First Striding

I joined the Women's Walk/Run fitness program First Strides which I had done in 2017 and 2018. It's interval speed and endurance training with each participant placed in a group of about 10 others who work out at a similar pace. We do a timed mile for group placement.

This year I am in group 5, in about the middle of the number of groups. I'll admit that, to me, this is a little disappointing; I had expected to be in group 3 with a few of my friends from previous years. 

We've met for a few weeks now. During the week we do First Strides homework, which is a repeat of the routine we do when we get together. This week it was "3 minutes push, 3 minutes easy for 4 reps."

As I'm getting into the program, I find I just don't seem to have the stamina I had a few years ago. It takes me longer to recover from a run. With a few more body aches, the agility just isn't there. As I started my homework for the week, I just felt tired. I said to myself, "Why am I doing this? Why do I think I can do this? Am I able to do this?..." And serious doubts came to mind.

Why am I doing this? I say I do this because I can do this, and out of gratitude for the level of fitness I do have, especially after years of cancer treatments.

So I am trying to "listen to my body" and to pace myself while challenging myself. I need to trust the process. I will improve. It will get better.

I find I have trouble breathing while running. We just received a First Strides video to watch about breathing exercises. I will take this seriously. I do want to improve my lung capacity and breathing efficiency.

I've said I do want to do another 5K. Although my body wants to resist and at times my mind is doubting, I will still keep this as my goal.

In the meantime, it is still "left foot, right foot." Focus. Persist.
Enjoy the run. Enjoy the people I am meeting along the way. 

Today is another First Strides homework day. One, two, three, Go!

A Creemee Kind of Day

This was a great day. Today for the first time - without masking up - we went to a real sit-down restaurant with service. It's been a long Covid time and we are just beginning to feel we are being restored to "normalcy." It was fun dining with friends and lingering over coffee, sharing stories and actually seeing smiles.

What better way to top off the experience than with a Vermont creemee. Today it was not to be a regular creemee, not even a "twist," but we ordered creemee sundaes. Oh, so good! Looking forward to many creemee days ahead, and many more times of restaurant dining with good friends.

Beginning Again

 

I've been feeling especially hopeful and very grateful.

For one, my most recent PET scan showed no cancer, and the Doctor made the decision to discontinue immunotherapy treatments and simply to monitor me every three months with CT scans. This is huge. Treatment was not only successful without serious negative side effects (for nearly 2 years!), but that it resulted in a complete response. I am praising God, thankful for the prayers and support of so many people and for the excellent care I've received from my medical team.

Then yesterday, the CDC advised that masks are generally no longer needed for those of us fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Whoo-hoo!! There's a new sense of freedom being able to go about in a more "normal" kind of way, being able to interact with others and actually see smiles. 

And this is the time of year when the trees in our front yard are in full bloom with white and pink blossoms. To me this is the definite sign that - yes- Spring has truly arrived with the promise of long warm summer days ahead.

I've joined First Strides once again, the women's walk/run group that meets in our town. I've begun interval training with a goal of doing another 5K. As I look forward to this, I also look forward to other new adventures and achievements. 

I feel as if another new beginning has begun. I am ready for it. The best is yet to come.

Earthquake Cake

With the family coming to visit on Saturday, I wanted to make a special cake. I'm always on the lookout for something unusual and easy. When I saw that the recipe for this cake included using a box mix and that the frosting was actually baked into the cake, this was one I had to try. 

There are several versions of this cake, all basically the same except for varying amounts of pecans, chocolate chips, and flaked coconut. 

There are three steps to making the cake:
1. Spread the pecans, chocolate chips, and coconut in a 9 inch x 13 inch greased baking dish.
2. Beat together the eggs, oil, water, and German Chocolate cake mix, and then pour the batter over the bottom layer.
3. Melt butter and cream cheese on the stove, whip powdered sugar into this mixture, and lightly blend it all into the batter.

Bake for about 35 minutes.

It's called an "Earthquake Cake" because when it comes out of the oven, it is supposed to have a crack in the middle. Mine had several small cracks.

The result is rich, moist, and delicious. The cake is even better when refrigerated overnight.

I enjoy experimenting with recipes, so next time, instead of German Chocolate, I plan to use a Carrot Cake mix. An Earthquake Carrot Cake. Watch for an update!