In July when one of my good friends was diagnosed with breast cancer I knew I had to do something. Less then one month later I was in the doctors office with chest pains. That day I was greeted at by a nurse who quickly brought be back to an exam room and asked how long I had been having the chest pains. "About 2 months," I responded with tears in my eyes. For some reason I just always believed I would follow in my mothers footsteps. Sure, my mother was killed by a drunk driver and it was hardly her fault, but for some reason I always just assumed my fate would be the same. My family history with blood pressure, heart related issues, and cancer is not good, and for some reason that day I just thought that I was going to be given the same bad news so many in my family have been given before. The nurse that brought be back to the room quickly got on my case for not coming sooner. I couldn't. I didn't want to hear what I KNEW they were going to say. I wasn't prepared for what the nurse did say. Her husband was driving home to his 2 kids just the year before in his early 30's and had a heart attack and died. She had tears in her eyes and to this day I really think she was assigned to me for a reason. 32 isn't too young to have a heart attack. My heart was fine that day, but the diagnosis from my doctor was not. My cholesterol was not good. The chest pains were not a good sign. My weight was at one of the highest it has even been. I watched my friend Christy at 38 fight her breast cancer with the attitude that she could beat ANYTHING, and then it hit me that I didn't have to have the same fate as my mother. I had a choice. I had to realize that I was worth taking care of. I had too much to offer the world. My husband needed me. My kids needed me. When I walked out of the doctor that day I was given 6 months to do something about it or else. I know my doctor didn't think I would actually do something about it. She gave me that whole "see you in 6 months." I told her I was doing this walk, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, and it was going to change my life. She didn't believe me. Not for one second. Well...here I am. In a place that I have not felt comfortable enough to be in for the last few years. I am in front of the camera and not behind it. I am dressed the way I love to dress. I am in my Cortland black and red...the college I graduated from back in 1996. The college I prided myself in by pitching for them on their softball team when I was in the best shape of my life. It hasn't been easy. There is blood on my sleeve. I muscles are sore. My feet have taken a beating. My training has been so intense it has left little time for anything else. But, damit...I am going to prove my doctor wrong..for me..for my kids..for my husband...and for my mom who would have been so proud of what I am doing. I am a different person today then I was 6 months ago because of Christy's Crew. "Doing good to others is not a duty, it is a joy, for it increases our own health and happiness.” How true that is.

I am determined. I have been training to run a 5K this spring and eventually the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon. It's one of the hardest most rewarding things I've attempted. I was inspired by a very good friend of mine through her own determination has lost over 50 pounds and last fall completed the Free Press Half Marathon. She did it through diet and exercise. No pills, no surgery. She looks amazing. I was there at the end of the run to cheer her on the last leg and I was so inspired by all the runners I decided to give it a whirl. I have never pushed myself this hard both physically and mentally. I have to play games with myself on the treadmill because I get bored so easily and will watch the time which makes it go in slow motion. Today wasn't too bad because there was some eye candy playing basketball beneath the gym :-) Muscles hurt that I didn't even know I had and the sometimes two showers a day is just pulverizing my skin. I have never bought so much lotion in my life. My knees, which are not in the best shape to begin with, are taking the beating fairly well but I can forsee a problem when the running part of my workout is more than 5 minutes at a time. It will all be worth it when I RUN across that finish line though!