Maybe it’s the rebel in me that needs to be tamed. Running a new trail and I see an arrow that was obviously meant to guide me one direction… But now I’m so used to my “signs” that I seem to want to stop and see what I’m not supposed to and go where the rest of the world doesn’t go.
With every relationship, there are ups and downs… But sometimes even I doubt that anyone else can fully understand how high our ups are and how low our downs are. However, what I am most proud of is regardless of what is going on underneath the facade, we both know that family always comes first and we always know when we need each other.
So on this Christmas Day, as he lays in a hospital bed away from family and friends, our first Christmas away from each other and just one week after my mile 17 when I wanted to throw in the towel and he drove by me telling me that it wasn’t an option… I think we both realize that Santa gave us a pretty special gift. I hope it never fades… Regardless of what happens.
Michael has reached the age where Christmas is just another day, kinda uncool and is the true meaning of school vacations. But even as awesome as he is, he surprised me with so much support over this difficult holiday. He was always by my side offering help and suggestions. He even helped wrap the gifts for Xander. My poor baby didn’t get much recognition or even a special gift from “Santa” and it didn’t even seem to phase him one bit.
Xander questioned for the first time if Santa is real. So Michael knocked on the window gently but loud enough to make the dogs bark and Grandpa Don yelled out “Ho ho ho!” And when Xander came roaring into the living room, the tree was filled with presents.., all for him! He still believes š
As for my Dad, this was his first Christmas without his one true love. I saw his eyes tear up several times over the night. His voice cracked a few times and he looked up to the stars every chance he got. My parents had a love that fairy tales dream of.
My Christmas wish is for health and happiness. These two things make everything else in my life come together. That is all I want.
These are a few of my favorite things.
I just hung up my year on a rack that was given to me this week by a friend who thought I was completely nuts for doing this but supported me the entire time. I took a step back and smiled.
Earlier this afternoon, I watched the ironman competition on TV and saw so many signs that seemed to tell me my next step. As insane as that sounds… You gotta admit, it was insane to begin with huh? So, bring it on.
I had put all my eggs in one basket, thinking I would raise all I needed to raise in one event… I was wrong. I will have to refocus my energies on a fundraising campaign these next few months. It’s going to be difficult as I’ve become aware of some obstacles and I also cannot have it interfere with my family and work priorities. But when was the last time you saw me back down from something difficult?
Never Ever Give Up!
It’s Christmas eve’s eve. I plan to run the trails tomorrow morning and “smell some roses”. The rest of the holiday will be all about my boys… And my Daddy.
God Bless us all. I’ll be wishing on that Christmas star. ~much love, Myssie
Last year I ran my first 5k at the Fiesta Marathon. This year, I ran my last marathon at Fiesta. Last year, I had family, health and emotional issues. This year, I had family, health and emotional issues. But they were polar differences this year! I guess what I’m trying to say is that… Boy, what a difference a year makes!!!
A local newspaper told my story – written very well and with sensitivity. I had no idea so many people would connect with it and with me. It validated to me all that Momma saw and that my journey is obviously in its infancy. I am now a true believer in signs and feel that she and Sissy and Donny and Rodney and Jana and… (I have more angels than anyone else I know!) are all leading me to the right people and the right places. All those people were with me at Fiesta. It was the toughest run with the worst time I’ve ever had. But it will likely be my most memorable because of the people who were there for me. From the first hug in the morning to the Forrest Gump finish line experience and all the applause and car honks in between with encouragement… It was a wave of orange love to me. Thank you!!! Orange will crush cancer!
Seriously great write! As a novice cyclist now, I’m trying really hard to learn as much as I can in a short amount of time. Hanging out with the elite cyclists of my area has helped tremendously but this blog nailed it! I don’t care now which race LLS puts me in, I’m stoked!!!
Tomorrow I will be entering my first cycling raceā¦ A 6 hour time trial race around a 16 mile, triangular loop in Palm Springs, CA. This was a total last minute decisionā¦ My friend, Lauren, invited me to go down and do the race with her Thursday nightā¦ which meant not a whole lot of time to train lol.
Before I quit training for the Furnace Creek 508 in August, I was given some advice by ultra cyclist, Dani Grabol, on things she wish she knew before started cycling. Not so much training advice, but more so how to stay somewhat comfortable on the bike. I was reviewing it today, and thought that it would definitely be worth sharing so here we goā¦
Saddle Sores:
There are 3 types:
Ingrown Hairs/Blocked Hair Follicles: These look like little whiteheads or zits and can appear anywhere really. They are usually popable andā¦
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A few months ago, I blurted out (to an acquaintance whom I barely knew and shown above) that we should have a 5k Color Run down here in the Valley. It would be nothing but fun yet would intrigue the participants into asking what each color represented… and offer a way to promote a good cause, introduce a healthy lifestyle to those non-athletes (like I was) and remind hard-core athletes that fitness activity does not always have to be competitive but is based on something fun. It was short enough for all levels of the public to complete. It was not timed. There were no winners and no losers. Well, let me re-phrase… the race organizers (Mid Valley Events) sure won! BEST EVENT EVER!!! Fitness sure won! Everyone who participated seemed to have tons of fun! And the charities that participated sure won! Mimi’s Miles included!!! I don’t have enough fingers and toes plus fingers and toes of all our volunteers to count how many times runners came through our ORANGE station screaming out “I run for Mimi”. I must have cried at least 50 times just that morning!
Good tears.
I had received a text early that morning about how orange the sun rise was and again how orange the sun set was that day.
THE ENTIRE DAY BELONGED TO MY MOM. And it was all because of some really wonderful people who organized it, a fabulous community who participated in it and a great home town that made it all happen.
My heart overflows.
And so as I write this blog, this very moment, it was announced that a break though therapy has been discovered to help leukemia patients and it as funded by the races that I run!!!! Click here for that article
Better yet, click here to donate and help make a bigger difference!
When Jean Gearhart first spoke to me about the Triple Crown Challenge, she was right… I really did think she was nuts.
Maybe it was the other nutty people that I ran into all that week that had already or were planning on doing the same thing that kind of pushed me into thinking that if I had come this far… why not go all the way? So here I am.. thinking I’m nuts already so lets just confirm it! I’m going for the Triple Crowns in both the Rock & Roll Marathon series AND the L.L.S. (Team in Training) challenge!!! Ā I haven’t had a crown since I was 23 years old. I think it’s time I went for it! What do you think?
So, what IS a Triple Crown? For the Rock N Roll Marathon series, it is running three marathons in ONE calendar year. For LLS, it is running a marathon, a triathlon and a 100-mile century ride all while fundraising for each event.
OK, don’t say it. I know… you think I’m nuts. It’s ok. I think so, too! But you know deep down inside that I wouldn’t do this for any other reason but this: BEAT CANCER
Here’s the Wildflower race from this year that I”ll be training for next year. WILDFLOWER
This morningĀ I helped kick off the first leg of Frank Lara’s 172 Mile Campaign pledge for the Vannie Cook Cancer Center in McAllen. I wish with all my heart I had trained for this or was a naturally gifted runner that I could just pick up and say “Sure Frank! I’ll run 172 miles with you!” But I’m not. I ran the first half marathon equivalent and it broke my heart to leave them as they continued onto their trek. God Bless those runners with Frank and God Bless the children we are running for!
Today Frank Lara surprised me by showing up to the station with a jersey that he got for me so that I can run with him during his 172 mile trek from Roma to South Padre Island as a fund raiser for Vannie Cook Cancer Center in McAllen. VCC is a local cancer clinic that specializes in childhood cancers. This is where Ben Karam, a boy that I run for, gets treatment. Now, I may run a marathon a month but I’ve never run 172 miles all at once! Frank has!!! And as crazy as it sounds… this is his SECOND time that he does this!!!
Insane I know! And I’m honored that he’s included me in his craziness š
Took a step back today to take account of all that my community is doing now for the cause. I’m pretty dang proud of us!! WTG RGV!
Frank posted this picture of me receiving my jersey with the following:
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO Myssie Cardenas-Barajas for her commitment to the 172 Campaign Run and to all the other great and inspiring things she does.
Since the beginning of the 172 Campaign Run group started in March of 2012 Myssie was one of the first to volunteer to help and at our 1st meeting there she was!
Myssie I can’t thank you enough for helping us get this started and now look at us, 6 months later we’re going at it again strong!
We wanted to also extend our warmest condolences to you and your family for the great loss you had this year. Mimi Cardenas will forever be in our hearts and remember by the 172 Campaign group.
I promise to wear my I Run for Mimi Jersey again this time!
Please SUPPORT Myssies run group Mimi’s Miles on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/runningformimi
RunMyssieRun 