Why the Red Head Runs

Hello all you dedicated Readers!

I'm Sadie, the crazy friend who is going to run with Christine in her first 1/2 marathon!!! She has asked me to be a guest blogger and I'm honored! Let me just say that I'm super proud of her for accepting this challenge and so excited to cross the finish line with her. Please, please, please donate to her Livestrong fund and help her reach her goal!

Auntie Di and I on the bike trail at Coeur d'Alene.

As some of you know, my Aunts (Auntie Di and Auntie Sue) were both diagnosed with Breast Cancer about a week before my wedding this year. It is truly amazing that their diagnosis was so close together and that they are traveling the path of being cancer free together. The news was a huge surprise: my Aunts were super fit and health conscious women who were always ready for some sort of physical challenge. Cancer is not what they thought their next challenge would be.

Auntie Di has had a double mastectomy and is in the final rounds of chemo and Auntie Sue is also in the final stages of chemo but will have a double mastectomy early next year. Both will have reconstructive surgery (we will have fun boob shopping as well as clothes shopping as you need to show off the new girls). Everyone in these ladies life's have been so supportive and willing to help in any way and I wish for anyone going through this nightmare to have the support they have.

Our family at the Race for the Cure in 2009 (my first 5k ever!)

So, when I heard the news of my Aunts diagnosis, I do what I do best (this is also one of Christine's strengths) - I turned to list-making. I'm not the most sentimental when it comes to news like this so I needed a list, a list that showed the steps of recovery, the steps of positivity, the steps of my contributions to their cure. Unfortunately a list was not the answer because Cancer has its own path, it is a path that disregards lists and plays by its own rules. So now what? Well, I decided that I needed to be the constant positivity, the person that helps the larger fight that will benefit people like my aunts. I needed to be the goal setter, not just for myself but also for my aunts and everyone in my family. I needed to show my family that Cancer wants to take everyone linked to it into a dark place but there is a fight and survivors that needed to be celebrated. I needed to be the runner.

Running for a cause, running for a survivor, running for a family member fighting like hell, makes you forget the pain shooting through your legs or the hill at the top of a hill (which I hear Austin has in store for us). You are running for people who are battling something so fierce that the drugs needed to fight it make you feel dead - nothing running will ever compare to. I will continue to run for these ladies and all the people who have more strength than I ever will. My aunts can't wait to get back on the bike, back in the pool, and back in the running shoes so I hope that we can all attend the Scottsdale Half marathon in November (the new boobs will make them fit in Scottsdale perfectly) and cross the finish line with a smile and a big f**** you Cancer.

My aunts and I last week celebrating the holidays.

[half] Marathon Monday

I run in celebration of my mother-in-law, Barbara Zumwalt.

College years at Northwest Bible
College in Minot, ND

While I was away at college, I learned that my boyfriend's mom had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember wishing I could be there more to help with whatever was needed, already feeling like she was my family. Since then, she has become a cancer survivor and an official part of my family. I feel very fortunate to have her in my life.

Barbara is the type of person that will make you feel like one of her own before the end of the first home-cooked meal. Her ability to appreciate and accept everyone is one of her most admirable traits in my eyes.

Zumwalt family. My adorable husband is on the left -
another one of Barbara's great accomplishments.

Not only has she taken in additional children like myself along the way, she has a few of her own (see handsome brood to the right). Barbara is a strong woman who is often the glue of the family, bringing people together or lifting them up when they're down (or homesick). Like most mothers, she always thinks of others before herself and would much rather attend to another person's needs than be the focus of attention. Today's blog isn't intended to make her uncomfortable, but instead let her know that she is appreciated and we are so fortunate that she is a fighter and still with us today. When I am running up  the never-ending hills in Austin, I will think of Barbara, what she has been through, and the amazing women she has helped raise. I will consider myself one of those lucky women and I will keep going because I know the hills are temporary and we are equipped with what it takes to get past them.

Casey, Barbara and Larry Zumwalt at our wedding in 2009.

We love you Barbara! Your kids, your grandkids and the many people who call you a friend are blessed for each day you are in our lives.

Support individuals and families affected by cancer by donating to LIVESTRONG on my fundraising page. I will be running the LIVESTRONG half marathon in February in honor, celebration and in memory of many loved ones, including Barabara.

The Loop

I have been running not walking at Memorial Park on a regular basis for about 6 months now. Even before Sadie proposed running a half marathon, I had been not walking in secret, just to see if I could do it. I didn't want to tell anyone because most people I know here run (for real), and I was afraid they would try and run with me which might have caused extensive embarrassment. Plus, for many years, my motto has been "I don't run, but I will cheer you on." I was trying not to let everyone know I had just been too stubborn to really try until I was sure it could be done.

During this time, I ran my first full mile since high school. It was painful, and I still didn't like running but I was proud of the fact that I lugged myself a whole mile without stopping for the first time in my adult life. Additional distance didn't come quickly after that,  but I still ran occasionally, proud of each mile.

My running spot of choice (for the time being) is the Seymour Lieberman trail at Memorial Park. It's about a 3 mile loop with quarter mile markers along the way. I don't have fancy watches, phones or apps to keep track of how far & fast I go, so it's a nice way to tell how far I run while trying to remember to time myself. Baby steps.


When I first started not walking, I would always go around the entire loop, trying to run as much as I could and walking in between. I remember thinking that maybe one day I would start my run and go around the whole loop without stopping. And no only that...  but maybe the day would come where it didn't suck.

Well, today was that day.

I have run this loop without stopping a couple of times before and an equal distance elsewhere a time or two, but today was the day I ran that loop without too much difficulty. I felt pretty good, I didn't contemplate stopping to walk and I didn't have to concentrate on my breathing the whole time. Toward the end, I thought of myself trying to do this 6 months ago - a mile was a painful victory. And here I am doing the things I only thought were maaaybe possible such a short time ago. These kinds of personal victories are so sweet!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

These are the perfect cookies for
a holiday party  in the South!

Yesterday was the first day that it felt wintry and Christmasy to me. I seems hard to get into the holiday spirit, partially because of the desensitization caused by Christmas decorations going up in October, but I think it's mostly due to the fact that the high temperature on December 1st was 73 degrees. This is not winter wonderland weather! (Don't be mistaken, that is not a complaint)

In the last few days it's gotten pretty chilly. And yes, it does actually get cold in Houston. It was in the mid 30s on my way to work this morning. Brr! As I was driving home last night, it was so crisp outside and darker than usual. This in combination with the lights on top of all of the office buildings and decorations in retail windows did it for me. It's almost Christmas!!! This was soon followed by the present panic. So many people and so few presents purchased... We are definitely behind on the present front this year in comparison to previous years, and I shall blame the lack of time and funds on the University of Houston.

I find that I get a kick out of the decorations here. I mean, who doesn't love lights on palm trees?! I still can't get over the fact that we live in a place that has palm trees - I feel like they're only for vacation, not for real places. 

Not only are there lights everywhere, but all of the cool kids put giant bows on top of their businesses. I can't even begin to imagine the electricity bill for this city in the winter. I love all of the decorations, but appreciate them more when they show up at the right time - after Thanksgiving. Nordstrom is even on the same page, which I can appreciate even though I don't ever shop there (let's be serious).

I'm starting to get excited for Christmas and our upcoming trip home! Even though it can be stressful, it can be equally awesome. Happy Holidays!

How to Drive in Houston

I think driving in the city of Houston could be considered a sport. I have come to the conclusion that the manual I studied to get my driver's licence is completely useless here. I am also pretty sure the majority of drivers don't know who has the right of way in any given situation, which results in epic multi-direction traffic jams.

Car vs. pedestrian: who has the right of way?

ME!

It doesn't matter who is the car or the pedestrian. I am going somewhere important and I should have the right of way. The end.

I thought it would be interesting to share my view of the unspoken driving rules in Houston. I hope this does not deter you from visiting. (We love visitors!)

1. Your vehicle must be BIG. If it is not, obscenely expensive will suffice.

2. If you're not tailgating or speeding, you're not really driving. True Houstonians do both at the same time.

3. You must not use your blinker. If you do use a blinker, it should in no way indicate what your next move will be.

4. Switching one lane at a time is for sissies.

5. When getting out of your car in a parking lot, swing the door with gusto. Denting someone's car, it's not big deal! If they've been in Houston for any amount of time, their doors probably look like the surface of a golf ball anyway.

6. Texting and driving is required. If you don't have the capacity to do both simultaneously, texting is obviously the first priority.

7. Tire repairs should be a category included in your monthly budget.

8. Gas pump hoses are long for a reason: to be stretched around your entire car. If given the opportunity, take full advantage.

9. Using your blinker will never persuade another driver to let you in. If you go, they will get out of the way (usually).

10. Never forget, you are the only one that matters.

Parents who teach their children to drive here should receive some sort of medal of honor or a serious discount on anxiety prescriptions. Like my grandmother, I'm not sure that I'm up to having kids in Texas.

I imagine little road rage apprentices ramming their Power Wheels together screaming, "Hey Y'all, get out of the way!" ...that is until they grow up. As in any city, Houston road rage is less polite and full of grown-up words.

Here's to all of the brave souls that drive the streets of this city regularly. And to those who make a simple trip to the grocery store a thrilling adventure for the rest of us: you live in the south. Since you do everything else so slowly, why not try this too?

[half] Marathon Monday

I run in memory of Janice Itschner.

Janice on an Itschner, Moss and friends
camping trip at Detroit Lake.

When I was in grade school, my best friend's mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, I couldn't comprehend what this diagnosis meant or how it would impact her family years later. This would be our real-life introduction to cancer and I wish it would have left a better first impression.

What I did know at this age was that having cancer meant you were sick and chemotherapy is the medicine they used to try and make you well again. I would learn that chemo made you feel incredibly awful and out of sorts but once treatment was complete, it could also be an (albeit highly undesirable) alternative to going to the salon to get a perm. You did want a perm, right?

When I think back on my memories of Janice, I don't remember her as someone who was sick, I remember all of the things she was capable of.

She was a woman with skills and talents people find themselves only wishing they had. She had a beautiful voice, played the guitar and spoke Spanish fluently. Even at a young age, I remember being able to sense her strong work ethic. When God made Janice, "give up" was definitely not one of the ingredients included. She was the kind of person who, just by being herself, made you feel like you could do anything as long as you were willing to work for it. She was inspirational to me in setting goals that seemed too big (like learning Spanish) and then daring to achieve them.

The Itschner Family
Jon, Travis, Michelle and Janice

Janice was also a woman of incredible faith. If ever there was someone you could trust to do what they felt was the good and right thing, it was her. There was no cutting corners and no easy way out; you just did what was right.

After Michelle and I met in the first grade, our moms became very close. If you were to ask my mom about her memories of Janice (which I did), the first thing you would hear is, "she was such an intelligent woman." From designing their log cabin home (really, she drew up the blueprints) to teaching foreign languages or giving you a makeover, she was a real-life renaissance woman.

(And for all of you out there thinking, "log cabin?" it was definitely not a wild-west settler's log cabin. This is what I imagined in the first grade, with log cabin knowledge limited to Yosemite National Park and historical museums. Think more like two-story suburban home, but made of logs... and in a forest. Yes, it is as awesome as it sounds.)

After several years of a successful fight against her cancer, Janice passed away when Michelle and I were 13. I wish life came with a manual and an index of reasons why the people we love have to endure such tragedies. Sometimes the only thing we can do is pick ourselves up and move forward, carrying them with us.

I run not only for Janice, but also for her daughter who is still a very dear friend. Michelle, you have so many of your mom's wonderful traits and I am incredibly grateful to have you as a friend. I know she is always with you and so very proud.

All donations for the Livestrong Half Marathon benefit Livestrong, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by cancer.

To make a donation, visit my fundraising page. Thank you for your support.

First 5k

What has two thumbs and can run 3.1 miles without stopping?

THIS LADY!

This year on Thanksgiving morning, I ran Houston's 5k Turkey Trot. After agreeing to run the half marathon, my co-runner suggested that I fit in a 5 or 10k first. Since a 5k is a much shorter distance than a half marathon, I thought it would be better done sooner than later. I had two goals with this run: 1) don't walk; and 2) finish somewhere close to 35 minutes.

Coach Tiffany and I post trot.

With the help of an awesome volunteer running coach (left), I completed both goals, finishing in 32 minutes and 45 seconds. We both maintain that it could have done it in 30 if it wasn't for the twelve thousand other people running with us. I'm also pretty sure that we ran more than 5k due to all of the zigging and zagging back and forth to get around walkers and joggers.

My next planned running adventure is a 5 mile jingle bell run in December. A nice perk in addition to (hopefully) increasing my running distance is the sexy pair of reindeer antlers that they give out to participants. Who needs another free t-shirt when you can have your very own antlers?! 

I must admit that I was skeptical about running with someone else. All of my not-walking adventures up until this point had been suffered in solitude. I didn't think I would do well running with another person, but it was a great idea. Big thanks to Tiffany for sticking with me! Although she may be tiny, Tiffany has more willpower and determination than most people I know. Today, she is an athlete by anyone's standards - just hearing about her workout routines make my muscles ache. But just a few years ago, she made an amazing transformation from non-runner to running a marathon in 6 months. She's continued to push herself and the transformation is incredible to watch. Tiffany is definitely an inspiration and makes me feel encouraged that I can not only live through this half marathon, but do better than I first expected of myself.

Thanksgiving this year was exactly what it was supposed to be. We had a great morning with friends, an afternoon of nothing but football and naps and then absurd amounts of food in the evening. We decided make reservations at a nice restaurant that had a thanksgiving meal... with so much food that we couldn't even touch some of the dishes; they just went straight to boxes.

We definitely picked a festive area to have dinner. So festive, in fact, that we couldn't even park in the same zip code as the restaurant. Ok, so that's being dramatic - but there were road closures that led to a tour of every area but the one we wanted to park in, followed by walking quite a distance. The culprit was a holiday lighting event with lots of those LED flashlight wands that they sell at Disneyland and an abundance of fake Christmas trees. Eventually we made it to the restaurant, where the food was mostly delicious and the sangria was mostly ice. You win some and lose some.

Rules to Run By

I am a data gatherer by nature, and it's definitely a genetic double-whammy. My dad is a very logical and rational person, always a fan of a good piece of information. He searches, assesses and decides.

But my mom, as I have mentioned before, is the most spectacular data gatherer in all of the land - and it appears mother nature has appointed me as her apprentice. We are like little squirrels scavenging for majestic nuggets of information. We joyfully and obsessively collect our treasures until we are completely exhausted. In most cases, then (and only then) we are satisfied. 

In my case, starting a new activity or hobby often sparks this desire for information overload. Needless to say, there have been a lot of running related Google searches in my free time lately. When I'm not at home, my gracious co-workers who I have classified as runners are mercilessly ambushed with run chat. I ask questions, share random facts (thanks to Google) or divulge details of my morning run. They not only humor me, but also offer fantastic advice that I eagerly implement on my next not walk run.

Today, I came upon an article from Runner's World that I wanted to share - mostly because it made me giggle.

Say what?! This is definitely something that I have not experienced yet; and I like to pretend that I will escape this icky foot fate. Just today I was complaining about sore feet. I will keep on pretending that is the worst of it until the day I pull my sock off in horror.

The moral of this story is: don't do the potty dance at intersections. You can stop, it's okay! I actually prefer to take this moment to stretch and pretend like I don't look like I'm about to die. Sometimes I wonder if cars are nervous that I will just keel over into moving traffic. However, I'm sure doing a jig on the corner will just make me look crazier than I already am. I'm glad to have Runner's World backing me up on this one.

As for the last running tip that I will share from this article, I have no words - only a glorious quote:

[half] Marathon Monday

I run in memory of my grandmother, Virginia Haines Coleman.

Little Christine with grandparents Virginia & Ivan Haines

Soon, I will be running the Livestrong Half Marathon in Austin, TX. As I train, I will be raising money for Livestrong, an organization founded by cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, with a mission to improve the lives of those affected by cancer. Each week, I will share why this cause is so important to me.


I will bring the people I write about on this journey to motivate me - to push myself further than I think I can go. When I get tired, I will think of them and remember their influence on my life, their strength and the cause I am running for.

My grandmother passed away of ovarian cancer when I was 12, the same year the Lance Armstrong Foundation was established. Although I was young, my childhood memories are filled with her. We played a lot of Uno and watched just as much Lawrence Welk (which was far more interesting to me than other favorite, Murder She Wrote).

As you might be able to tell, there were also lots of flowers. Flowers on the 'davenport,' flowers on the walls, flowers on the muumuus, flowers on the shirts under the muumuus and flowers on the dishware.

She always had the same collection of mints and gum that I still come across every once in a while. Let me tell you, the connection between smell and memory is no joke. Not too long ago, I opened a pack of Wrigley's spearmint gum and it was like she jumped right out saying, "here I am, right here with you." I hope I am not the only one this happens to.

The picture to the left is probably the most frequently occurring scene for the two of us. Ever since I was a baby, she would rock me to sleep in a recliner. As I got older and bigger, she didn't give up. My grandmother would wrestle me into her lap and rock away as if I was still tiny. At one point, I remember being largely uncomfortable with limbs flopped over both sides of the chair, but complying anyway because it seemed she felt this was her grandmotherly duty. Who knows, maybe one day I will do the same.

Above all, I remember that she was patient with me, attentive to whatever I wanted to do or show or tell. She let me be exactly who I was and encouraged me to be... me. I think that's what grandparents are for.

Learn more about Livestrong and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Support my journey by contributing on my fundraising page.

Texas: the Good, the Bad, and the just plain Strange

Casey and I decided we would move to Houston, Texas despite the fact that neither of us had ever been there. My closest connection to the state was that my grandfather is from Southeast Texas and my dad was also nearly born there. I say nearly because my grandmother despises this part of the country so much that she preferred to drive thousands of miles at 8 months pregnant than give birth and raise a child in [insert colorful name here]. This is a brave move for anyone, even with today's modern conveniences, and I can't even imagine making this trek in 1951.

Much to her dismay, I would be making the exact same drive in reverse in 2008. Every time Houston was brought up I would hear about one or more (and frequently all) of the following:

• oppressive heat
• ants that will eat anything that is not kept in your oven for safety
• cockroaches big enough to pick a fight with your cat
• moldy shoes (or anything else made of leather)

Needless to say, none of my grandmother's past experiences in Southeast Texas were even remotely comforting. Everyone else was just about at excited as she was that we were moving to this land of milk and honey mold and roaches. But, I had a great job with an organization that is the best at what they do and Casey was up for an adventure. Plus, the cost of living is very reasonable for a large city and you can usually find it on a "best" list of cities for young professionals or places to start a career.

I moved first, leaving Oregon in February and arriving in Houston in March. My mom accompanied me on  the 2,500 mile drive that went something like this:

There were a lot of CD mixes and reading of the AAA guides for the region we were passing through. The most painful part of the drive was undoubtedly everything between Phoenix and San Antonio. One of the only highlights of this leg of the trip is how fast you can legally pass through it.

We arrived in Houston less than a week before I would start work with everything I had in the back of my car and no apartment to put it in. Let me tell you - when moving to a city you know nothing about and having to find a place to live in a matter of days, my mother is the one to take with you. She had lists of apartments, lists of apartment locators, a city map with plotted points of recent criminal activity to avoid, and an abundance of energy to sift through it all.

By the end of the week, we ended up with a great little apartment minutes from my work and across the street from Target (score!) and some fierce furniture assembly skills. Casey took a much faster route to Houston, hopping on an airplane in May, departing and arriving all in the same month (no fun!). Although we have had our ups and downs with this city, Houston has been good to us and we've had lots of great experiences here.

I wanted to end this blog with one of my favorite Texas phenomenons - the residents' obsession with its shape. I first noticed this on my second day in the state. On our way to Houston, my mom and I stayed at a HoJo in West Texas, and upon arriving in the breakfast area, we saw this masterpiece:

Little did I know that this would be the first of many Texas-shaped discoveries. Here are a couple more for your viewing pleasure:


For more Texas masterpieces, check out Texas-Shaped Things!

The Beginning

Recently, I've found myself thinking that I should blog about the crazy things I do. In the past I've had travel blogs to keep a record of places visited and adventures had - also a place where concerned parties could go to make sure I was still alive after said adventures. But it hasn't been until more recently that I thought I should also try this for my, well, "regular" life. Going back to school (something I never thought I would do), I realized blogging would be a helpful way to remember this period of my life, since I would probably be too busy remember anything than what I was cramming my brain with at the time. Since then, there have been a few endeavors that have pushed me over the edge and into blogdom.

One of the most recent escapades included a detox/cleanse after a mega-marathon of food related documentaries. One of my favorites was Forks Over Knives, but the film that eventually sucked me into a detox was Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. Let's just say there were lots of fruits, veggies and time dedicated to food prep. I didn't find it to be as fabulous or impactful as some do, but I definitely learned a few things: 1) tasty new recipes; 2) I can enjoy cooking - especially when I pull off a new recipe; and 3) eating well is very labor intensive. All in all, I'm glad that I did it, but don't expect to hear about my detox diet again any time soon.

On the very day that I was ending this strange experiment, my dear friend Sadie sent me an email proposing that we run a half marathon this winter. Now, many of you know that on a list of Christineisms, "I don't run" could be included. I will admit, I have tried (what I like to call) not walking a handful of times over the past few months, and Sadie knows this, but I am by no means a runner. Despite the advice of my rational self, I agreed to do it. If all goes as planned, we will be running the Livestrong half marathon in February. It will be in Austin, so I must confess that I've really only said yes to get her to come and visit. I've done my fair share of surprise runs for Sadie in the past (usually involving medical emergencies), so I don't see why we should change this tradition now. As of today, the longest distance I have not walked run at one time is 2 miles; this phenomenon happened once a couple of months ago. Today I ran 1.75 miles without stopping. Needless to say, there's a lot of preparing to do over the next 3 months to build up to 13.1 miles, so you can expect to hear about running milestones (hopefully) in the near future. Here's to another unexpected adventure!

In honor of the half marathon, I feel obligated to share this gem that I found on Facebook last month. This photo says it all.

Above all else, I'm learning to embrace the unexpected adventures in my life. When you leave yourself open to all of life's possibilities (even the crazy ones), I find that's when the best things happen.