How to Run a Marathon and Still Feel Pretty – By Ambassador Kristen

Dear Liked Kinds,

I have been imagining about how to update all of you on my chemotherapy treatment options this summer months, which just so occur to have fallen appropriate smack dab in the middle of getting to be a Beth Millner Jewellery ambassador. For a although I wasn’t guaranteed if it was the worst timing or the ideal timing when I was picked, but then I realized that this is specifically how existence goes: you never get to opt for the timing of your life’s issues or your chances. You only have handle on how you opt for to feel about them, and how or if you make your mind up to act on them. For instance, I could say that breast cancer is the worst issue or the greatest matter that’s happened to me, due to the fact both of those are genuine. Surgical procedure and chemo are not exactly points that individuals rush to signal up for, but at the exact time, which is precisely what it took to discover how lots of angels I have in my corner and how form and generous and considerate the globe can be. 

Now that I’m approaching Week 8 of the 12-7 days Chemo Marathon that I by no means preferred to indicator up for, sponsored by the club I’d in no way desired to be a part of (breast most cancers), I have realized a individual reality: marathons suck. I necessarily mean, I’m certain there is at minimum one particular person out there who loves operating so considerably that they glimpse forward to beating the crap out of their bodies for miles and miles, and that maybe there is some bizarre runner’s euphoria I’ve however to tap into, but dang! Not gonna lie, it was much easier at the starting when you are at the starting line and there are a gazillion of your bystander peeps looking at you and cheering you on. And I’m confident there will be just as quite a few there ready for me to cross the finish line. But when you are on mile 8 of 12, and there aren’t as a lot of men and women on the sidelines seeing you any longer, your operating gets rather unsightly, and so do your views. 

And speaking of that, there is nothing at all that’ll stir up your notions of magnificence and ugliness quite like a pleasant round of balding chemo. But then once again, that’s the whole point of this story, a reminder that we have total regulate of how we decide on to see a little something, and we can possibly seize an opportunity or allow it go us by. 

I don’t know about you, but considering the fact that I didn’t prepare on obtaining all my hair slide out various occasions in my life, I figured now was the probability to change a couple lemons into lemonade. 

It was a few months ago when I was in a position to commence pulling all my hair out in clumps, fairly a great deal appropriate on schedule, all over “mile 4” in the marathon. I understood that as challenging as it was, I’d need to have to make peace with indicating goodbye to my hair, as “unpretty” as that may well make me really feel, and I’d experienced a amazing plan that would distract me plenty of to get via at minimum the up coming couple of miles. 

I was likely to snicker my way via the overall issue, and I was heading to make sure that a person else benefited from it, as well. 

And that’s just what I did. I went out on social media and told all my close friends that for every single $20 they donated, that they’d get their names set in a hat for a massive drawing, and that the particular person whose title was drawn would get the honor of picking out the layout that my Mumma would attract on the back again of my bald head, as soon as I’d shaved off all my hair. The proceeds were break up similarly involving the Delta County Cancer Alliance and Wildlife Unlimited of Delta County. Jointly my angels lifted just about $2,500 to split involving two of my preferred charities!

It took me 3 haircuts this year to get to my bald canvas. People of you who realized me 6 months ago understood that I had extensive hair down to my lower back again, so my hair was a massive part of my identity. I donated the 1st foot of it to Kids With Hair Reduction, so that somebody else would be ready to put on a wig that I was ready to grow for them myself. I’d carried out this after ahead of and had decided that once my hair reaches a specified size, I’m heading to hold carrying out this till I’m no for a longer time about to continue to keep escalating it. Believe of all the wigs that’ll be out in the world right after so numerous years! Will make me smile. 

My second haircut occasion was likely from my shortened bob haircut size to tomboy duration, which was surprisingly more challenging than heading pool-cue bald. Maybe it reminded me of the last time I’d had my hair this quick in second quality, a tiny child mistook me for a boy, and my psyche never ever recovered. Perhaps it is due to the fact I just really do not think shorter, limited hair is all that flattering on me. No matter what the explanation, I had to electric power-smile my way as a result of that total week prior to the authentic shave took location, and that gave me a clean up slate in far more ways than 1. 

Practically nothing claims “I really like you” really like your good hairdresser mate agreeing to turn you into a bowling ball (I have been advised I have a properly spherical head) and your 75-yr-old mom agreeing to draw a little something on the again of your head for charity. And that is just what they did. The gal whose name had been drawn wanted a hummingbird and a pink breast cancer ribbon in the layout, and looking at that the canvas was moveable skin coated in a light-weight stubble, I feel my mother seriously kicked ass on the completed product! 

It’s been two weeks working all-around my corner of the earth with no hair, and the element I have not stated until eventually now, due to the fact I have been too busy pretending that remaining bald is a finish hoot and a hilarious journey, is that oh boy, there are times when I experience sooooooo hideous. I have place a several photos of my new type out on social media, and many individuals have commented on how beautiful I seem. But I do not seriously consider them. I’m certain that they are indicating it just to make me really feel improved, simply because, you know, Mile 8. The section where by I’m “ugly running” and people do not have time to sit there on the sidelines and cheer me on just about every 2nd of the day since they have their individual life to live. 

I knew with out a question that I’d have unpleasant days during this marathon. The detail is, even when you know there will be struggles uphill, in some cases you never see them coming till you are suitable smack dab in the middle of one particular. And all you can do is accept the hill, suck it up, buttercup, and continue to keep plodding simply because quicker or afterwards the floor will be stage once again. 

The natural beauty I’ve been capable to get with me on this marathon given that the starting is my Beth Millner parts. Regardless of whether I have had long hair or quick hair or no hair, they’ve been with me for the complete marathon, like a talisman protecting me from experience unappealing or from feeling like a comprehensive failure. They remind me of so quite a few life lessons I want to study this time all-around. When I head into every single chemo mile marker, I’ve bought a various do the job of artwork accompanying me. A person week it’s my bumblebee pedant, reminding me to hold chaotic and to maintain shifting. The subsequent it might be my heart pendant, reminding me of all the adore and assistance I’m taking with me into every of these sessions. Another is my butterfly assortment, representing the alterations that I’m likely by means of. Probably I’m feeling hideous at this stage of my journey simply because which is how it’s intended to go, like how the caterpillar might truly feel in advance of it cocoons. But look at how I’ll be remodeled at the end of this marathon!

I’m on the lookout ahead to sharing with you my end line, my transformation, and my story as it continues to unfold. I have constantly explained that my intent is to direct this sort of an unconventional and attention-grabbing lifetime so that I’ll have seriously excellent stories to explain to when I’m 100 yrs old in the nursing residence, and boy, is this year ever producing! Thank you, my angels and cheerleaders, for positioning yourselves alongside my marathon route and rooting for me. 

Coincidentally, upcoming 7 days you could basically cheer me on, if you are in the Escanaba-Gladstone area. My spouse Todd and godson Noah and I are all “competing” in the MISH mini-triathlon on August 27. Noah will be accomplishing the 3-mile kayak portion, I will be biking 13.5 miles, and Todd will be functioning the 5k finale. I’m not absolutely sure I’ll be breaking any documents for velocity on Saturday, but you can most assuredly count on me not staying a quitter. 

Let us go, Team G! 

Be content, be perfectly.

Kris G