and tempting little dish (NOT) and my new physique does not match my picture. After showing the man about ten different forms of ID I was finally very carefully molested by the female TSA security "professional". ARGH. Needless to say I was not seeing losing weight and getting in shape as a huge positive at this point. In fact I was wishing I still smoked and weighed 250 pounds, except I would have had to walk back outside and go through security again given the new tobacco policies. NOT HAPPENING.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiD9gjO4sgZYZrv0_uyNO-1fUYKdQgiMXqmDIHLtAEpt0_5jIWhfytCPH78r5MGvkfb-1Nc0qEWahr3znMGcQij8gFxfvZ0DdG_UJq56qPlfNdEcTJBY5DDX8Kdml9prRpnPJpaRcM26E/s1600/IMG_1361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiD9gjO4sgZYZrv0_uyNO-1fUYKdQgiMXqmDIHLtAEpt0_5jIWhfytCPH78r5MGvkfb-1Nc0qEWahr3znMGcQij8gFxfvZ0DdG_UJq56qPlfNdEcTJBY5DDX8Kdml9prRpnPJpaRcM26E/s400/IMG_1361.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Very pretty license picture<br />
from about seven years ago.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ9nE51XU83XQfs01joyQUiCvg1e-Q2VzA5hpVSvI70LR0ET5IMd4irlEZi4kM1w7WKcZWSFLPtIHS4l7-9EgpoSe0I1UBIYxn7M1u9XKjl4z8ArWt9EJDteKNPN8t0x035V6L-b-RNQ/s1600/IMG_0172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZ9nE51XU83XQfs01joyQUiCvg1e-Q2VzA5hpVSvI70LR0ET5IMd4irlEZi4kM1w7WKcZWSFLPtIHS4l7-9EgpoSe0I1UBIYxn7M1u9XKjl4z8ArWt9EJDteKNPN8t0x035V6L-b-RNQ/s400/IMG_0172.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: small;">Apparently </span><span style="color: purple; font-size: small;">I don't look as </span></span><span style="color: purple; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hot and sexy anymore.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On my flight home I began thinking about the holidays and how 2013 might unfold. Years ago I gave up on the resolution idea realizing that I do not subscribe to the idea of someone telling me when to stop or change a behavior based on a calendar or their idea of tradition. Add the statistics of how many people actually keep their resolutions and the entire idea seems archaic. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Certainly I have areas in my life that need to be worked through and improved upon (although I honestly may have accept that certain things are part of my genetic make-up and are not going to change no matter how hard I try) after 41 years it's inevitable. For example; I will only put my shoes away twice a week and this is a HUGE improvement to the thirty pairs that used to scatter the house at all times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As for losing weight...I've done that:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZcYpwaQpwDICFS_Bg6Ge3eHKwz2py815fFG6vJHhBoWifD3BeyxlJEoM8yYPAW-BKA3FwmLkxod4Gx_AeInJcSxdlCQHhFVMS23HwToiH93trDTc-Ft3cTfUWGC62X6qtFlErtu8Wkk/s1600/IMG_1431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZcYpwaQpwDICFS_Bg6Ge3eHKwz2py815fFG6vJHhBoWifD3BeyxlJEoM8yYPAW-BKA3FwmLkxod4Gx_AeInJcSxdlCQHhFVMS23HwToiH93trDTc-Ft3cTfUWGC62X6qtFlErtu8Wkk/s320/IMG_1431.jpg" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rounding out.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveQNKGMIffHopOyfg9sDbDH32DHGFsjlvv8IoJnGr_KUEl-Khtb_0JEFYX7Q9f87stwfjnT9cgI753V0ClcE36rWt4F_eVaxwYrqySZzNjdXGkfBE-D_AsmnoBjrr4N-7qOlD9M_q0Xg/s1600/IMG_1430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiveQNKGMIffHopOyfg9sDbDH32DHGFsjlvv8IoJnGr_KUEl-Khtb_0JEFYX7Q9f87stwfjnT9cgI753V0ClcE36rWt4F_eVaxwYrqySZzNjdXGkfBE-D_AsmnoBjrr4N-7qOlD9M_q0Xg/s200/IMG_1430.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Living large...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Additionally I have quit smoking so I cannot do that again. At the end of the day I am simply going to focus my energy on things I am doing well and try to do them better. As a mother and wife I can be more patient and spend more time doing simple, fun things with my beautiful family. As a daughter and sister I would like to spend more time with my family which is difficult since they all live so far away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For my friends...God bless you all. You have seen me at my best and worst and with no obligation you continue to be beacons of love and support...I am not the easiest person but I make up for it with a lot of loyalty, love you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year I hope to post a lot of pictures of me with my girls, my husband, my family and friends. Screw changing me, I am forever flawed and am very comfortable apologizing and changing poor behaviors as they arise. Increasing the amount of time I spend with the people I love is not a resolution, just a good idea.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrX1pCi3euB3w_UAh8l1xxPQfqKUzqSe_9OhOUyZSGUMHGLdpV4_Fl-FDs2uIwqPk2zpKQv2UKurrJvXANzhrS7jjYw-77x8EJotkhwqpIc-m3IpFPfyGxRtH3pGWr-LrNz7KiMiWwG8k/s1600/IMG_1396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrX1pCi3euB3w_UAh8l1xxPQfqKUzqSe_9OhOUyZSGUMHGLdpV4_Fl-FDs2uIwqPk2zpKQv2UKurrJvXANzhrS7jjYw-77x8EJotkhwqpIc-m3IpFPfyGxRtH3pGWr-LrNz7KiMiWwG8k/s400/IMG_1396.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My perfect angel.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhePjkX48trf0nSlv_DvB3AmMGRQgoeXQwYmXJ8Ao_vjL8TJW-La3F5XeIAv6v4wzdWDMKlhZEgkjnS2k_HW3JnzWOR9mQylo9OGGgT523B9E7ZMEx_n8khV6elPulLbuugQP2I9n3bMY/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhePjkX48trf0nSlv_DvB3AmMGRQgoeXQwYmXJ8Ao_vjL8TJW-La3F5XeIAv6v4wzdWDMKlhZEgkjnS2k_HW3JnzWOR9mQylo9OGGgT523B9E7ZMEx_n8khV6elPulLbuugQP2I9n3bMY/s400/photo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">National Christmas Tree...</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The girls are so much prettier.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Did you make any New Years resolutions?</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How bad is your worst Driver's License picture?</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Can it rival mine for worst photo ever (before you say yes notice the chunk of hair missing from my eyebrow)?</span><br />
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Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-50204845473240327052012-12-07T20:08:00.001-05:002019-10-01T17:12:45.011-04:00The day the technology got flushed away….<span separator="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</span>It’s official; I am now an idiot because of my smart phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Yesterday I had planned to go to Annapolis for the day with a friend for a doctor’s appointment, no </span><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 8:45 a.m. I was organized, ready and all set to be away from the house straight through until about 9:00 p.m. since I was teaching at the gym in the evening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Then it happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My calm, cool, collected and very smart world went right in the potty…that’s right, I had my iPhone (with all of my aerobics music on it) in my back pocket and when I went to sit I heard a loud splash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bye bye very smart phone and organized world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">OH POOP!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">PANIC….why you ask?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">I grab my stuff, add a few extra Body Pump releases to my bag (knowing full well that the CD player at the gym is “iffy” at best) and fly out the door to drop my Clara at kindergarten (the parents there know just how quickly I sprint now).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.imgur.com/kP9Rm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://i.imgur.com/kP9Rm.jpg" width="374" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pretty much sums up my drive yesterday.</span><br />
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">At least I was NOT on the phone.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">From there I bolt to my friend’s house to tell her to meet me at the Verizon store next to Starbucks, why not call???<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since my phone is so smart I am NOT…I do not know her number and did not have it anywhere handy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CRUD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">I get to the Verizon store and do you know the one thing they do not keep in stock at the Verizon store?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">PHONES.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6y65a9aUy1ql5yr7o1_400.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6y65a9aUy1ql5yr7o1_400.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Seriously? No phones at the </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Verizon Wireless Phone store????</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">I am not lying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seriously do not keep any phones in stock but the a$$hats will overnight them to you for free IF you are at home at the time of delivery…no signature release.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my panic is now at EPIC proportions, I do not like to be 1 ½ hours from my children with no communication skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only reason I did not walk to BJ’s where I very easily could have left the store with a nice, happy programmed phone is because I have the insurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ARGH.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">When my friend walks in I am in a complete frenzy, I am on Verizon’s landline phone laying into the insurance lady, explaining to the two employees at the front of the Verizon store the complete asinine nature of their new “no phone in store” idea of customer service and shooting a comment to anyone who even remotely gives me the stink eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend very sweetly suggests that we go get a cup of coffee…my response: “Do you SERIOUSLY want to put caffeine in this????” pointing towards my very frantic looking face (I am pretty sure the Verizon employees are still laughing about it, I had really ticked them off).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9mz13GG1J1qjavjco1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9mz13GG1J1qjavjco1_500.gif" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pretty much sums up my level of cool and calm.</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">NICE.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Once we got in the car and on our way I was much calmer but it took a while and led to a very interesting conversation about how stupid we all are since we handed all of our brains over to our phones and computers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Essentially we are so driven to have more information and more data that we no longer memorize anything on our own hard drive, we have simply taught ourselves how to access the information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Remember the days of memorizing the states and their capitols, being able to recite a Robert Frost poem verbatim, or entire acts from Shakespeare?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used to know the phone numbers of almost everyone in my class by heart, if you had asked me yesterday to rattle off my best friend’s numbers from 8<sup>th</sup> grade, no problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, someone that I talk to or text almost daily?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a clue past the first 6 digits, I have never had to actually dial her number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Today I knew I would not get a new phone until late in the day so I went for a nice long trail run after I taught my class and decided to do it technology free to see what it felt like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left my Garmin and heart rate monitor at home, all I carried was a really old cell phone in case I had to call 911 and water; it was AWESOME.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Sometimes you have to tune out to tune in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Granted; I know this trail like the back of my hand and it has mile markers every ¼ mile so I know essentially how far I ran but I have no idea of my pace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today I walked a lot and simply enjoyed the lake and peacefulness of the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought a lot about my friends and how I am going to learn their phone numbers, from now on I am not going to just access information, I am going to start really learning it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m907md09jU1qi4s8uo2_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m907md09jU1qi4s8uo2_500.gif" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That's right...I am going to get smart while doing yoga..</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I'll be all calm the next time Verizon stops stocking their ONLY product!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">No more keeping all of my smarts in the phone…I am setting my brain back in the “ON” position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Watch out…game on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p>So where are you on the smarts scale?</o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p>Did you hand it all over to your phone like me?</o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p>What random piece of information do you remember from childhood?</o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p><span style="color: blue;">(I still know all NINE verses to Maryland my Maryland, thanks Mrs. Payte.)</span> </o:p></span></div>
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Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-83149860163427097722012-12-05T20:44:00.000-05:002019-10-01T17:12:45.424-04:00I think I just landed a snot rocket on your car...HA!<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">Running in a small town…<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";">Following are a list of my rants, compliments and experiences of running in a small town.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";">Most of t</span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";">he roads in my area to run on do not have sidewalks or shoulders, it is one lane each way and usually edged by fairly tall grass (littered with empty liquor bottles) on the side of the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";">Typically I run with headphones but they are on so low that I can hear everything going on around me including snide comments from pedestrians on the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always run facing traffic and get as far to the edge of the road as humanly possible, I have even had to jump into the woods on several occasions when the idiots are out…which is essentially everyday.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";">My observations in no particular order:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-font-family: Corbel;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";">Older women drivers WILL NOT veer out of their lane to give me an extra inch of running space for any reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently their driving instructors told them to stay in their lane no matter what, even if it means killing the mother of small children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Guess what lady????<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I probably just spit or landed a massive snot rocket on your car. If your car is within spit range…I land it EVERYTIME!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Classy =)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gif.mocksession.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FRENCH-SNOT-ROCKET.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://gif.mocksession.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FRENCH-SNOT-ROCKET.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That's right old lady...come a little closer!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-font-family: Corbel;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";">My friends like to honk at me…STOP!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am in my quiet happy place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you honk I practically jump into oncoming traffic, I do not like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wave or text me later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I LOVE YOU ALL!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_medyif2lxr1r79k32.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_medyif2lxr1r79k32.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Me leaping when you beep your horn....</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">but with cars to run me over.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-font-family: Corbel;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";">Apparently I run with my fingers in the “I love you” sign for sign language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has been pointed out to me several times, I kind of like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take is as a compliment my love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran near a woman for about 8 miles of a race who I will swear was extending her middle finger the entire time, be happy I love you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-font-family: Corbel;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";">People tend to notice you out running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often get called out on sightings….heard were you running at ________.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Word has it that you were cranking out miles yesterday with _____.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep the sightings up, it makes me feel like I am the mysterious running chick,sort of the female version of <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Caballo Blanco or Micah True for those of you familiar.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHnoDMz3IKI/UL_2XlHgytI/AAAAAAAAAP4/zqkpXfHKMgA/s1600/232323232%257Ffp5439%253B_nu%253D3343_355_%253B6__WSNRCG%253D38853%253B%253B949337nu0mrj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHnoDMz3IKI/UL_2XlHgytI/AAAAAAAAAP4/zqkpXfHKMgA/s320/232323232%257Ffp5439%253B_nu%253D3343_355_%253B6__WSNRCG%253D38853%253B%253B949337nu0mrj.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A rare sighting of the Mysterious Trail Runner</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-font-family: Corbel;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Old men in pick-up trucks like to talk to the funny running lady.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of them are lacking teeth but are super nice and always tell me how pretty I am…it's one of my favorite parts of living in a small town.</span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-font-family: Corbel;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Texting and talking on the phone while driving are NOT dead regardless of the law and are NOT safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eyes on the road people…I think I am about out of extra lives.</span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_marv5xLOdT1rocwym.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_marv5xLOdT1rocwym.gif" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Keep texting and driving; go ahead, run me down I will keep trying </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">to catch up and land my snot rocket.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-font-family: Corbel;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I live in a nice quiet neighborhood with homes on 3 acre lots, we have a nice and easy 10 mile run built right in along with the pool and tot lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is, everyone is finishing up their breakfast, checking their purse, and sending out last minute texts as they drive WAY TOO FAST through our quiet little streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your drive begins when you pull out of the driveway my friends.</span><span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";">I am sure I will come up with some more of my love/hate relationship with running in a small town and will be sure to keep you posted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So keep your eyes on the road and your hands off your phone and your horn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RhFG3Ym-e3g/UL_2LdKpxII/AAAAAAAAAPw/x7OBIzF_HLA/s1600/232323232%257Ffp734___nu%253D3343_355_%253B6__WSNRCG%253D388562_476337nu0mrj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RhFG3Ym-e3g/UL_2LdKpxII/AAAAAAAAAPw/x7OBIzF_HLA/s320/232323232%257Ffp734___nu%253D3343_355_%253B6__WSNRCG%253D388562_476337nu0mrj.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Always finish happy =)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Corbel","sans-serif";">Thanks!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">What have you noticed while running?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Are you a honker?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana;">Is spitting on someone's car rude when they are about to rudely mow you down?</span></div>
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Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-9880751308505177442012-11-25T09:13:00.005-05:002019-10-01T17:12:45.726-04:00Take Thanksgiving Back!<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Thanksgiving….<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Lately I have really been feeling sorry for poor old decrepit Thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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</span>It’s not really a spend LOADS of money holiday except for the whole Black Friday extravaganza it’s more of an eat LOADS of food kind of holiday and as a nation we are supposed to be frowning on that behavior…so what should we do with Thanksgiving?<o:p></o:p></span><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">I have an amazing idea (of course I will probably be the only to think so):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Why don’t we put all of the sales circulars down, close all of the stores, and spend time with our family to give thanks for all that we have rather than buying a bunch of junk that we don’t even need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Oh, yeah…that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> what the holiday IS about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RKtWvs_MOolWcbzuaBCkwS52xEOCfzc-jRWYzJAf38PPGLFJK8zkFqJh0Js_3uPMSWYmEHULLXzBPQpEvFZuqE3TZJv8YWzFN5q7f681tJ9_LbPDhcyra0qWMcrfABQnhyDliBcO26M/s1600/Triptych+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RKtWvs_MOolWcbzuaBCkwS52xEOCfzc-jRWYzJAf38PPGLFJK8zkFqJh0Js_3uPMSWYmEHULLXzBPQpEvFZuqE3TZJv8YWzFN5q7f681tJ9_LbPDhcyra0qWMcrfABQnhyDliBcO26M/s400/Triptych+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">I am Thankful for Cartwheels at mile 26 :-)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">This year on Thanksgiving morning I went for a 15.5 mile run and listened to Avalon, Andy Griffith (uh huh….hymns baby), and even to Wee Sing Bible Songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know what????<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a lot to be thankful for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us “<span class="text">give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the way, this is so NOT going to be a sermon, just a little reminder.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">People say to me all the time that they have no idea how I do it, how I keep on keeping on after everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Comments are made about how they would have lost faith and jumped off of a bridge eons ago, so why is it that I am the one talking continuously about counting my blessings?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s because no matter how you look at my life or my circumstances, it’s true, I am blessed and reminded of those blessings…in big ways and small, sometimes through sheer agony and others through sheer joy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">If Grace had been born with the ability to see, to me she would always be Amazing Grace…but to everyone else she would be that sweet little Gracie Hammett.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through God’s Grace I got to travel a journey with my child that few mothers will ever experience, I was able to watch my blind child learn to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was there for her when she could not see and I was there the exact moment she was touched, that God put the gift of vision into her and enabled her to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you counting yet?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">How it feels to count your blessings!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">OH YES!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">When baby Sarah was born asleep I honestly thought I would never recover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 50 hours of labor with every conceivable complication known to mankind I thought I had seen the worst, but less than 7 weeks later I very accidentally (and excitedly) found myself pregnant with one of the most amazing gifts I will ever know, my sweet and perfect Ella Jordan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Grace being blind, my pregnancy with Sarah was an experience in hope…I hoped and prayed for a child with sight, God chose to give Grace the ability to see and helped me to learn that all children are a blessing born or unborn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sarah helped me to learn that life is precious; sight, sound, touch and smell are just added bonuses.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">After an 18 week miscarriage, postpartum hemorrhage/hysterectomy and breast cancer am I am still counting my blessings…heck yes!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xcoeaRtS47ENDOeXLGNmdQ0duuygY9589Hf_XQ0oZK0CBfW1t8NZjUhHdTws61UiRss7RYfv93HG_oRYYfBwo6oWOnZWmU7D0jug1R9mkqKzALYF-71gYL87AG6UiNv1G08zogpKhZE/s1600/P1020004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4xcoeaRtS47ENDOeXLGNmdQ0duuygY9589Hf_XQ0oZK0CBfW1t8NZjUhHdTws61UiRss7RYfv93HG_oRYYfBwo6oWOnZWmU7D0jug1R9mkqKzALYF-71gYL87AG6UiNv1G08zogpKhZE/s400/P1020004.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">I will pick these guys over a TV everytime!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RKtWvs_MOolWcbzuaBCkwS52xEOCfzc-jRWYzJAf38PPGLFJK8zkFqJh0Js_3uPMSWYmEHULLXzBPQpEvFZuqE3TZJv8YWzFN5q7f681tJ9_LbPDhcyra0qWMcrfABQnhyDliBcO26M/s1600/Triptych+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
<span style="color: red; font-size: small;">They probably want the TV though.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Cancer gave me running and without Clara there would have been no Postpartum Hemorrhage or TRUE appreciation for blood donors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On some base level I would have known donors were awesome…but now I now know exactly why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They take an hour out of their day doing what they think is right not knowing who they are going to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my case they helped a woman who had just delivered her fifth child, her third living child and who REALLY needed to stay alive to enjoy the fruits of her labor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I am even blessed by strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">As I look around on a daily basis life has really turned out OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an entirely a different life than I had ever planned on living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never thought that I would live in an area that I do not like for so long but my husband is happy at his job and there are a lot of nice places to run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I have to look at living here, far from my family in that light, there is always a positive spin <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">if </i>we choose to find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">Black Friday Shopping is FUN!!!!!!!</span></td></tr>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">So, let’s take Thanksgiving back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s not even start shopping until the Monday after (yeah, Scrooge I hear you)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is just amazes me that everyone yaks around the Thanksgiving table expounding upon their blessings, hops up from the table while scraping the last of the dessert off their plate, to wait in line to save $200 on a 60 inch television that they do not need (sorry folks, no one needs one).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Seriously, take a few days and think about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe even make a list.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Do you know that I ran A LOT (and for me to say a lot, be very scared of what my Garmin mileage reads) over this break and even with all of my running I did not have enough time to truly realize all of the gifts I already have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s correct; lying in bed last night I was still rolling them out…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Footlight MT Light","serif";">Thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are you thankful for?</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you brave the crowds and save loads of money?</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory?</span><br />
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Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-51114565600756299742012-11-12T09:50:00.002-05:002019-10-01T17:12:45.065-04:00Rosaryville Veterans Day 50K....2012<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Outfit selected, <a href="http://www.wizbanghats.com/">Wizbang Hat</a> all set.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Go Time!!!!</span></td></tr>
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There are a few things I have figured out about myself over the past several years and one of them is that I do not have the ability to not *race* a race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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2010—One of my favorite race experiences was my first 50K, the 2010 Rosaryville Veteran’s Day 50K mainly because at about mile two I hooked up with two other runners and we had the whole <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">discuss your life story over the course of a 30 mile run chat</i>, it took us about 6 ½ hours to finish and we had a blast.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2012—the course was the same but it was run by a different runner with a different attitude, at least I still had the same name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I am also glad they had a lot of the same volunteers and runners, the Annapolis Striders are sincerely a kind and supportive group.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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My last race before my surgeries was the summer version of the Rosaryville 50K in late July, it was hot and humid and although I was the second female overall, outside of the awesome company I had (plus someone to push me to finish, thank you) it was horrible…muscle cramps, oh my! <o:p></o:p></div>
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So why after having two major surgeries (one August 3<sup>rd</sup> and another September 17<sup>th</sup>) did I decide to have a 50K be my first race back…less than two months after a major surgery?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, this is not a rhetorical question; I honestly wish someone could answer it for me without using any form of the word CRAZY. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When I signed up I was very clear with myself and everyone else, I am not going to race this one I am just going to go and have a great time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My thought process went along the lines of, I know the course extremely well, every five miles you have a super easy opportunity to drop out and I was just in it to finish it and was not going to worry about getting a DNF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I really planned on NOT RACING...but my nose knows best!</span></td></tr>
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As many know since my September 17<sup>th</sup> surgery I have had severe respiratory problems and have been struggling horribly with my running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a pulmonology appointment get cancelled due to Frankenstorm and was told I could not be seen until after the race, but something magical happened…a cancellation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went in early Thursday for what would be an almost all day appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My lung function tests put me in the 40-50% range and my wheezing was “impressive for an athlete”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say I walked away with the motherload of breathing treatments and antibiotics and was far more optimistic for Saturday’s race.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The weather report promised and delivered a perfect 50°-60° day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the race began I was happy to see some friends from my running club and several runners that I am perpetually running into at races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I was pacing too fast as the director yelled go but I could not seem to slow down…I was racing, it felt good, I felt “normal”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you get onto the trail it is single file and you really feel obligated to keep up with the person in front of you so you don’t slow others down for at least the first 3 or 4 miles, later things start to spread out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately I was pacing with a group that was slightly too fast but not so fast that I was tanking, at the first aide station I made sure to let another group of faster runners pass me and was able to settle into my stride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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As the race continued I was surprised to find myself alone on the course, for the most part it was like I had the whole park to myself, I LOVED it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As much as I enjoy a great run with a friend, sometimes I need to hear just my footfalls and be completely in tune with my body, especially for this race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was first time I had run without wheezing and coughing up huge amounts of mucous in months but I did not want to push too hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I ran I pictured what my </span><br />
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At the aide station at mile 15 or so they let me know I was the 3<sup>rd</sup> female…information I just did not need (it made me start to feel competitive).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, one of the volunteers from the 2010 race recognized me and wanted to know if I was the one who does cartwheels, so I cracked a few out and was on my way with a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My next loop was certainly slower but I felt strong and steady I had short conversations with a few of the male runners but eventually I passed them and continued on my way (let me clearly state that during the first 15 miles I got passed by many male runners so this is not a bragging thing, it is just the way it went down).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It has been a long time since I have given myself a chance to think through what has happened to me over the past ten years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I paced, ran, and planned my final 15 miles I realized that my life was similar to an ultra-marathon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had to approach each obstacle and make a plan, stick to it and look to myself to find the mental, physical, and emotional endurance to stay strong and steady, for me and for my awesome family.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This was the first time that I was able to look back and really see our struggles as triumphs, as each trauma occurred we had no choice but to face it…I feel like the choices begin as you start to move forward from tragedy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may have moved forward more slowly than others thought we should, but in the end, as a family we have shown power and endurance in our faith and in our love for one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Our relationship has evolved and changed in ways we never could have imagined, my husband has had to take on a far more active role in parenting and he has also had to help as my caregiver through far too many surgeries and hospital admissions…something you do not plan to do for your spouse before they turn 40.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have each risen to the occasion and shown our children that love can be infinite if you are willing to work for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ENDURANCE.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, back at the race…<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I stopped at the 25 mile aide station I was passed by two young women (I checked to make sure they were younger than 40, yes, I am rude enough to ask) I wished them luck and slowly made my way to the last 6 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was getting very stumbly at this point and just worked to maintain a happy comfortable pace (no muscle cramps, whoop).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I knew it the final aide station was upon me, I gave them one of my “thank you volunteers” cartwheels and was told it was just 0.7 miles to the finish (uphill). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kicked it in and finished with probably my fastest pace of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I crossed the finish line, got my medal and threw in my final cartwheel for good measure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">OH YES! This GIF was running through my</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">head for the final 6 miles...thank you </span><a href="http://redhairredwine.com/"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jennifer Myers</span></a><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> for </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">posting it on Facebook! </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Check out her blog about food and community)</span></td></tr>
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My body still awes and amazes me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all that it has gone through it still had the physical power to push me to a 50K PR of 5:07:46 more than 20 minutes faster than the last time I ran Rosaryville.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was also fast enough to earn me a first in my age group award…SCORE!<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, if you ever hear me say that I’m not going to *race* a race I am telling you what I believe is the truth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, it is a complete lie…when someone says go, I go (kind of fast as it turns out).<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am grateful for this race and this comeback to running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The quiet and serene beauty of the day allowed me to recharge and realize that there are endless possibilities…as I crested the final hill and crossed the finish line I smiled as I looked over my shoulder and saw how far I’d climbed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will enjoy my runs on a flat road for a little while.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank you Annapolis Striders.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you ever promised yourself you were not going to do something and did it anyway?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Am I correct in assuming that I ended up racing this race?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What would you have done?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ball cap matches my winter coat..I knew</span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">it was good sign. I love my ceramic</span><br />
<span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">age group award!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-43507121252440650192012-11-06T14:50:00.004-05:002019-10-01T17:12:44.902-04:00When does it get better?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mom and I spent a long time on the phone this morning because I think we are all slightly flummoxed by the less than favorable outcomes of my last two surgeries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The goal</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> at the beginning of this summer was to get my bowels taken care of so that I would not constantly be in the hospital with bowel obstructions and then one additional surgery to take care of one of my reconstructed breasts that is oh so pitifully painful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you can tell, things NEVER go according to my plan.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After I had the bowel resection/lysis of adhesions I finally felt great but had to IMMEDIATELY address the issue of the “big ugly ovary”, it has been removed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the second surgery I have been miserable with a lung infection that will not go away and the issues with my stomach continue to be a nuisance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had not planned on being back on a soft food diet so soon, but here I am…unable to eat regular food again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, after two major surgeries that happened and two minor surgeries that got cancelled (one for my bladder and one for my boob) I am officially unable to keep up with the following daily activities in my life: eating solid food, peeing, pooping, breathing, and having a pain free chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HMMMM….this is probably not great.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My pulmonology appointment got changed due to Frankenstorm Sandy and I cannot get back in to see him until late next week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept explaining to his scheduling secretary that I needed to see him this week to get a better nebulizer or inhaler as I had a 50 Kilometer race this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kept trying to tell me not to run…let’s repeat that for the folks in the back row, SHE kept TRYING to tell ME, NOT to RUN???!!!???<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There will be lots of running, which is basically the same thing!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Needless to say my response did not win me any star patient points nor did it get my appointment moved up to this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So THIS is the crux of my rant…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why is it that if I were to lay down on the sofa and say “I can’t breathe fix me” I would get seen in under a week but when I run everyday while coughing up handfuls of bloody mucous I cannot get an appointment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really</i> wanted to see the pulmonologist it seems the perfect plan would be to take up smoking again and do a lot of not moving to get my lungs good and goopy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or the lady at Aetna who continuously explains that they will not cover orthotics for my shoes unless I have a diagnosis of diabetes, I’m sorry Aetna lady but my healthy diet and continuous exercise are specifically designed to combat my hereditary predisposition to diabetes and heart disease (FREAK), obviously my badass healthy diet and exercise did not work on the myriad of other genetic health issues I have but I do what I can where I can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">When the Aetna lady won't stop talking...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My abdominal surgeon is another funny one, after my surgery he was AMAZED by my ability to heal so quickly (practice makes perfect sir), but also by how much of a BEAST I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said I had six internal hernias that would have sent any one of his patients crying to the emergency room but I only showed up when I had an out and out bowel obstruction (there were no false alarms or maybes when I finally would get to the ER, I was always MESSED UP).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kept asking me what I was doing for pain control that whole time since I refused to take pain meds (honestly I don’t take them because I cannot run when I’m on them…I’ve tried, they make me run slow and stumbly), I was all an a$$hat… “I don’t know Dr. I guess I’d just go for a run or something when I was in pain.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given his reaction to that statement, I think he is still kind of laughing about it a little bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My general concern is that as a community and a nation we preach exercise and nutrition but our healthcare industry does not cater to those who follow this ideology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Life insurance companies certainly do, so we know that it IS in fact possible to identify and monetarily quantify risk factors and behaviors.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Given the state of healthcare today, we may as well. </span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">It's actually the only way we'll get an appointment.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, any bets as to what I get dealt next?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m kind of afraid and might just sleep with two eyes open…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you ever been put down for exercising too much?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eating too healthy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you feel like we cater to those who lead an unhealthy lifestyle and just expect the exercisers to stay healthy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-56496147710498229442012-11-03T19:42:00.006-04:002019-10-01T17:12:45.205-04:00Eastern Divide Ultra--50K Race Report<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeFrZDdmfYVUtgemKX9YAk8Dn-iRM2cUr_qnE6TZAx87Y04nN7MmkGKflurbgpqB-23ENPRTdewDbcpfO4pPrTF3aZTHjUG72MUNR_o60nlRT8Dzh2sSE5PN2CQZfrMjyWcKo-SvJlpo/s1600/60a900a4f4d88c065036b3b1b6de5d05_9th2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeFrZDdmfYVUtgemKX9YAk8Dn-iRM2cUr_qnE6TZAx87Y04nN7MmkGKflurbgpqB-23ENPRTdewDbcpfO4pPrTF3aZTHjUG72MUNR_o60nlRT8Dzh2sSE5PN2CQZfrMjyWcKo-SvJlpo/s320/60a900a4f4d88c065036b3b1b6de5d05_9th2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.easterndivideultra.com/">Eastern Divide Ultra</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> June 23, 2012<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 50K<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Start: <span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>Cascades National Recreation Trail, Pembroke, VA<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Finish: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Mountain Lake Resort, Giles County, VA<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I first saw this race advertised I knew I was going to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was minutes from my parent’s home in Wytheville, VA and “on our way” to the beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally it met a lot of things on my favorites list for races: mostly trail, a point to point race, a small field (200 runners), 50K, and it was its first year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know a lot of runners do not care for first year races because there are always a few kinks to work out, but since I am still new to the sport I can find the humor in them and just enjoy the run (I am aware I will most likely join the ranks of the wildly furious at some point in my running career, but for now it’s about the adventure).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read through the course description many times and at some point I really should have become concerned about my limited ability and some of the arduous sounding adjectives used to describe the course, but I just thought they were trying to tout the race as really challenging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at the pictures on the website you saw images of flat beautiful trails through the shady trees, rambling creeks and a peaceful waterfall, nirvana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The description however used phrases like “two mile climb”, “if your legs are still your friend”, “this section will just rest your legs for what’s to come”, and more….I should have gotten nervous but thought, ‘oh it’s just being dramatic’, I mean you should see the really pretty waterfall picture (which they failed to mention is about ½ way to the top of a really tall MOUNTAIN).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pretty waterfall...what a freaking climb.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most of the runners stayed at the Mountain Lake Conservancy in Pembroke, VA where many scenes from Dirty Dancing were filmed….although this an iconic movie for my generation I was just excited to have a date night with my husband and a fun race to look forward to in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a complimentary spaghetti dinner the night before where we got to meet some of the runners but the food was beyond BLAH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plan ahead if you want something more palatable.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the morning the busses began departing for the starting line at 6:00 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. start time, it was about 20 + minutes away but it gave everyone a chance to adjust their equipment and get a chance to mentally prepare for the race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started our FIRST mountain climb which lasted over 2 ½ miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was INSANE, by the time I got to the top I was certain my Achilles was going to pop (by that I really do mean both), after a ¼ mile flat we basically began climbing slate steps for another 2 ¼ miles before reaching Aide Station one. At the top I checked my Garmin (and I do not think there were any solar bursts) and I had already ascended about 4000 feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WOW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The race continued along fire roads and some packed gravel areas but there were also just a lot of nice trails to run along.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone, especially the volunteers and many ambulance crews were so incredibly nice and the other runners seemed to be just like me, they obviously loved the sport wand were out for a great run.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My quads began to mildly forgive me during miles 6-17 where although the ascent clearly topped the descent there were some fairly flat areas and even a few down hills, WHOOP!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Although not the longest, one of the very steepest climbs went from miles 18 to 20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cheering crowd at the aide station made sure to point out to me that I was the FIRST one to still be actually running at this point (I have should have probably tattooed the word “energy” across my forehead).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few cartwheels and a sampling (read pocketful) of my new FAVORITE electrolyte replacement, <a href="http://electrodelytes.com/">Electro Delytes</a> (these are easier on the belly than water and I am TOTALLY going to endorse them, I even kind of credit my awesome hand carved award to them), I rolled out of Aide Station 4 with a smile on my face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The trails look nice and flat...<br />turn left ahead and climb a mountain suckers.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For some reason we were STILL CLIMBING, descending occasionally but at least the climbing portions were calm compared to what we had been through thus far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At aide station 5 they had the motherload of snacks and happy runner food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loaded up….and again cartwheeled out because I am that kind of energetic (in my hot pink socks and matching running skirt for those of you who have not seen my running attire…it has flair if nothing else) and continued on my merry little way…with a smile of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily I had found a runner about my speed and we were pacing each other on and off for about eight miles, unfortunately we paced ourselves right off the course for a solid ½ mile, which naturally took another ¾ - 1 mile to find our way back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back on track shortly before the last Aide Station we were officially tired!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had ascended more than 12,220 feet during this race and only descended slightly more than 8,000 feet (the joy of the point to point race). The course description did not do the technical aspects of the final 2 ½ miles of this race justice, in fact it was the second most technical portion (outside of the slate steps after the waterfall).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was rocky, narrow, and extremely hard to navigate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I somehow escaped without falling, but I do believe I was one of the few…runners dripping lots of “red stuff” crossed the finish line that afternoon but few would tell you that it was not worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Nothing like going off course during a race...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When finished, I was completely exhausted, invigorated, and ready to go again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My time was 5:35:37 (including my extra 1 ½ mile detour) and I won Overall Female Master.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The four women who finished ahead of me were in their 20’s…so at least I can blame age (and navigational issues) on my slow finish….honestly, this is one of the few times where I sincerely believe that finishing on this type of terrain, in and of itself deserves a medal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love my hand carved award...</span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">totally worth it!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I highly recommend this as a destination race to all of you who enjoy a hearty challenge and a great trail run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a lot of fun and hopefully you will not be taken aback by the amount of climbing like I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You WILL climb, but the scenery and the people are amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you like southwest Virginia it is certainly worth it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus the hotel is family friendly and if your spouse and children join you there are a lot of fun games to play and family activities (Alice in Wonderland sized (when she is big) chess and checkers and even a heated pool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention plenty of hiking and biking trails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They even have a scene by scene walking tour of the Dirty Dancing movie scene shot areas.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV2e_r-DDJjgOddTHGdT64r7hv9-8BGvlW_XXaaHbZbThyphenhyphenPZg01xFIiKIMae2-B3GSF1C_GwxOKzW8kKwR0tmpxB2fXx5jsJ5j3i770_s2Od9mS50evznI6B4Tx0jGQvDTYaDIalZt-s/s1600/lawn-chess-set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAV2e_r-DDJjgOddTHGdT64r7hv9-8BGvlW_XXaaHbZbThyphenhyphenPZg01xFIiKIMae2-B3GSF1C_GwxOKzW8kKwR0tmpxB2fXx5jsJ5j3i770_s2Od9mS50evznI6B4Tx0jGQvDTYaDIalZt-s/s1600/lawn-chess-set.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Life sized chess. Cool =)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you’re looking for a destination race, a new challenge and a small running field this may be your happy place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go for it!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are you going to run the Eastern Divide Ultra 2013?</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any questions for me?</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you started practicing your hill (mountain work) yet? BWAHAHAHAHAHA....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-12451724362865786122012-11-02T12:27:00.000-04:002019-10-01T17:12:44.562-04:00Mean Girls<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mean Girls….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Living in a small town has a lot of plusses and a lot of minuses; the fact that everyone knows everyone happens to fall into both categories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What amuses me is the way that so many people forget this simple truth. My theory is that if someone has a home and education similar to mine we know ALL the same people, therefore I engage politeness and the ZERO disclosure policy 100% of the time (think, “The Real Housewives of St. Mary’s”).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, let’s get dirty and tell a few mean girl stories…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(actually, not kidding, seriously irritated)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My personal favorite is about my “friend”, let’s call her ‘dip$hidiot’ for fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thought it would be clever to continuously speak “unkindly” of me behind my back as though it would not get back to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be clear, by unkind I really do mean vicious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of you who knew me in high school and college you know that I looked at smoking as a favorite hobby and perfect snack food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when I would get pregnant I was always very clear, I am still a smoker, just on sabbatical (not smoking) for the next 40 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, stillbirth #1 was due to the fact that my baby Sarah had the umbilical cord wrapped twice around her neck and once around her ankle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A clot formed between the two from the pressure and she either died from strangulation or a lack of circulation due to the clot, we are not sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dip$hidiot thought it would be super cute to tell everyone that I had clearly smoked through my pregnancy and had essentially killed my child all on my own…after all there was a clot in the cord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never mind the pathology report (you know, the authority on this...not dip$hidiot) which declared me nicotine free, or the 50+ (yes FIFTY) hours of labor I had just gone through, she was morally OK with informing the world that I murdered my sweet baby girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Classy lady.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is anyone on board with my mean girl theory?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Or her ignorance that I would not hear her words echoed back to me by maybe 30 of the 300 people she told her theory to?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do this in a small town and think I won’t find out, the poor thing may be full of herself but is probably not too bright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mean girl judging, brutal huh?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The reason I bring this up is because as we age and continue on our life journey mean girls never change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I explain mean girls to my children for some reason I try to let them off easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, they are going through a rough time (divorce, moving, changing schools, blah, blah, blah), they will settle down and be a good friend again soon.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I am doing my children a terrible disservice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overtime I think you can change but some people are just inherently mean. My children are not perfect, but they are sweet and kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am certain that if they were mean I would be able to explain it away in a heartbeat, “their mom is always in the hospital.” Simple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am aware that we cannot always be 100% sweet and kind and we shouldn’t be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After everything I have been through I have a lot less patience with people and seperate myself from those who create any chaos in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not sure if this means I am mean or that my life is too hard and unpredictable to let anyone in my inner circle who adds any “swirl” or ruckus to my day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">How you can spot a mean girl:</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mean girls often travel in packs...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mean girls always tell you how nice they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They never actually do anything or say anything kind, they just keep reminding you of their sweetness and constantly replay the one or two good deeds they have completed in their lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mean girls tell tales and name names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dip$hidiot was always telling me horrible things about other women, even her fairly close friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I thought I was simply a trusted ally, WRONG.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When someone is constantly putting others down, rest assured, they are not leaving you out.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgur.com/HoKDMYb" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="I just realised that I have to wake up in a couple of hours."><img alt="I just realised that I have to wake up in a couple of hours." src="http://i.imgur.com/HoKDMYb.gif" height="398" title="Hosted by imgur.com" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That moment you realize you told all of your secrets to a mean girl.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another way to spot them is the ½ compliment for you and ½ compliment for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I love your new shoes, they are almost exactly like mine…you have such great taste.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My advice, take your cute shoes and start running.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If anything even remotely dramatic happens they are intimately in the center of it (no matter how peripheral they are to the actual event).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They love to place themselves in the apex of all dramatic swirls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned this after having Clara, my circle of friends expanded exponentially, it very happily went back to include just my real friends when things settled down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What should happen when mean girls</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NICE girls will continually tell you all of the mean things they think they have done because they are consumed with guilt over the tiniest social faux pas and cannot seem to recover from it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the end true friends are not petty, cruel or divisive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They love you for you and do not accuse you or ANYONE in your family of being inappropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will never say who was unkind to me or what I truly think of them (my mother erased that vocabulary from my brain with a mixture of soap and water), but suffice it to say I am better off without them in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have mean girls in your life?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Are you the mean girl or the nice girl?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would love to hear your stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-32125279615457780302012-10-28T18:20:00.004-04:002019-10-01T17:12:44.709-04:00Growing Up With a Pathologist For a Father<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Bob and baby Clara</span></td></tr>
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Growing up with a pathologist for a father…<o:p></o:p></div>
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(Ironically enough, he specializes in OB/GYN and Breast Pathology.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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This week I had one of those conversations that makes me realize my perspective on things is slightly warped due to the fact that I was raised by a pathologist and a nurse.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This weekend was my first time being “in charge” of the finish line at a race for the running club, so I had to get my car loaded up with all of the equipment, this involved a trip to the storage facility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I had never been before and did not know everything I was supposed to get, one of the finish line veterans met <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That moment when you realize</span><br />
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me there and helped me get what I needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He showed me how to punch the code in when you enter to get the gate to open and how to open and lock everything up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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When we exited the facility I was surprised that I had to enter the code in to get the gate to open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked why and he said he didn’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My immediate reply was: “well I guess they need to have a time stamp for the cops, you know, to see if you had enough time to dump a dead body in here and get back out.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Classy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Of course if you were dumping a body you would probably know that entering your code in a place that most likely has security cameras all over the place is not going to let you have an alibi of being across the state…but I obviously had not thought the whole plot through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The statement did remind me that my train of thought may vary slightly from the average person.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My friends listening to my parents </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">talk while trying to eat...</span></td></tr>
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I have two older brothers and two older sisters and we were all born between 1965-1971 (my mom’s uterus totally hates her).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents met at Bethesda Naval Hospital where they were both active duty naval officers, dad as a doctor, mom as a nurse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are super conservative for the most part and place a high value on character and presentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Growing up we were always dressed perfectly, pressed perfectly, and had damn well better behave perfectly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgur.com/t2ZPQry" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="When I try to show the wife something cool"><img alt="When I try to show the wife something cool" src="http://i.imgur.com/t2ZPQry.gif" height="360" title="Hosted by imgur.com" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What dad would talk with mom about over dinner, beef stroganoff anyone? Sausage?</span></td></tr>
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As adults none of us has much of a filter about what we say and our parents seem to think this is odd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We always remind them of typical table conversations growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad spent the day cutting up dead bodies and came home and talked about his work over dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tales of removing the tongue properly during an autopsy, or a new skull saw were not unusual table fodder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Often times a detailed analysis of smell and texture when someone has died in a fire would be the topic of conversation over a nice steak dinner or perhaps the stomach contents of a person who died of a rare form of intestinal cancer over spaghetti would be the main event, either way, for us, this was actually normal. </span>Sometimes there would be explosions on aircraft carriers or plane crashes and we got in depth lessons on how to identify dead bodies when there are mass casualties, first you separate body parts by sex…toe nail polish=female foot, hairy hand=male (hopefully).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say my friends HATED eating at our house when dad a busy day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Breast Cancer Cells</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pretty...but really bizarre </span><br />
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Even some of the <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">tchotchkes we had around our house were somewhat odd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad had a collection of kidney stones and gallstones suspended in acrylic resin…curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the artwork in our house was simply photographs of ink stained cancer cells, they are actually pretty…but it’s hard to explain what they are to your friends when you're 7 or 8.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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One of my first memories from childhood happened when I was about 2 ½, my mother had a doctor’s appointment at Bethesda Naval where dad was working at the time and he was tasked with watching me for the 30 minutes she was at her appointment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When my mother returned from her appointment no one knew where I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They finally found me in a storage closet, I had opened many plastic containers and was playing with their contents…livers, hearts and kidneys, oh my!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only reason I even remember the incident is because of my mother’s reaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suffice it to say she did not take kindly to finding her perfectly dressed child playing with the internal organs of dead people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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NICE.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Oh well, as an adult I get to give dad props for helping with JFK’s autopsy (the bullets are ultimately what killed him is what I have learned), but I also was given a detailed analysis of the trajectory of each bullet and how it travelled through his brain…so if I seem warped, it’s only because I am!<o:p></o:p></div>
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What did your parents do?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Did it warp your personality, or just make you a tad quirky?</div>
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Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-67328161531250656582012-10-28T13:18:00.000-04:002019-10-01T17:12:45.314-04:00Retraining blows....<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I AM A BEAST!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think we have established that my body has been torn up in more ways than most people can fathom but this fall it took another couple of blows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since I had Clara and I was completely ‘gutted’ my body created a lot of adhesions throughout my abdomen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first it was just a nuisance, I had to follow a careful diet, take a few prescriptions to keep things moving and that worked…for a time anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the past two years I wound up spending more than 30 nights in the hospital with small bowel obstructions (SBO) due the adhesions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This spring I had my best running season ever, in fact I think it was a season of personal bests that I will never beat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I trained incredibly hard, was in super mental and physical health, and honestly felt ready to do my best at every race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, when I qualified for Boston I had spent Sunday-Thursday in the hospital with a SBO came home, did a few miles on Friday and Saturday and qualified on Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact my entire running season pretty much followed that same schedule.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finally could not take it anymore (and neither could my family).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hard going to bed at night and not knowing if I would have to make a mad dash for the ER at 2:00 a.m. usually driving myself (not being pregnant and always having a “hospital bag” ready is not normal).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact one day I had actually parked my car in Leonardtown to head out for a ten mile run got out went about two miles, got back in the car, headed to the ER and spent 6 nights in the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not how I wanted to live (plus, SBO’s are really really painful).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went to surgeon after surgeon and I finally found someone I felt comfortable with who could do the procedure laparoscopically at Johns Hopkins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On August 3<sup>rd</sup>, 2012 he cured my belly woes and for the first time in over four years I was not nauseous, no more sucking on Zofran every few hours just to hold my cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately he found one of my ovaries to be large and ‘unfavorable’ looking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to have it followed up on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I went to Washington Hospital Center’s (WHC) Surgical Oncologist and was told I was too complicated…um, wha…oh shit!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Off to GBMC where WHC referred me…on September 17<sup>th</sup>, I got the ‘unfavorable’ ovary removed (also laparoscopically) and the recovery has been hideous (I think I am one surgery away from officially being able to use the mens room, shorter lines...SCORE).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a massive lung infection of some sort from the intubation and have been struggling to breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So getting back into running has been a trip (and yes, I am still running, I think we have established that I will run through anything).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Between the two surgeries I had a couple of 45-55 mile weeks and actually did not feel too horrible. After the second surgery running has been a beast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday after timing the Costume Caper 5K in Colton’s Point I decided to go for a ten mile run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the first day that I was averaging a marathon pace for most of my run, unfortunately it was only a ten mile run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I retrain I am finding that I feel big and clunky when I am trying to gain speed…probably the not breathing thing getting in the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know I can get back, it’s the time that is killing me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friends kept telling me that my body would be so happy with the break from running and I would come back kicking some serious ass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WRONG.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily I have a few running partners who are not afraid to push me a little and who also let me rest and walk when I need a break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the first time that I am doing more partner running rather than solo running and it actually feels amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still enjoy the solitude and quiet I find when I am out on a long run, but even more I have loved feeling the sense of community and support from other runners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Are you a runner?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which do you prefer, the solo or partner run?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: PMingLiU;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you had to retrain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any advice, tips?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-18352283510244871322012-10-23T21:01:00.000-04:002019-10-01T17:25:07.107-04:00Clara is born and mommy is alive!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Every mother has a birth story, sometimes it is the magical two hours of labor and two pushes, others offer a bit more work and turmoil, some are downright painful and others, well others are the kind that horror movie writers steal scream sound bites from (and possibly have actresses look at footage of the mother screaming just to get appropriate facial expressions).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No, I am not going to take you through a blow by blow of my labor and delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just want to document that I survived my last C-section.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Clara was due on October 26<sup>th</sup>, 2007 but when I went to get my weekly ultrasound at 36 weeks they discovered that she had a triple nuchal cord (meaning the cord had wrapped itself around her neck two complete times).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My doctor was AWESOME, (from here on she will be referred to as Dr. Awesome) since I had a history of stillbirth due to nuchal cord accidents (cord wrapped around baby’s neck) she decided to admit me for continuous fetal monitoring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I checked into the hospital on September 27<sup>th</sup>, almost a full month before her due date.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately, Dr. Awesome had already scheduled a vacation to England and left two days after I was admitted and my care was then turned over to her partner, we will call her Dr. A$$hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 5 days of continuous monitoring Clara was remaining healthy but I was tired of being in the hospital so Dr. A$$hat ordered an amniocentesis to see if her lungs had developed enough for delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were developed but she had also passed her first meconium so it was GO TIME…stat C-section.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My beautiful, healthy and amazing girl was born 3:17 p.m. on October 1<sup>st</sup>, 2007.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10 perfect fingers and 10 very long toes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After the C-section I never felt ‘right’, they could not give me pain meds or let me sit up because my blood pressure was too low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first night was absolute misery, I was in so much pain that I seriously thought I was going to die, but eventually it subsided (Dr. A$$hat said it was gas), useful information would have been that I had a rapidly dropping hemoglobin and hematocrit (she knew it, I did not).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next two days were fairly uneventful, I was still in the hospital but I never regained my energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was my third C-section and I knew that things were not quite right but Dr. A$$hat was certain all was well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On October 4<sup>th</sup>, I woke up at 2:30 a.m., Clara was sound asleep in my arms but I was feeling a lot of pressure so I decided to use the restroom, I gave her a kiss and laid her in the bassinet…it would be a long time before I got to see or hold her again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood up and IMMDIATELY I was in mind boggling, excruciating pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to the bathroom anyway just to see if it would help, after all, my genius Dr. had said the pain was probably gas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No such luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually I made it back to my bed to ring the nurse…there was no way I pulling the cord in the bathroom (too stubborn).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My amazing nurse (who saved my life) came in and in less than ten minutes had my stats checked, IV started, x-ray ordered, blood drawn and was pushing me down the hall to x-ray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could hear Clara crying as I was wheeled away in my bed, screaming in pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My initial H&H came back at 5 and 18…not completely compatible with life but very indicative of hemorrhage (internal or otherwise).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Dr. decided to order an x-ray which does not show internal bleeding (she had decided I had an ileus and was just a whiner) and the x-ray was, of course, normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It showed that my lungs had partially started to collapse but it was not significant beyond that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At some point while I was in x-ray the pain got so terrible that I literally had an 'out of body' experience. The tech kept shoving the film into my back which is exactly where all of the blood had pooled. My kidneys, liver, bladder and lungs had been displaced by the blood clot and she kept ramming the hard film right in to it. Eventually it became too much and it was like I was floating in the corner watching it happen to someone else. Ironically, I have never before believed in the 'out of body' phenomenon and I still am on the fence about it....even though it happened to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On the way back from x-ray (which took almost 90 minutes to get decent films since I was unable to move) I informed my nurse that I was going to die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">That got her attention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dr. A$$hat had said the films were fine, I was fine, she wanted her sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My nurse decided to take my blood three hours earlier than ordered because she could see what was happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nurse also told Dr. A$$hat she could send me for a CT or she would be heading to the ER to get a “real doctor” for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While in CT my blood work came back and I was bleeding out (internally) rapidly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I returned from CT shit got serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bags of blood were hung, more IV’s were started, I had so many medical staff around my bed it was scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point I could hardly see, my O² sats were dropping, and I think everyone thought it was over for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: small;">The charge nurse's feelings about getting </span><br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: small;">the consent form signed.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will never forget when the Dr. tried to get me to sign the consent form while the charge nurse for the hospital was trying to start my IV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kept trying to shove a pen my hand and the nurse kept losing my vein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nurse stopped, gave her the dirtiest look I have EVER seen and said "this IV is far more important than your f-ing piece of paper."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me, ever the peacemaker was all…”I’ll just sign it with my left hand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By the time they wheeled me into the OR I honestly did not care if I lived or died I was in that much pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had always thought that I would fight for my life tooth and nail, and I did, but with no blood, no oxygen, and no pain control the struggle seemed futile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost like your body knows you cannot use the energy to fight, you have to mentally stay calm and let it do its work…it is far more capable of making good survival choices than you are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I woke up in the PACU I was still intubated and panicked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nurse Smokey McSmokerson kept trying to calm me down but she just made me glad that something was breathing for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was able to write that I wanted my normal Internal Medicine Group in charge of my care rather than the hospitalists but that was about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6T0mZplCzmY/UIdC-tJRYvI/AAAAAAAAAMM/G188flRvY7M/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6T0mZplCzmY/UIdC-tJRYvI/AAAAAAAAAMM/G188flRvY7M/s200/007.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Visiting me in the ICU</span>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Eventually they got me settled in the ICU but I still had no clue what had happened and what a long road I was about to travel to recovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Through this I ended up receiving more than 12 units of blood, 7 units of Fresh Frozen Plasma, multiple units of platelets and whatever else they could pump into me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not until my husband was able to come see me and I could write to him “where is my uterus?” that I knew for certain I had a hysterectomy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, as the daughter of a pathologist I had to know *exactly* where my uterus was and why it was not already enroute to the AFIP...come on people, let's get it together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can remember still being on the ventilator unable to speak and the nurse was counting my staples, 57 straight from my chest to my pelvis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took me over a week before I would leave the ICU and almost another week to come home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were very good about allowing me liberal visits with my baby (even in the ICU) but it was not the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent many moments in tears, lots of time in pain, but at the end of it I had the perfect baby I had dreamed about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9eycdNjW31rocwym.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9eycdNjW31rocwym.gif" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dr. A$$hat kept coming in to reassure me that I obviously had a bleeding disorder, none of this was her fault, and since I had just had another major surgery I could bleed out at any moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly, this was entirely a case of a botched C-section by an incompetent surgeon, who is no longer delivering babies thank you very much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For Clara’s first birthday party we had a huge blood drive at our church to celebrate the nameless, faceless, blood donors who gave me the gift of my first year with my daughter and an additional year with my first two miracles and my wonderful husband.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KCsFIRt-Fn8/UIdDEf8VvLI/AAAAAAAAAMU/s9PbcVZpErQ/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KCsFIRt-Fn8/UIdDEf8VvLI/AAAAAAAAAMU/s9PbcVZpErQ/s200/008.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy with his girls.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Clearly this was the beginning of a journey…there were funny moments, sad moments, and moments so tender and loving that I have come to love and appreciate my family in ways I never thought possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My body is still suffering the sequelae from this event, my most recent post hemorrhage surgery was just this past August…but I try with everything I have to be a loving parent, an active parent, I still run and teach aerobics and I REFUSE to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone can appreciate how precious and tenuous life really is, it just might be me.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_KOwu0f0u58/UIdDKfOZpbI/AAAAAAAAAMY/3HCB5goaFn8/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_KOwu0f0u58/UIdDKfOZpbI/AAAAAAAAAMY/3HCB5goaFn8/s320/009.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving the hospital, long before I did.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What has changed your perspective on life?</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have you ever thought about an out of body experience and do you believe in them?</span></div>
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Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-36409273728047710482012-10-22T22:29:00.003-04:002019-10-01T17:12:44.793-04:00Why do I run?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why do I run?</span></span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87__Nl1gSUoeDY7FjkGCGFp3FAGW3U3c0YYxXm7mhWFyQPmv4j-3cGalUHAU01jIl9qoDzUa3_3v2Np8xcio7it_s2rjvG9u80KBM1wvg9y_2w9KZw_KadWKRXVdksg2OS2gEuq5XkiY/s1600/silly+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87__Nl1gSUoeDY7FjkGCGFp3FAGW3U3c0YYxXm7mhWFyQPmv4j-3cGalUHAU01jIl9qoDzUa3_3v2Np8xcio7it_s2rjvG9u80KBM1wvg9y_2w9KZw_KadWKRXVdksg2OS2gEuq5XkiY/s320/silly+face.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cherry Pit Ten Miler</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my very best race days!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>You would actually be surprised by how often I get this question and I never really have just one answer, it usually depends on what day you ask me and where I am in my training.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">About seven years ago my sister Kim told me that she was going to run a marathon and I think my response was not your typical congratulatory cheer and shout of encouragement, in fact, it sounded *exactly* like, “What????<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you stupid or something?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did mom and dad drop you on your head as an infant and forget to mention it to the rest of us?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Clearly I am the bitchy sister.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Kim trained for and ran in many marathons, over time I became more supportive but was secretly cheering my obviously superior IQ (because really, 26.2 miles for fun, I mean that’s just asinine).<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Then I got cancer…<o:p></o:p></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Turns out I never ran because I had large (HUGE) breasts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deep down I knew that the four bras I had to wear for field hockey and teaching step aerobics dug deep into my shoulders, but I was in shape, I figured I could run if I wanted to, I just did not want to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only time I ran was when a team I was playing on lost…then I did laps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of boobie bouncing, shoulder blistering laps.</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Back to the cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAML85ND3PV6bIgP0MtoUagbLyLTensb5Kbj6aENxrubphVZfCQDcoA9WHy-RJ7pEjE187pGM1Kpbv_RjgDmigTNNGk4U_0ymEZtrBQydTfaG8WxnF9xvrlrBm9tHHPkFZGOK7pjpyew8/s1600/Life+is+Good+5K+Run+2012+219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAML85ND3PV6bIgP0MtoUagbLyLTensb5Kbj6aENxrubphVZfCQDcoA9WHy-RJ7pEjE187pGM1Kpbv_RjgDmigTNNGk4U_0ymEZtrBQydTfaG8WxnF9xvrlrBm9tHHPkFZGOK7pjpyew8/s400/Life+is+Good+5K+Run+2012+219.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall Female Champion...Lucky Number!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">After a double mastectomy and a huge breast reduction (I went from a duckpin bowling ball to about a tennis ball) I was very slow returning to my normal exercise regimen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was only allowed to walk and since I had a 7 month old baby girl, she took her morning and afternoon naps in the stroller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I healed and progressed, eventually I was walking 12-16 miles each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I got bored, so I started jogging to one mailbox and walking to the next, as I continued to recover the walking portions became much shorter than the jogging portions.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">After a year I was going for regular runs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still thought a marathon was a ridiculous distance and I was going to just stick to running 7-10 miles a day like any *sane* person would do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My run became a very necessary part of my day, my personal time, I had been through a lot and needed the one thing a run always offered me, a quiet mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Over time I began running with friends and they told me I was doing quite well but I never really thought about it as a sport, it was honestly my outlet, the only time I was not feeling scared and anxious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had not discovered the joy of wine and I had quit smoking years earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was literally my only vice (not a bad one, right?).<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I had a friend encourage me to run the Cherry Blossom Miler in 2010 this was my very first race, I ran it in 1:22:16 and thought nothing of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took it easy, enjoyed the course and loved being surrounded by people who loved running as much as I did.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWa5NUXolhTkeTaTiBP2hTLTrtfMhV_z4UpjusXXIbxJ9cbLNpYLu83nmo5Hq9jDTDGucBCE0ZYoIYr35na4sfgwIfc0Xc-bK4f6qEqIeiBBma02SmESE26Wz3kkrqGSdpusSsivPloqw/s1600/718403-7068-0032s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWa5NUXolhTkeTaTiBP2hTLTrtfMhV_z4UpjusXXIbxJ9cbLNpYLu83nmo5Hq9jDTDGucBCE0ZYoIYr35na4sfgwIfc0Xc-bK4f6qEqIeiBBma02SmESE26Wz3kkrqGSdpusSsivPloqw/s400/718403-7068-0032s.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Rock and Roll Marathon...enjoying my crazy!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The next weekend however I had an epiphany.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the biggest local races we have is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Run for Hospice</i> and I chose to run the 10K, it was just for fun and the whole community is out for this amazing event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biggest surprise for me was finishing as the 2<sup>nd</sup> overall female in the race (only 2<sup>nd</sup> to my good friend who is one of the fastest female runners I have ever met).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point I decided to explore running as a sport rather than just my own personal happy place.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">I have continued my running and expanded it in ways that at one time I thought were crazy (now I KNOW they’re crazy) I win some, I lose some, but I always learn a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that I am happiest when I am running and that my sister had it all wrong, her mistake was in settling for a marathon.<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Why on earth would you run a marathon when there are ULTRA MARATHONS? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year I qualified for The Boston Marathon and will run it in April. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that I plan to stick with the smaller, lower key events.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kind or races where you meet the other runners and learn what their motivation is, how their life and running brought them to this place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Since beginning this journey (2 ½ years ago) I have run three 10Ks, two 10 milers, two ½ marathons, five marathons, four 50K’s, a few longer distances which just make me sound crazy, and too many 5K’s to count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Clearly I lost my marbles at some point but it is the one activity that keeps me grounded and is just for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have found my happy place and I am going to run with it. <o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">If you’re a runner, what’s your motivation?<o:p></o:p></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Have you ever thought someone was crazy for doing something and then not only done the stupid thing, but loved it so much that you even took it to the next level of stupid? <o:p></o:p></div>Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-38170045888660329952012-10-18T23:00:00.000-04:002020-05-28T08:34:11.671-04:00Amazing Grace, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Looking just as horrible as every other new mom!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 14px;">"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (</span><a class="vl-anchor" data-passage="Ephesians28-10" href="http://ebible.com/query?utf=8%E2%9C%93&query=Ephesians%202%3A8-10&translation=ESV&redirect_iframe=http://www.AllAboutGOD.com/bible.htm" style="color: #1c70bf; font-size: 14px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ephesians 2:8-10</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 14px;">). </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I will be the first to admit that I have led a fairly
charmed life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know there were a
few crap years scattered in, some extremely life changing events, but honestly,
years 1-29 were pretty much some seriously awesome real life perspective for
the writers of “Leave it to Beaver” and “The Brady Bunch”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot tell you how many times Alice the
maid (really it was my mom, but Carol Brady did not do a damn thing…it was all
Alice) was helping me win a teeter-totter-a-thon or make all the goodies for a
lemonade stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are talking Pork Chops and Applesauce here folks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qPtLK2VGJA3bBq48FiaoC0BwKV8sdyzIXBgMDRAuO_NHk4vp9ikHTCbUzeJr2fmgtHL7j9QSm1oF9Ig6Oh-NPfC-Bqb4xOjhZGs-YKgYUGQsuPm71lKQDgSYYiKc44x7GpNI1i67VP0/s1600/pork+chops.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5qPtLK2VGJA3bBq48FiaoC0BwKV8sdyzIXBgMDRAuO_NHk4vp9ikHTCbUzeJr2fmgtHL7j9QSm1oF9Ig6Oh-NPfC-Bqb4xOjhZGs-YKgYUGQsuPm71lKQDgSYYiKc44x7GpNI1i67VP0/s320/pork+chops.gif" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When my first child was born I simply assumed my good
fortune would continue (I think we can insert some sort of foreboding music
here), and honestly it did….for a time anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When she was seven weeks old I started to notice that she
seemed listless a lot of time and NEVER slept (I clocked it, a grand total of 7
hours in a 24 hour period with 90 minutes being the maximum consecutive asleep time).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was miserably exhausted, but at least she was not fussy
as long as I held her and rocked her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finally I decided to make an appointment with the pediatrician, it was
the final appointment of the day and all of the staff had gone home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did an extremely thorough examination and
I kept waiting to hear the “new mom/idiot” speech but he was oohing and aahing
and flashing the otoscope light in her eyes A LOT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one point he said, “Well it’s not
cataracts”, I’m all WTF???<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So with no
further ado he said to give her Benadryl and come back in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94rkyOgM66_IkHDeWbgCV6S88wV0uu-8p9OIGIlhuf7BtyMHD-MuHDhL6xEgwwzkjD365amqQ1QGmGXfcXcMcnJW_YQvdgnI06PWXkZEFj-6y7O4dnaqstUYRMXTZEP4YBT12Yt2wgg4/s1600/let+me+drink+about+it.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94rkyOgM66_IkHDeWbgCV6S88wV0uu-8p9OIGIlhuf7BtyMHD-MuHDhL6xEgwwzkjD365amqQ1QGmGXfcXcMcnJW_YQvdgnI06PWXkZEFj-6y7O4dnaqstUYRMXTZEP4YBT12Yt2wgg4/s320/let+me+drink+about+it.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Clearly I went home and drank wine, it was a pump and dump
kind of night…I vaguely remember it well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The next morning I went back to the pediatrician, I had
skimmed over the events of the previous days’ appointment with my husband and
mother but did not let on my true level of concern over:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">a.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>What I had been seeing with Grace; and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">b.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span>The pediatrician’s response to it.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So again he looked at her, looked at her eyes and said he
wanted her to see an ophthalmologist, I was finally done playing games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at him square in the eye and said, “I
need you to tell me right now what you think is wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what I deserve, this is my child.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His response, “I think this child is without
sight and I have never said that to a parent before.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that’s a conversation stopper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I partially recover, my eyes start welling up and he puts
his hand on my shoulder and says, “It’ll be OK mom”.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgyXEItrqlMt8H4N4BuBLLnr0tjAwIOpkWh4HvbMotSe0u3Pz9gOghRuc_Rn9qtliRyLNx8IjOASYZei3EvrIINH8H7LhKFkSq_JX25M6vRpZ1TWZibc6oN9Bd-YmJInTDCx5Qnp83Eo/s1600/keep+calm.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWgyXEItrqlMt8H4N4BuBLLnr0tjAwIOpkWh4HvbMotSe0u3Pz9gOghRuc_Rn9qtliRyLNx8IjOASYZei3EvrIINH8H7LhKFkSq_JX25M6vRpZ1TWZibc6oN9Bd-YmJInTDCx5Qnp83Eo/s320/keep+calm.gif" width="285" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This was a Friday morning so I left with a referral for a
Monday morning ophthalmology appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I called my husband and left the calmest message on his voicemail and
then I called my mother and completely LOST MY SHIT. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I am driving home from just hearing I had a
blind child, talking on the phone, and having my very first panic attack ever, awesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am screaming at my mom that the baby is
blind and I can’t breathe and she’s all, “where are you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shriek back that I am driving and she
points out that perhaps pulling over might be the wise choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moms are so stinking smart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I finally get home and start harassing my child by playing
eye tracking game after eye tracking game…btw, I totally won since she was
blind and all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Luckily I called my neighbor and told her what was going on and
she told me to sit tight as she called her friend (an excellent ophthalmologist)
who said we should come right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My neighbor came with Grace and me to the appointment and I
met, perhaps, the smartest and kindest woman that will ever have the privilege
of knowing; Dr. Kinga Tibold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She spent
almost an hour with Grace and was in complete agreement that this beautiful
baby girl could not see, but she also reassured me that she did not see a
retinal-blastoma and that the anatomy of the eye looked perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could be delayed visual maturation, or a
host of other problems but at least I had an answer, something to go on. Plus, no obvious cancer. All good news.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6p8FGR7U1th3uZf9zRuQGPB2SvPLNxYIUVY6lSkW4tn0uoBMFzvi-I-xh4ocPjVNbkB5XXhQdWWdZP1_aIVEHDiT7VpHm5SVMsuFRRJOD8P9ncfcDMpCFVN-tFdpaPJCnNND5iQNjQc0/s1600/grace4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6p8FGR7U1th3uZf9zRuQGPB2SvPLNxYIUVY6lSkW4tn0uoBMFzvi-I-xh4ocPjVNbkB5XXhQdWWdZP1_aIVEHDiT7VpHm5SVMsuFRRJOD8P9ncfcDMpCFVN-tFdpaPJCnNND5iQNjQc0/s320/grace4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Such a ham...can you believe she did not get her first </span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">pair of glasses until 7th grade</span><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dr. Tibold was amazing, I think I had met her once or twice
at a party but she did not know me at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think as a mother of three girls herself she simply wanted to help and
quite frankly, at that moment she was the only person I knew who could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To top it all off her office did not accept
my insurance so I was prepped and ready to write a check and she just waved it
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I cannot speak for everyone, but these days there are not a
lot of people with that level of compassion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was like she knew I was experiencing the worst day of my life thus
far and she just wanted to make it easier in any way that she possibly
could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that day forward I have
always looked to her as one of the finest physicians I have had the opportunity
to work with and will forever trust her judgment, professionally and
personally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following Tuesday we took Grace to the Wilmer Eye
Institute at Johns Hopkins and they agreed completely with Dr. Tibold’s assessment
of the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were many tests
away from finding the reason for the blindness but we knew it was not cancer
and that was good enough for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mdgyJAFvF4t_2dg59LcVao1Gg25YacBvcYeaGlt8onqWSSbaI_b7c9NBTmNJa7rJfH7psHeHXHP-yWkFgnJfKSeaFGtoiVxPE7xK2scXzq3rxlIK-7-d2yv6hh3dv2ibRDz5y37rTag/s1600/grace2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mdgyJAFvF4t_2dg59LcVao1Gg25YacBvcYeaGlt8onqWSSbaI_b7c9NBTmNJa7rJfH7psHeHXHP-yWkFgnJfKSeaFGtoiVxPE7xK2scXzq3rxlIK-7-d2yv6hh3dv2ibRDz5y37rTag/s320/grace2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Not quite to peek-a-boo but still super cute!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the months and weeks followed we learned that Grace had
Ocular Motor Apraxia and a Dandy Walker Variant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were given no hope that she would
ever see but we were provided with wonderful vision therapists through Maryland
School for the Blind and the incredible therapists from the St. Mary’s County
School system who worked with Grace from birth through 7th grade when they had both moved. So much of her progress can be attributed to the Liz's.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt like every week we had an MRI or another
specialist appointment but we wanted to do everything possible to achieve the
best outcome for our sweet girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We even took her to see a vestibular eye movement specialist…who knew?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through all of the testing, poking and prodding, they never
actually DID anything to her, no procedures, nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was discovered that she had a Dandy Walker
Variant in her brain that basically had caused the portion of her cerebellum
responsible for sight to not develop but everything else was fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even went and saw world famous pediatric
neurosurgeon, Dr. Ben Carson at Hopkins many times over the next ten years but he kept shying
away from actual surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a
blessing as we later discovered that surgery would have killed her since her
cyst was connected at the fourth ventricle and would have caused her to have a
massive brain bleed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the midst of all of this I got pregnant with our second daughter and we were ecstatic. When I has pregnant with Grace I imagined nothing less than the perfect child with absolutely no health issues (she really is perfect, LOVE HER) but with the our second daughter all I cared about was a having a child who could see. During my third trimester we drove up to Hopkins to get a special ultrasound because of all of the Malformations that Grace had in her brain. This was the day my life was forever changed because my very perfect baby girl, Sarah, had no heartbeat. We went home and after 50 hours of labor, with almost every conceivable complication, I delivered a very perfect, very much forever asleep, baby girl.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With sadness and grief, each day came and went. I worked with Grace and helped her learn to navigate her world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband and I were enveloped in such sadness
but also an odd sense of hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was
clearly a determined child and was just so lovable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was at the point that she knew when we
were nearby and would giggle and smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmHr-eXPOk58HQCUYv3AqG_lJj-z-gC6JiwhcNnSOKWollrMgFONsNvM6UVBjZdPuo4M_2TRcGkk30r7DfiMFwZAWzewwwpTMetvSOlob2RLa30uF0_EZ_MD3L6PY57l38zDckSz_Hf0/s1600/peekaboo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmHr-eXPOk58HQCUYv3AqG_lJj-z-gC6JiwhcNnSOKWollrMgFONsNvM6UVBjZdPuo4M_2TRcGkk30r7DfiMFwZAWzewwwpTMetvSOlob2RLa30uF0_EZ_MD3L6PY57l38zDckSz_Hf0/s1600/peekaboo.gif" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One day my sweet girl started playing peek-a-boo with me, at
first it honestly did not register.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
was clearly a game we did not play, after 15 months of no vision, playing “now
you don’t see me, now you still don’t see me, oh look wait, hey, you still don’t
see me….peek-a-boo” was not at the top of our list of therapeutic family fun
games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly I realized what was
happening...<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Insert light bulb </span>flashing over my head here!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This child had been prayed about around the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could it seriously be like the song…”I once
was lost but now am found; was blind but now I see.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh my sweet Amazing Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I of course got so excited that I made the
poor child cry, but she could see!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not perfectly at first, she could not even focus for more
than a few seconds, but it was something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finally, a little hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was
about 18 months old before she had any meaningful vision or eye gaze, but we
were on our way and so incredibly blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Apparently brain cells are multi-plastic until about age 12 and since
she was short a few vision cells, other cells took over and allowed her to see. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even in this chaotic world, there are still miracles. Through faith and prayer we can even see them occur, most are not this obvious and clear but they are there. God is very good to our family and we continue to see His work in our lives as we put our Faith in Him in all things. Once you see His work in your life in such a profound way you realize that God's Grace is the biggest gift you can be given, but one you never deserve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She is now getting ready to graduate high school and the money we had saved for long term care is now being applied towards college tuition. She graduates from high school today and started her first college class yesterday. Her goal is to become a special education teacher and then go on to earn her master's degree in vision therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Our girl has a servants heart and a love of mission work that makes my heart so happy. Grace loves Jesus and even enjoys sharing His word with her friends and family. </span>Grace and her Grandma Karnei have a very close and special relationship and the two
of them are like frick and frack, in their joyful approach to life and faith in God. Our
Gracie Hacie has reminded us that miracles do happen…so often we think of
them as a phenomenon of long ago…a Biblical story or a Guideposts
moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am here to tell you that they
happen every single day, sometimes to people you know.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grace was quite the rider, </span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">this is her favorite pony, Jerri.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today Grace loves all animals, Sugar Gliders</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">are kind of her new favorite...Kinga...</span></td></tr>
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Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-13435309781038503442012-10-18T11:28:00.001-04:002012-10-18T14:59:38.216-04:00Cowgirls vs. Cancer<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCLchyCKZls9ks3L-MURsPzIgWN0wfA5fY_rzguwtpafkDaWFD-dJT-gZkV1VseDKpvhTofwvn5JiIzGV8CEG69fEW4sZuX_c_I5SWG6dCAdVCqyNl_uJS8SBrYOZOGsOy1Q3xNje-yI/s1600/Kathleenatbarn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCLchyCKZls9ks3L-MURsPzIgWN0wfA5fY_rzguwtpafkDaWFD-dJT-gZkV1VseDKpvhTofwvn5JiIzGV8CEG69fEW4sZuX_c_I5SWG6dCAdVCqyNl_uJS8SBrYOZOGsOy1Q3xNje-yI/s320/Kathleenatbarn.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta;">My final day at the ranch, just before the early June snow began</span>.<br />
<a href="http://www.francineogonzalez.com/" target="_blank">Francine G. Photography,</a> <a href="http://www.keep-a-breast.org/" target="_blank">Breast Casting</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><strong>“Cowgirl is an attitude, really. A pioneer spirit, a special American brand of courage. The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands. They speak up. They defend the things they hold dear.”</strong></span><br />
<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_s1031" style="height: 154.25pt; margin-left: 299.6pt; margin-top: 13.5pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 153.35pt; z-index: 251663360;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata cropright="22124f" o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"> <w:wrap type="square"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape>Dale Evans Rogers, Los Angeles, 1992<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p>Going into the <a href="http://www.bigskyyogaretreats.com/cowgirlcancer.html" target="_blank">Cowgirls vs. Cancer</a> retreat I read this quote over and over and kept saying to myself “you’re a city girl, born and bred”….but deep down I knew I had it in me…I knew I had faced life head on and shown my own special brand of courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, getting diagnosed with breast cancer and being told I had to have a double mastectomy was simply the final check on a list of very bad luck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
My first daughter was born blind, my second daughter was born asleep, we were blessed with another daughter on our third try, but our fourth daughter also died before being born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was pregnant with my last child I prayed each day for a living, breathing baby…I was heard, she was born perfect, healthy and beautiful. However, I immediately started to hemorrhage internally and it went undiagnosed until I had almost died, over 20 units of blood products were used to save my life, but it was too late to save my uterus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My baby went home two weeks before I did and even though there was pure joy in this perfect new life, there was also a lot of recovery, both physical and emotional.<o:p></o:p><br />
Needless to say when I was diagnosed with cancer seven months later I was completely broadsided.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first day at the ranch, I felt like I belonged in the <a href="http://www.athleta.com/" target="_blank">Athleta</a> <br />
catalog, given my outfit and beautiful scenery.</td></tr>
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All through my surgeries and treatment I was literally on autopilot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never once let myself feel anything emotional connected to my cancer or my breasts, I barely had the energy and emotion to give love to my husband and children….most of my heart was simply broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like the physical pain and mental anguish in my life would never end, all I had experienced for 8 years was loss after loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzyvA7UX5zxDNmVVIP-1nykqcc1lOC-_I7VRpST8GXLdva34Ms-ekulqzDUZCHJg4T9T-7Xc9DBI6OeNHJ_wT1tDOIH-rgQhetKftmSGeBfQX3JxeSGKSL2keyeeeYgdw0lgnFMYBjLQ/s1600/P1070982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>One of the hardest things for me was that I lived far away from my close friends and family. We live in a small town and I had to travel 1 ½ hours each way for all of my treatment; I felt isolated and alone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were no young breast cancer survivors near us and it was hard to be around women my age listening to them talk about their seemingly perfect lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What could I add to the conversation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nipple reconstruction options or perhaps the benefits of pr/er + cancer over the triple negative kind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think they were more interested in paint colors than 50 hours of labor for a stillbirth and I completely understood, but it left me adrift.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
As I healed I began to run, I started with slow short distances and morphed into a powerful distance runner, the problem was I was mimicking a horse, when presented with the flight or fight response I was fleeing, as fast as I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running was my escape from reality but when I would stop I was unable to deal with all of the horrible events up to and including my cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually I learned to completely disassociate myself from all that had happened in an effort to simply survive each day and take care of my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This put me distinctly into the category of “surviving” rather than “thriving”.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;">The deer participated in our morning meditation.</span></td></tr>
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Enter Montana, Cowgirls vs. Cancer and Margaret Burns Vap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister nominated me for this award and she started my healing process with her essay, reading how highly she thought of me and my indomitable spirit gave me hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hope I had not felt in a very long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margaret and her mighty crew put together a weekend with a lot of love and thoughtfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the moment our first group yoga session began until the moment I tearfully left the <a href="http://doubletriverranch.com/" target="_blank">Double T River Ranch</a> I felt support, comfort and kinship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p><br />
This was the first quiet and reflective time I had experienced since my diagnosis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was amazing to be able to connect with women who had heard the same words I had, “you have breast cancer”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFjgBoRPi-bp73MmGOxNGXcEfs_tAUagM2Xf4VIzoU3P_aZDWa_VqFpG8JA_VhjSVrTVK6Qqb6dX1E8EEwGRM_86zoPstzZcYNdizuermIg8Q_N-kgPAZnh2iK6rDwaEZsvOUIOdvwiQ/s1600/P1080058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFjgBoRPi-bp73MmGOxNGXcEfs_tAUagM2Xf4VIzoU3P_aZDWa_VqFpG8JA_VhjSVrTVK6Qqb6dX1E8EEwGRM_86zoPstzZcYNdizuermIg8Q_N-kgPAZnh2iK6rDwaEZsvOUIOdvwiQ/s320/P1080058.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Janice, what can I say? She is perhaps</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">one of the kindest people I will know.</span></td></tr>
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While on our retreat we were pampered beyond measure, as a stay at home mom of three and part time fitness instructor I was not prepared for organic gourmet meals each day by Chef Kate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking care of children is an amazing job but it has no pause button.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THIS was my pause button.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It let me honor my body, honor how it changed…in some ways much weaker, in others stronger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the deer cooperated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we came out of morning meditation they quietly crossed the river reminding us of the majestic beauty that is Montana.<br />
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<v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 155.35pt; margin-left: -2.55pt; margin-top: 33.75pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 87.45pt; z-index: 251660288;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image009.jpg"> <w:wrap type="square"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><a href="http://www.montanahorsesense.com/" target="_blank">Janice and Ron</a> gently and kindly taught us to ride our horses, Ron was even kind enough to turn a blind eye if you gave his horse a kiss and a hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While riding I was reminded that if I wanted to succeed in riding or in life I had to be the one in control, each move I made the horse naturally responded to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning to make the right move/choice can be hard, but it is always successful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Janice, with her beautiful face and kind smile reminded to me to stay calm (the running joke was my “unusual” energy level, read:spastic).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ron and I had long talks and his wisdom and understatement will forever take me back to Montana when I need to find my calm in the storm.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #741b47;">Ron IS the calm in the storm. Quietly hilarious and</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47;">infinitely perceptive, my friend.</span></td></tr>
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My story would be lacking in so many areas if I did not mention Jessica, Addie and Vi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jessica taught us to meditate, to find comfort and peace with a still mind…this has never been achieved in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Addie donated the use of the ranch and brought a smile to my face each time she walked into the room…a true ginger and even a birthday double.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vi helped to release us from tension with massages designed with the breast cancer survivor in mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each detail so tailored to our specific needs from beginning to end, God Bless Margaret.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Margaret Burns Vap, the beautiful face behind the concept.<br />
Horses, yoga, and breast cancer.<br />
<a href="http://blogs.yogajournal.com/yogabuzz/2012/10/wanted-cancer-kickin-cowgirls.html" target="_blank">Simply Genius!</a></td></tr>
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Margaret and her team are selfless and generous, the type you may only experience once in a lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love and compassion they brought to the retreat was genuine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each time they give of their time and their hearts to us, the survivors, they risk forming a relationship with someone who has a higher than average risk of dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They give us unconditional love, support and opportunities for growth and healing, before, during and after the retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margaret’s knowledge of yoga and gentle approach to teaching it were perfect for the novice to advanced yogini, her investment in our entire experience takes benevolence to new heights.<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
Now as I continue my journey I am not alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have women I know I can relate to, they share my struggles, we shared an amazing weekend and I will consider them friends for a lifetime.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd8qRfKgyogfmWbrQNnF4Qkq06bEWOvXNPBbxh48hb3AqqWFhCYfJsfdzfErTNsV83eY1UofbY2yn3IOc6yTVtW0LbEtIfv_4LExs-b60NZIH-bvqqv1ncB1vyS23j2ZVpZFBkRBXkgc/s1600/hands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd8qRfKgyogfmWbrQNnF4Qkq06bEWOvXNPBbxh48hb3AqqWFhCYfJsfdzfErTNsV83eY1UofbY2yn3IOc6yTVtW0LbEtIfv_4LExs-b60NZIH-bvqqv1ncB1vyS23j2ZVpZFBkRBXkgc/s320/hands.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">May these hands stay healthy, strong and happy.<br />
<a href="http://www.montana-wedding-photographer.com/" target="_blank">Larry Stanley</a></td></tr>
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When I look at the picture of our hands on Dude I can identify whose is whose and intimately know their story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two of us cradled our infant children as we dealt with chemo and drains. Three held the hands of friends and family as they battled this horrible disease at such a young age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One held onto her husband as she bravely faced her treatments and managed to nurture a camp full of boys in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<br />
These could be the hands of anyone, but they are not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These strong hands belong to invincible women that are still impacting my life and lifting my spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the hands of women who continue to work, love, inspire and hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are hands that tremble with each follow up appointment and clap and hold tight to loved ones when the news is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are also the hands that hold tissues when the news is not as good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way, they are the hands of women I have come to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Myself included.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947906254347075681.post-33590469709584677122012-10-16T22:19:00.003-04:002012-10-16T22:19:46.317-04:00My story...condensed<span style="background-color: #dddddd; font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQOshr96Uf1sOuMo4MjTdP-MD2IEh3ZdVgJdgjA8d5oDOcIzI2NbcpfDYVX5Ztui0udKnsEOn2JpoAa1aF20YJtJmXn_hW6crtwzKllgvqNKrj0M0ebV_AOUTR0XGaRr1QW6pc1NrLIA/s1600/174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQOshr96Uf1sOuMo4MjTdP-MD2IEh3ZdVgJdgjA8d5oDOcIzI2NbcpfDYVX5Ztui0udKnsEOn2JpoAa1aF20YJtJmXn_hW6crtwzKllgvqNKrj0M0ebV_AOUTR0XGaRr1QW6pc1NrLIA/s200/174.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me today, happy healthy and strong.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;">Before I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I knew I was
a survivor.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: purple;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On October 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>, 2007, we joyously welcomed
our third daughter, Clara Elizabeth, into our family. The C-section went
smoothly and we were looking forward to a speedy recovery. Things did not
go as planned. Sixty hours after her birth, barely alive, I was rushed
into surgery to evacuate a massive retroperitoneal hemorrhage, so large it had
displaced my kidneys and bladder and had even caused my lungs to
collapse. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUSI6jwJgwSoNDvW9n4IR1o0zy8SU8iAun0UD1IsB1phdHTHaH6PfOq0SwKx7tAIz4OxCEOiVqnnoUFNRfBdhQhyphenhyphenjGXlob0y1qR_DZRloayEoPPRKLijjl61yJ3pzbzDuWwOGSwsOXCM/s1600/barely+living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: purple;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUSI6jwJgwSoNDvW9n4IR1o0zy8SU8iAun0UD1IsB1phdHTHaH6PfOq0SwKx7tAIz4OxCEOiVqnnoUFNRfBdhQhyphenhyphenjGXlob0y1qR_DZRloayEoPPRKLijjl61yJ3pzbzDuWwOGSwsOXCM/s320/barely+living.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;">Barely alive after multiple blood transfusions. At least I'm off the ventilator!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I woke up in the ICU on a ventilator, 57 staples
running from my chest all the way down, minus a uterus, and a long way from
recovery. My baby, along with my dreams of a large family went home two
weeks before I did. It took an amazing nurse, many generous blood donors,
extremely supportive friends and family, and a lot of inner strength to begin
healing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was the end of a long journey for my husband and
me. Our first daughter was born blind (our Amazing Grace who can now
see), our second daughter was born asleep; we were blessed with Ella in our
third pregnancy, but lost another daughter on our fourth try. We were
physically and mentally exhausted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"></span><span style="color: purple;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Clara was 7 months old I decided it was time to
get a physical, with a family history of breast cancer this always included a
mammogram even though I was only 36. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obviously I would not be writing this essay if the
results had come back clean and clear. After 7 months of constant medical
appointments dealing with the aftermath of a horrific birth experience I was
about to fight for my life one more time and I was not sure I was prepared for
battle.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In life it is so amazing how quickly our perspective
can change. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I went through the normal battery of diagnostic testing we
were thrilled at how BLESSED I was to have DCIS. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since both of my breasts were scattered with
DCIS coming to terms with a double mastectomy proved to be very difficult for
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My breasts were how I fed and
comforted my babies. Clara was only 7 months old and I had just lost my
uterus, could I really stand to lose all my female parts in under a year?
Would I ever feel like a woman again? Would a love of shoes be all that
separated me from the boys? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again, after almost dying in child birth and then
getting a double mastectomy less than a year later I found myself proclaiming
how BLESSED I was, negative nodes!!!! </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perspective is an amazing thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I began to heal from yet another major surgery I
started walking daily. Clara took her morning and afternoon naps in the
stroller as I pushed my way back to health. After several months I began
jogging between mailboxes….this was a MIRACLE! Having developed large
breasts in the 6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> grade I had literally never been able to run, I
could teach step aerobics and spinning all day long, but the repetitive motion
of running was too hard on my breasts and back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As my body regained its muscular
strength, I was regaining my inner strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am a longtime group fitness instructor and have had the opportunity to help so
many women as they heal from breast cancer treatments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am able to listen and relate to their
struggles as I teach them to exercise slowly and safely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each time I get another survivor physically
ready to return to their normal lives I feel like I have beaten cancer one more
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our minds heal so much more
quickly when we are moving. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVjQD-gV7tmQMm3mXc_qXMs3Eb-tGzUiudMQ_WdhKgZTALQYoXZj_zzP30ZCGApDws6V31_ECYCvCn6tHbFkzLoLWf6U66n3eNq4y9J90hXb0o4FwNucB1Pom_opSSfPg6SscSy6v_eU/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVjQD-gV7tmQMm3mXc_qXMs3Eb-tGzUiudMQ_WdhKgZTALQYoXZj_zzP30ZCGApDws6V31_ECYCvCn6tHbFkzLoLWf6U66n3eNq4y9J90hXb0o4FwNucB1Pom_opSSfPg6SscSy6v_eU/s320/028.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our bodies can overcome so much and with enough work,
passion and dedication it is possible to come back and be as strong as or even
stronger than before. We are often surrounded by people with excuses or
an “I can’t” attitude, being a warrior against breast cancer shows us that
obstacles are meant to hurdled, cleared or completely obliterated! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having never run before cancer, I have now completed
five marathons (even qualifying for the Boston Marathon by ten minutes), many
50Ks, and other (even longer) distance races. I was the first place
survivor at the 5K Komen Race for the Cure in Maryland last year...tears of joy
streaming down my face as I crossed the finish line, completely decked out in a
pink tutu! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life is good and I am happy to say how incredibly
BLESSED I have been! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Perspective.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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My husband Mike and three daughters were at the finish line when I qualified for Boston, these are my true blessings.</div>
<a name='more'></a>Kathleen Hammetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02025196553241743667noreply@blogger.com3