ASK 5 K

Yesterday I participated in the ASK 5K for one of my students. She is in first grade and this is her second battle with Leukemia. Unfortunately she was not there because she had to go into the hospital for chemo but she did face time with us right after we started the run. Although it is terrible and every single one of us wishes this was not happening and no child should ever have to go through what she has and is going through, she has an amazing and supportive family on her side. She made it through this once, she will beat it again. I pray that after that it never comes back.

Teachers are not supposed to play favorites, but E is one of my favorites. Her aunt and I have been friends since third grade so I've known E before there was an E. She's a bright and happy little girl who makes my day better every time I see her at school. We joke around a lot. She loves art. I miss seeing her happy face and can't wait to give her a big hug when she comes back to school. 

I had to push B in the stroller and since there were no starting waves, I spent most of the time walking with the group. Initially I had wanted to run but it was such a huge cluster of people and since I started with the walkers, there was no way I was going to be running unless I knocked people out of my way. When we hit the start of mile 3, the crowd did clear enough for me to get through and run a bit, so I ran most of the last mile. From this experience I learned that I will not be running with the jogger in a race if I can avoid it. It's tough to dodge people and the stroller is pretty heavy and takes that much more effort. But I had fun and I am glad I did it. It was for E.

B man got his own medal at the end! It's that yellow ribbon in his hand. He put it around his neck all by himself! He promptly wanted to take it off five minutes later though.

I don't know what race I will do next yet, but I do know that I need to keep up with the running. The pollen has been horrible this past week and has kept me indoors and I can tell that my legs are losing all I gained while training for the 10K. A few gym trips and dates with the treadmill may be in my future this week.

Guest Post: Liz Davies

Liz contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if she could write a guest post for my blog. Always up for something new, I loved the idea. Here is her article.

Cancer Patients and Survivors Need Exercise

Most people know about the benefits that exercise has for the average person but not many people know about the benefits that cancer patients can reap from regular physical activity.

Some of the most common side effects from cancer treatments (whether they are from chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of treatments) include exhaustion, nausea and vomiting, pain, and weight management issues. All of these side effects can be lessened and even eliminated through exercise.  It has also been shown that recurrence of cancer can be lessened for cancer survivors and that survival rates are higher with those who exercise on a regular bases. Breast cancer was one of the first cancers that was researched when it came to exercise but now more cancers are being researched like colon cancer, mesothelioma cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Many times when a doctor makes a recommendation patients do not always follow the advice. This could be for many reasons such as lack of confidence the recommendation with help, laziness or just plain forgetfulness. Most doctors just make a recommendation for cancer patients to exercise but they aren’t handing them a prescription so many patients are not taking it seriously. Patients also often underestimate or overestimate their physical abilities and also fear returning back to exercise.

The exercise regimens recommended for cancer patients aren’t far off from the routines average Americans follow. The difference is that is can take patients and survivors a little longer to get the routine going and they often need a little more support. Finding the motivation and energy to take a daily walk can be much harder when cancer patients have their treatment side effects holding them back. Pushing past those has measurable benefits and can’t be ignored. The responsibility falls upon doctors to educate patients and for the patients to take control of their health and be proactive in their approach to exercise.

Liz Davies is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in health and wellness. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives because she sees how cancer has devastated so many people in this world. Liz also likes running, playing lacrosse, reading and playing with her dog, April.

You can see her blog here: Musings of a Curious Mind