Embrace the Moment

I have not posted a blog in quite some time!


It did not snow in Anchorage, AK until November! That is very unusual. My husband and I  hiked Flat Top with our dogs (11 lb & 9lb mini-dachshunds) in late October. The higher we climbed the more the wind blew and then snow started to fly by us. It was probably around 25 degrees; Oscar and Lola made it half way up the mountain before Lola got too cold and needed to be carried down the mountain.

I have been trying to keep up my training since Lost Lake in August. I ran in the Anchorage 'Zombie Half Marathon' on October 12. I also took a trip to Arizona to visit one of my best friends, enjoy warm weather and run in a half marathon with her on November 3.

My big run of the year is Lost Lake Run. Lost Lake is one of the only races in Alaska that benefits CF and it is such a grueling course, I wanted to recap team 'Sabrina Fights CF' adventures. I was the only person to run in this race with Cystic Fibrosis. We had 25 people run on my team and we raised a little over $9000! The sky was blue and the sun was shining on race day. The trail was absolutely gorgeous but it is definitely a hilly and long trail run. At one point during the race there was a float plane that had landed on one of the lakes, the pilot was handing out donuts to people who were running in the race. I passed up on the donut :[

For every half mile there is a mile marker that has a picture of someone with CF on it. There are 32  markers that are placed along the Lost Lake course, and every marker made me happy for the ability to run and be alive. At the end of the race there are pictures of those with CF who have passed from the disease that line the finish chute. Many people run in this race not knowing who or what it benefits. They pass the finish line and they are happy that its over. For me, the finish line is victorious, but it is also sad because I see faces of people who have lost their battle to CF. This race is so much more than an endurance race for me, it's about my journey and the fight for my life with CF. I run to stay healthy and I try to raise money so that a cure can be found for me and the many of thousands that suffer from CF.

There are people with CF that are marathoners, ultra marathoners, triathletes, distance bikers, surfers, mothers, fathers, etc. There is a whole community of people with CF that are warriors and fighters, they are vibrant and supportive, they are compassionate and caring and they all need a cure to be found. I am so enjoying learning about the diversities of people in the CF community :) I strongly believe that an active lifestyle is one main component that helps me to stay healthy and out of the hospital. There are some people with CF who are exercising and running with 50% or less lung capacity! I find this so inspirational and it keeps me running and going to boot camp. 

When I think back on the month of August, I am overwhelmed with emotions because so many people are willing to help. There are so many awesome and amazing people in this world that motivate and inspire me because they are kind and they care.

I am in awe and humbled by the support of  people in my small circle of family and friends. Many people graciously donated to my fundraiser, lent out space to do a burpees challenge fundraiser, 25 people donated their time, pain and endurance to participate in the Lost Lake event, and many more were just support systems that gave encouragement and motivation during the journey.

I was feeling a little down after Lost Lake because I had another lung infection and needed to do two rounds of oral antibiotics. I was feeling defeated, I had ridden on this cloud of being so strong and able to run  a 16 mile mountain run, but a week later I was coughing all night and wheezing. Luckily, I have my husband who always reminds me of all that I have conquered in my life and that I will get through these difficult battles. I still ran, went to boot camp, stayed very compliant with my nebulizers and went to work. I have even started a training group for running with a local running store. We meet up every Wednesday and are given a tempo work out. These days are hard for me but they work my lungs and help me with pacing!

I now feel much better and I feel empowered to keep running and fighting this disease. I would never willingly choose to have CF, but I am grateful for the outlook on life that it gives me. I will never take my lungs, each breath, or my ability to run and work out for granted. I find the courage and strength to wake up and battle CF within my weaknesses (my lungs). I can't change my health issues, I can't change that I have had cancer and I can't take away CF, but I can be proactive and try to keep my body healthy. I know that I am a fighter and I know that this life is so utterly precious and worth every breath that I am here.

I have found myself taking moments through out the day to stop and give thanks and prayers for being alive. We should integrate positive influence into our daily lives. Be gracious for the simple fact that we are human and get to experience this glorious world. Tomorrow is not a given, embrace the moment!

December 2nd was a huge victory for me. It has been 8 years since I finished my last chemotherapy :) 

I have signed up to run in the 'Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon' on March 30, 2014 in Grosse Ile, Michigan. I hope to beat my half marathon PR (1:59:22) in 2014 :) I hope that I have the opportunity to run amongst some of the other CF'ers that I have gotten to know :)

Thank you,

Sabrina