Back in November, I was traveling to Washington, D.C., on a business trip and to spend some time touring the city with my mom, who lives in Richmond, Va. In the Nashville airport, I happened to meet up with State Rep. Brenda Gilmore. I can’t even remember now how the conversation was struck, but long story short, she mentioned that she was interested in improving her own fitness level, not only for her own health but to set an example for women of color to take better care of themselves. So I told her about Gilda’s Club and my intention to train for the Country Music Half Marathon with Gilda’s Gang.

We exchanged cards, and I was supposed to get information to her about the Gang. It was on my to-do list but I kept never getting to it (does that happen to you?). True to her tenacious nature, Brenda tracked me down by phone: You said you were going to send me some information. I’d like to know more.

Well, Brenda has been one of the regulars at our Saturday morning training. She always has a smile for everyone, and her gentle voice is encouraging to all of us at that early (and for most of the season, COLD) hour.

So this week, we take a few moments to introduce you to Brenda and let her tell you in her own words about her Gilda’s Gang experience and why she’s training for the Country Music Half Marathon.

Thanks, Brenda, for joining the Gang and becoming a part of our family!

Congratulations to all the members of the Gang, who collectively are closing in on $60,000 raised to continue important services for cancer survivors and their family. Kudos for putting in the hard work — we’re at Week 10 so Race Day is looming head of us and we will be ready for it!

On a personal note, I was reminded again this week how important this cause is. A childhood friend of mine, only 43 years old, will be traveling from Knoxville to see a specialist at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center this week to see if we have something to offer that will take care of what she calls a “stubborn” metastatic tumor in her brain. Another friend’s brother was diagnosed just yesterday with advanced esophageal cancer. And our hearts continue to go out to our dear, dear Nancy Saturn and her family as she continues her journey with breast cancer.

If you have not yet made a donation to support Gilda’s Club and are so inclined, please find the link in the right-hand list of sidebars for our easy, secure online giving page.

Now that spring is here, get outside and take a walk. Enjoy the flowers peeking up out of the ground. Bask in the sunshine. And remember — Daylight Savings Time is almost here!

Sorry it’s been a while since my last post. My day job got a little crazy (truth be told, I’d rather blog full-time but haven’t quite figured out the business model on that one!).

Since I updated you, we’ve logged our 6-mile walk/run, nicknamed “the out and back” because we went straight out Belmont to Graybar, turned around and came back. My favorite part of training will be in a few weeks, when we go out Belmont again. It will be late enough that yards will be greening up and the flowers will be blooming. My buddy Lynne Cargen and I truly savor our spot at the end of pack that day — we spend a lot of time oohing and ah-ing over the gorgeous yards.

Last Saturday, Deb Sandvik, Michelle Eckland and I pushed Moe about a mile in his customized wheelchair. Some observations:

• Downhill is almost as tricky as uphill. Tips for strengthening forearms would be a appreciated.
• Not a good idea to be gabbing and leave one person to push alone. Please forgive us, Michelle!
• Moe is an entertaining fellow who has led an interesting life in his 70 decades+. He shared stories about teaching Australian actress Diane Cilento how to scuba dive. (Moe is Australian). Cilento’s claim to fame is that she was Sean Connery’s first wife. “She was the first Mrs. James Bond,” Moe says. “She refused to give me her date of birth. I said, ‘I have to put it on the paper,’ but she refused so I just left it blank.”
• Some write Mo. Some write Moe. Deb wants to get it right so she asks him which is correct. “Call me what you like so long as you don’t call me late to lunch,” Moe says.

The folks who get the privilege of pushing Moe for the 13.1 miles are in for several hours of great fun, that’s for sure.

Lastly, in case you were wondering, I got new shoes. A fellow named Chris helped me. I’ll share more in my next post, but it definitely has put a new spring in my step.

Tomorrow morning: I think we’re up to 7 miles. I’m looking forward to checking in with the gang, finding out our fund-raising totals and logging some more miles.

Later!

The best part about Gilda’s Club is that it truly is an extended family. I am writing today to let you know that our family has been rocked by very sad news.

Roger Neal chats with Paige Boston and another Gang member after a recent Saturday training.

Roger Neal, 62, a member of Gilda’s Gang, has died after an apparent heart attack while driving home from church on Sunday. His wife, Ruth, also a Gilda’s Gang member, suffered minor injuries. Visitation will be Thursday, Feb. 18, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. at St Ann’s Church (corner of Charlotte and 51st Avenue). The funeral will be Friday, Feb. 19, at 11 am. at  St Ann’s, with burial at 1 p.m. at Veterans Cemetery on McCrory Lane (Exit 192 I-40 West).

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to St Judes Children’s Hospital in the name of Roger Neal.

I don’t have the honor of knowing the Neals personally. I do realize after looking at the photos that Deb Sandvik sent that I definitely know him by face.

Here’s their story as shared in last summer’s GildaGram:

“What is Gilda’s Club? That was the question I asked my wife Ruth when she came home and said Heritage Medical had decided to support Gilda’s Club as one of their charities in 2009 and walk/run the Country Music Marathon to raise money and awareness for Gilda’s. My question was answered when Gilda’s hosted an informal get acquainted-kickoff night for Heritage employees.

Ruth and Roger Neal (back row, first and second from left) pose for a team photo at a recent Saturday training session.

“After the introduction, the clubhouse tour, and the emotional video of Dr. Gail Addlestone’s cancer story, I knew we had found another wonderful charity to support for a lifetime. As we set up our online fundraising page, wrote lists of people to ask for donations, signed up for the ½ marathon, started the training and came to Gilda’s each Saturday with a great dedicated group of people with the same goal in mind, Gilda’s Club just became part of our lives and we talked to everyone about it.

“As we went about getting donations (tougher for us as we had to split our people in some cases), completed the training, met new people, and finally reached and exceeded our original fundraising goals; we then completed the ½ marathon with an excited group of Gilda’s supporters. What a wonderful experience and fantastic cause!”

– Roger and Ruth Neal

As you can imagine, the Gang is stunned and saddened by this news. Our prayers go out to Ruth and their family and friends. When we gather for training on Saturday, it will be with heavy hearts.

I have a confession to make.

I have been much more enthusiastic about this blog than I have been about my training. I have to finish the half marathon — only about 10 weeks away — in under four hours, else I get scooped up by a pick-up truck and driven to the finish. So I have to figure how to turn up the discipline.

I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that writing a blog comes more easily than hauling my lazy butt out to train. Counting my years as a college journalist, I’ve got nearly 30 years of story-telling under my belt (now that’s a number it hurts to see in print).

I’m not sure what the barrier has been to being more disciplined about training. The snow and cold weather certainly hasn’t helped. Simple inertia was working against me to start with. You remember inertia, the thing about bodies in motion tend to stay in motion and bodies at rest tend to stay on the couch watching Criminal Minds re-runs like a lazy bum.

But today when I noticed my shins and the balls of feet hurting during my long walk,  I had another thought. It’s not me. It’s my shoes. They are worn out. Blown. Dead. There’s a reason there’s no zing in my step.

So on my to-do list for Monday is a trip to visit our good friends at The Athlete’s House for a gait assessment and a proper fitting. Located on Portland Avenue near Belmont University, The Athlete’s House has been fitting runners with proper footwear for nearly four decades.

David Graeflin, owner of The Athlete's House, talks about the importance of the right socks and the righ schoes during a "shoe clinic" for Gilda's Gang.

According to the store’s website, owner David Graeflin is an alum of Overton High School, where he played football and basketball and ran track before becoming a track and cross-country standout at Vanderbilt University. He started selling shoes out of the back of a truck at events back in the day before road-racing became popular, then opened the store in its current location in 1973.

All I know is that David is really nice guy. He has been a supporter of Gilda’s Gang for years, helping us select the right shoes, socks and other race apparel. During training season, there’s always water in front of his store for runners, and he’s been known to let a few use the rest room in his store.

I look forward to talking with him this week and sharing what I learn with you. And most importantly, getting the zing back in my step.

Till next time!

Today’s post is about the small world we live in and the kindness of strangers.

But before I “bury the lead,” as we say in journalism, Moe has a wheelchair! (Click here for the back story).

Long story short, a local athlete named Rick Slaughter connected to a guy named Phil LaPrad, an electrical engineer by training and an angel in daily life (at least we all think so). LaPrad found a wheelchair that would provide a suitable frame and combined pieces and parts of a dozen or so other chairs to create one that will meet Moe’s needs.

“The hardest part was finding a chair,” Phil said in an interview at the Gilda’s Clubhouse after Saturday’s training.

So now we have a chair that suits Moe’s large frame. That has sturdy wheels to handle the rough course. A push-bar that is the right height so that the folks who push Moe the 13.1 miles won’t hurt themselves. A calf-supporter so that if a bump knocks Moe’s feet off the foot rests, he won’t hurt himself or trip up the whole thing.

Now here’s the small world part –

I work with Phil’s son, Louis, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Louis is a talented graphic designer who works in the Creative Services division in our Marketing Department. (He also needs to get more exercise, which I promised Phil I’d bug him about — we’ve got room on Gilda’s Gang, Louis!).

And the kindness of strangers? Well, that’s what this story is all about. I’ll let Phil explain in his own words why he does what he does, and you’ll see what I mean:

PS — We are over $38,000 in total fund-raising so far. Week 10 of training. Five miles on Saturday. I have to admit, I’ve probably been doing more blogging than training. All the snow has provided a great excuse. But it is time to step it up!

If you are motivated to help the cause, check out the link to the easy online giving page in the right-hand list of sidebars. We love your comments and encouragement. Keep reading as our story, and Moe’s, unfolds.

This is another poignant “cancer sucks big-time day” for me and others who know and love Jessica Pasley and her family: husband Irvin, son Myles and daughter Gigi. On this day, 10 years ago, Gigi’s twin sister, Jade, died of the acute myelogenous leukemia that Gigi has survived after intense treatment and two bone marrow transplants over the years (thank you again Donor Joe!). Or as Jessica puts it, she joined Heaven’s team.

By a random (random?) set of circumstances, I happened to be with Irvin and Jade at the moment Jade passed away. That moment is very personal and I won’t go into details, other to say that I don’t think I have ever experienced  such stillness and peace and intense silence before or since.

I actually don’t think my being there was random at all. I will forever feel honored to be present for that sacred moment. I believe the power of having borne witness to that is just one thing that keeps me coming back to work every day to do what I do. I am not a scientist or a doctor. I will never heal someone with cancer and I won’t discover the cures. But maybe, just maybe, if I tell the stories of those that do well enough, I can motivate someone to get involved or to give the money that will help us create the world without cancer that we all want.

Cancer doesn’t just affect the person who develops it. It has a lasting impact on everyone who knows and loves that person. And the impact doesn’t stop when treatment ends. Cancer, and unfortunately the things we have to do to kill the cancer, can take a lasting toll on the survivor, the family and those around them.

There are 12 million cancer survivors in the United States, and that number is growing. As long as cancer still sucks, we need resources like Gilda’s Club. We at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center are proud to partner with Gilda’s — it’s a perfect marriage because we can focus on what we do best — the latest specialized cancer care available anywhere and a broad range of cutting-edge research — and work with Gilda’s to meet the psychosocial needs of survivor, family and those around them.

Cancer still sucks … did  I mention that? But in honor of Jessica, Irvin, Myles and Gigi — and especially dear sweet Jade — I am going to now focus the rest of my day on celebration. Celebrating and honoring Jade’s life and all the Pasleys, their strength, their passion, their example of resilience. And I will honor especially Jessica, with whom I identify the most as another mom. I cannot imagine what her journey has been like but I so respect how she has done it with commitment and with a frank honesty that has made this a life lesson for all of us.

Jade … we miss you!

And thank our semi-official photographers, David and Pam Martin. Please take a look, help us identify folks and fill in descriptions by posting your comments. I have a whole bunch more I’ll upload over the next few days.

You’ll find the photos — and the link to the online giving page — in the right-hand sidebar column.

In the meantime, hope everyone is warm, safe and enjoying this absolutely gorgeous day in Nashville. Sparkly snow, clear blue sky, and sunshine! This is a rare event so don’t let it slip by without stopping a moment to appreciate it. Besides, the dreaded icy Monday morning commute is still a few hours away!

If you don’t live in Middle Tennessee, you may be unaware of the big, big, big thing going on here. It is a SNOW APOCALYPSE. See, we rarely have more than an inch or two of snow at a time — and for the past several winters, rarely more than the occasional “dusting” or “wintry mix.” We do get ice from time to time, which is impossible to drive on, I don’t care how many Michigan winters you have lived through, thank you very much. But it is an understatement to say that snowfall is a community bonding event here. Everyone waits anxiously for the magic four words — “it’s snowing in Memphis” — and panic ensues. Grocery store parking lots are packed. Milk, eggs and bread cannot be found on the shelves. You’d think Nashvillians ate nothing but french toast when it snows and that it would be weeks — not a day or two — till the roads cleared.

That’s under normal circumstances.

But today, we are in the midst of a SEVERE WINTER STORM (emphasis the National Weather Service’s, not mine).

Forecasts call for 4-9 inches by the time the snow stops sometime late tomorrow. So this is beyond routine. Schools announced yesterday afternoon that they would not open today. Events and meetings were cancelled. Though I know that it was done to assure proper hospital staffing levels, I had to laugh out loud around 3 or 4 o’clock yesterday (sun still shining) when Vanderbilt’s overhead system announced that we were in disaster plan standby mode “for inclement weather.” Standby?,” I thought. “Till tomorrow?”

I toughed it out today longer than many. I needed to be at a site visit for our new Oncology Clinic in Green Hills by 8. Nothing was happening when I arrived, but by the time I left, snow was coming down hard. It was wet and slick, and the temperature was hovering around freezing, which is when we get the best, most beautiful, wettest, messiest snows ever. Then there was a meeting I hadn’t been able to cancel, then the phone rang, and rang again. Before I knew it, it was 1 o’clock and the snow was piling up. I decided not to be a martyr and headed home.

As I locked up my office, that’s when I realized that while many on my floor were gone, it was far from a ghost town. Breast cancer researcher Carlos Arteaga (who seems to always be in his office when he’s not traveling to one conference or another) was still plugging away, at a grant or a manuscript, I would bet. As I walked past the conference room, I noticed the screen down, and young scientists around the table, looking at data charts and cell images. As I walked through the lobby, I was greeted by a hubbub of people, the valets going back and forth to fetch cars in the snow, patients and families bundling up before heading outside, the front desk greeter helping folks on with their coats and scarves.

That’s when it hit me. Cancer doesn’t take a snow day. It doesn’t take vacations. It doesn’t slip out early to catch an opening matinee. Cancer patients and their families don’t get a snow day from cancer either. In fact, they may not get a break for the rest of their lives from some physical, medical, spiritual or psychological impact of their cancer and its treatment.

Yes, I came on home. I don’t drive well in the snow and it’s better for everyone that I’m here, safe and sound, and not on the road making life difficult for those around me. But I’m not taking a snow day, and neither are other members of Gilda’s Gang. We may not train as a group tomorrow but we are still training. Whether it’s doing strength training, walking/running on a treadmill or working on our fund-raising emails and letters, there is no snow day. 

So cancer be warned: we’re not taking time off either.

Game still on.

When I did Gilda’s Gang two years ago, I had the opportunity to meet an impressive young woman named Michelle Eckland. At the time, Michelle was a freshman — a freshman who moved into a dorm at Vanderbilt University, more than 1,000 miles from her family, only two weeks after burying her mother, who had died of a rare liver cancer. She felt very alone until she found Gilda’s Club, and she’ll tell you that Gilda’s Club and participating in Gilda’s Gang has been life-changing for her.

This year, the Gang will be another life-changing experience for all of us, in one or another, but Michelle is working hard to make it extra special for one fellow cancer survivor, Moe Mantus. Physically speaking, Michelle and Moe couldn’t be more different. He’s over 6 feet tall, in his 70s and weighs 220 pounds or so. Michelle is a college student with only 110 pounds on her petite frame.

Vanderbilt student Michelle Eckland and her friend Moe Mantus

But what they have in common is a desire not to let cancer and its impact keep them from living life to the fullest and achieving their dreams.

See, Moe used to compete in marathons. He wears his medals from past marathons with great pride. Michelle and Moe met at a glass-painting class at Gilda’s a few month back. She learned of his dream to do another half-marathon, a dream that seemed out of reach because he can walk only very short distances now. Michelle quickly volunteered to pull a team together to push Moe the 13.1 miles in a wheelchair.

Michelle says that Gilda’s Club Nashville reminds her of a line in the movie “Lilo and Stitch.” Lilo tells Stitch that “ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind.”  To Michelle, Gilda’s is family, so Moe is family. She is determined that Moe will not be left behind. “There are so many things in life that are out of my control but, this is one way that I feel I can help one man’s dream come true,” Michelle says.  

The devil is, of course, in the details and the details are considerable challenges. Michelle is looking for a wheelchair that will be suitable for such a long distance and such a hilly course. She needs Gilda’s Gang volunteers who are willing to train not only to go the distance but do it while taking turns pushing Moe. And to be frank, all this is happening while a very enthusiastic Moe is chomping at the bit to get started so we’re all feeling anxious to get the logistics worked out.

 Do you know anything about this sort of thing? Do you know where we might find a suitable wheelchair? Can you help us by posting encouragement on this blog for the entire Gang but especially Team Moe? Can you offer a donation — big or small — through our online giving page?

But most of all, is there someone in your own circle who is at risk of being left behind? Remember “ohana” and Michelle’s commitment to make sure none of her “family” is left at the starting line.

This might fall into the category of a “champagne problem.” Gilda’s Gang 2010 is proving to be wildly successful, and we’re only two weeks in. Last year, we had 120 teammates, which dwindled to about 100 by Race Day. So far this year? We’re up to 160 on the roster, and 97 folks came to the Clubhouse for training today. By comparison, in years past, we had 40-50 most Saturdays.

Why is that a problem at all? It’s really not. Truly. We are thrilled. But we are going to have to rethink how we organize ourselves in the morning. We may have to try to get to the Clubhouse a little bit earlier to find parking. We may have to beg/bribe our neighbors to let us park in their locations — we’re hopeful since it’s a Saturday when they are not open for business. And we may need a few Gilda’s Gang members to come in a bit early and help get us herded up for training. It takes organization to sign everyone in, pass out the maps, make sure everyone heads out with the right group, and assure that everyone is back safe and accounted for at the end of the morning (we are nothing if not safe about this whole thing!).

Now that I’ve covered the challenge, let me share the up-side of such growth in the Gang. First, more teammates means more money raised to keep the red door at Gilda’s open and providing important services — completely free — to survivors and others impacted by cancer. As one of our teammates, Pam Martin, says, Cancer Still Sucks Big-Time, and as long as it does, we must make sure that red door stays open.

Second, as important as the invaluable financial support is the greater awareness of this wonderful resource, right here in our own community.

So you’ll see in this video interview with Gilda’s Club’s Deb Sandvik, having so many people join the gang truly is a “champagne problem,” and one we’ll just put a cork in:

So you see, we have room for a few more. Help us reach our goal of 200 Gilda’s Gang members. Or support the cause through my easy and secure online giving page. The link is in the right-hand sidebar.

Thanks for reading!

PS to Gilda’s Gang members: a few of us are planning to go over to Athlete’s House on Saturday after training for shoe fitting. Feel free to join us, although be forewarned that I and my Flip Camera will be there documenting the experience.

They say if you don’t like the weather in Nashville, you should just wait a few days because it will change. Tomorrow when we hit the streets for our training session at 8 a.m., it will be in the mid-40s. That’s practically tropical compared to last week. For those of you who braved it with me, kudos to you, my friend. Pat yourself on the back. For those of you stayed in your warm bed (you know who you are), I promise that the guilt you feel will be greatly reduced if you support one of us with a little donation.

It’s been a crazy week, so I’m going to simply introduce you to a few folks that we got to meet at our first training session last Saturday. I promise to post more frequently in the future.

So first, we got our instructions by one of our coaches and met a very special teammate, Mo. You’ll get to know Mo more through this blog during our training, but the short version is this: Mo used to compete in marathons, but like many cancer survivors, cancer has put limits on what he can do. But it hasn’t put limits on his determination or his spirit, and with a little help from his friends … well, I won’t spoil the surprise. Check out the video:

Next, we met Tanika and Robert. Tanika works for Heritage Medical Group, which has been a big, big, big supporter of Gilda’s Gang. Last year, they put up a big door at their office and painted it red like the trademark Gilda’s Red Door to mark their progress. Her husband, Robert … well, let’s just say like me he has a little personal motivation for putting on his walking shoes in addition to wanting to support Tanika and Gilda’s Gang.

And last, just a little proof that we really did do this, in 15-degree weather, all three miles. The Frothy Monkey is always good, but it was especially good after that time in the cold wind.

Tomorrow, we’ll learn a bit about shoes from the folks at the Dayani Center and our friends at Athlete’s House. I’m looking forward to balmy temps, introducing you to some more Gang members and sharing tomorrow’s experience with you. 

It’s not too late to join us. We’re only at the second week of training. No catching up to do. Or please consider supporting the Gang. There’s a link to an easy online giving form right here on this page.

Thanks!

Tonight I set up my easy and secure online giving page. Having this option for folks makes it so easy to fund raise. You can send an email to everyone you know — and trust me, you know more people than you realize. You can post it on Facebook. You can share the link on Twitter. You can include the link in your email signature.

Worry that you can’t raise the minimum $750 just shouldn’t be enough to keep you from joining us for Gilda’s Gang.

I was reminded tonight of the power of this process.  You start by giving yourself a donation. Then you hit up your parents, or your siblings, or your children. Your co-workers. Your friends. Your neighbors. $10 here, $25 there … it starts to add up.

Then you share with all of your contacts a photo of the complete smiling team, all lined up in front of the Clubhouse, with a short description about how hard you are working and how amazed you are at your progress and how wonderful all the new friendships are.

And another $10 here, $25 there … it adds up some more.

Then long about February, maybe one morning when it’s bitter cold again and you really would rather hit the snooze button, you’ll think about all those folks who’ve given $10 here and $25 there. How they’ve really placed a lot of confidence in what you are doing, what they believe you CAN and WILL do on April 24. You won’t want to let them down, and that will drive you out of bed and into your running shoes … and across the finish line in April.

Please. Don’t let the fund-raising thing scare you off. It’s easy. And if you run into trouble, there are folks to help you.

I hope to see you at 8 a.m. Saturday at Gilda’s Club Nashville, 1707 Division Street. We’re gonna do our first 3.1 miles and we’ll have Frothy Monkey coffee and Star Bagels waiting for us when we’re done. A general information session will follow.

Of course, if you are snug in your warm bed on Saturday while the rest of us are out in the cold (you KNOW who you are), you can ease your guilt (which I know will be considerable) by giving to our cause … at our easy and secure online giving page right here.

Or in this case, it’s probably more my grandmother. Standing up straight and keeping my hair out of my eyes were important to my Nana Lois. At least those are two things she always seemed to be worried about.

I have been very near-sighted for years, and I blame writing and editing in front of a computer for the continued downward spiral. Hair in my eyes did not make me any more near-sighted. However, the posture thing … well, those bad habits have caught up with me. I have been diagnosed with a “rotator cuff impingement,” which basically has resulted from decades of scrunching forward at my computer, holding the phone under my chin while I type, sleeping in weird positions with my arms over my head, and carrying stylish but heavy shoulder bags. The straw that broke the camel’s back — or in this case, pinched my tendon — was lifting a heavy computer bag out of my back car seat at a weird angle. 

The pain has been interfering with my walking because it hurt when my arm moved forward in a normal stride. But the experience that sent me to the nice folks at Vanderbilt Orthopedics was not being able to carry a a grande latte as I walked across campus. Interfere with my coffee intake and multi-tasking … well, that’s serious.

So I’m doing some physical therapy to make sure I’m in tip-top condition to start training officially on Saturday.

Don’t forget the last information session TONIGHT at 6 p.m. at the Clubhouse, 1707 Division Street. More information is available by calling Deb at 329-1124.

Next time: I’ll tell you about how crazy easy it is to start fund-raising for this thing — and how easy it will be for you to support the Gang!

Participants in Gilda’s Gang get a discount on Country Music Half Marathon registration. Every little bit counts these days.

AND a reason to join up now — registration for the Country Music Marathon increases on Jan. 1.If you register by Dec. 31, your registration fee (pre-Gilda’s discount) is $85 for the half. The next day, it’ll be $105.

I figure that I can carry the $20 I save by registering before New Year’s in my pocket in case I need a cab to the finish line. (Don’t flame me; I’m just joking!!!!)

So, give Deb Sandvik at Gilda’s Club a call — 615-329-1124. Once you’re all signed up, she’ll give you the super-duper secret coupon code for your $10 discount.

My daughter and I bugged outta town for Christmas. Just on a whim, grabbed two tickets to Tampa and headed south. Why Tampa, folks ask? Do you have family there? In a word, no. MJ accompanied me on a business trip there last summer and we had fun. So when we wanted to head to the sunshine and warm temps, that’s where we went.

As a result, I’ve kick-started my training with several walks Channelside in the warm weather. Not sure yet if that makes it easier or harder to trek out in the cold now that I’m home. I’ll let you know.

We also splurged on hot stone massages and pedicures. Not that unusual on vacation, but I enjoyed my pedicure with more relish than usual. I realized mid-way through that it will be my last for a while. When you are training for 13 miles, callouses are your friend. Maintaining color is tougher when you are pounding the pavement as well.

So what color did I choose? As is typical with nail colors, you can’t tell one darn thing about the color itself from the name — Bullish on OPI. I just chose it because it was a nice brick red color. Then the name hit me. Bullish: obstinate or stupid; hopeful or confident.

Which seems about right, either way, for my state of mind of about this half marathon thing. I have a sprained ankle (turned wearing some really cute but apparently dangerous clogs) and a rotator cuff impingement requiring physical therapy (lots of years of bad form on the computer, telephone and carrying heavy shoulder bags). But somehow I still feel ready to do this. 

What about you? Are you bullish?

There’s another info session next week — Jan. 5, starting at 6 pm at the Clubhouse, 1707 Division Street in Nashville. Call Deb Sandvik at 615-329-1124 if you need more details.

There are at least 13 reasons for joining Gilda’s Gang. Some reasons go along with the minimum pledge to raise at $750 to support invaluable free services for cancer survivors and others impacted by cancer. A few are extended only to those who stretch a little further to raise a bit more.

Reason No. 13 – Free access for the 16-week training period at the Vanderbilt Dayani Center

Reason No. 12 – Weekly training run/walks led by fitness specialists, plus mid-week training options

Reason No. 11 – Free bagels from Star Bagel and free coffee from Frothy Monkey waiting for you at the Clubhouse after Saturday morning training

Reason No. 10 – A team discount for Country Music Half Marathon registration

Reason No. 9 – Gilda’s Gang training T-shirt and ball cap

Reason No. 8 — Getting to add “experienced with on-line fund-raising tool” to your resume

Reason No. 7 – $25 gift card to Margot Cafe & Bar for those who raise $1,500

Reason No. 6 – $25 gift card to Marche Artisan Foods for those who raise $1,500

Reason No. 5 – Gift cards to Athlete’s House ($50 for those who raise $1,500; $100 for thsoe who raise $3,000)

Reason No. 4 – A surprise gift from Tiffany and Co. (yes, the blue box people!) for those who raise at least $3,000

Reason No. 3 – Did we mention the free Star Bagels and Frothy Monkey coffee every Saturday morning?

Reason No. 2 – The opportunity to be featured in this blog (’nuff said).

And the No. 1 Reason to do Gilda’s Gang — lifelong memories, a wonderful sense of accomplishment and knowing that you are doing something good for yourself and for others all at the same time! 

There’s an information session tomorrow night (Monday, Dec. 21) and another one on Jan. 5, both starting at 6 pm at the Clubhouse, 1707 Division Street in Nashville. Call Deb Sandvik at 615-329-1124 if you need more details.

So we reaffirmed last post that cancer sucks. It still sucks. But the person behind Gilda’s Club Worldwide, and whose positive spirit and outrageous sense of humor infuses a lot of what happens at 1707 Division Street in Nashville, really wouldn’t have wanted any of us to focus on that aspect of cancer … at least not too long.

So I spent a little time on YouTube looking at old clips. Roseanne Rosanna Dana. Baba Wawa. Lisa Litella. And I was taken back to 1970-s0mething, when staying up to watch Saturday Night Live was proof that I was cool and grown and in the know in a way that my goofy parents were not. I remember my mother thought it was all so stupid. How could I laugh at such silliness. Which made me laugh all the harder. And the crush I had on Chevy Chase (but that’s another story entirely). And Patti Frazier, my next-door neighbor, doing a killer Roseanne Rosanna Dana impersonation at the bus stop. The memories just flooded back.

I also found this retrospective that ends, appropriately, with shots of ribbon cuttings for Gilda’s Club and a wonderful quote from her about the “delicious ambiguity” of life. I found myself capitvated by her smile. By how really pretty she was when she wasn’t in character. By the love that was so apparent between her and Gene Wilder. And by Michael Radner, her brother, whom I have had the pleasure of meeting (and dancing with, thank you Michael!) at a recent Gilda’s Club Worldwide event.

I hope this brings back wonderful memories for you as you watch it. And I hope that you’ll share memories of your favorite Gilda Radner/SNL moments in the comment section.

Don’t forget the information sessions continue at 6 p.m. Dec. 17, 21 and Jan. 5 at the Clubhouse, 1707 Division. Gilda would love to see you having fun with us!

I’ll end with the quote because it just spectacular:

“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.” — Gilda Radner Wilder

I got an email today about a dear friend whose cancer has taken an unexpected and very aggressive turn. Since the earliest days of my work as a cancer communications professional, she has been a constant figure. Someone who represented survivorship, strength, hope and giving back to the community of cancer researchers, clinicians and survivors and others impacted by this disease. She was cancer free for so many years … the idea that it has returned and with such a vengeance is almost unbelievable.

Training for a half marathon won’t do one damned thing to extend her life or ease her pain or make things better for her and her family during this very difficult time. But doing so with her in mind — and raising awareness and much-needed resources for a cause that is so close to her heart — may make a difference, if not for her and her family, for others impacted by cancer whose lives are changed for the better because of the free resources available from Gilda’s Club.

I hope that you’re considering joining us. There are information sessions at the Clubhouse, 1707 Division Street, on Dec. 17, 21 and Jan. 5 at 6 p.m.  Click here for more information.

Looking forward to meeting up with you when training starts on Jan. 9!

Editor’s Note: Updated to reflect that the time for the information sessions is 6 p.m. I had indicated the incorrect time previously. 

One of the basic tenets of blogging is authenticity. I wouldn’t have started this project if I weren’t committed to being honest, open and transparent in my posts. I won’t tell you that I’ve trained when I haven’t. I won’t tell you that my time is faster than it is. As the saying goes, it is what it is.

Which presents a challenge. When it comes to my weight, I have been a serial liar. Anybody remember Tennessee Driver’s Licenses when they didn’t have photos? They were green card stock and listed your hair color, eye color, height and weight. (The date of birth was much more alterable for fake IDs, but that is a topic for another blog, another day). No one made you get on the scales — they took your word for it. 

So I weighed 105. That was my story and I was sticking to it. So much so, I honestly have NO idea now what I weighed in 1980 except that it was more than 105. The image in my mind of THAT girl was a FAT girl. I was shocked recently to see photos from a high school theater production that a former classmate had posted on Facebook. Who was that tiny girl?

I didn’t outgrow that distorted self-image. I recently ran across a photo of myself at my Dad’s wedding, about 12 years ago. I recall that I weighed 126 — at that time, the most I’d ever weighed non-pregnant (at least on the record — more about that later). I remember feeling fat, ugly and pretty worthless. The woman in those photos was slim and trim, even pretty.  But I had no appreciation for it at the time because I was fixated on a number on the scale that I interpreted as fat and therefore not good enough.

My weight has been a yo-yo over the years. Freshman year, there was no typical “freshman 15″ for this overachiever — it was probably 30 at least but I don’t know because I never stepped on the scales. (If you never see the number, it might not exist right?) The next semester, the weight melted off as I began the very unhealthy cigarettes-and-Dexatrim diet — and ended up with a caffeine addiction that led me to take diet pills for 18 months until I substituted black coffee for the pills (I also stopped smoking before that addiction set in). Then my senior year, I really did weigh 105 … maybe even 103 … which I achieved on the “take-a-full-classload-work-80-hours-a-week-as-editor-of-the-school-paper-peanut M&Ms-black coffee-Captain Morgan” diet. Not a sustainable lifestyle.

Over the years, I’ve never been skinny, ever. But I’ve been lucky. I maintained my weight without much trouble. I walked and did aerobics, and — unwisely — skipped a lot of meals along the way. But if the weight creeped up a bit, cutting back for a week or two did the trick. Till I hit 40. Then the pounds starting creeping on and not budging. I’ve been embarrassed at what has happened to my mid-section, so much so that over the past few weeks, I’ve found excuses to reschedule today’s doctor’s appointment just so I could avoid the scales.

But this is really silly, isn’t it? I don’t want to keep looking back at photos and not recognize the person in them because my inner image of myself has been so out of whack.

So today, Dr. Peterson cleared me to train for the half marathon, and I did step on the scales.

(Deep breath) … 156.4 lbs.

Would I lie to you?

Application completed. Waiver signed. Emergency contact named (thanks, Dad!).

All medical conditions and medications listed (info to remain confidential and only shared with medical professionals in the event of an emergency).

I’ve even received my first official email from the wonderful Deb Sandvik, who helps organize Gilda’s Gang in her role as marketing and development director for Gilda’s Club Nashville. It is Deb who will keep me apprised of where my fund-raising stands, who will encourage me and help me brainstorm new ideas if I get stuck … and whom I will never expect to say, “Oh, you’ve raised enough. You can stop now.” It’s her job to make sure that funds are available to meet Gilda’s Club’s mission of providing important psycho-social support services FREE OF CHARGE to cancer survivors and others impacted by cancer. She has one of the best jobs in the world, telling the story of Gilda’s Club and the people whose lives this resource has changed. But you’ll hear lots more about Deb as this blog continues in the coming months. 

Dropped by the information session at the Clubhouse last night. Was reunited with Paige Boston, a delightful woman who makes me seem like an introvert, and two lovely Vanderbilt students. One is nanny to a 4-year-old leukemia survivor (who is doing well!) and the other whose cancer experience is once removed. Her mom lost her brother in the 1970s, to leukemia, before she was born. She never got to know her uncle. The hole that has left in her heart moved her to tears (there’s always lots of tissue on hand at Gilda’s Club, by the way). She left our meeting with extra applications and information in tow, to share with her mom and her family over the holiday break. I really, really hope her mom joins us. I could tell in our brief meeting that her daughter is a special young woman, and I’m sure she is too.

Tomorrow, I have my 6-month follow-up with my primary care physician, Neeraja Peterson, M.D., at Vanderbilt. She’s awesome. She’s been helping me with hypertension (probably inherited tendency) and proverbial middle-aged spread for the past couple of years. As everyone who is fairly sedentary (ok, very sedentary) should do, I am checking with my physician before I begin an aggressive exercise program. As an overachieving people-pleaser, I am hopeful she’ll say “atta girl” and give me a high-five about the half-marathon training. My guess is that she’ll actually mutter to herself, “man, this chick is all or nothing, isn’t she?” and fully anticipate (based on past experience) that in six months, I will fit back into the “very sedentary” category.

Can I prove her wrong this time? Can I emerge from this experience an ATHLETE? Lemme know what kind of odds the Vegas bookies are giving me.

NEXT INSTALLMENT: Does the doc give me the go-ahead? How brave am I  … will I tell you my starting weight?

Please join us for an info session. Visit Gilda’s website for details.