ONE WEEK! Holy bananas…how did we get here so FAST?

Watching the back yard ultra, while on my tready....... Whooohooo

The Fall 50 in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin. 50.7 miles and a whole lot of purpose!

The good news? I’m finally starting to feel better! The medication seems to be helping, and I’m learning how to use this new inhaler.

With my lungs still recovering, I decided to keep things indoors on the treadmill rather than head out into the cold air.

Let me tell you…SLOW was the name of the game!

Nothing fast, nothing fancy. Just seeing how my body was feeling and keeping everything easy. Since I’ve had a little extra downtime this week, guess what happened?

I ACCIDENTALLY BOUGHT MORE RUNNING SHOES!

Found a pair I’ve run in before, just a half-size bigger. Then somehow, I accidentally wandered into Dick’s Sporting Goods and found ANOTHER pair!

I mean…what’s a girl supposed to do?!

So I gave the shoes a little try on the treadmill. They felt good, and while the pace was slower than I’m used to, that’s perfectly okay. Right now, I’m not chasing speed. I’m focusing on getting healthy. As much as I love running, something even more meaningful has been happening behind the scenes.

THE NAMES.

Oh my goodness, the messages, texts, phone calls, and stories I’ve received from people asking me to carry the names of their loved ones.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much that means to me.

Moms. Dads. Grandparents. Sisters. Brothers. Aunts. Uncles. Cousins. Friends.

People fighting cancer. People who have survived. And people whose memories will forever live in the hearts of those who love them.

I am incredibly blessed that you’ve trusted me to carry their names.

What started as running miles for my daughter-in-law Jennah has become something I never could have imagined.

Every name I add makes this journey even more special.

Now it’s time to finish organizing those names, get my race gear together, figure out what I’m packing, and prepare for a week that’s going to FLY by!

And through it all, I’m keeping one thing in mind…

A positive mindset doesn’t mean everything goes perfectly. It means finding something to be grateful for, even when the journey takes an unexpected turn.

The goal is still there. The excitement is still there. And the purpose is bigger than ever.

7 DAYS. 50.7 MILES. HUNDREDS OF NAMES. ONE GRATEFUL HEART.

#cancersucks #cancernames #Fall50 #7DaysToGo #IronSunshine La Crosse Area Family Y family - Fall 50

 

8 DAYS UNTIL THE BIG PARTY!

 

The Fall 50…50.7 beautiful miles through Door County, Wisconsin!

Holy bananas…we’re getting CLOSE!

Started my morning at the Y with Pilates followed by Cardio Essentials. Then I decided to try something a little different…

THE STEAM ROOM!

Thought maybe a little steam would help loosen up this chest congestion.

And “HOLY SCHINKES”…was that thing HOT!

Fifteen minutes was ALL I could handle! Came out soaking wet and ready to cool down.

After cleaning up and taking it easy, I headed out later for a little walk. Just some gentle time on my legs while continuing to let my body recover.

The good news? I’m feeling pretty good!

I’m still paying attention to this cough and how my lungs are feeling. I’m hoping to get back on the treadmill soon, once it’s safe, to see how my body responds.

In the meantime, I’m getting my Fall 50 checklist organized, preparing to pack, and spending some time studying and visualizing the course.

The mental preparation is just as important right now.

I can picture those beautiful Door County roads, the miles ahead, and all those special names I’ll be carrying with me.

And I’m reminding myself…

A positive mindset doesn’t mean ignoring the challenges. It means believing you can work through them while making smart decisions along the way.

Eight days away.

The excitement is REAL. The gratitude is REAL. And the purpose behind these miles means more than ever.

Rest. Recover. Visualize. Believe.

Project 9:30…one day at a time!

#Project930 #Week18 #Fall50 #8DaysToGo #IronSunshine La Crosse Area Family YMCA Destination Door County

9 DAYS UNTIL THE BIG DANCE! 🏃‍♀️🎗️

The Fall 50 in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin! And technically, we’re talking 50.7 MILES!

Well…today was the day to figure out what in the world has been going on with this body of mine!

Started the morning at the Y teaching TRX • Cycling • TRX, taking it VERY easy. Lots of coaching, demonstrating, and letting my members do the hard work today!

Then it was off to the doctor.

Because seriously…CHEST, WHAT IS GOING ON?!

And we finally have an answer. My doctor suspects walking pneumonia.

So now we’re treating it with medication, an inhaler, and a plan to give my body the rest it needs.

I’ll admit, I’m not someone who loves taking medication, so seeing everything I was prescribed was a little overwhelming. But right now, getting healthy is what matters.

No running for now. Let the medication do its job. Let the body HEAL.

And I’m incredibly grateful we caught this before race weekend rather than during it.

But here’s where my heart really is today.

This race means SO much more to me than 50.7 miles or a 9:30 finish time.

As a two-time cancer survivor myself, I know what it means to face challenges you never expected. And being able to run these miles in honor of those fighting cancer, celebrating those who have survived, and in loving memory of those we’ve lost is something I can’t even put into words.

Last year, one of the most incredible parts of the Fall 50 was hearing other athletes read the names on my jersey as they ran past me.

The encouragement. The conversations. The connections.

Those weren’t just names on a jersey. They were PEOPLE. They were STORIES. They were LOVED.

And every time someone acknowledged a name, it reminded me why I was out there.

Some people may wonder why I do this. Others understand exactly what those names mean.

But for me, it’s simple.

If carrying someone’s name for 50 miles brings one family comfort, gives one person hope, or reminds someone that their loved one hasn’t been forgotten, then every step has a purpose.

I feel incredibly blessed to have so many people trusting me to carry those names.

And right now, I’m going to do everything I can to give my body the best opportunity to recover.

9 days. 50.7 miles. Hundreds of names. One very grateful heart.

Project 9:30 isn’t just about what my legs can do.

It’s about what my heart gets to carry.

#Project930 #cancersucks #Fall50 #RunningForCancer #MilesForJennah

10 DAYS UNTIL THE BIG DANCE!

Holy bananas… DOUBLE DIGITS are almost behind us!

Just 10 days until the Fall 50 and those beautiful 50 miles through Door County, Wisconsin!

Today’s morning started at the @La Crosse Area Family Y with Cardio Essentials followed by Pilates, then it was time for a little walk/baby jog. Nothing fast, nothing crazy, just some easy movement.

The good news? The names are coming together!

Seeing all those names being organized for my race jersey is making this adventure feel more real every single day.

Each name represents someone special. Someone fighting, someone who has survived, or someone whose memory we continue to carry.

50 miles. Hundreds of names. One incredible purpose.

Now, about this cough…

Unfortunately, it’s STILL hanging around! So Thursday I’m heading in to get checked out and make sure everything is okay before race day.

As much as my mind wants to GO, GO, GO, I know my body needs a little more time.

And that’s okay.

Right now, I’m focusing on the things I CAN control—rest, recovery, nutrition, organizing my race gear, and mentally preparing for the miles ahead.

Because sometimes the biggest part of preparing for a challenge isn’t physical. It’s believing in yourself enough to trust the work you’ve already done.

The miles are in the bank. The excitement is building. And the reason behind every step is bigger than ever.

Let’s get after it MENTALLY…and soon, hopefully, PHYSICALLY!

#Project930 #cancersucks #Fall50 #justkeepgoing #IronSunshine