HST & Beyond ...

Vacation has crept up on us, is tickling the back of our necks, whispering in our ears, beckoning us to forget about work and the daily grind, to enter one of the most beautiful wilderness areas in this country for 7 days of majestic beauty, hard physical challenges, fresh air, starry planetarium-like nights ... manna for the soul. We'll hike an average of 12 miles per day at altitudes ranging from 6,000 ft. - 14,600 ft., topping out on the summit of Mt. Whitney (the tallest peak in the lower 48 states), before descending 11 miles to the exit trail head (that last day will be a 17-miler). Last week we learned that the snow is finally melting, the rivers are calming and the mosquitoes are dying, so we are hopeful that conditions will not be as dicey as initially expected. The weather forecast looks bright at this time with sunny daytime highs in the 70's to low 80's (depending on the altitude) and nights in the upper 30's to low 40's.

We leave Wisconsin in summer, but I'm sure it will feel like fall when we come back. And autumn signals a return to more serious running endeavors (having reduced the training load over the hot summer). Saturday we snuck one last long run in before hours of packing ensued (it takes about 6 hours or more to pack for our trips). I ran 8 miles, and am knocking out 5 miles everyday this week until we leave. While I know the cross training of this trip will be an excellent break from running, and that it will only increase my fitness level, I will be missing 10 days of running, which is enough time to lose some conditioning - even if doing other things. This makes me a little anxious, as within a week of returning from vacation, on 9/19, we have The North Face Endurance Challenge - a trail 10K in the Southern Kettle Moraine Unit. I'm banking on the increased red blood cell supply we will develop in the oxygen deprived mountains to help me perform well! (fingers crossed). Following that race, we will begin training for our October half marathon -our third of the year - The Haunted Hustle in Madison, WI.

Au revoir for now. I'll return with pictures and stories to amaze all.

Cutting Loose

I chopped my hair off! It hasn't been this short in nearly 30 years! As a child my hair was the envy of others, long, thick, strawberry blond. It was part of my identity. Then a 12 year old identity crisis happened over the summer of 1983. Instead of being the Izod, Oxford, Levi, donning preppy that I was known to be, I revamped my image into that of a fly girl. I had discovered both rap (RUN DMC!) and pop (Duran Duran) and to integrate the two, I began wearing flight pants, Puma jackets and fedora's, and as a nod to Duran Duran's group hottie, Simon LeBon, I had my bottom-of-the-back hair winnowed to a one inch spike on top, with buzzed sides and back. To be extra cool (hey, don't laugh, this was uber cool in the early '80's!), I kept a small chunk of my butt long hair at the nape of my neck, which was died magenta and worn in a braid. The theory behind this hair cut, which by the way, required me to sign a release at Boston Store's salon stating I knowingly and willingly allowed my hair to be destroyed (my dramatic hindsight articulation of what occurred), was to have cool spiked hair like Simon LeBon. The reality was different. My hair is naturally wavy/curly when short (I didn't know that then), so my spikes never stood - they curled. Using mousse and gel left me with wet looking curls - nothing would make my hair stand on end. I hated my haircut. To add insult to injury, after a summer of tanning, I developed sun poisoning, which looked like a terrible outbreak of acne, AND over the summer months the popular crowd with whom I associated, had determined to drop me like a hot potato. I had left 7th grade a popular, glamour-haired, clear complexioned preppy, and entered 8th grade with no friends, greasy short curls, sun blisters on my face, black flight pants, a black & blue Puma jacket, and jelly shoes. I associated that bad time with short hair, and have never allowed it to be shorter than below the shoulders until now. I like this cut, but I feel exposed without my hair. So whether or not this will stick, or I start growing it longer again is yet to be determined!

Perpetual Planning

From left to right. Back Row: Josie (niece - 14), Amanda (niece, 28), Christine (sister - 47), Shawn (brother - 48), Evan (nephew - 22). Front Row: Me, Mom, Karen (sister - 49), Marisa (niece - 33).

After months of planning, my mom's 70th birthday party has come and gone. It was a lot of work, a lot of fun and a relief to have it successfully completed. The planning began during the endless winter months (dreaming of a warm, but not humid, sunny summer day -which is exactly what we got!) with nascent ideas tumbling through my mind, subconsciously fine tuning them, until a plan emerged. It would be a party centered around birds as a theme (my mom has found birds of interest in recent years). A guest list was drawn up, with input from mom, Joe was commissioned to draw a cool invitation (with a bird whispering into someones ear that "Juanita is turning 70!"), unconventional decorations were decided on, picture boards spanning 6 decades of fashions and phases (some not so attractive!) were created, and an all-vegan menu was set. Using a vacation day Friday, I would spend the next 48 hours cooking, cleaning, cooking, decorating, cooking, arranging, hosting, and cleaning. Exhausting with a capitol E, I tell ya.

We had a wonderful turn out. The picture boards were a hit, and the decorations were fun. We used fish wire to hang a multitude of birds (bought at a craft store), at different heights through the house, effecting an aviary of sorts. As people left the party, they were encouraged to pull a bird down as a keepsake. As the planning for this party grew, it became more about bringing together a diverse group of people (family, friends, co-workers) than just about celebrating mom's birthday... it was a once-in-a-decade opportunity to mingle with many at their best.

As you readers know, Joe and I have our vacation coming in 10 days. In recent weeks, I questioned my judgement in planning a party event so close to planning vacation. I love to plan, but this was becoming a bit much! My mind is now free to focus 100% on the Sierra Nevada.

A Miracle, Atypical Joe or Both?

Joe met with Dr. Naik today in a follow-up appointment to the sigmoidoscopy he had a couple weeks ago. Quite frankly, Dr. Naik was astonished that Joe's colon was so healthy so quickly after such a severe flare. Not only is Joe's colon well, but the biopsies (they always take biopsies to check for cellular changes, and level of inflammation) reflected NO inflammation at work, which verges on spooky - the colon can look great to the eye on exam, but still reveal inflammation under the microscope. Dr. Naik cannot explain this extraordinary result. This is not something they typically see. In fact, two months ago the GI team were basically sure Joe would need his colon removed, but were making one last attempt to throw all they had at saving it. Joe will remain on Azathioprine, and monthly Remicade infusions - doctors find it inadvisable to cut back on med regimes that are working - too risky. Joe will have another colonoscopy in 6 months and see Dr. Naik before the year is over. Another piece of good news is that at long last, Joe's iron levels are returning to the normal range. Hopefully his bones are growing stronger too! (we'll know more about that issue in October)

While this is all amazing, celebratory news, there are salient somber points too. For example, 8 years after the onset of colitis (don't know why this number is significant), the risk of developing colon cancer increases by .5%. Joe's onset occurred in 2003, so he's at the 8 year mark now. Additionally, Joe is at higher risk for developing lymphoma or leukemia as a result of his medications, with approximately 6 in 10,000 people being diagnosed per year. Routine colonoscopies and blood work is conducted to catch these cancers as soon as possible.

I know so many of you have been praying for Joe, sending Reiki, beaming good vibes and any other number of healing intentions. Joe also has an atypical presentation with his colitis - it's either great or Horrible(with a capitol H). So, how do we explain this inexplicable healing? Is it a miracle? Joe's atypical profile, or both? And do we even need to explain it or just be grateful in the moment?

"Fantastic"

That was the word Dr. Stein used to describe Joe's colon in today's sigmoidoscopy!!! After wrangling a flare into submission, Joe's colon appears healthy and normal. What's the difference between a sigmoidoscopy vs. a colonoscopy? The "SigScope" only goes as far as your sigmoid colon, which is the first section (on the left) of your colon after you pass the anus and rectum. It's a faster, less intrusive procedure, which allows you to opt out of twilight anesthesia, as Joe did, and enables you to be fully present during the exam. Joe was able to see his innards as the scope moved along, observing what a healthy lining looks like - free of blood, ulcers, inflammation - with normal coloration, visible veins, even watching the peristaltic motion of the colon. This means Joe's treatments are working and surgery is averted! Great news. Lingering question that cannot be answered - is this how Joe's colon usually looks when he is not flaring? All of his colonoscopies have been done during a flare. We will never know if the Remicade was working well before his June flare. Joe will meet with Dr. Naik to discuss the next course of treatment on 8/19. Some questions will include:
1. Can he stop the Azathioprene?
2. Can he eventually return to Remicade infusions every 8 weeks instead of every 4?
3. When will the next colonoscopy be done?
4. Prognosis at this time?

Scuppernong

An exhausting week (a culmination of post-blood donation, body trying to heal the tattoo, the tattooed leg too sore to run on for 3 days, PMS, mental strain with planning a party & a vacation, never ending heat, humidity & freezing AC indoors, and 8 months of hard training) forced me to rest enough this week, to be able to tackle the undulating Scuppernong Trail with Joe today. Summer Saturday's are a struggle between needing rest but needing to beat the heat of the day. This morning, the need for sleep won, giving us a late start for a run.

In the final weeks before our vacation, we've decided our weekend long runs will be done on trails for multiple benefits. One, this will boost our cardio & leg strength even more for our backpacking trip through the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. And by the way, wouldn't you know it? The Sierra Nevada had the 4th snowiest winter ever recorded with 165% more snow than usual. If percentages mean nothing to you, how 'bout this? Over 900 inches of snow fell, which translates into 75ft of the white stuff. Our trail is still covered in snow!(not what I want to hear) But I digress. Benefit number two, it will prepare us for The North Face Trail 10k, which we will run a week after vacation and three, it's a refreshing change of pace from hitting the hot streets of Waukesha.

Near Eagle, WI, in the Southern Kettle Moraine Unit, the Scuppernong Trail is a scenic 5 mile loop with varied flora and terrain, keeping it interesting and well-shaded. Shade doesn't negate heat and humidity, but it helps not having the sun pounding on you. I clocked a pace 60-90 seconds slower than my street times. Chronically fatigued Joe was hardly slowed by the challenge of this route, finishing with a pace about 20-45 seconds slower than road running (how does he do this???!!!).

Speaking of Joe, Monday will be a moment of truth for him/us. He'll have a sigmoidoscopy at 11:10 a.m., which will tell us how the colon is looking after 2 months of the aggressive Remicade-Azathioprene treatments. Dr. Stein will provide us immediate feedback on how things look, but it will be Dr. Naik on 8/19, who offers the recommendation for what comes next.