Are you ready for this? :) 61 days...

Quote of the day: 

“Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit…what a ride!’” ~Hunter S. Thompson

Power Song of the Week: 

"Don't Let Me Fall"  by B.o.B.

I was up so high looking down at the sky - don't let me fall

I was shooting for stars on a Saturday night

They say what goes up must come down, 

But don't let me fall...

Weekly Vitals: 

98/60 = BP

66 = pulse

141.5 = weight

98.6 = temp

Still 5'6" (darn I thought I would at least gain an inch!) :)

Blood levels = 11.8 (normal 12)

Photo:  My finish at Mt Wachusett in June

Training

(Gotta love Daily Mile & my Garmin 405 = motivation from new & old friends!)

July 19 week = 35 miles

July 26 week= 48 miles

August 2 week = 52 miles 

Longest run = 8/2 = 18.2 miles

Trail pace 10 min/mile

Road pace 8.5 min/mile

Racing Targets

Never give up! BUT always listen to your body!

Mt Toby (MA) 14 miler - 11 days

Race to the Top of VT = 19 days

Applefest (NH) 1/2 marathon = 46 days

Leaf Peepers 1/2 marathon  (VT) (tentative) = 53 days

Chicago Marathon = 61 days 

Chicago Marathon Plan!

Have Fun!

ACS DetermiNation fundraising efforts - $276 of $1000 goal met to date

ACS DetermiNation schedule of events TBA

Elite B coral with Cara

Costumes! 

 I am Wonder Woman & Cara is Batgirl!  (Capes and all!)  My sister Laura is in process of making our costumes RIGHT now!)  How FUN is that!  :)

Judy joined Team Boston or Bust!  :)  Thanks Judy! 

Charlie will be there -- will he have pink hair again????

DP Turtle (aka David Pittman) is bringing CAKE!  :)

Staying at the Marriott with my love!  Going to Bin 36!  My fave Chitown restaurant

We are all so excited for Chicago --- I am watching my blood levels and my body response to training and so far so good!  :)  Chicago is one of my favorite flat and fast marathons.  Just need to watch the heat!  But of course with my new friend / elite runner Cara is sacrificing a PR to pace me --- so I will have a personal race monitor.  I am so lucky to have the support of so many runner friends and ACS colleagues and volunteers at this race - it WILL be the best marathon for those and many other reasons!  Yay!

Posting here the prototypes for Batgirl and Wonder Woman! 

Also my latest ChiPower Playlist!

Sharing the news: Family

Hi Family,

I just wanted to make sure that I sent email to everyone telling you what is going on.   No need to call right now, we have more calls than we can handle just with doctors and logistics while we go through all of this.

Nancy has been diagnosed with Defused Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

We noticed a lump in her stomach about 5 weeks ago now and thought is was a clog in the intestines.  Well, we finally went to see a doctor after 3 weeks and she had no idea what it was, so she sent us for a Cat Scan that week.   We had to wait until the following Monday to be told that they were pretty sure that she had lymphoma a type of cancer.  We then had to setup more tests for a biopsy, pet scan, blood tests, heart tests etc.   Well, we finally got confirmation yesterday that it was indeed cancer.   We head to Boston tomorrow to Mass General for a second opinion to get confirmation from the best cancer doctors in the states about diagnosis and treatment.

We had a trip planned with a lot of my race kids going to Mount Hood for next week, but it looks like we can't make it since we need to start Chemo right away. This is a fast growing cancer and needs to be stopped as soon as possible.  This is very treatable which is a great thing. it will be 6, 3 week cycles of Chemo treatments for about 4 months.  Hopefully given her excellent health besides the lymphoma, and her being in amazing shape, this should go well.  

Nancy has incredibly high spirits just like the rest of our family and is the most positive person and is constantly still laughing with me all the time.   So we are fine.   

Our best to all of you.   Again, no need to call right now, the volume of medical calls are huge right now so we can't answer or get back to everyone.   It's only going to get worse as more people know.


Nancy will probably start a blog real soon to help people who want to know how she is doing and once the calls settle down we'll let the family know.  Our hope is to start on Monday or Tuesday with the first cycle of Chemo.  This is just growing too fast to not act right away.

Keep Nancy in your prayers.   And know that we love you all.  We are not trying to avoid you, just extremely busy with everything going on.   Email is the best way to contact us if you want.

Thanks for your understanding and prayers.

We Love you all.

Steve

 

Diagnosis: Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

Hi Dr. Len -

We just got back from the oncologist and the diagnosis is diffuse large b-cell lymphoma.  We have set up a second opinion by Dr. Jeffrey Barnes at MASS General on Friday.  I have a PET scan scheduled for tomorrow with blood work and then an Ecko (?) test as well to test my heart.  So busy in the next 2 days - to get all this done as we are going on our pre-planned vacation / ski camp trip to Mt. Hood for next week (after a little arm twisting and "negotiating" with Doc Smith) and then hit the ground running on the Monday we get back with Chemo as the regime for 6 cycles.  of Rchop as the treatment. It should last a total of 4 months (through Nov).  

We would love to talk to you at some point soon to get our arms around all of this -- but so far are happy with the local Dr. Smith and her staff to expedite things through insurance and information to date.  

Please let me know anything via email and if you have any time tomorrow afternoon after the PET scan to talk that would be great too.   I have included you as a doctor to send all results and gave them the 250 Williams St. address.  Please let me know if there is a different address to send info.

Thanks again for all your support.

The Beginning - update to key friends and colleagues

Sending the below update so I don't have to worry about missing anyone in a separate email.  
Crazy times.  
I love you both so much for being there for me.  This is tough --- I cry often -- not as strong as I would hope to be at times, but I am ok.  :)



Recuperating right now from this mornings biopsy.  Thank you for the calls, emails and text.  :)  You all have been so supportive.  :)  

It is killing me not to run on the 4th.  I was going to run Loon Mountain.  Doc doesn't think its a good idea and my stomach wasn't feeling so hot this morning running.  I just have to keep running - it is keeping me sane.  Steve made sure that Dr. Hartnell advised me not to run for at least a day (LOL - supposed to be a week) - after all during pre op he got the quick Nancy running fame history.  No waterskiing, no wine  -- nothing "fun" says the nurse.. :(  for 24 hours.  I think I can make it.

Dr. H said that no wonder Doctor Marvelli didn't want to do the biopsy in the office because I had more muscle than your average person.  :) We laughed in the biopsy room talking about our children.  The techs have been so nice too.  

I have a itty bitty glimmer of hope that this may still not be cancer, but all the "looks" I get - it probably is....  but it will be ok, treatment and get rid of this thing.  It just really really sucks.

Biopsy was today (feeling crappy, sleepy & not motivated).   Oncology appointment is on Weds.  As you know I had an appointment with one of the best lymphoma docs in the country Hochberg at Mass Gen, but insurance dictates that I try local treatment first.  I will go there for a second opinion.  In the meantime everyone has been really nice.  Doc Hartnell was so funny - and Dr. Martinelli has really been caring too even though I didn't need surgery.  Hoping Dr. Smith is great too.

I am strong - I will get through this.  Steve is so supportive there every second and step of the way and so are all my friends - including all of you. 

Dr. Len from the ACS has been amazing sharing his time to consult and talk to both of us as we begin this "journey" (ugh - I hate saying that) - but giving us knowledge and advice on what course to take.  Lynne Grazianno from LLS (a great friend - past ACS) has opened up her contacts in helping get the appointment with Dr. Hochberg at MA Gen) and really a great person to talk to as she has gone through this so many   times herself. We got a disc of my cat scan - shared it with a ski client/friend, one of the best radiologists in the DC area.  He has been helpful and confirmed all that we have seen and been routed so far.  

I am truly blessed to have the best support system one could dream of. I am playing my ACS cards and feeling good about the support and knowledge.  


Thank you all for your love & support.