Thursday 4 March 2010

Three Things Thursday

Things have been hectic now that I'm back training so between cycling and running, I'm not sitting in front of my computer.  Please don't think I'm ignoring you, but I have to get my rear in gear for all of this summer cycling.

Life is busy in a good way.  This weekend is our first annual Wooo Hooo Winter Triathlon.  I'm organising this a little late in the season, but the weather gods have been very kind to us and we are expecting just stellar weather for this event.  Our tri consists of three teams of three.  Runners, xcountry skiers and snowshoer's.  It is going to be a hoot!  Team names are:  Fitzroy Flurries, The Snow Angels and the Uniboob Bombshells.  For anyone who has ever worn a sportsbra, you'll understand the context to later name, and yes, that is the team I am on!!!

Bear with me while I ask this question, Can Cancer Really Be Beaten???  I'm struggling to believe this right at the moment.  My very good friend who had a brain tumour removed this past fall was given a clean bill of health and off she went to her winter home in Florida.  I recieved a phone call on Sunday that she has been hospitalised and is in a coma, the tumour has returned with a vengence.  Please tell me that they didn't know that a cancerous tumour would grow so rapidly that within two days, she is virtually gone.  One of my running partners (not a Wooo Hooo), informed me on Sunday morning that she has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, her surgery is on the 16th.  She is a nutritionist and is fit, fit, fit, what chance do we mere mortals have if someone who has dedicated their life to being healthy is diagnosed with cancer?  It boggles my mind as to where all this money goes that we so gleefully walk / run and fund raise for, right now I'm not a believer.

Our weather has been unbelievable this winter, (sorry, I know the rest of you have had to deal with craptastic weather), I actually got my very first ride on Blizzard the other day.  It was only 15km but holy schnittzzzz that bike is F.A.S.T.!  This morning I've received two emails asking if I'd like to join in on a 40K ride this Saturday, but since I'm committed to the winter tri, a group of us are going to cycle on Sunday after our run. 

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

23 comments:

Marlene said...

Oh Laurel, I'm so sorry to read about Cancer touching your life so close to home. It scares me more than anything else. Good thoughts and prayers to your friends.

Have fun with the triathlon-relay! Uniboob... love it (and so true).

Pining for Pinterest said...

I totally understand how you feel! All of my family members that have passed away were caused by cancer. It is terrible and can come so quickly. Praying for your friend!

Judi said...

cancer is a bitch. it's just terrible about your friends lilly, so sorry to hear....

riding - start small, work your way up. 25 miles isn't small, so take it slow so you don't hurt yourself! so excited for you to ride. :)

teacherwoman said...

I too think about cancer and how so many people are struggling with it, or know at least 1 person (or more) fighting for their life. It's horribly scary.

Enjoy your training! Don't tell anyone, but I like the craziness involved with training... it keeps me sane!

ShirleyPerly said...

First of all, sorry that Blogger ate your 10K comment. I appreciate you stopping by, though!

And secondly, very sad to hear about your friends' cancer. I lost my dad to cancer many years ago and have had some of the same questions as you have. It doesn't seem to me some cancers care about how healthy or fit one may be.

Ewa said...

Hope you are busy enough not to have time to worry too much about your friends. Keeping occupied and exercising hard are the only way I know off to ward off stress.
Some cancers can grow very fast, sometimes doctors miss them and it is not always negligence but limitations of what we can or cannot do. On a more optimistic note, some cancers shrink without a good explanation. There is still so much we don't know.
I think being fit and eating healthy may slow down cancer growth but it is not cure all. I really think the stuff we put into our environment has a lot to do with cancers. I am also very suspicious of ALL plastics, just don't know how to avoid them.
But on the more optimistic note I strongly believe cancer CAN BE BEATEN!
Lots of hugs for you and your friends.

MarieA said...

wow... how sad to hear Lily. I have to agree with Ewa. Environmental stuff, things over which we have no control I think are the greater problem. It's not fair.
That's why we have to grab life by the balls and squeeze really hard to get the most out of the jump.

how's that an image for ya!

Julie said...

I am sorry to hear about your good friend who is fighting cancer. Very sad.

Good luck with the Woo Hoo Winter Tri!! I am looking forward to your report:)

TNTcoach Ken said...

What a roller coaster of a post! Sorry to hear about your friends and I too question how we mere mortals can fight such a devastating disease but it is possible. I also know what you mean about the sports bra!

Lily on the Road said...

Oh Ken, thank you so much for making me laugh (as always)!! *muah*

Bill Carter said...

Hi Lily

Its been way to long since I stopped by the inspirational place that is your blog. I am glad to hear that this winter hasn't gotten you down. BTW, that new bike (Blizzard!) is hot. If it is half as fast as it is beautiful, look out!

I am sorry to hear about the terrible CA and how it is rearing its ugly head in your life. I have diagnosed it all to often on my patients and it can be both terrible and frightening. Hang in there.

Thanks for stopping by my blog which has been so poorly treated by it's owner...

Unknown said...

Have fun with the WooHoo Winter Triathlon. Can't wait to read about it.

Cancer sucks. It just does.

Amy said...

So sorry to hear about your friends with cancer...it is such a devastating disease, and like you say, none of us are immune no matter how careful we are about eating right and exercising and keeping fit. So scary.

Runner Leana said...

Laurel, I am so sorry to hear about your friends. Cancer is awful, I've seen it take too much of my family! Hugs.

Unknown said...

fyi on my weather - because of the altitude (I live at about 5000 ft above sea level) and the mostly cloudless skies, we have a SIGNIFICANT different between the high and low temp for any given day. Often about 30deg different. So it was chilly in the morning (30s) but it will be about 60deg this afternoon. It's actually quite nice in the summer...because 90s in the day translates to 60s in the evenings. bizarre, huh?

Wes said...

Keep workin it chica! We will figure this cancer thing out someday. Have fun at your Winter tri! That's so dayum awesome!!

Anne said...

You're off preparing or the wonderfully worded tri as I type this, I'm sure. So sorry to hear about your friend. I sometimes wonder if all the preemptive stuff we do to avoid cancers really are effective or not. I do know wherever we throw our research money, we tend to get results. Breast cancer, for instance, used to be a death knell and now there are many more women who get diagnosed and treated early enough to live out their lives as intended.

Anne said...

Sorry, my f key isn't working properly. I hope you can decipher my other comment, especially when for looks like or.

Anne said...

Laurel, I am so sorry to hear about your friends having to deal with cancer. It is indeed scary when the fittest of the fit get sick. My thoughts are with you and both of your friends.

Of course, I am looking forward to reading all about the winter tri. We are planning to do this next year...enjoy!

Mary Gee said...

Sorry to hear about cancer touching your life so closely. I have known some to survive and some not. Today I am going to the funeral of a 30 year old who fought with valor - it is so sad. Tomorrow I am gong to a movie with a dear friend who has survived for many years.

Groover said...

I'm sad to say but I sometimes also view cancer fundraising as a huge industry. Call me cynic. I just hope I'm wrong. But glad to read about your boost of motivation. Good luck in your Tri. You go, girl!

Bluenoser said...

Now you may understand what my struggle has been as of late on my view of cancer and my touch with it and my opinions of the fundraising machine.

Just saying.

Sorry about your friends.

-B

chia said...

A good friend of mine in the middle of breast cancer treatments told me that "I don't mind the fight, it's the giving up part that scares me." I don't know why, but I can't stop smiling whenever I think of the hugs that followed. Many prayers your friends pull through this tough time quickly and unscathed. *hugs*

Those tri pics cracked me up. You chicas are bad ass!