Piggy Trot 5K: My First!

LOVES!!

I come to you with GREAT news: I completed my first 5K today!  More importantly, this wasn’t simply any 5K.  It was the first annual Piggy Trot in loving memory of my college classmate and friend, Glenna Kohl.

Glenna and I were in a lot of the same classes during our time at school.  Not only were we both business majors, but we bonded over the fact that we were in the honors program together.  [NERD ALERT!]  We were mostly class buddies, but became closer our senior year of school.  Glenna’s roommate and best friend, Courtney, and I became very close.  Through Court, I spent a lot of time with Glenna during our final semesters.

After graduation, Glenna went to the doctor for what she though was a stubborn, pulled muscle that wouldn’t heal.  The news the doctor had for her would tilt her world upside down: the lump she was feeling was actually Stage III melanoma that had spread to her lymph nodes.  There are only IV stages.  She was 22.

If detected early, melanoma patients have a relatively good chance of surviving.  But, when found in Stage III, the chances diminish with only half the patients living another 10 years.  Perplexed as to why this wasn’t caught sooner, Glenna’s doctor poured through her medical records and determined that an irregular mole she had removed from her leg a few years earlier actually was cancerous.  The lab had made a mistake.

Rather than feeling sorry for herself and wondering “why” or “what if”, she grabbed the disease by the reigns and fought.  Glenna refused to give up and fought tirelessly, not only for her own health, but to spread the word about the dangers of the sun.  While the rest of her graduating class was settling into the working world, Glenna was trying experimental drug treatments, radiation and spending more time in a hospital than any 22-year-old ever should.

She took her knowledge to anyone who would listen.  As a lifetime resident of Cape Cod, Glenna was a lifeguard at Dowses Beach in Barnstable for five summers.  During this time, she exposed her skin to the sun with little protection.  In addition to this, Glenna used tanning beds to ensure her glow wouldn’t fade. 

Once the reality of her (very common) actions set in, she was determined to speak her mind about tanning salons.  She took her determination before the Massachusetts State Senate and encouraged them to pass Glenna’s Law.  The law aims to ensure anyone under the age of 18 has parental consent before using a tanning bed.  The previous law only required anyone under the age of 16 to have parental consent.  The law passed through the Senate, but now is waiting to be passed by the House.

Despite all of her determination, Glenna lost her battle at the age of 26 after a three-year battle with the disease.  Her parents, Colleen and Bob, continue to spread Glenna’s message about sun safety.  I encourage you to visit their website :  The Glenna Kohl Fund for Hope.  You can read more about Glenna here, including an article in Cosmopolitan magazine featuring her, as well as news segments of them spreading the word.  And, if you can, I encourage you to donate to the Kohl’s fund.  They are doing some extraordinary things, including….

…hosting the First-Annual Piggy Trot!  Glenna’s nickname was Piggy  

We met at the very same beach, Dowses, that Glenna called her home for so many summers.  It was a cool and overcast day, which was perfect for running!!  I arrived to a slew of people! 

I nervously checked in and received my number.

And some swag!  We have an amazing, light-weight backpack.

This guy was filled with all kinds of goodies, including sunscreen (duh!), chapstick, a protein bar, a t-shirt, water bottle and information about melanoma.

The scenery:

Before the race kicked off, Bob and Colleen, shared a few words with the crowd.  After offering words of encouragement to all runners and walkers, the Kohls informed us that they had used previously raised money to ensure every lifeguard station at Dowses was covered with a canopy (I tried to get a photo, but it was too far away).  In addition, they installed sunscreen dispensers at the beach to ensure no sunbather went without again.  How AWESOME are they?!?  Glenna would be so proud

At 10:00 on the dot, we were off!  As always, I told myself that anything under a 10 minute/mile was decent, but I was actually hoping for under 9:30/miles.  I’m not sure of my official time yet, but here’s what the Garmin told me:

Mile 1: 9:18

Mile 2: 9:15

Mile 3: 9:25

Mile 4: 9:38

Average Page: 9:23

Total Time: 33:40

Total Mileage: 3.6 (slightly longer than the average 5K)

Crossing the finish line:

I was so happy!  For someone that’s never participated in a race, completing one felt great! 

Even though I finished within my goal, I made a few rookie mistakes that slowed me down a bit.  First of all, I had a difficult time maneuvering around the crowd at first.  It took me awhile to break away and find my path.  In addition, there were a few other times that I would be jogging along and come up on a group of people and sprint to separate myself from them.  This led to fatigue toward the end of the race.  But, all and all, I was happy!

Refreshments:

And, signs of encouragement:

Cancer is so limited..
It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul

3 cheers to Courtney for helping the Kohls plan such a memorable day:

College friends:

This is Megs.  This is what you need to know about her:  We went on spring break together senior year and she is by far one of my favorite people to party with.  She’s obsessed with Pam Anderson (See?  You would want to party with her too) and has a heart of gold.  She’s run the Boston marathon twice  (this past year for Glenna’s fund).  She was also Glenna’s nurse and one of her biggest supporters.  Total rock star.

My biggest supporter and personal photographer for the day:

Happy girl on the way home:

Such a fabulous day!  I appreciate you guys reading all about Glenna’s fund.  I encourage you to get a full-body check EVERY year.  USE SUNSCREEN even if you “don’t burn”.  Take a non-tanning pledge with me, won’t you?!?  It could save your life   Let’s nip skin cancer in the bud!!

Glenna:

Glenna and her mom:

Fighting hard with a smile, as always:

Question of the Day:  Do you use sunscreen?

You better believe I always do now!

Saturday Highlights and Pancake Truffle Recipe

Hi, babydolls! HOW ARE MY LOVES?!?

The weather was gorgeous here today.  It was absolutely stunning. 

Since we’re all so busy on the weekends, I’m going to try a little something call “Weekend Highlights”.  Basically, I’ll highlight anything fun and anything delicious that occurred instead of a formal post.  I think it’ll be more fun for everyone  

Highlights for today include:

1) My first official training for my 5K!  I hit the pavement this morning at 7:15 and ran 3.2 miles in 31 minutes.  I was SO happy!  My goal was to run anything quicker than a 10 minute mile.  Mission accomplished!  The route I ran, however, was pretty easy without a lot of hills.  But, it’s a start.

2) Kenpo – I’m becoming a punching machine

3) BREAKFAST!  Caitlin is a GENIOUS. She posted this recipe yesterday morning and I knew I had to re-create them right away!

Pancake Truffles

Ingredients (for 3 truffles or 1 serving):

•1/2 cup raw oatmeal
•1/3 cup whole wheat pancake mix
•1 egg white
•1/4 tablespoon cinnamon
•1/4 cup almond milk
•4.5 inches of banana (cut into three 1.5 inch pieces)
•1/4 cup whole pecans, crushed (I used walnuts)

Directions:

Heat oven to 350.  Mix the first 5 ingredients together.  Place crushed nuts on a plate.  Form a case of the pancake/oatmeal mixture around each banana piece.  The mixture will be very wet and sticky (and messy!), which is okay.  Once the banana is covered, roll each banana bite into the crushed nuts.  Place on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick spray and bake for 15 minutes.

Caitlin recommended serving with maple syrup, but I decided to create a peanut butter sauce for my topping.  I got the idea from Kath, who is always creating peanut butter sauces for her oats.  You simply mix peanut butter (~ tbsp) with milk to achieve your desired consistency and place in the microwave to warm.

You guys – MAKE THIS NOW!  The pictures do not do it justice.  It was so Heavenly!!!!  The crusty outside and warm banana with hints of peanut butter and walnuts were just outrageous!  And, it’s very filling.  It held me over for hours!

4)  Lunch: Leftover veggie enchiladas (2) and side salad:

I realize the enchiladas look huge, but they’re on a salad plate.  I promise!

5) SHOPPING!  Mr. KD and I hit the mall and I bought myself some pre birthday treats!  Let’s just say my summer wardrobe is pretty set

6)  Starbucks!  I decided to get a mocha frappucino light.  Guess what?  I can’t hack the sugar anymore!  I barely drank half of it :sad:  I guess I’ll stick with my lattes from now on!

6)  Mr. KD and I went on a dinner date!!!!  Can you believe it?!?  We decided on our favorite Thai place.  I forgot my camera and had to settle for sub-par phone photos.  I do apologize!

Appetizer: Spicy Tuna Roll

Mr. KD’s meal: Garlic Beef sautéed with veggies and served with brown rice:

My meal: Vegetarian Clay Pot Curry.  It’s actually served in a clay pot!  And, yes, there was coconut milk with the curry.  I love coconut milk and curry.  It is SO worth the splurge to me.  I don’t even think twice about it.  This meal included tofu, broccoli, cabbage, green beans and carrots served with a curry coconut sauce with brown rice.

That weird, plastic looking thing is cabbage!  Don’t be scared!  It was so good.  I could barely make a dent in this.  So filling!

On the way home, we stopped for a small bite of ice cream.  Isn’t she cute?

Peanut butter chip ice cream, which is essentially chocolate chip with peanut butter swirled throughout.  Holy yummers!!  I’ve yet to eat this because I’m still completely satisfied from dinner. 

And, that’s all folks!  Have a fantastic Saturday night!  xoxo

Question of the day:  What was the highlight of your Saturday?