Thursday, March 8, 2012

Time For Celebration!

Today I am celebrating! Celebrating a life that is improving daily, celebrating a weight loss, celebrating old friends, celebrating new friends, celebrating commitment, celebrating breathing , celebrating love, celebrating endurance,  if my kids weren't sleeping soundly at this very moment, and if the neighbors wouldn't think I was a sexual deviant-- I would scream at the top of my lungs " I'M DOING IT!!! I'M DOING IT!!!  I'M HALF WAY THERE!" 

Today marks the spot, the exact half way in my journey to do 12 races in 12 months. My 6th race was the Fight for Air Stair Climb in downtown Des Moines. Individuals and teams climb 66 floors of 3 buildings in downtown Des Moines! We Climbed to the top of the EMC Insurance Companies, Hub Tower and the Des Moines Marriott Downtown.  One of the elements of this race was fundraising for the American Lung Association.  Each climber was required to fundraise $100 in order to participate the day of the race. I thought it would fun and easy to have a Zumbathon to raise money. My Dirty Skirt girls of course who think just like me thought it was a great idea too! And lucky us amongst our ranks we have an awesome Zumba instructor. Kerry was also instrumental in my early months of weight loss because she was one of the first people to show me that working out could be fun! I always thought people who "worked out" were just doing it out of obligation. It was only after doing Zumba three days a week that I discovered that moving your body could be addicting, possibly as equally addicting as chocolate cake or Doritos ( possibly). Ok who am I kidding? Junk food is way more addicting-- but working out is a close second and a positive addiction to boot. The Zumbathon was held at the YMCA in Boone. It was a great success and we fundraised over $500 between the bake sale and a great donation from the YMCA to our team! The Zumbathon was perfect! So many people came out to support the group effort and it was agreed that a good time was had by all! If you would like a good laugh please watch the video-- and note that I am THE ONLY one to mess up the routine that I in fact choreographed. I would like to tell you I did it on purpose to illustrate the fact that mistakes are ok, but the truth is I am a pretty lame dancer and running is much more fail proof. 

The day of the race we went to our lovely walmart meeting space and I arrived on time :) Well as on time as I get, I think I was 2 minutes late.  Everyone in the van had registered to run everyone was accounted for except for one person. Kathy. My friend Kathy was not in that mini-van full of moms chattering about potty training, husbands, and half marathons. Kathy was just 14 miles away lying in a hospital bed. 

Kathy has been my friend since the beginning of my fitness journey. She was with me when I couldn't run a block without walking.  She would cheer me in when I was many many minutes behind her, and offer me water when I would literally fall down at the "finish line" aka the corner of 8th and Carroll on the grassy field. Her adorable husband Nick would circle back and make sure every runner in boot camp wouldn't have to finish alone.  Kathy has been in every boot camp since then, every class, every race, until now.  The minivan doesn't seem quite right without her and everyone is thinking about her lying in a hospital bed wishing she was running up 1200 steps and fighting for air with the rest of us. Kathy however is now fighting for something altogether different. Kathy was diagnosed with breast cancer just a few weeks ago. I still cant think about it without crying. Kathy is young, fit, and healthy. She is too young to have cancer. She doesn't eat hydrogenated oils, hot dogs, or work with asbestos.  She pays her taxes, donates to charities, and never hits small children. And she may kill me for publishing this but Kathy FOLDS her underwear. I am 93% sure she does  97% of everything perfectly.
The news for our entire team was devastating. The day I called her I held my breath the entire time she spoke. She never wavered, she was confident, she was positive, she was forward moving, she was 97% perfect even in the face of cancer. I took a deep breath and I told her everything was going to be ok, and if she needed anything we would all be here for her. It was the only thing I could think to say. I was in shock.

This type of thing doesn't happen to young people. I hung up and  immediately did a self breast exam, and Charlotte in watching me squish my breasts all around started checking hers too. I smiled at her and cried again.  I never check my breasts. I lie at my yearly exams when they ask me "do you do regular self breast exams?" It seems stupid to look for something you have no idea what your searching for, but I guess its a bit stupider to lie about not doing it. My two year old climbs up in my lap and asks "Are you sad, mama? you crying? "  and I reply "Yes, Baby mamas sad."   Motherhood has been the most powerful gift I have ever received. My children have healed me in so many ways. They always know the right thing to say and do. Henry crawled into my bed four years ago, the day after I had a miscarriage, he held my face between his tiny hands and said "Its ok Mama-- God wasnt ready to give us our baby yet. God loves you mama. God will give us a baby." I pulled him close and breathed in him in and felt in that instant that everything was going to be ok.  Winston would tell me at my heaviest weight that he loved my "puffiness" aka FAT, and it "made you nice to sit on". Sitting in my apartment holding Charlotte while she wipes my tears with her barbie dress, it becomes very clear why my dear friend can be so positive. She has the exact same gifts likely sitting on her lap at the very same moment.  What other choice is there?

In true Dirty Skirts fashion we threw a party for her before her "big day". Kathy and I have a few things in common we both love to run ( even though I eat her dust), we both love pinterest, we both like to wear ladies undergarments as pirate eye patches. Please see exhibit B & C after Zumba fail  video below. ( Also note these images were taken 5 months apart)


Once we arrive downtown we run inside to a huge room milling with people. Our team got our chips, went to the bathroom at least 3 times, donned our Kathy tributes, and then lined up to start.  They start your time at the bottom of the stairwell and then stop it once you reach the top. You ride down in the elevator  and then do it all over again, and again! In true Sarah Moore fashion I started too fast. I always start too fast.  After about 4 flights I realize this when I can barely breathe. My lungs hurt-- I think they sprayed something in those stairwells to simulate lung problems. It was hard to catch your breath, its really not like running at all.  I finsihed in 16 minutes and 46 seconds. I am happy to report I was not LAST! When we finished we got mini sports evaluations/massages, medals, water, and a photo!! It was a very nice reception and a great crowd!  We finsished our race by eating at Zombie Burger in DM. I would highly reccommend going as long as you dont mind about 3000 calories in a single meal! We also made the Des Moines Register!!

I am happy to report that my friend is home and doing well and we expect her back on our running team before my 12 races are up! Dirty Skirts run but we dont run from a fight! We are all behind you emotionally as often as we are behind you in the races!! Which is always! :)

Today I am celebrating! Celebrating that I didnt finsish LAST!! Celebrating that I can breathe without pain!!  Celebrating healing!! Celebrating friendship!! Celebrating motherhood!! Celebrating LIFE!! What a beautiful, complicated, crazy, wonderful life! Praise the Lord! 

ZUMBATHON PROMO!


KATHY & I ARE THE SAME!

MY GIRLS IN THE DM REGISTER

Today I encourage you to check your breasts! Even if you don't think you will know what your looking for, even if it seems unlikely, even if it feels stupid.  I will never have to lie at my doctors office again thanks to Kathy.  Next October our Kathy is going to ROCK our breast cancer run and walk that survivor lap and the victory will be sweet.