I got out on the trail for a five-miler yesterday because this morning I have a mammogram scheduled- UGH! I don’t want to have a mammogram! However, last year at this time my sister was diagnosed with colon cancer. She’s cancer-free now, but it wasn’t a fun year for her. I got a colonoscopy in July (my first one- it actually wasn’t that bad) and am now going for my overdue mammogram. Early detection!!!! Very important.
After last week’s post where I showed some EYE-OPENING photos of my poor running form, I’ve been focusing on running tall and not crossing over my midline. However, I know that often what I think I’m doing doesn’t correspond to what’s actually happening, so I read some articles about different drills you can do. Some ideas include finding a white line (on a road, or preferably a track) to use as a guideline, and stepping on the outside edge of the line with each foot rather than the middle, and also increasing your cadence- the idea being that if you’re moving your legs faster, there’s less time for extraneous movements. (By the way, you shouldn’t try to do any of these things for your entire run- just short segments. You’re activating some new muscles and need time to get used to it.) This article had some good tips and exercises.
Who else has read The Push? I finished it last week and can’t stop thinking about it- which to me is a sign of a good book. But sad- so many layers of sadness in this book. You know how, as a mom, you have moments where you wish you had done or said things differently? Reading this book reassured me that, actually, I’m doing a pretty good job! But what about the ending? I didn’t like it. I wish it had remained ambiguous, OR, if the story continues with what you think has happened, I wanted to hear more about it. I wanted either more, or less. Anyone else feel that way?
Last but not least, WAFFLES! I made these maple teff waffles on my birthday. Yum! You can see presents in the background… the most exciting one was a NEW PHONE!!!! My last was one about five years old… so we can finally expect some decent pictures around here! Ha ha… we’ll see about that.
Are you good or bad about getting regularly scheduled screenings like mammograms? (I’ve been bad in the past but am changing my ways!)
If you read The Push, what did you think of it? Is there another book you read recently that was good?
8 Responses
It is so hard to change running form! I also had a mammogram 2 weeks ago. Easy peasy nothing to worry about. I am sure it will go smoothly!
Yep, it’s done and it was easy. I was overdue (blame the pandemic, like we do for everything) but now I’m going to keep on a good schedule.
I’ve never had a mammogram, oops!
A great reminder to schedule one this summer. I did have a colonoscopy two years ago which I didn’t think was a bad experience, either.
Well done on focusing on running form! That photo of you running looks great! Is that the new phone already?
Yes, that picture was the new phone! Just a little PSA- if my sister had gone earlier for her colonoscopy she could have caught the cancer in a much easier stage to treat. So… look at it that way. If there’s something there, you want to find it ASAP.
The Push is on my list. I just started reading an older book called The Double Bind that was recommended and I am hooked. Books have been really hit or miss lately so I’m glad to have a “hit”.
I have to admit that I used the pandemic as an excuse to skip my mammogram and I need to get back on the train. I don’t mind the procedure, it’s just that I have dense breast tissue so they always find suspicious areas. My mom had the same situation, so it’s a fine line between wanting to know if something is wrong but not wanting to get a biopsy every year….
I think I read The Double Bind- was that the one with the girl and the bike? It was good!
I also have dense breast tissue so they always do an ultrasound as well as the mammogram. My question is, why can’t we skip the mammogram and just do the ultrasound? I don’t blame you for not wanting to get biopsied!
Thanks for the book recommendation. I recently read the Vanishing Half which was good.
Great idea about form. I’ve been thinking about my cadence and trying lift my feet higher and be lighter in order to increase.
With all those tests the prep is often worse the test.
I haven’t read The Vanishing Half- but everyone seems to think it’s good! I’ll add it to my TBR list.
For the colonoscopy, the prep is DEFINITELY the worst part. For the mammogram, all I had to do was not wear deodorant that day. That was easy! I also got a bone density scan- also no prep other than not taking my calcium supplement.