Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...

It's about getting out there and running in the rain!

Freezing rain, that's what.

Rain that doesn't stop pouring

Or curling your hair into a fro

Well ma'ams and sirs, it happened...

I ran my first freakin' half marathon.

Oh baby it was an adventure

I loved it!

But let me tell you, it was eaarrrrly

Getting up at 4:45 isn't my kinda thing

My dad picked me up and we sped to the tracks station.

Everyone and their dog (literally, let me tell you in a sec) was on there.

But what's better than meeting new people? 

Once we almost reached our starting point, we stopped

And the girl next to me gasped

There was a huge line of K9 dogs to greet us

The people were were standing filed out and the dog came in with the police officer

We were all silent because we knew, but we were grateful for the extra security.

The dog was actually really cute. She couldn't leave one lady's bag alone, but the lady started to nervously laugh as she said it was only a banana that the lab was wanting.

The officer was nice too as he let out a small laugh and said she loved bananas...

The officer and his lab left and everyone else came back on as we went to the starting point.

We got off the train, and were a little disappointed to find out it was raining.

The helicopters hovered above as well, and it took us a moment to realize it wasn't just the news crew.

We loaded our bags off to be sent to the finish line, used quick restroom breaks, drank some water.

And before I knew it, Sweet Caroline started to play near the starting point before the moment of silence.

The countdown began, and my new friend Leah from the train and I took off.

It didn't stop raining.

Mile 1, then 2, then stretched, and then the miles continued with water and Powerade at every stop.

Long story short, the miles continued, it didn't stop raining, but it felt surprisingly wonderful!

There was support everywhere we went! 

Kids gave us low-5s as we passed.

Cheers and cowbells came from the watchers as we cheered back.

And these posters cracked me up.

Not to mention many showed their love for those in Boston

We all felt cray. We felt wonderful. It was an experience we will never forget. Everyone went at their own pace. Some walked after some time, but I was one of them who couldn't stop. It was a mental fight for all as hips, knees, and calves wanted to give in after some time. I lost track of people and caught up with them later on. It felt great supporting each other. Also, there's something about rain that gives an extra boost to a natural high, and nothing could beat the feeling of crossing the finish line!

Afterward, there was a large feast of food everywhere for everyone to enjoy. Trader Joe's food, Jimmy John's,  fruit, veggies, chips, cookies, yogurt, meat, cheese...you name it. It was my kind of paradise. I never realized how cold it was until after the run as my knees were screaming, but we were all in the same boat and we still felt good for getting past the finish line.

Who doesn't want to be like Kandi when they grow up? She raised money for cancer and ran for Tyler. This was her third half marathon for this year!

And yes, it was freezing! My lips were blue and I could not stop shivering! Hugs were welcome. Almost nothing could feel as glorious as the hot shower when I came home.

 Well folks, there's a summary of yesterday. I can't wait for my next half, whenever that will be :)

Transitioning from Summer to Fall

 Remember that summer list? Here is a recap:

Make friends at my apartment complex. Yes I did :) This summer was a lot more quiet than I expected it to be, but I enjoyed

Go running several times a week. This, too, is checked. I would alternate mornings between weight lifting and running 2 1/2 to 5 1/2 miles, which was so nice! It was always a great start to each morning and made me appreciate Sunday even more as a day of rest. My family and I even ran the CF run as well as the run for Millie. Now the challenge will be to keep up with it.

I even bought new running shoes :)

Go Swimming. I don't have any pictures of swimming, but I did a few times. One time I won't forget was when we played what ended up being "bouquet football." The guys were on one side of the pool in the water, and the girls on the other. One would toss the football to the other side, and everyone would dive in after it. It was pretty funny!

Listen to more country music. Yes ma'ams and sirs I did. I loved listening to it about every day at work.

 Not be afraid to wear my hair curly more often. This happened as well...

 

Buy at least one pair of colored jeans

Actually, I ended up buying a pair. Then I bought another, then two more. I guess you can count me in the colored pants club. I couldn't resist---they are a little too fun to wear :)

And this leads to the next one...enjoying summer treats. Holy moly this snow shack is the bomb-diggity! These snow cones were literally about the size of my head! They were too darn good. While back in my home town, I felt sorry for the students in middle school and high school that had to deal with the puny snow cones from Cup O Snow. They just don't compare to these :)

 
 Go with friends up to the mountains

We hiked up to some hot springs

First time hiking the Y.

Later this summer, I had the chance to peer mentor at Fol. Aspen Grove was stunning!

 Catch up on movies. So I ended up watching Brave, the new Spiderman movie, and the Dark Knight Returns. Spiderman was alright, but I adored Brave and I fell head over heels for the Dark Knight Rises; (honestly, though, I was on the edge of my seat during most of it.) Other than that, I really haven't seen too many movies this summer.


 Go see Wicked. You bet I did, and I adored it :)

Other things done on the list:

Breakfast for dinner
Have parties (well, ok, more like went to parties)
 Make cookies Nutella Rice Krispy treats for friends.
Go bowling (which was on a blind date with someone who was 6'7". Craziness!)
Sidewalk Chalk art: I didn't do my own artwork, but was able to go to the Chalk Art Festival with my cousin Caryn.

 Craft night

Run in the sprinlers Go down a huge slip and slide at a park

We had the whole ward at the activity, but this is a pic with a few of the girls

Go on swings at a park
 Go to the 4th of July parade/Freedom Festival: I only stayed in Provo for a little while, but I was still able to see the parade and fireworks

These events aren't in order--I just tried to write it according to the list
Did I do everything on the list? Nope. However, it was still a great summer!


 
 
Summer is in the past, and now I'm about to face the new school year. I'll admit, finding balance has been extremely difficult this week with new classes and working 18 hours a week (in which I have time to study during it.) I learned my lesson that I need to keep up with cardio exercise and strength training regularly. I'm signed up for Zumba and Ballet, but this week didn't cut it. I wasn't sore, felt that I wasn't working hard enough (and this week was more of an intro to the classes.) Yesterday I felt nauseous, exhausted, dizzy, from not enough sleep and not eating as well. My lungs felt tight and this mucus has been building up from not running. I decided I needed to hit the gym, so last night I lifted weights/did pilates for an hour and a half, and I went for a 4 mile run this morning to start the regimen again. So please excuse me as I may talk about balancing life every now and then. I'm not a pro at it and it is always a little tricky to find the right balance.

Now, about the whole not-enough-sleep thing...I have the greatest roommates! We have been staying up talking, eating pie, dying hair, and even went to the first football game of the season this week, and we won! They are some of the sweetest girls I have met and even though we may come from different backgrounds, we have already found things in common.

My days consist of going to classes then work (or vice versa), with hours in-between to study, get errands done, or lift weights, and then heading off to Zumba or ballet. Overall, I enjoy my classes :) You may say I'm trying to do too much, and this week has been crazy and again, I'm still looking for a good balance because this last week didn't cut it. As for now I'm looking forward to an even better school year!!

It wasn't enough

This past little while, I discovered that deciding to run when I could was not enough. I would find myself making excuses not to go, such as being too tired, too lazy, it was too hot outside, etc. I have been trying to keep up with my new treatment plan, which has been a challenge, and I wouldn't be sure which days to run or when to lift weights at the gym so that I can stay strong and run. So then I decided I needed a new plan--a new routine so I would know when and what my workout plan would be: go to the gym and lift weights for one hour one morning, run at least 2.5- 3 miles the next (or run the first morning and then weights the next), as long as I would have an hour of weights and at least 30 minutes of cardio every morning except Sunday--my day of rest :) It was set, so I began.

It's been rough. I didn't realize how out of shape I was for not having a routine. I have started using not only the weight machines, but free weights, been learning new pilates moves to get ready for my goal of building a six-pack in case I need to get my stomach scar tissue removed (I think that if my abdominals are stronger, then it will heal faster after surgery.) It is a little scary to think about because I hate surgeries and I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I want to be as prepared as possible in case it needs to be done. Then there's running...finding good routes around this college town has been a challenge itself with hardly any hills, busy traffic, and much more. But it's getting there.

It's been hard, especially the first week. I would be sore every day and craving a nap in the afternoon, but I would have more energy throughout each day. On Saturday, instead of running or lifting weights, I was planning on going up with some friends to hike the Y. When I woke up that morning, everything from that week kicked in. I felt like I got hit by a bus. I could hardly move anything...everything from my neck to my shoulders, back of my arms, biceps, my back, my abs hurt when I laughed or coughed (which even hurt my ribs), my inner thighs killed, along with my hamstrings, calves...all the way down to my ankles. Yep. For all I know I may have been hit by a bus. And what's more? I felt crazy for wanting to go on a steep hike. However, I started feeling addicted to the exercise. I knew it was going to help me, and I could wanted more. The hike was shorter than most, but it was steep. At times I felt like I was going to die, but reaching the top felt incredible.

So here I am, still sometimes detesting turning off my alarm between 6:30 and 6:45 AM, but the feeling after each workout rocks. Hopefully the next PFTS blows the Pulmonologists away (no pun intended). :)

Shaping up: How one Cyster Got Fit

I received an email with this article of a Cyster who has understood the importance of staying healthy, so here it is! It's a great one! :)


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Shaping Up: How One Cyster Got Fit By Jessica Muir    From soccer to softball, I have been active in sports since I was a child. It carried over into high school with the addition of running track. I wanted to challenge myself and prove that someone with a lung disease could run track with everyone else. I never thought about how much exercise was doing for me. During college, exercise was done at a minimum while I studied for my Nursing degree. Being a Nurse and running around for 10-12 hour shifts felt like sufficient exercise, hence my lacking in the area during this time. After graduating, and getting married, my husband and I were talking about starting a family. We consulted all of the appropriate physicians to make sure it was safe. During these appointments there was a common thread with each doctor, despite their different specialties. Each one of them had said I was healthy enough, but that I had to "be in the absolute best health of your life going into this." I thought to myself, how much more could I do? I do all of my treatments, go to all of my appointments and, overall, thought I took great care of myself. Then it dawned on me. What hadn't I been doing for quite some time that I already KNEW did wonders? Exercise! It was at that moment I realized what I had to do. Run. I was immediately inspired and began running that afternoon. I hadn't even figured out what my goals were, but I knew I had to start immediately! After not "pounding the pavement" for almost a decade, I ran a mile non-stop. To say it felt amazing would be an understatement. From that point on, I knew that this was my passion. This was something I used to love and I never realized how it had benefited me. It kept my lungs feeling great and kept me out of the hospital. It became a challenge. I wanted to see just how hard I could push myself. Running has done incredible things for me both mentally and physically. The feeling of accomplishment every single time I step off that treadmill cannot be put into words. I set new goals for myself constantly; entering several 5K races each year. My ultimate goal: running a ½ marathon.  Running has allowed my lung function to steadily increase over the last few years, as I have found this to be the best form of chest physiotherapy. I purchased a personal PFT meter and have tracked my numbers for years. The documented increase in lung capacity motivates me. Running has allowed me to challenge myself daily, push the limits, and continue to fight the good fight. Many times when I'm running I remind myself that I'm not just running for me. I'm running for all of us with CF. I'm running for those that CF took too soon. I'm running for those who aren't able to. I run because it strengthens me physically and mentally in the fight against this disease. I run because I can and I am thankful for that beyond words. I will never ever take that for granted. About Jessica      My name is Jessica Muir and I am 31 years old living with Cystic Fibrosis . I was diagnosed at the age of 5 months old with the most common mutation of DDF508. I've been married since 2004 to my wonderfuly supportive husband, Scott. I graduated college in 2002 with a degree in Nursing and currently work full time as a Gastroenterology (GI) RN. I Iove being outdoors and active in any way, cooking, entertaining, hiking, music, and have a passion for running.

Keep Up and Keep Going

Well I started Tobi once more for this month as I take it once every 3 months. I often wonder why I need to take it because I don't even have Pseudamonas, but I know it's important to prevent it from coming in my lungs at all costs. Since Tobi can make people lose their voice, I have had awkward moments while speaking normally to somebody, and all of the sudden my voice has died as I could hardly get any words out. That's when I either speak softly or stop talking, or people wonder why I don't want to talk to them when it's nothing against them. I can continue on, but I have a goal to keep up with Tobi no matter what this year, not matter how disgusting it is or how many whitening strips I may have to purchase afterwards.

Other than that, I have also remembered the importance of exercise. Yes, many people usually want to roll their eyes when they hear of exercise or staying healthy or fit at the beginning of the new year. Truth is, once I have tried to stay in shape and keep up with it no matter how difficult it may be, I have seen great results. Most people exercise to lose weight or get toned, but I have to keep reminding myself that it is crucial for living with CF to stay strong and have higher lung capacity. We often compare ourselves to others, but each of us has our own battle and needs that are sometimes different from everyone else's. I am hoping for higher PFT (Pulmonary function test) scores and for a little bit of tone, not to mention to hopefully cut down the CF belly a smidge :) While keeping up with exercise, I have noticed how my lungs clear out more gunk. I wish CF'ers could realize how cardio activity keeps lungs strong. It's hard to feel the pressure-like feeling on your lungs when you are running or increasing the incline on an elliptical, but afterwards they feel very open and free. It's a great feeling that is hard to explain. Not to mention I feel as if exercise prevents lung infections from stepping in. I often hear students say they get enough exercise by walking around campus, but I can't emphasize how cardio activity improves lung function. On top of that, I have noticed my digestive system works better while keeping up with abdominal exercises.
   
I can't express how grateful I am to have a free gym pass just by being a student and being able to use new equipment!! It's hard to go up the Mt Olympus stairs from the Smith Fieldhouse afterwards and I feel more out of shape when I do, but there's nothing like getting to the top and thinking about a good chocolate milk afterwards.

If you decide not to run out in the cold or can't make it to the gym, here are some tips I have. I am absolutely not an expert, but I can at least give a little bit of advice:
-For any of you cf'ers, keep up with abdominal exercises if you have digestion problems. It will help.
-Keep up with good, complete treatments. There have been some mornings where I have skipped Pulmozyme until nighttime, and remember during a workout when I feel a greater pressure on my lungs that I skipped Pumozyme that morning...
-If you have to choose between an elevator or stairs, always take the stairs
-Remember that carbs give you energy before (but not too shortly before) a work out, and protein afterward rebuilds the muscle that breaks down during the exercises.
-Don't try to do too much at once, otherwise you will want to give up. To keep good lung function, it takes keeping up with exercise and practice.
-And most importantly keep up with what you're doing and don't give up.

To sum this all up, I read a quote on Pinterst: "We must all suffer from one of the two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons." I would rather live longer through discipline than suffer from other consequences. Besides, exercise isn't too bad as it becomes an accustom.

Loving life

Loving life.
Now considering to become fluent in ASL.
I cannot emphasize how much I am loving my classes right now.
Classes today, studying in between, gym time for an hour and a half, made my first steak on the mini grill (while asking my mom over the phone how to marinade it, she exclaimed "You've never made steak before?!?! haha oh mom)
And I was happy to hear they are giving freshman free mugs of hot chocolate by the library for a few days this week. Can't wait to get mine tomorrow :)
And now about to get more study time in
But still working on my New Years Resolution to do treatments before 10 pm
And to eat less junk food
And exercise every day...which really means that maybe, hopefully, it will be every other day
And that is all for now.