Look Back year 2015 12/30/15

First year students organized Breast Cancer Awareness Day wearing pink to cheer me.  October 21, 2015

Team Spinervals Leader Alan MacDougal asked “The Year in Review”; I thought that was timely, worthy and something I can handle with limited motor and brainpower.  2015 Goals were listed in Goals and Plans of 2015 blogt as follows.

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Training distance goals

Increase both cycling and running

2015 cycling 6000 miles, running 500 miles

(2014 cycling 5459 miles, running 447 miles)

Race time goals

5K 30:00 (currently 31:30)

PR in long course Du at Esprit de She 5K/18 miles (2014 2:05:40)

Events Goal

Spinervals 32-Day Challenge Finish

Tour de Cure 100 miles

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Despite my cancer diagnosis in September, in fact, I made annual cycling distance goal!  6,235.92 miles!  My run goal was not as good and came about half way at 257.86 miles.  5K-time goal was in fact achieved: 29:40 on January 31st (Sat) at Plano Pacers Fresh Start 5K.  Duathlon race came after the diagnosis, so that was DNS.  And both events goals were achieved. 

I ran quite a bit in winter and kept running throughout the summer.  Tour de Cure gave me a chance to complete 100-mile ride goal and I received so much support and donation and raised over $1,000.  I was recognized as a Champion.  THANK YOU for those who contributed on my behalf.  New this year, I had fun with Zwift.  When I first learned it, I didn’t ask to be a beta tester.  After all, as in real life, I would be too slow to “ride with” people.  But when David Smith, my dear Spinervals teammate, started sharing, I had to join.  My first ride was on February 26^th and I achieved level 15 on the last day of the original Jarvis Island.  As of now, Watopia made an extension course and expanded to level 25, I should have enough points for instant level 25 the next time I ride!

Although this is fitness blog, not cancer blog, I feel I should mention my cancer treatment.  Because of my insurance, my annual mammogram screening usually comes at the beginning of fall semester and this time, it needed more follow up than usual years.  I was notified of breast cancer diagnosis on September 14^th and my husband, Tony, had to spend his birthday, along with his sister, Teresa, at the breast surgeon’s office.  From there, we met with the oncologist, various tests were conducted to install port and 25^th Friday was my first chemotherapy.  My cancer was fairly aggressive, but the type of cancer allowed target therapy and the treatment started with chemotherapy.  I stopped running, but kept riding in easy intensity, occasionally modifying the gear spec to kind of follow Coach Troy’s Super 6 program.  That stopped December 14^th because I went through the surgery. 

Year 2015 is a significant year because of cancer and maybe people would say it is the year I would rather forget.  I am feeling the contrary.  Thanks to the medical team, the surgery was scheduled during the winter break, deviating standard course of treatment by breaking up 6 chemo treatments in 4 before the surgery and 2 after.  Tony stepped up as a supportive, loving husband to pamper me and take care of me.  I am overwhelmed with the support and cheering I receive from family, colleagues, friends in real life and online, mainly Team Spinervals.  Students grew up a little in a hurry and completed independent study assignments and helped me being good students.  I am so grateful.  THANK YOU so much!

It is a good timing to be making similar goals for 2016.  I am missing my chance to be Spinervals December Challenge finisher for the fifth time and there isn’t any concrete timeline that I can get back to my normal exercise routines.  Radiation therapy and follow-up surgery will happen through the spring semester to summer break and target therapy will continue through September of 2016.  Once the drain is removed tomorrow, I should be able to start simple upper body exercises.  I plan on doing it twice a day until I get doctor clearance of easy spinning.  I am hoping that will happen on January 5^th when I meet with plastic surgeon.  Until spring semester starts, I should have plenty of time for upper body workout and easy spinning. I will see how I react with chemotherapy and hope to do aerobic intensity workouts, shadowing Super 6 program.  Probably my challenge is to listen to my body and do not overdo.  I am sure my support will keep me in check. 来年もどうかよろしくおねがいします。(Please continue the support through the New Year.)