LUCKY DUCKLING!!!

Haven't taken the time to write in a while. Been a little busy....training...training...training....RACE, RACE, RACE....haha. Its been one incredibly busy spring. Easy to forget little things like a blog. But I will take a few moments to reflect, and write.

My race season this year began at Columbia Tri at the end of May with a great PR. Took 30 minutes off last years time, with an incredible bike time...really fun, beautiful weather, and fantastic Team Fight show of over 50 racers. Incredible awareness out there. Next up, Rev3 Quassy weekend of June 2nd. This was an incredible opportunity, not only to volunteer and work the race, represent Team Fight, but to race the Olympic on Saturday and be interviewed and followed by a team of cameras. Huge highlight on my story and UCF to be later aired in the Rev3 series TV production....really exciting experience for me. Completely humbling, and such a fun way to share my story and inspire others. Thank goodness I had practice with B doing our little films up at UCF ...being silly is my favorite. This time I had to be serious for the 4 person camera crew. BANG! Last up, following weekend was the uber-hot, mega long Eagleman 70.3. Rocked it out in 95 degree sauna conditions. Finished like a champ.... back to back to back tri-fecta of races. Time to reflect, and relax....and head to the ocean to cool off and enjoy the accomplishment!!

After the racing, it was also time to head back to Johns Hopkins for another follow up Oncologist appointment. I was lucky enough to train and race in-between follow-ups. A time to find peace, and thankfulness....for my health, and ability to be strong! Im ever so grateful for those breaks. So, I pull it together and head back up. As I write this, I tear up....for I just got my test results back YESTERDAY...and they were clear again. Im great for yet another three months. Such relief. The way a phone call can change your day. Your week, your three months. I used to get calls that would just break me....this one yesterday was not that type of call. So I have so much hope, and will continue to push, and keep my glass half-full as always! :)

I have to also write about the way life can change in an instant...just when you think things couldnt get any worse, or tougher, the sun shines on you so bright....and the most wonderous things come your way. So grateful for the way life works :) Im talking about you puppies...

Here's the video edit....came out amazing. Watch out, this little lucky duck is moving and shaking....and will continue to fight like hell. BOOM!

http://vimeo.com/44969136

Miles of Smiles

When people take something they are passionate about, and put that energy towards a great cause, something so meaningful... Amazing things happen. I just spent my last three days with the most dedicated, passionate, giving and crazy fun people who are giving up their time and energy ( and legs!!!) to raise awareness and funding for young adults with cancer. It's hard to not be emotional as I write this, for I have met incredible people, and it's very special to me...not ready to leave the run, no matter how tired my legs are!

Not only did I come here to inspire the runners and share my story, but I came here to use these legs!! I jumped off the plane in AZ in the middle of the night and cranked out 13.5 miles on the midnight shift. And I did it with a smile!! There is no better way to face the hills, the pain, and the tiredness. We are all 'survivors' out on the roads in the RAA. What you don't know about this run is the exhaustion these runners face, and the ever-changing conditions: night, day, altitude, hills, dirt, rocks, temperatures to name a few! Until you are out there running and logging the miles, you have no idea of the dedication, passion and love these people have....it brings me to tears over and over to think that they are doing this for survivors like me, young adults that are just being diagnosed, and those fighting for their lives. Truly IS all about the people.
Cancer has changed my life. I will cherish the fact that my positive attitude, strength and support from others has helped me through the fight. Just like these runs, in life, we never know whats around the corner, or on the other side of the hill. Facing it with strength, courage, smiles, and a positive attitude makes the tough times, or cancer diagnosis, much easier. I'm just thrilled to be able to inspire others, bring awareness and be part of incredible events like this . Charlie and the Rev3 gang are making their mark in the fight against cancer...follow this incredible journey we are all making. It's 3,080 miles of smiles!

Why I Run....

All packed up! Getting super pumped for this epic journey out west. OH MY GOSH. This is going to be an experience I will never ever forget. So very excited. Last training run last night. Wasnt the best, but my legs feel good. Im headed to teach my last cycling class tonight...easy on the legs Meggers!!!

Ive been meaning to post this video that Brian and I shot a few weeks back. We made this for lots of reasons. This one hear is mostly for this Run Across America with Rev3. Tough for me to make it, lots of edits. Haa...just kidding. Im silly, but its the truth. Reality hits here when I watch myself talk about my diagnosis, the hard parts of cancer...and then the wonderful things that UCF has brought to my life, and moving forward, this incredible partnership with Rev3 and outstanding feats such as this awareness campaign all of us are taking part in by hoofing it across this huge nation. WOW!

So check out our map, and this uber cool video of yours truly!

Run Forrest Run!

As I begin to pack this evening for my Run Across America, this video comes to mind. And I know for sure, I will feel like this at some point this weekend....Bahahhaah!!!

Patient #314

It's my party and I blog if I want to! Haha. Sitting here in clinic at Johns Hopkins University at my every 3 months check up... And always waiting and waiting. So thought it would be a good time to write. It's a beautiful day today... Already stopped by work, started up the lab. Left plenty of time, but managed to get into terrible traffic on my way here and ended up in tears in my car. Somehow these appointments always get me stressed no matter how prepared I am for them. The littlest things just set me off... Even if I'm late for an appointment I will sit an hour for, I still manage to get upset! Go figure!

I've exhausted every app on my iPhone to keep me busy, so I will write here and next turn to some planning for next weeks Cancer to 5K practice! On to more positive things. Need to stay busy in the next few weeks as I wait for these results. Lots of good things on the horizon! St.patricks day this weekend, more training, Cancer to 5k kick off, and less than 2 weeks to the run across America! Boom!!

As I look around the waiting room at those waiting to see the oncologist as well, I find myself lucky... And will remain positive. Everyone's journey is different and I'm definitely not given anything I can't handle. Gonna face this visit with a smile. Here we go!

Lucky in Life!!

I've been waiting a long time to meet a certain little person and I finally got the chance today! Four weeks ago today, Sean Jr was born to my dear friends Tressa and Sean, and today was my chance to lay my eyes on this precious little nugget!! Not only is he blessed with the most awesome parents, beautiful eyes, and a super cool Mohawk, but he is also blessed with an extra chromosome...Downs Syndrome. This wasn't known until after birth, as all tests were negative durning pregnancy! Almost like hitting the lottery... Less than a 5%chance for this to even occur.

I admire the positive attitude of my friends and I'm so proud of them... Nobody ever expects these things to happen, much as with any serious diagnosis or health condition. As with my cancer diagnosis, the initial shock can be a huge weight to bear...but with time gets easier. The strange part is that I can honestly say I've embraced so much of this illness and glad its changed my life. It's brought so much goodness, despite the negative impact I thought all the surgeries and treatments would bring.

I know little Sean will to be faced with challenges, as we all are in life. But with that beautiful little face, and so much love surrounding him... The odds are in his favor. He truly is blessed, and so lucky in life! Welcome to the world Sean Jr!

Moses the Triathlete...

PHEW....long time no blog!
Time to get a little used to this writing and reflecting thingy.
Been a busy girl...worky worky, travel...training. Getting focused, and trying to look ahead to this Run Across America thing. More to come on that. As I prepared for my spin class last week I came across an awesome little article. Good timing with the beginning of Lent, and all that silly stuff....
and we come to, dum da da dum...

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF TRAINING!

Really? But I thought this was awesome. They not only apply to training for a race, or training for a triathlon, or for cycling...but for any aspect of preparation in life.  So just wanted to share it here, and have a place to look back, remember them and all that good stuff. Here they are!

1. Train Moderately

2. Train Consistently

3. Get Adequate Rest

4. Train With a Plan

5. Train With Groups

6. Plan to Peak

7. Improve Weaknesses

8. Trust Your Training

9. Listen to Your Body

10. Commit to Goals

Sounds pretty easy right?? Take what you will...some are better than others...but I think they are good points to remember when we are in the midst of prepping ourselves for our next race, or just setting any bit of fitness goals! Good stuff! And back to the laboratory I gooooo! PEACE OUT.

Meggers blog...entry numero uno!

Haha...BLOG? Meg is gonna blog. Here goes nuttin.

So the title:  "Nut up or Shut up."

Pretty much the theme of my life. Yes, I stole it from Zombieland. But, its been my motto ever since. Whether facing sketchy conditions out on my kiteboard, a training run that I'm five miles into and feel like crap, or up at Johns Hopkins facing another Oncologist appointment alone and I want to run and hide....it's a statement that reverberates in my head relentlessly. NUT UP or SHUT UP Meg. So, thus the title of my blog. It gets me thru a lot of things.

So I really dont know what to write about here....Im on quite a journey these days. Embracing what comes my way.... and more than anything I want to use this to journal some days that are so exhilarating, some days that completely suck..and some really funny moments and fun times in-between. Don't know who I'll be sharing this with. Might just be me. Either way, hope its fun. Or funny...or something like that.

Here goes nothing! Welcome to meggers bloggity blog. Vrooom. Charging ahead...here we goooo! Ooh...just noticed I can attach links, photos and video. This is gonna be fun! :)

Here we gooo......