Our Inner Athlete

*Below is the written version of the speech I gave at the W4MTP this morning

As Pam said, my name is Amy Eastlack.  I assume that for everyone other than these 3 beautiful people sitting in front of me, who happen to be my family, Amy Eastlack is not a household name.  So for the other several hundred of you I thought I’d read an excerpt from my bio:

WHO IS AMY EASTLACK?

·     I am: the mother of 2 smart, beautiful, spunky tween daughters.

·     I am: the wife of one extremely patient and loving man.

·     I am: the daughter of two very supportive and generous parents.

·     I am: the friend of many incredible, inspiring and giving women.

·     I am: a blogger, a marketer, writer and a social media specialist.

·     I am: a wine lover, a shoe hoarder and HGTV addict.

·     And for you Michael Jackson fans…I am a lover, not a fighter…

You may have noticed one thing that was missing from this list and that’s the word ATHLETE

So why in the world am I up in front of you today?

I'm here because this list was written several years ago - just days after I’d completed the Charlottesville Ten Miler -  a feat I never thought I could accomplish because a year prior to that I was barely able to make it one time around this track. In my youth I was fit as a fiddle – playing any sport that I came my way. In my 20s I accumulated triathlons, several 10ks, and numerous 5ks, but somewhere along the way life got in the way. I had a job, I had kids, I had obligations to fulfill.  There was no time for fitness.

I don’t actually remember that “a-ha” moment – when I realized something needed to change -  but several years ago, as the big 4-0 crept closer and closer it occurred to me that if I didn’t do something soon I never would. So I started working out at Clay Fitness.  Slowly the pounds fell off and the fitness returned.  (Amazing how quickly things atrophy but how slowly they return, isn’t it?) Over time I logged hours in the gym and hundreds training miles, yet I still didn’t consider myself an athlete.  Why not?

·     Maybe it was because despite all the training I’ve still never managed to run faster than what most people consider a “slow jog”

·     Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I’m STILL trying to lose the “baby weight:” – can you call it that after 12 years???

·     Maybe it’s because I just never fit the mold of what I thought a runner was….

·     Or maybe it’s because, honestly, I still prefer walking to running any day….

I truly didn’t consider myself an athlete until I wrote a blog post on the subject and a friend, who I considered to be a TRUE athlete responded to me with something like this “If you got out there and you tried – then you are every bit as much an athlete as I am”  And I like to think she was right!

How many of you out here are experiencing your first Women’s Four Miler Training Program this morning?  Even if you’ve been here before I can imagine that some of you are wondering what in the world you’ve gotten yourself in to.  You’re looking at the friends that talked you in to this thinking “I have got to get myself some new friends!”.  But I’m here – and Pam is here – and all these crazy, amazing ladies in pink are here to let you know that you are exactly where you need to be! 

I remember my first Women’s Four Miler Training Program experience like it was yesterday – even though it was actually several years ago.  One Friday night over cocktails I overhead two of my girlfriends going on and on about how amazing, and inspiring, and wonderful and FUN the program was. I’m not sure if it was the wine or the fact that I am just not one to miss out on a good time – but before I knew it I had opened my big mouth and committed to joining them.  The next morning was cold, rainy and miserable – definitely not running weather in my book – so when my alarm went off I hit the snooze button and rolled over.  They hadn’t really taken me seriously last night anyway, had they? Well, you can imagine my surprise when they showed up at my door twenty minutes later, expecting me to join them.

I was breathing heavily, my shins were throbbing and my side was aching before we made it up to the top of of the hill.  After half a mile my pride was hurting so badly that I begged them to go on without me. They were obviously much better runners than I was – let’s face it – everyone was – but they stayed with and encouraged me until I literally couldn’t go any further.  

Six months later one of those friends was diagnosed with breast cancer.  For many people this would have meant a step back from encouraging and motivating others, and allowing them to do that for her, but Chrissy didn’t work that way. Through her illness she kept on going – inspiring us all to do the same. She completed the 4 miler the following year with feet covered in blisters from chemotherapy – and she STILL ran faster than I did!  This past year my girlfriends and I crossed the Finish Line, carrying the Motivational Mile banner bearing her name, in her memory.

It’d be easy for me to say that running in her memory is all the motivation I need, but it’s not actually that simple. Losing someone to breast cancer, is tragic and knowing that our efforts are making a difference is, indeed, inspiring, but it does not always make putting one foot in front of the other any easier.  So how do you stay motivated even on the toughest days?

I’ve done a lot research on ways to stay motivated for both my personal fitness journey, as well as my writing and trust me; there is no shortage of advice out there. A Google search of the words “fitness motivation” gives you close to 48 million results and Pinterest will give you thousands upon thousands of inspirational board, quotes and pictures of rock hard abs and buns of steel.  Experts will tell you things like:

• Find a Workout Buddy – how about hundreds of workout buddies?
• Reward Yourself – did you hear about all those incredible giveaways?
• Make it fun and interesting – ummm, have you met Pam?
• Write it down -  training manual provided!!
• Be flexible – as much as we LOVE seeing you, we’re not taking role here, folks. Need a day off? Take one, just hop back on as soon as possible
• Listen to your body – okay, that one is on you….

And while I truly subscribe to each and every one of these -  none of them seems more inspirational or motivational to me then the sheer excitement and amazingness of being surrounded by people like this – people who want you to succeed, who will make sure you succeed.

There’s a quote that’s been circulating around social media sites for a while that I love.  It reads:

NO MATTER HOW SLOW YOU GO, 

YOU ARE STILL LAPPING EVERY BODY ON THE COUCH

It’s simple and obvious, but I think it says a lot about motivation and about every single one of us here. While I know we had an excellent turn out here last week my guess is that I wasn’t the only one lying in bed at 6:30 last Saturday morning thinking “I know I should get up and go to the 4 Miler Training Program but this bed is just so cozy…”  See – you’re already miles ahead of where you were last week and we haven’t even started running yet!

Whether your goal in doing this training program is lose a few pounds, run faster than you did last year, to cross the finish line, to spend some time with your friends – or simply because you look good in pink – you have already made great strides toward that goal just by being here.  

Thank you!

Cancer Sucks

Last night I received a text from a friend that said "will u pls call me when u can".  While it's tough to read inflection in a text, I sensed something was wrong for some reason. Unfortunately my instincts were right.  She had just found out one of her girlfriends was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  She thought that because I have experience with this type of thing I might be able to guide her as to how she and others could help this family. 

I still can't believe that I have "experience" with this kind of thing. 

While I don't know this woman well, I know her well enough to know that she is not the poster child for cancer.  From the outside she's a strong, thin, active, healthy-looking, beautiful, 30-something-year-old woman. 30-something. She's a runner who takes good care of herself and her family. She has a strong faith in God, puts Him and family before anything else. And until that fateful day when she decided she had been feeling under the weather just a little too long, there was no indication that the inside of her was any less idyllic than the outside. 

That picture was wrong though, because somehow - in the midst of all that perfection - cancer had grown inside her liver, escaped through the bile ducts and rapidly torn through her entire body.

Last Friday, while I was enjoying the last night of our spring break at the beach playing poker for seashells with my kids, she was having a conversation with hers about her impending death. Earlier this week she asked a friend to take her to get her hair cut because she thought it would be less dramatic as it started falling out from the chemo.  The chemo they've told her most likely won't work.  After the haircut they went to the stationary store.  She wanted paper because she needed to start writing letters to people - to her family - to her children - to read after she's gone. What do you write in a letter like that? How do you put a whole lifetime in to words on one page?

I hate cancer. I really do.  I don't care which organ it clings itself to - liver, breast, colon, whatever - I hate it all.

My freshman writing class taught me that the end of this story should end with a resolution to the climax. Sorry Mrs. D, I'm afraid I have to break the rules this time because right now I've got nothing.  

Is there a way to resolve cancer? 

I hope so. I really hope so. 

Goal Attained

I'm happy to report that as of today, October 8, my last day to raise the required $2300 for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day, I have not only met my goal but exceeded it! I'm so grateful to my friends and family who have not only stepped up and given monetarily, but have been an immense source of moral and physical support (some even taking 5+ mile walks with me!). 

Training for something like this you spend a lot of time on the road with your own thoughts. I will admit that on several occasions I had the thought "Is this really going to make a difference?"  Inevitably on those days I would come home to find a donation had been made to my account by someone who didn't even know Chrissy but wanted to support me, or someone who knew Chrissy and wanted to honor her memory, or someone who had lost a loved one to cancer. That was all I needed to know that this is indeed going to make a difference. If this changes the fate of just one person it's worth every blister, every minute, every mile.

I was fortunate to be asked to be a guest on 1070 WINA radio this weekend, where I got the opportunity to talk about Chrissy, Charlottesville's commitment to breast cancer, and the importance of taking care of ourselves. Three of my passions all in one six-minute radio spot - how lucky am I?  If you weren't up at 7:30am on Saturday (because let's face it, I wouldn't have been!) you can hear my interview with the fabulous Wendy Edwards via podcast on WINA's website here. 

I will be updating my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts throughout each day so that you can see the who, what, where and why of my journey.  I'm sure there will be lots of interesting things to see and say! 

PS If you'd like to make a donation it's not too late - just click here.

Always An Adventure

The "Finding Amy...Again" journey has taken me on quite a few different "exercise adventures" over the past few years.  

It started at Clay Fitness + Nutrition, where, from day one three years ago, I was taken far beyond what I believed my body was capable of. This adventure, of course, continues to this day and my body is still challenged to exceed my expectations with every class I take!  

I've done several 5Ks over the past few years. My favorite was the Hilton Head Run For the Heritage that the Spicy Chicken & I did in 2011. Not only was it completely flat (my kind of race!) it was the first race we'd done together since the 1999 Denver Governor's Cup 10K. It was, consequently, also the last race we did together. Hmmm...

I also had a great time doing the Featheridge/Clay 5K Run to Rebuild with Moe in spring of 2011. Okay, maybe "great time" is a slight exaggeration, as this was her first true race and she may have cried once or twice along the way. But we did it, and even have the pictures to prove it!

Training for the Charlottesville Ten Miler this spring was probably the toughest adventure I've taken so far. Running distances does not come naturally to me. Hard as I tried, I never reached that "I love this!" moment so many runners speak of. I did, however, occasionally get to "I like this", which I deemed as success, considering I started from "I f'ing hate this!". Shin splints (which I later found were stress fractures) attempted to sideline me along the way, but with Callie's help I made it to the Finish Line. There are rumors that I uttered something like "I can't wait to do this again next year", but thankfully there's no actual proof!

This leads us to my latest adventure - the Susan G. Komen 3-Day.  Unlike other events, the 3-Day is truly not a race - it's a journey - a 60 mile journey! You wouldn't think you'd have to train for just walking, but you do (think blisters). Even then 20 miles doesn't seem like that big of a deal. That is until you realize that you're doing it all over again the next day AND the day after that...60 miles is a heck of a journey, and I cannot wait to take it!

My adventures have gone from a jog around the block, to 5k, to 10 miles, to 60 miles. What will your next adventure be?  

4 Miles

In the grand scheme of things 4 miles isn't that far.  Years ago I wore a pedometer to see how much (or how little) I was moving on a daily basis and there were definitely days I walked way more than 4 miles.

But when those miles are walked/run/jogged by 3500 women in hopes of finding a cure for breast cancer they mean a hell of a lot.

I participated in the Charlottesville Women's Four Miler this weekend in honor and remembrance of my friend Chrissy, whom I've written about several times here.  This race is held every year (this was the 20th!) in Charlottesville on Labor Day Weekend to benefit the  UVA Cancer Center Breast Care Program. It's an amazing race for so many reasons.  First, to see 3500 women plus thousands of others supporting them lined up along Garth Road on the grounds of Foxfield is awe inspiring.  The fact that the proceeds stay locally and support cutting edge breast cancer research, patient education, support services, and community outreach is pretty great too.  And the "Motivational Mile"  - a display of names honoring those affect by cancer along the last mile of the course reminding each of participant of why we're there.  There were not one, not two, but three posters honoring Chrissy's memory on the Motivational Mile this year - a testament to how much she is loved and missed.

This was the first year that I have been able to participate in the Four Miler as we usually travel Labor Day Weekend.  My friends, on the other hand, have all done it together for the past several years.  This is year was the first without Chrissy, who ran it last year in 49 minutes with feet covered in blisters from the chemotherapy she was receiving at the time.  Talk about inspirational.

We chose to wear yellow shirts with pink writing this year in honor of Chrissy's fight not only against breast cancer, but the evil cancer that metastasized into the rest of her body after initially beating breast cancer. Breast cancer stole Chrissy from us; liver cancer killed her.  



We did this race not just in memory of Chrissy but in memory of all the people who have lost their lives, lost loved ones or are fighting against cancer right now.  I am certain that cancer has affected every single one of us in some way. In addition to Chrissy and also I lost a great friend to skin cancer prior to his 30th birthday - my dad is a colon cancer survivor - Kirsten lost her best friend to breast cancer - Anne lost her mom - Holly lost her dad to cancer and has a mom who is a breast cancer survivor (yay, Monica!) - Cara lost her dad to lung cancer two weeks ago - Erin's mom is a breast cancer survivor (yay, Alice!) - Carrie's dad is undergoing radiation for cancer as I write this.... I'm sure you have a story, too.  

As I've been training for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day I've read some pretty staggering statistics about breast cancer.  At times it feels almost overwhelming, like we'll never be able to find an end to it.  But then I watch a video from a survivor or read a survivor story or look in to the eyes of Chrissy's kids...and I know it will happen.  It has to. 

3 Days

I've been trying for months to write about the amazing journey I will be embarking on October 12-14 in memory of my good friend, Chrissy Chadwick.  Today I finally decided that I just needed to start typing - before it was too late. For that reason I'm sure this won't be my most poetic post and I know it won't do Chrissy justice, but you know me, Chrissy, did you really expect I wouldn't procrastinate?

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day is a 60-mile walk that takes place over the course of three days. The race takes place in on different weekends in 14 different cities through the U.S. I will be walking in Washington, D.C. in October.

I've heard that the emotional aspects of the walk are as difficult as the physical. I can't say I know how to prepare for that, or if I'm even ready to confront those emotions yet, but I'm going to because I feel so strongly about the importance of investing in breast cancer research and community programs after watching what Chrissy and her family went through. 

This the first time I've done this walk, though I can't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, I'd had raised the mandatory $2300 a few years ago I'd be doing this walk "In Honor of..." instead of "In Memory of..."

I'll be honest, when Chrissy received her initial diagnosis it never crossed my mind that she might not beat it.  This was CHRISSY, after all.  Sure, she barely reached 5 feet tall, but every inch of that girl was full of fire. Nothing or nobody beat Chrissy.  Just ask the guys in the greased watermelon contest - or on the volleyball court - or the Sweet Adelines competition - or her running partners - or her kids...Cancer had picked the wrong girl to mess with.  

So when the first six months of chemo, surgeries, sickness, emotions and everything else that comes with the disease ended I really believed her battle was over. I believed that up until the day she died. She did, too. 

Chrissy was the definition of strength. There wasn't a sport she couldn't play - a race she couldn't run - a challenge she couldn't face.  She was the type of person that did everything & anything and somehow had time left to embroider it all neatly on a pillow she'd sown by hand.  If there was something that needed to be done she did it, often without saying a word about it - she just did it.  I've always wanted to be more like that.

This time it's my turn to get the job done.  But I can't be quite about it. I need  to tell anyone and everyone about what I am doing because while I can't bring Chrissy back, I can help ensure that someone else doesn't have to endure what she and her family did.  I'm walking these miles in her memory, but also in celebration of the person she was and for the people who will beat this disease in the future. For her kids - so they know that while losing their mom was heart-breaking and unfair it was not in vain, as something good just has to come out of this.

This spring several of Chrissy's girlfriends got tattoos in her honor and memory (she had wanted one).  This is mine (sorry, only photo I have was taken immediately after getting it done).  I chose the symbol for strength to remind me not only of who Chrissy was but also to reminder myself that I, too, am strong and that it's my job to continue to fight.  I know she will be with me the entire 3 days of this walk (probably coming up with strategies on how I could improve my time...) and she will share her strength with me just like she always did when she was here. 

Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk requires each participant to raise a minimum of $2300 for the cause. Though my dad may disagree, I've never been good at asking for money (which has  hindered my work in non-profit and sales just a bit!) so I'm just going to put it out there now. If you feel compelled I would be grateful for your your support as I take this amazing journey in the fight to end breast cancer - any amount is appreciated.  

(BTW, you can read more about Chrissy here and here). 

   

The Finish Line

It is taking everything in my power not to climb back into bed this morning.  It's rainy, gloomy and there's a mountain of laundry staring back at me.  Oh, and then there's that whole funeral thing...

Many of you know that my dear friend Chrissy passed away earlier this week after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer.  Needless to say, it's been a tough week.  It's actually been a tough couple of months as Chrissy, true to her self, battled hard against this disease even when it was raging through her entire body, refusing to let go until she was ready.  That's our girl. If there was one thing you could say about Chrissy it was that she was strong. And stubborn...And smart...And beautiful...And amazing...

We were extremely fortunate that Chrissy's family opened their home to us during the last few days of her life.  Our friends spent every moment possible with them from the time she fell into a coma until she took her final breaths.  We took turns sitting by her bedside all weekend long. My girlfriends and I were able to hang out with her for hours, talking about our memories with her, giving her the lowdown on what was going on in our lives, telling her how much we loved her and how proud we were of her and assuring her that it was okay for her to let go now.  She didn't like that last one, of course, and occasionally let us know about it with a long, hard sigh that sometimes sounded like "Noooo!"  

These are conversations you never really expect to have with a friend at my age - Chrissy was just 41.  I will miss my friend immensely - the way she got things done when nobody else could - the way she smiled - the way she wasn't afraid to take on anything (including cancer and the greased watermelon contest at the club!).  My sadness, however, is much greater for her family than myself.  If the pain in my heart is this great, theirs must be unimaginable.  I don't doubt her husband's ability to handle things, but I weep for the fact that he has to. And I know her kids will not only survive, they will excel (these are Chrissy's kids, after all) but I ache because she won't be there to see it.  

Chrissy was a great athlete and had a love for running that, hard as I try, I will never have.  Even when cancer was trying to beat her down, she'd don her running shoes and push herself as far as her body allowed. I promised I'd take her with me when I cross the finish line at the C'ville Ten Miler - even if it means I have to crawl!

In Chrissy's memory I will be doing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Colorado June 23-24, the Susan G. Komen 3-Day in Washington D.C. October 12-14 and, of course, the Women's 4 Miler (as my friends have done for years).  While I know it won't change Chrissy's fate my hope is that it will change that of someone else.


We miss you so much Chrissy, but you will always and forever be in our hearts.  I have no doubt that you are already up in heaven seeking out a position on the Board of Directors, organizing a Sweet Adelines Chapter, and showing the boys a thing or two on the volleyball court.  I know you will have things whipped into shape by the time we get there.  In the meantime we will try to uphold your legacy down here (but if you're expecting me to get the FV BOD Minutes out in a timely fashion you might be waiting awhile).  I will see you at the Finish Line.

Friendship

Last night I went out to dinner with a bunch of girlfriends last night to celebrate the birthday of my friend Marijean.  Since some of us hadn't met before we decided to go around the table to tell how we knew the Birthday Girl.  When it was my turn it occurred to me that though it wasn't unusal that we had met via a social media seminar - she is, after all, Social Media Queen of Charlottesville (as well as the "First Lady of Pie") - it was surprising that of the women I knew at the table I had met every single one on-line!

Considering my line of work it's not unusual for me to meet people through social media.  What I was surprised by, however, was that these women - whom I may never have met if not for Twitter - are now truly some of my greatest friends!  And, by the way, these are some really amazing, inspiring women! 


This was actually the third in a series of events that transpired this week that had me thinking about the importance of friendships in our lives, as well as how lucky I am to have these relationships.  

The first came earlier in the week in the form of a message from my childhood best friend in Minnesota (yep, that's me rockin' the perm in high school!).  Jen and I became friends during the first weeks of junior high when I unknowingly started "going with" her former boyfriend.  She had words of wisdom for me about him that I took to heart and I have been listening to her ever since.


Her message wasn't anything deep - just a "hey, how are you? Haven't talked to you in awhile" - kind of thing.  But it reminded me of a pact she and I made several years back at a time when both of our lives seem to be moving faster than the speed of light.  We vowed  we'd never apologize - or expect an apology from the other - if what seemed like too much time had passed since we'd last heard from the other.  We realized that this happens not because we don't care, but rather because sometimes life just gets in the way.  You can do this with a true friend and the best part is - when you do get back in touch it feels like no time has passed at all.

The third came on Saturday while hanging out some girlfriends. One of these friends is battling cancer. While she is an extremely strong woman, the cancer is putting up a good fight. Every day I wonder what big thing I could be doing for her. It occurred to me through our laughter that night that even little things can be pretty big if you take time to stop and enjoy them.  

It's easy to get caught up in your own world and let things like friendships fall off.  But without these friendships (and the many that I haven't mentioned here) my life wouldn't be complete.  I cherish every moment I have with these women -  not just because cancer has forced me to recognize that we don't always how many more there will be -  but because I know I am truly blessed to have them.

Strength

I write a lot on here about physical strength, but I think emotional strength and strength of character are extremely important aspects of a person's make up, too.  I was blessed this weekend with the opportunity to honor a very good friend whose strength I admire, and it got me thinking about my own.

We spent Saturday evening at the American Cancer Society Pavilion Ball, where my friend Chrissy was honored for her tremendous strength during her fight against breast cancer this past year.  We were all pretty dumbfounded when we got the news of her diagnosis.  She was only 39 years old, had three young kids and was a strong, active person.  Chrissy is the kind of person who does more in a day than most people do in a week.  This certainly couldn't be true.  But it was.  And within a few days the words mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation became a part of our every day lives.  

True to her self, she took the disease head on and fought it off with extreme toughness and dignity.  She barely slowed down through hundreds of appointments, chemo, radiation, and the regular craziness of running her family's daily life.  We lectured her about taking it easy sometimes, but knew also that keeping busy was something she needed to do for herself.  

When her hair started to fall out she didn't mourn the loss - she threw a head shaving party instead!  In support her husband shaved his too.  (And she kindly requested he not do that ever again).  At a birthday party one night while dancing with friends Chrissy took off her wig because it was getting so hot.  She remained without it the rest of the night.  I remember thinking how gorgeous she looked - and how courageous she was. I couldn't help but wonder if I was in her position, would I be able to be that strong?

Below are a few pics from Saturday night.  As you can see, Chrissy is doing fabulous and looking even more beautiful than ever. We had a fabulous time celebrating her strength, courage and her life!