60 Minutes tonight - why some die and some play football and some ride bikes?

Tonight while watching 60 Minutes my attention was demanded when I heard the term Ewings Sarcoma!
A cancer that only affects about 400 people a year.  The segment was about Mark Herzlich the football player and how he was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma ( a very rare bone cancer) - different than the Multiple Myleoma I was diagnosed with (bone marrow cancer) - He had a titanium rod put in his leg and went through chemo and radition and it went into remission.  A miracle!  He is back playing football. I have a titanium rod in my left leg too.  Only it was not at my request, unfortunately.  Breaking a femur is very painful, trust me.

My dear, dear friend Alan Tilley was struck with Ewings Sarcoma when he was only 18.  I battled through my breast cancer and we fought together for his life!!   We were inseperable - unfortunately, he died six years later at 25.   He died in February of 1995.  I was just getting over the breast cancer portion of my life.  But Alan and I shared the same wonderful oncologist at that time, Dr. Neil Barth.  Dr. Barth loved Alan as much as I did.  Alan used to laugh saying things like, " you are just jealous because I won't be here to support you" - He knew he was dying.  He worked at Disneyland and wanted to be an actor.  I walked a redwood tree with him right before he died.  It was his request.   He was gay and acted like I was not supposed to know? I never knew why.   But it had nothing to do with his cancer.  I only mention it because Alan and I had a love relationship for which I have no words and never will.   Alan was more than a sibling and certainly not a lover, and we were as close as close can be!!!!!!!!!!!
 One time he said to me, " Cheryl, one day you and I will be two shining stars in the sky"  - Maybe he is my Star tonight bringing on this desire to share how much I miss him and how proud I am of how hard he fought! 

Three months after Alan died, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and told I had six months to live.  Alan was correct.  I was angry that he was gone already and he was not there to support me.  Only he was in spirit and still is.  The first century I road (with no training) the last 25 miles I asked Alan to give me a boost and I kicked ass that last stretch and passed everybody!  As I crossed that finish line, I fell to the grass and cried like a baby.   Alan and I and our cancers are on the same page in the Merck Dictionary and we will be holding hands forever.   I am not sure where he is, but I have a feeling he is that shining star, rooting for me to train and do this ride for life --- and when I finish Counting Coup, Alan - my dear, Alan, it will be for you and all our friends who are with you.  Oh, how I wish I understood why some of us live and some of die?

Why some of us get to play football and ride mountain bikes and some of us leave and move on to where we will all be some day.  

So GO GO Mark Herzlich - nobody will stop you from playing football!   And cancer won't stop me either.

I am happily recovering from my ride yesterday and totally exhausted!  I am forever grateful for my memories of my friends and everything I have been through has brought me here.
God bless you all!
Cheryl

Endurance Ride 2 - much improvement

Today I road the same ride I did last weekend, with a small tweak and ended up a mile further (31.41 miles; more elevation, 3681 feet - and shaved off nearly 20 minutes! My time was 3:41 with an elapsed time of 3:42.  12 minutes for food breaks - much better than last week of around 40 minutes.   It was a beautiful day and I had fun and felt strong and pushed harder than last week.  Getting  used to my new 29er bike on the downhill and off-camber turns, etc.  My max speed was 40.6 (flying down Westridge black top) lol

Lou, my coach is on her way to La Ruta for her four-day endurance race!  If I weren't so old, I would dream of doing what she is doing! But, for now, I am excited to report that training is fun and pays off when you listen to the pros!

Looking forward to the day I kick out 10,000 feet of climbing in a day!
Thank you to my friends and family for supporitng me.
I sure  never dreamed I would be crazy enough to do this -- but you all know I am crazy!

Tomorrow is a two - hour recovery ride.
Night

First training with Mikey today

It was an early morning.  I was at my office at 6:00 a.m. and since the Spetrum is on the same floor as my office, it was an easy "get to" and meet Mikey at 6:45.  We worked on arms and core and he sure has a job ahead of him.  When I attempted the push-ups and pull-ups (which he makes look so easy) you should have seen the look on his face!  But, he promises that this morning will not be a repeat in down the road as I get stronger. 

Having had more surgeries than I can remember, starting with mastectomy one and two, and several reconstructive surgeries and implant types and sizes - oh, those nipples they tried to make (now that was a joke) - had to be off my  bike for a while with that surgery.  They also took my lympnodes and so for 23 years, my upper body has not been a strong suit, to say the least!

So here is to giving it all I have and with the help of Lou and Mikey - I think WE can do Counting Coup and finish on Aprli 7th, 2012!

October 1, 2011 after crash - Bandana and zip tie came in handy to keep the dirt out of the hole in my leg!

Diet changes

Last weekend after my four-hour ride, I made the decision to turn to whole wheat pasta and rice, add more veggies, fruits and rest more - drink more water. 

And most of all I remember to thank God every day for my life and this chance to do something so important to me.  Possilby my only chance.  23 years of my life was about cancer and tests, doctors and treatment.   Today it is about health, love and the Challenge to Live my Dream!

Response from my coach on today's training -

GREAT!!  I think it looks good and it looks like you really got the HR up!!  It takes a little time finding the "perfect" hill, right length and grade, but REALLY the most important part is not a number, but that you are pushing hard and working your legs, heart, lungs and getting used to some pain :-) Also, I seriously wouldn't worry about checking your HR while riding.  On these intervals, just push as hard as you can, and you can just look at the data after for info.  Using HR is good, but ultimately getting tuned in to your body is more important than what some HR monitor says.  I think listening to your body is more reliable, it's good for me to see the garmin info as it helps communicating to you what to do, but in the race, it will be all YOU, and learning when to push and when you might have to back down is VERY important!!! Anyway, I think you did a fabulous job!!!!   Do you think you would like to try the LA test next week?  Did you get the info I sent?  It is totally up to you!  You can try it, and if you don't feel comfortable that's fine.  It will be a great workout anyway, pushing very hard (time trial) for 30 minutes!!! This saturday, would you be ok with doing the exact same ride as last weekend, or do you have plans to ride with friends.  If you do, that is totally fine, then I will have you do same ride NEXT weekend.  I would like to have you do the same ride, and try figuring out how you can shave time off.  Maybe riding SLIGHTLY faster, stopping slightly less, pushing one gear harder in certain spots.  This will help you figure out how to ride more efficient, save energy and still be faster without killing yourself.  You can do it this, or next weekend :=) Awesome job on the intervals!!! L http://www.loukobin.com/   --- On Wed, 10/26/11, Quikfingers <quikfingers@gmail.com> wrote: From: Quikfingers <quikfingers@gmail.com> Subject: Fwd: Untitled by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details Same Ride second reading To: "Louise Kobin" <loukobin@yahoo.com>, "Marwan Korban" <mkorban@sbcglobal.net>, "Cheryl Parrish" <quikfingers@gmail.com> Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 4:19 PM this is the same ride as the earlier one i sent you. i just reset the garmin after playing with it. so both of the emails i just sent are different but the same ride  you may want to check my HR on this one - i think i did okay! again, i tried my best thanks Begin forwarded message: From: Cheryl Parrish <cparrish@parrishreporting.com> Date: October 26, 2011 4:18:32 PM PDT To: Louise Kobin <loukobin@yahoo.com>, Marwan Korban <mkorban@sbcglobal.net>, Cheryl Parrish <quikfingers@gmail.com> Subject: Fwd: Untitled by stenogrl at Garmin Connect - Details Lou - lol - well, i tried and i worked hard -  Decided on road bike - fussed with the garmin setting up another bike and i have cadence on road bike - my hill was not long enough and a little steep  but once i went down the other side i saw i could come up the other way and it was not as steep so i was faster and then down the other side and back up for steeper  you can see my HR flying around anyway! once i was warmed up, i just did not want to stop - almost decided to ride to your house! lol -- but i know i need to not to do that - once i get on a roll, i want to keep on rolling.  trying to watch for cars and my HR and time, etc was a little getting used to -but i am getting better in my one afternoon trying this - i will find longer hill - but this hill Franklin up and down the other side is nice when i don't have as much time with work because it's close to home. I may try Inglewood climb - just will ask Marwan how i can get there. But bottom line you were right - those hill repeats kick your ass!!!!!!! lol http://connect.garmin.com/activity/124519031#.TqiTh_m2sNE.email

Today - hill repeats and intervals

Today was fun.  My coach, Lou had me to a 45 minute warm-up, followed by some hill repeats.
I worked it as hard as I could and it sure worked!! My legs are whipped right now.

It is very exciting, while behing challenging and keeping my goal in mind! 

Last Saturday I road four hours from home to the Hub with minimal stopping (for me)
This Saturday I am doing that same ride and see how much time I can shave off.
I have also decided to have Marwan's cousin Mikey help me with training on core and arms at the Spectrum gym.  It is a few feet from my office, so very handy!

Also considering putting a stationary type bike in my office!
Thanks, Lou and to all my friends and family for supporting me in the very early stages of this big goal!