How I Celebrated My One Year Cancer Free Annivarsary

One year ago (yesterday) I had a radical hysterectomy done because I had Stage 1B1 Cervical Cancer. Now that a year has past I am finally feeling back to my old self and although it has gone by quickly, my body really did take nearly a full year to recover. I really wanted to do something special today to ring in my anniversary but I didn't want to make it just about me. I've shared my story with you a couple times now so I wanted to celebrate and help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at the same time.

St. Jude Hospital in Memphis

 

For my anniversary I did what I do best, run! I put together a Fun Run/Walk with friends to benefit St. Jude. You may have seen my St. Jude run posts on facebook or even the website, it's a charity I've been very passionate about, even more so, after finding out I had cancer. I was a lucky one! I only required surgery as a cure but it still brought along similar hardships, especially the financial hardship. When your fighting for your life, or your child's life, the last thing you ever want to have to think about is a bill. That's why I'm such a strong supporter of St. Jude, no family ever even see's a bill, not for treatment, food, lodging or even travel expenses. Because St. Jude is non-profit and a research hospital they SHARE their information with doctors and hospitals around the WORLD! How can you not want to support a place like that?

I asked my friends and family on my one year Anniversary to join me in celebrating and supporting St. Jude by making a minimum $10 donation to the St. Jude Run I'll be doing this summer. I also asked them to go for a walk or a run, anywhere/time on May 13th, or they could join me at Grandview Drive and we can run together. Of course not everyone who wanted too could join, because its a Tuesday morning, but the donations have flooded my in box ALL DAY!  I'm so excited to announce my little "fun run" has brought in $750!!!!!!

My friends who were able to walk and run!

What was so special to me is that friends who are also St. Jude runners showed up and donated! And one of my friends, Jess (Run With Jess-who also gave me the idea of organizing the run), made some teal ribbon cookies (teal is the color for gynecological cancers) for us to enjoy after the run. I had so many left over I brought them to the radio station and asked everyone to donate a couple bucks for a cookie and that brought in another $30!

Yummy F.U Cancer cookies, in teal to represent Cervical Cancer.

Taking a bite out of cancer!

If you'd like to join the donation party please log on to www.peoriaruns.stjude.org/akinkade and make at least a $10 donation.

Now with out furter ado here are the BIG WINNERS in my prizes I had up for grabs. Everyone who donated on or before yesterday was entered into the drawing.

-a $50 Gift Certificate to Running Central - BETH SCROFF
-a pair of General Admission tickets to the Indy 500 SUSAN RENNER
-one box of my favorite energy drink Spark from AdvoCare!!! TINA MORRIS
-Free 6 Month membership at World Gym-Peoria! HEATHER HAYES
-Free Oil Change and Full Car Detail from Green's Finish Line Ford JENNIFER JACOBSEN WOOD
-a $50 gift certificate for Arbonne BARB JOHNSON

I want to shout out to everyone who joined me on my run today and also those to donated: Matt N., Run With Jess, Melissa C., Tina M., Brittany K., Maria D., Amy J., Steve W., Brandy C., Deanna C., Laura L., Oralia Z., Pam P., Kelly B., Scott & Amy M., Jennifer J-W., Bob & Margaret M., Brian & Kate D., Barb J., Diane B., Lindsey N., Patricia C., Teresa S., Carla W., Heather H., Susan R., Cassi Z., Karla J., Beth S., Tracy S., Robynn M., Jeanette H., Yolanda M., Biel A., Oralia Z. and Monique W..

Special shout out to my Matty too because it really made my day that he took the afternoon off of work to run with me. He really had his hands full this past year as I had some struggles. I'm lucky I have such a calm, patient man because calm and patient is what I am not. Love him more every day for always sticking by my side, I may hate him when he pushes me but love him when I succeed.

The Most Magical Place IS St. Jude In Memphis

Even before I had cancer, I was running for the kids of St. Jude, after having it and beating it will continue with more motivation than ever before to help these kids and families fight this awful disease.

Just before Thanksgiving I was able to tour the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee and if I had to describe the place in one word it would simply be 'magical'. Many people have said "I would have cried." or "Didn't it make you sad?" and even "I don't think I could handle seeing all those sick kids." and I felt the same way, up until I walked up to the building and was greeted by the statue of St. Jude Thaddeus. 

The entrance to the hospital.

We were lucky to have toured on the Monday before Thanksgiving as they had many events going on; the Today Show was there with Marlo Thomas (daughter of founder Danny Thomas) to kick of the Give Thanks Campaign, they were holding the naming of a horse donated by the Memphis Police Department (the horse was appropriately named Jude) and there lots of kids in for treatment before the Thanksgiving holiday.

St. Jude is truly a place created for children its not your average hospital where everyone looks sick, sad, bored and unhappy to be there. Every inch of every wall is brightly colored and through each hallway you travel through the seasons of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. You will see children laughing, playing games and the kids are the ones that will be checking in, desks are made to their height and they are the ones asked questions. In a normal hospital you'd never see kids pushing around wheelchairs laughing and having fun, OK well you have but they normally get in trouble for doing so but not here, that kind of stuff is encouraged. You see crafts being held and a giant ginger bread house being created.

This is the ginger bread house that was being built.

Teenagers have their own rooms and little kids and adults are absolutely forbidden, parents can try to come in but as we were told, security will come after them and kick them out. The teen rooms are just that, teen rooms, a place of their own.  

I was told Halloween is the BEST time to be at St. Jude because they go all out for it. I saw probably a hundred kids all of them with maybe the exception of TWO had smiles on their faces and even with their bald heads you could see they were filled with hope. It is so amazing to see that this place was build on love, I know that sounds corny, but it's true. Donations = love and ST. Jude was built and saves lives and gives hope because of donations, something I always knew but never was able to quite put into perspective until yesterday.

I learned so many things about St. Jude and over the  next year as I embark on my third St. Jude run I will be sharing them with you. Trust me you want to hear them and will be glad I waited to share them.

It's really hard to believe that St. Jude was at one time just a vision of Danny Thomas and to see the facility has has built upon, the lives that he has saved and miracles he fostered, yes I agreed St. Jude really IS the most magical place on earth.

I was told that when you are supposed to rub Danny's nose for good luck so that's what I did.

2013 St. Jude Chicago To Peoria Run Recap

By The Numbers:

Chicago To Peoria Group raised $302,000!
Peoria Police Team raised $31,684.88 2nd top fundraising team
As an individual I raised $6,547 top fundraiser for my team and out of all 191 Chicago runners!
I ran 13 legs and covered nearly 34 miles.

I got a shiny award!

Four months ago my only wish was to have a successful surgery, not only to beat cervical cancer but to have a good recovery so I could lace up August 2nd & 3rd and run for St. Jude. The past two days have meant more to me than any run ever has. As little as 4 weeks ago I still had doubt that I was going to be able to even run, those doubts were not only pushed aside but they were shattered and burned; I ran 3 miles more than last year. I think it's safe to say I'm back...with a vengeance.

Our motto is "We run for those who can't!" and that's the best way to describe the run, that and the number's I've posted above. I hope that with the run we've given hope and inspired others and maybe someday (sooner rather than later) we'll be a part of  finding a cure not just to childhood cancers but ALL cancers.

As for the actual run it's self I'll say that I was surprised at how fast the time went by and how great I felt. The entire run I wore Caleb's number on my arm. I had a lot of people ask "What's that number for?" or tease me and say "What are you doing a triathlon later?" and then I would explain to them each St. Jude patient gets assigned a number and it's how they are identified for their treatments and that was his number. I'd say wearing it served it's purpose. I wore it the entire run, it had to be touched up a few times but it was always on me.

 

The runners on my RV were a great community, we got along great and just had a lot of fun and laughs together, I couldn't have asked for a better group. Not only were they cheerleaders for each other but they were for EVERYONE on the entire run. One moment that sticks out is one run we did had the mom from Team Alivia, she had lost her daughter to cancer in November of last year and so they were running in her memory and to give back to St. Jude because St. Jude gave her a few extra months with her daughter. Well, she wasn't a runner but she gave this run so much heart and one run she was struggling to keep up and was so close to the finish but so far away. It was taking everything in her to not jump in the chase van but with every step that's where she was heading. So two of my teammates told us up front to hold up so they could bring her to the front and she'd lead us to the stop. And she did. She took us in. She finished the run with tears streaming down her face. That same woman (I believe her name is Amanda) also led us into the civic center yesterday and lead the entire Chicago group to the stop once again. As I watched her and her sister run, arms wrapped around on another I felt like I could read their emotions of pride, not only that they made it but what they had accomplised and overcome. They had set out to do impossible, to give back and honor her daughter and niece, and that's exactly what they had done. As I watched them I couldn't help but think about what I had overcome, I did it too, I concurred my own impossible.

PS: I really wanted to end this with that last statement but I have to add that one of the best parts of this whole process was hearing Matty tell me that he was very proud of me. I didn't know where to fit that in but I really wanted him to know how much that meant to me.

Running "The Mile" Is Going To Have To Wait....

It's so secret that I've been running again, well walking then running, and doing great. I'm slowly adding on distance to see what I can do. Starting small and working  my way up; I've successfully walked/run 800 intervals, nothing fancy just going at what feels good.

A few days ago my boyfriend says "you're ready" to run my mile, so I asked him if he would run with me on Sunday before we go out for our bike ride and he agreed. Naturally I needed to see how I felt at 1200 meters before going for the full 1600 (400 meters = quarter  mile). Turns out running 1200 is too much, just shy of it I start to felt small aches in my belly near the incision, which says keep working on strengthening my core. I'll stick with the 800's for another week and give it a shot next week and see how it goes. I'm a little disappointed but in due time, it will come. I haven't lost any speed, just strength and my cardio has taken a hit, but with everything else that too is coming back. Now, last night about 6pm I did have some pretty intense pains come on. Naturally, my first thought is I hurt something running. I was assured that if I did damage that, the pain would have came on instantly and not 6 hours later, it's more than likely something else. The pain can only be described as a very intense side stitch, like what you get when you run, but wouldn't go away. It got to the point where I was getting nauseous and pretty tired. I eventually ended up taking some pain medication, which put me to sleep. This morning the pain has subsided but I do still feel a very dull ache. I'll keep watching it over the weekend and see what happens, I do have my 2nd follow up with the doctor on Monday.

Speaking of the doctor, my physical therapist says that I'm about 80% to being where I  need to be. She gave me more to work on and she also wants me to print off my intro to running program and bring it to Dr. Hodel. She also wants me to explain Body Pump in detail to him. If he is OK with me returning to those activities she'll support it.

Wish me luck! And show your support by donating to St. Jude, $10 is all it take www.stjudepeoriaruns.org/akinkade

Six Weeks Post Hysterectomy/Cervical Cancer And I'm Running

Today the Nike Running app on my phone so kindly reminded me that I’m nearing 500 miles on my shoes and that “you’re never finished, but your shoes are.” At first this made me excited because runners LOVE to get new shoes, it’s fun, they are always updating your favorites and coming out with cool new colors. Then I realized that I don’t have one single red cent to my name, cancer has sucked me dry! 

Don’t get me wrong; I’m beyond grateful this was so easily treated and cured and I am now cancer free, but I hate the amount of dept this “small cancer” has put me in. Although it hurts to not be able to enjoy new things, like running shoes, I know it could be worse. There is a reason why I’ve laced up today and am trying to run again, St. Jude! When everything right now is about dollars and cents I’m so happy to know that even though things hard for me, they are harder for these kids/families, and I can do something to help them…and help me. I can raise money, so they don’t have to pay-or go through the financial hardships of cancer. I can run, so they can focus on getting better, stronger and beat the monster that is cancer.  And when I run, not only am I helping them, but I’m helping myself. I am a runner, it’s what I live to do and just doing lets me forget about my worries, even if it’s for just a moment. 

The St. Jude run is 5 weeks away and I’m happy to say that I’m back to teaching RPM (spinning) and on my off days from teaching…I…AM….RUNNING! Sort of, I walk about .75 of a mile and then run the last quarter and repeat and am slowly adding on. Today, I was able to walk a half a mile and then run the last half, no pain…well maybe a little but only in the lungs and my weak legs. But I’m doing it and I hope to be able to run a FULL mile by the weekend or by mid-week next week.

I’m doing my part but I still need YOU to do yours, let’s make cancer run scared, and donate to the run today, all it takes is $10 www.stjudepeoriaruns.org/akinkade

St. Jude Chicago To Peoria Run

The 17th annual Chicago to Peoria run was such a life changing event this weekend and now I hold the honor of being a St. Jude runner.

First, let's look at the run by the numbers: the Chicago-Peoria run group raised over $238,000, my team, the Peoria Police raised over $22,000 and as an individual I raised $2535! The run was 160 miles done in 36 hours; I participated 11 of the 41 legs with a total of 31.84 miles ran in 5 hours and 37 minutes and burnt about 3,500 calories.

I'd like to say this adventure began on Friday morning but really it began about a year ago when I saw a posting on facebook about the run and I made the comment "I want to do that". Those five words made a wish into a reality last December when that friend invited me to join his team for the St. Jude Chicago to Peoria run. I began blogging, facebooking and donation seeking in February and continued all through the kick-off of the run. In addition, I spent two of the hottest days of the summer broadcasting from the parking lot of the radio station for 8 hours each day trying to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. During those two days one of my teammates, Tiffany, hung out with me so the $750 we raised I put towards her fundraising goal.

In the past few months I had some pretty amazing experiences from donors and from St. Jude patients and families. The first came from Sgt. Dean Shaffer, he was my first doner and he made his donation while serving in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, a few months later he lost his life serving our country, my very first run on Friday all I did was think about him. Next, I was contacted by Christian who is a St. Jude kid. He shared his story with me and it puts everything into perspective knowing what he has gone through and is still going through today. As tired, hungry and sore that I am today, I know it's not even a smidgen of what Christian has had to bare. I met him again last night with his mom at the telethon and his mom was so adorable thanking me for running and I could really feel the love she has for her son and the pride she had in me for being a St. Jude runner. There are so many people who've touched me in the past few months and simply I cannot name them all and all they have done, otherwise the blog would be a book. My life has forever been changed by this run and I simply cannot wait to do it again next year!

This is Christian and I at the telethon!

Here is one of the pictures Christian drew for me and gave to me last night.

Here's a few other highlights of the Chicago to Peoria Run:

Scariest: About 30 minutes into our drive to Chicago I herd a very loud bang and I thought that something smashed the windshield but we blew a front tire. That police officer mentality took over with our driver Jen and she commanded the RV to the side of the road like it was nothing, the boys jumped out, changed the tire and got us back on the road.

Our AMAZING RV driver Jen

Funniest: At 1:30 am a few of the boys decided to go for an undie-run wearing nothing but their reflective vests and their skives!


Rezac and his speedo!

Memorable: It was a toss-up between running into Roanoke and over the bridge. In Roanoke the towns people just go ALL out for the runners. The EMT and Firefighters meet us outside the city to bring us into town (and then bring us all the way to Peoria), hundreds line the the street and meet us in the park, they provide an AMAZING spread of fruit, veggies, corn on the cob and desserts (all of which are homemade) and then they open up the pool for us to cool off, shower and refresh ourselves before were off to finish the journey. The other is running over the McCluggage bridge!At first it's cool because when can you ever actually run over that bridge to begin with? Then, it's just pure inspiration as you see the river below, the boaters all waiting and waving and then running along Adams and making your way to downtown. You realize that your almost done and it just hit me what I raised, people I've met, how far I've run, plus my boyfriend was waiting for me too!

The runners presenting Roanoke with a gift!

Running the McCluggage bridge!

Hardest: Getting going again and the last mile! You would think it was one of the hilly runs or late night ones or even mid-day. The biggest obstacle was honestly getting up to get ready to run after resting. Yesterday I didn't feel well at all; my body clock was off, diet/nutrition is off and things wern't working how they normally do, I also had a stomach ache, headache, heartburn and ZERO desire to run. However, it never failed, once I got going and running I started to feel GREAT again. Then, the last time! The hardest part of the last mile, as cool as it was, was to just keep going because I've had some painful inflammation in my lower-leg and at this point it was ON FIRE since I had already ran 4.5 miles.

Downtown Peoria and although my smile is big, so was my pain!

Embarrassing: Right where you turn from Jefferson to Kumpf by the Civic Center, I tried to jump the median and instead caught it with my shoe and I-WENT-DOWN in front of alllll the people lined up to Cheer us on. Thankfully I was at the very back of the runners so only a handful of runners saw it. Of course it looked far worse than it really was, I'm kinda clumsy anyway so I did this sweet ass ninja roll thing and hopped right back up and continued running it in. I did suffer one minor injury and that's a scraped up knuckle, which does hurt more than any of my muscles, go figure!

My "war wound"...can you find it?

Peoria Police team on the St. Jude Chicago to Peoria run!

Chicago To Peoria St. Jude Run Begins Friday

The annual St. Jude Run is Friday and today I’m beyond excited to announce that because of YOU I have not only reached but surpassed my fundraising goal of $2500!!!

Over the weekend the band Betrayal From Within accepted donations at the Local Anesthetic Showcase at the HOI Fair on behalf of the Chicago to Peoria run and also donated the proceeds from the merchandise sales. I love the amount that they raised…$105! Thank You! Then, after teaching my RPM class this morning at the Riverplex, one of my students asked how much I had left to raise. I told her I had $110 left to get me to goal, her reply was “OK then, consider your goal reached!” and she handed me a check for that amount. Plus, another student gave me all the cash from his wallet, so I’m sitting beautifully at $2516!

I can’t say it enough, THANK YOU!

Even though I’m at my goal, don’t let that stop you from donating, it’s super easy to do and it all goes to helping the kids. Simply go to my donation page, www.stjudepeoriaruns.org/akinkade click the “donate now” and make your contribution. Since the run is on Friday I can no longer accept check donations, if you can’t make one online you can drop a cash donation at the radio station and I’ll make the donation in your name.

I’d also like to thank the following people for their donation: Deano S., Bry S., Melinda D., Scott & Amy, Momma and Papa Kinkade, Diane and Ron B, Karla J., Karen P, Bart and Amy, Kurt and Mary Beth B, Kathryn F., Grandma and Grandpa, Rita F., Jeremy M., Erin O. Lissa C., Luann L. Ashely and John D., Jamelle L., Eric O., Shari M., Dallas C., Jana H., Jim S., Bob S., Deana O., Cassi Z., Kevin N., Andrea K., Craig C., Teresa S., Brad S., Brandon L., Doc Watson, Evan F., Chandra M., Amy F., Greg W., Fred & Minnie N., Tony N., Kev The Flyin Hawaiian, Mike M., Alter Ego Spalon, Allison P., Susie C., Barb J., Sexy Xie Chelsi, Joan W., Brad C., Red P., Ryan Black, Amanda K., Mary U., Dawn B., Barb J., Sexy Xie Liz, Zoe and Emma N., Mike Patton, Betrayal From Within, Megan B., Brent, Tonda B. and countless others who came by the radio station and made a donation, I couldn’t be doing this with your support and donations!!!!

Run-Race-Train-Fundraising

I know its been a while since I've blogged and I hate it but work makes me blog 12 times a week and I'm so over it because of that. Totally bummer too, I miss my blogger friends. Here's a lil re-cap of what I've been up to...I say quick but how much you want to be it will not be quick?

Races:

My last race was on the 4th of July, the Firecracker 5000 and nice 5k in downtown Peoria. I did terrible...really. I had a UTI and have been out of energy and not feeling well since last week plus its like a 100 degrees here and that is in literal terms not my over-hyped terms. So running has be tough. Last year I got 2nd in my age group in this race, just seconds from 1st, this year I got like 8th place and although there were some tough runners, my time was over 2 minutes off my best 5k. Plus I had my first throw up race. As soon as I crossed the finish line I started dry heaving and I know if I HAD something in my stomach it would have come up, so gross. It took me 45 minutes of laying on the sidewalk, in the shad with  my wonderful boyfriend pouring water on me, to recover. I still feel lousy today however that could be because I did the A.M. shift today.

Steamboat Classic-Didn't hit my goal here's my recap and photos.
Tremont Turkey Fest 5k-not my best, not my worst, 1st place in my age division and only because I sprinted and twisted myself through bodies. Here's that recap.

Steamboat Classic 4 mile race, that's me right there in front in the orange, thanks Journal Star!

Training:

I'm not training for anything at the moment but I do have TWO half marathons coming up in the fall and I'll become a Rock N Roll Heavy Medaler because of them. First is St. Louis on Oct. 21, this is just a warm up and for fun race, I don't have any expectations because we're going to the Blues game the night before. Second, is the one I'll be training for and it's also a vacation and visit to see my parents, that's the San Antonio 1/2 on Nov. 11th. I start training sometime in August for that and am still looking for a training plan, my goal/wish is to finish under 1:55.

Fundraising:

Last Thursday/Friday I did a all day long broadcast in our parking lot to raise money for the St. Jude Chicago to Peoria run in just 2 weeks. Did very well, raised nearly $740 and put myself just $360 shy of making my fundraising goal. So if you want to donate here's the link! It's estimated I'll run 30-40 miles in the 36 hour relay run. However, I think the reason I'm not feeling well is because of the heat. I haven't felt 100% since the broadcast last week. It has me a bit worried how this run will affect me as its done 24-7 and lets face it, its July and it has been a very HOT summer thus far. The one thing I'm hoping will help me is that we are required to run a slower pace at 10 minute miles. Then again when your used to running faster, that could physically take a toll on me. Wish me luck, better yet, make a donation!

Tiffany and I collecting donations for the St. Jude Run

Plan for now:

I've been having some pain in my lower leg so for the next week or so I plan to just lay low. I have one more race tomorrow and yeah I'm worried about that one too. However, its only ONE mile and its all pretty much downhill and from what I hear the crowd is off the charts insanely awesome.

How's life and running treating you?

Kicking My Own A$$

I figured I’d take some time to update you on what I’ve been up to running wise. Since I ran my first marathon I’ve been following a grueling 6 weeks program to help me gain some speed. I set a huge goal for the Steamboat Classic next week, in fact I set the bar so high that I don’t think I’ll be able to make it. My goal is to complete the 4 mile race in under 30 minutes even if that means crossing the finish line at 29:59. I’m totally lacking confidence because this training program I’m on is very difficult to follow so I’m always tired, sore and not running as fast as I had hoped. Plus, since the marathon I’ve gained about 7lbs, which doesn’t sound much but on my short body it’s enough to toy with my mind and confidence. I’ve been able to take off about 3lbs of the seven but losing weight is FAR harder than gaining weight.

I’ve only ran one 5k since the Illinois marathon, the Chillicothe River Run For Wellness, and although I placed 3rd in my age group I averaged a 7:40 for my mile and to reach my goal I need to be running a 7:30 and it was difficult to hold the 7:40 in the 5k. I’ll have another 5k time trial this weekend when I run the Tremont Turkey Festival 5k on Saturday morning in Tremont.Then the following weekend, the 16th, is the Steamboat Classic here in downtown Peoria.

I'm still collecting donations to the St. Jude Chicago to Peoria Run, I think $5 would be a great donation and to donate all you need to do is go here: www.stjudepeoriaruns.org/akinkade 
I'm still far from my goal so any little bit helps!