Ya, you can’t get rid of me that easily. I’m on my “vacation from running”, sans a couple of body parts but doing pretty well. All of the well wishes and acts of kindness have made the last few days manageable. My marathoner husband has focused his athletic prowess on laundry, carpooling and litter box scooping. He makes an awesome grilled cheese sandwich and we are doing fine.
I’m getting mentally and physically used to my new situation. Since I don’t know what the rest of my treatment entails, I don’t know when running will be back in my routine. Walking will be welcome addition later in the week.
When I finally started feeling better in the hospital, I got out my bag that had my personal items. It was the bag I got at the Fargo Marathon a couple of years ago. The nurse noticed and we started talking. She ran the marathon relay that year and we talked running and races. How long can a person go without running and still think of themselves as a runner? I don’t know, but I know that during that conversation I actually felt like myself and not like a cancer patient. It was wonderful to be seen as something beyond my diagnosis.
The local Turkey Trot may not be as exciting to most as the NY Marathon, but it’s the big goal on my schedule right now. This week’s training plan: rest. I’m up to the task. 
{ 15 comments }
So glad to hear that you are recovering. What a blessing to have a runner for a nurse to remind you that you definitely still are a runner. You are going to own that Turkey Trot.
I’m so glad to hear that you are recovering well. I think it’s really cool that the nurse is a runner…indeed, especially within the hospital setting, it must be so nice to feel like a person, an athlete even, and not just a patient. The Turkey Trot is going to be such a celebration!
Party at the Turkey Trot – we will get that Team Flash
You will always be a runner – you are just taking a bit of an off season (or a longer taper). Nothing wrong with that. Glad to hear you are recovering.
Your “runner” comment made me tear up a little bit. YOU MUST always consider yourself a runner because you ARE! You are simply moving “through” a phase in your life and you can even RUN thorough it if you want! Being a runner is more than the act of running, but you already know that!!
!
BIG hugs and hooray for grilled cheese
Hi Beth,
I am so glad to hear that you are doing well. You better hang on to that husband of yours…he sounds like a good guy to have around:) I agree with Meg…you are a runner and you always will! I think the Turkey Trot sounds like a great race for you! Take care of yourself Beth! I have been thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers. Stay positive, keep the chin up and always believe!:) Love and hugs:)
Bless you, Beth! It is so great to hear from you. There is no question in my mind that you are indeed, and will always be, a runner. Please recover well, and I hope you will get stronger and stronger each and every day!
And hey, three cheers for grilled cheese sandwiches!
Yum!
I am so glad to read you are through surgery OK and resting. Thanks for the update as I know this is not easy. My prayers for your future success will continue.
You are always a runner and this is only a period of rest. Very soon this period off from running will be a memory. In 2007 I spent 4 months with the crutches but running was always in my mind. Don’t worry and be positive, now the walk and soon the running. Best wishes and get stronger day after day.
So glad to hear that you are home and doing well. As always, your positive attitude continues to show through. Glad also to hear that Mike is taking such good care of you! Better keep it up, you deserve every moment of it!
Let me know if you need anything. You’ll be running again before you know it!
Beth and Mike, we are glad to hear things are getting better. I don’t know how long it takes to not feel like a runner. Try to volunteer between now and total recovery, that helps in so many ways to stay connected. I’m down for a while, but not for long. Things are going to get better, prayer and believing have helped us so much get through the tough times. we look forward to seeing you back, v/r Dave and Nancy Smith
The Trot is on the schedule. My goal is to finish in half the time it takes you to walk it
I’m grateful everything is going well so far – keep up the recovery and we’ll see you in November!
You are always a runner. We all take breaks from it from time to time. Sounds like you are doing as well as can be expected mentally and physically. That’s good to hear (read).
Beth- we haven’t met. Mike and I work together.
A couple of months back, Mike and I were on a trip and got to talking about our spouses — we learned that both you and my wife, Juliette, share a passion for running and seem to have similar philosophies about it. So, before we headed our separate ways to go home, Mike, who is obviously a huge fan of yours, gave me one of your runningmyownrace.com cards to give to Juliette.
I just visited the site for the first time and selfishly
enjoyed your posts. I run as well and am supposed to run my 6th marathon in a couple weeks.
Regarding that 6th marathon, work and everything else has been pretty busy — so while training had gone well for a while, it hasn’t been great more recently. I had been debating whether I’d even make the trip to run the event.
For what it’s worth, after reading your stories, I can tell you that your courage and purpose now make this an easy decision for me. And, I’m determined to make this marathon my best on a variety of levels. Thank you.
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers, and we look forward to hearing more from you.
JT
Hi,
I found you through Velma’s blog, and I know we don’t ‘know’ each other, but I wanted to say I’m sending you super healing vibes, and that turkey trot will be great.
you ARE a RUNNER! that’s what i got loud and clear;-)
Beth, you are such an amazing, courageous person! You are so full of life and humor, I can only think of you as a runner, a wonderful human being. You will kick the cancer hard and be back to normal. The Turkey Trot is yours!
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