42.8

42.8. That's how many miles I rode on my bicycle on Saturday! Until then my max distance had been just under 32miles. As could be expected, at about mile 35 my seat started hurting quite a bit. I chose to stand and pedal every few minutes, or so, which helped. But, WOW! I never realized how sore you could get from riding a bike!! My neck, shoulders, and hands were all quite sore as well. And yet, I know that the pain I was experiencing is only a minor discomfort compared to what mom has had to go through with chemo. I couldn't help but think of her during those times when I was so hot, sore, and worn down. There was no way I was stopping. I even found the will deep down to hammer at the end and try to catch my coach. I didn't catch her, but I proved to myself that I had more in me than I originally believed. That's likely been the case all along, I've just never pushed myself to find out!!!

The last hoorah!!!

Today was mom's last chemotherapy treatment! PRAISE GOD!!!
Over the course of the next 6 weeks or so she will have more testing done to see if any cancer cells remain. We have been told that follicular lymphoma (mom's version) does not go into remission; instead it is a slow-growing lymphoma that takes years to become a nuisance and get to the point of needing further treatment. I am believing in faith that we will not need further chemotherapy treatments...ever!
If, however, cancer cells are seen on the follow-up tests, she will be given Rituxin (monoclonal antibody) treatments every 3 months until further notice [read 'years' here]. Up until today, mom's Rituxin was given at the beginning of her chemo treatments. However, it was given at the end of her treatment today, and mom is having a lot of nausea despite the meds they gave her to prevent it. Mom doesn't do well with nausea, so we've been lucky that she hasn't had any thus far. Each treatment has brought with it some strange symptom - visual changes, nose bleeds, joint/muscle aches - but nausea has been avoided until now. At least we know that may of these symptoms are short-lived and pass fairly quickly over the first week after treatment. We are praying that the nausea passes even more quickly.
Please keep her in your prayers as we await tests and test results, as she fights with this nausea, and as we wait on the Lord for full healing - should that be his will!!

God bless,
Amanda

Thanks donors! (revised)

I would like to thank my brother and sister-in-law for their generous donation to my TNT fundraising efforts. I know mom and all those fighting blood cancers thank you, too.

WAY past due

Rich and I have been discussing hiring a cleaning service for monthly up-keep on the house for almost a year now. He and I are just way too busy, and when we're not we sure don't want to vacuum and dust! This leads me to not clean much at all, hoping to have a service very soon. Well, one of his co-workers in Chicago had an unfortunate mishap with her cleaning service (she was robbed) and Rich is hesitant about having a stranger in our home. In addition, my husband is allergic to the world, it seems. His allergies have been particularly awful this weekend.
Today he left for a client meeting in Bethlehem, PA (as in "O' little town of"), and being the dutiful wife I am, I decided to vacuum the top and main floors of our townhome while he was gone in order to spare his allergies. (I did the basement last week.) By the way, there were visible lint balls and dog hair clusters on the front of the couch. AaaCHOO!!
Here's the gross part; brace yourself. Only proceed if you're truly braced: I filled up the entire canister on our Dyson vacuum JUST DOING THE STAIRS, 1 FLIGHT OF STAIRS!!! That's when you know the cleaning is way past due. Please pray that we will be able to hire a service, even if I have to be home when they come. I know that sounds a bit strange, but we obviously need the help.

"You're in unchartered territory."

I rode just over 31 miles today in 2:56min. That's at least 7 miles longer than my longest ride 2 years ago, and 9 miles longer than my longest ride during this training. When I asked coach Roger about our distance during the last portion of our ride he said, "You're in unchartered territory." What a proud moment. I am bushed, but have a true sense of accomplishment! I learned I can battle through exhaustion and finish the ride, that endurance sports are as much mental as physical, and that I should've gone back and gotten my gloves when I realized I'd left home without them. My hands would be better off had they been covered and padded for those near 3 hours.

The great news is that my numbness wasn't so pronounced today. I still had hot spots in my right foot, but, thanks to my new pedals, I was able to change the angle of my shoe in the pedal and got the hot spots to diminish. It took constant effort, which was part of my battle today, but I succeeded and look forward to my next ride.
On the schedule tomorrow is a "recovery ride" - an easy 10-15miles. I haven't done one yet, but I think it's about time.
My adage for the day: Gloves - never leave home without 'em.

Until next time...

Because cycling is a 'sexy' sport

Yesterday I was able to finally get "fitted" to my bike. Basically, this entails a bike fit specialist, (Adam at the bike pedlar), taking all the same measurements as a tailor measuring a man for a suit. Then he does some calculations and has you sit on your bike and pedal for a few minutes. BTW I had to wear my bike shorts for this...my Lycra/spandex tight-fitting, chamois-containing bike shorts. (A chamois is basically a pad built into the shorts for cushioning and comfort; when not on the bike, it feels a bit like wearing a diaper! ) Then he makes adjustments. I regret not having any pictures of this process...OK, maybe I don't regret it too much. Here's a great image of how it feels, though: http://www.bicycle.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/cycling-shorts-women.jpg

Oh, before we did the fitting, I had to try on my new shoes and choose new pedals.

Check out my new shoes. These are considered "road shoes" because they have a very stiff sole (mine is carbon fiber..ooh!!) and no tread. Bottom line: it's like walking around in glass slippers...literally. I had to buy covers for the cleats, which are the metal gadgets attached to the sole of the shoe. This is what clips into my new pedals. That's right, the little round metal opening on the bottom of my shoes fits around the pedal that resembles a pretty pink lollipop. So, while I'm riding my shoes are locked into the pedals. WARNING: stopping is an art. You have to "clip out" of your pedals in order to put your foot down on the ground. If you don't do it in time, you fall over while still attached to your bike. I've done it twice, it's not pretty. Here's my current battle wound from the most recent incident.

Do you have the whole mental picture now? Me in bike shorts with my gnarly bruised leg, walking around in road shoes that could kill me if I wasn't walking on carpet. Then, put all of that on a bike sitting atop a platform being watched by a 25year-old guy...and paying for it!!! This is why cycling is a sexy sport.

So, if you haven't yet contributed to my fundraising efforts with Team in Training, please do so now, if no other reason than sheer pity. Some may also wish to contribute to ensure that I will have to be in seen in public at the El Tour de Tucson in my sexy cycling garb. I accept that, that's OK with me. The whole point is to raise money for cancer research and save some one's life...like my mom's. She's worth it.

All of this was done so I would stop losing feeling in my feet. Tomorrow we have a 40mile ride scheduled...I'll let you know how it goes!