RunMyssieRun

The 5a.m. Cycling group escorted me on today’s ride.

A year or two ago ago, where I am at currently would have been outside of my comfort zone. I wasn’t a runner but I had the courage and determination to join a group of encouraging runners that I DID NOT KNOW PERSONALLY and stuck with them, soaked up all the advice they gave me and ran with it… yes, that pun was intended 🙂

Now I find myself in a new arena. I gradually went from running to triathlon that allowed me to keep my comfortable running friends who continued to encourage and feed me with advice and support. From there, I have jumped into this century ride challenge and have few (but solid) connections now with the run group.

On Saturday, I found myself back on the trail with the runners for a short two mile trek as the new Fall season of Team In Training formed to train for the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco, the San Antonio Rock & Roll Marathon and the McAllen Marathon. I knew no one… well, except Sarah (our honored hero) who has now become completely enamored with Vero and would not smile for the camera unless Vero was in the picture! They were all new fresh faces that were eager and scared to either run their first marathon or challenge themselves into getting back into the shape that they had when they were on the high school cross country team or those fabulous 20’s that we all loved. They were me two years ago. Uncomfortable.

But I was home. I felt so comfortable there with them. Peering over their heads as Janie gave us her “Mission Moment”, I saw a handful of the girls from my Run Walk or Crawl run group on the trail across from the Valley Running Company parking lot. More of my “Homies”. I was being constantly reminded of everything that made me comfortable.

That’s when it hit me.

You know that voice inside your head that tells you to quit? That one was quiet.

The OTHER one was speaking…

“Get out of your comfort zone, Myssie! Let the magic happen,” She said. “It’s time to trust in Him again as He leads you into the next part of your journey. It hasn’t been all rainbows and butterflies. It’s been tough. In fact, this journey has been the toughest part of your life so far hasn’t it? And He never left your side. Did he? ”

You know… you’re right. God never left me. It WAS hard. I know it will continue to be hard. But He really IS there for me.

I’ve gone through some devastating personal issues over these last few years. I’ve been brought to my knees, soaked in tears and wanted to give up on this world more times than I care to remember. But I’m still here.

And I’m ready to push myself into the next uncomfortable place. I’m ready for that miracle.

This week, everything changes…. again.

I will do something that I’ve never done with people I don’t really know. I will learn all I can from all types of athletes of various sports… and will communicate it all to my coach to finally ask her “why” so I can learn even more. I will no longer train in a group that I feel comfortable in – where great friendships are formed – but force myself to not give up when I am alone… when the cheers are gone… when no one is looking.

I will go where the magic happens.

Thank you to the 5A.M. Cycling group who allowed me to join them this past weekend on their long ride. Thank you for not dropping me and walking me through each gear change as every little hill came up or the wind changed. Thank you for your patience and encouragement. Thank you for making me feel like one of your own. 🙂

I took a 2 hour bike ride in the middle of the afternoon so I could train in 100 degree heat to get acclimated to the desert heat of Las Vegas.

I should have gone further than I did for 2 hours but I was IN the city with crazy drivers. I fell once and almost got hit twice so I slowed it down to keep myself alive!!! I learned quickly that the city I live in is not yet suited for cyclists on the road. But I was determined to get my miles in and time on the saddle in the heat. Soooo I went where I knew I was safe… The jogging trail. 😦

With so many stops and shade trees, the training didn’t go as we’ll as planned but at least it was something.

I did get to see lots of people I knew on the road though!!! That made me feel a bit safer. This city now recognizes me in the orange and riding the orange bike. I’m kinda hard to miss… Unless your texting and driving or talking on a cell phone. (Like those two drivers were)

I found that only one fountain was working on the 2nd street trail and were full of bees. I found that the cross signal buttons on Trenton do not work.

What has happened to the city I was once so proud of?

I found myself getting angrier by the minute!!! I was halfway into my ride and was already shaking with anger and fear so I changed my music to calm me down. I remembered Baby E and that she had just had her spinal tap this morning. How can I be angry and full of fear when this child just did that and then asked for Jason’s Deli afterwards?!?

I quit my gritchin and kept riding.

I felt my knee swelling from the fall. And there it was… You know that annoying voice… “Myssie, you can’t do this. Give up. No one is watching anyway. Just quit.”

But it is when no one is watching that the miracles happen to me.

All it took was her breeze. And I knew… Yes, she was watching. She was watching over me.

“David, we can do this.” – Sarah Morales

This is how survivors talk to each other.

*conversation from this mornings Team in Trainings Kick Off party

Click on the picture above to donate online.

You’ve read my story. You’ve felt my experiences. You saw my heart break from afar. You’ve seen my ups and my downs. You’ve cheered me on so I don’t quit. You’ve watched me train. You’ve watched me cross numerous finish lines. You’ve been introduced to some wonderful human beings through my blog that are no longer with us because of cancer.

Want to watch me get closer to a cure? Do your part. Help.

Do something. Share my story. Donate. Join me. Support.

So that others don’t have to deal with the pain my family has.

Do it so that it isn’t your family that is hit next.

Don’t ever think that it’ll never happen to you. Don’t ever let yourself believe that you’ll join me on “Monday” or “someday”.

SOMEDAY IS TODAY

Three weekends in a row = three medals for events

1. Capital of Texas Triathlon

2. HogDash 3

3. Girls Just Du It Duathlon

All three were so much fun! And each with great people!!! But what surprised me most was how people treated me like a rockstar!!! I was honestly left speechless by all the people who came up to me asking to take pictures with me and tell me that they read my blog and how I inspire them….

Truth is… YOU ALL INSPIRE ME!!!

Knowing that my story is spreading, that people are talking about cancer, treatments are being offered, transportation and expenses are being donated and support is more readily available fills my heart with joy!!! THIS IS THE JOURNEY

It’s not about losing weight (although it sure is nice to fit into my old clothes and Dr. Monoharan sure likes the health benefits I’m getting).

It’s not about all the medals (although it is a great reminder of accomplishments I once thought were impossible).

It’s about seeing a challenge and thinking it is impossible to accomplish and doing it anyway. It’s about opening our eyes up to the possibility of finding and funding a cure that is accessible to all of us and I won’t stop until that happens.

Best of all… I’m being greeted by moms and dads who are running for their children and children who are running for their parents that were lost to cancer doing the same thing that I’m doing and we’re all being greeted by survivors who join us and confirm that what we are doing is for some stranger out there in the world who is so very grateful.