Don't Tell Me it's Good

Hypothyroidism, biopsies, scanxiety, hair falling out, tumors, hypocalcemia, medical bills, incurable.  It's cancer.  Don't tell me it's good.

Keep Running. Just Keep Running.

I don't know how I ever managed to get so lost in my running.  I can't pinpoint the first day that I found that zen-like place. I don't know how I found a comfortable stride and, though I know that  a chronic cancer condition is what made me start,  I'm not sure what made me keep going. I'm guessing it's learning to live with a disease.  When I run, there's something soothing about controlling my breath and it calms my soul.  I can lose myself for miles and miles without a negative thought or care in the world.  I love that.

I ran my first 5k at a Livestrong event and received a yellow survivor rose when I crossed the finish line.  That single moment changed the way that I would think about setting and meeting goals forever.  It took hard work and a determined mind to help me commit to my first organized race and finish and it took a good mental attitude to keep me on the course for the entire 3.1 miles.  I learned so much when I crossed the finish line that day.

Today, I retired my Brooks Ravennas. There are so many memories in a pair of shoes. They carried me for over a thousand miles: all around the neighborhoods surrounding my house, through my first marathon, lots of 5k's, two half marathons and, finally, the Goofy Challenge.  They also carried me through a lot of frustrations, fears, anger, and joy. I never knew that running could be such an awesome vent and I never knew that a pair of sneakers could mean so much.

The Goofy Challenge took place at Walt Disney World last weekend.  I ran back to back half and full marathons, totaling 39.3 miles over the course of two days.  I trained for months and ran through a lot of pain, sweat and sometimes even discouragement. I never, ever in a million years thought I would even attempt a distance run at that level.  Cancer didn't just change me; cancer challenged me.

I don't know what comes next for me.  Originally, my plan was to run a marathon.  It had always been a bucket list item and, when cancer came knocking on my door, I thought to myself, "oh man, I have to start doing all the things I always wanted to do." I didn't stop at a marathon, though.  I kept going.

It has been almost four years since my diagnosis.  My cancer has been stable for all of that time. I am so fortunate and I no longer think that I need to squeeze in all of the things that I want to do in a short period of time. I think I'm going to be on this earth for a very long time and I look forward to life's challenges and new adventures.  Bring on the next obstacle.  I'm ready to roll.

The Adventures of Watson and Crick

We're Moving On Up

We are excited to announce that mAss Kickers Foundation will soon be moving into the The San Diego Foundation building. We will be joining: The San Diego Film Commision, The San Diego Asian Film Foundation, I Love a Clean San Diego, Voice of San Diego, US-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership. The San Diego Foundation has numerous resources available for non-profit organizations. Please stop by and visit us at 

Liberty Station
The San Diego Foundation
2508 Historic Decatur Rd.
San Diego, CA 92106

More details to follow…