Quad County Bike Ride

45 mile Loop

Saturday, May 13

Mark and Darla, Joel and I enjoy biking together.  It keeps us in shape and allows us some time to catch up and enjoy the outdoors.  The year we all turned 40 (2010) we did a 250 mile bike trip up to the Bergey cabins in Tioga County, PA.  While most couples would have opted for a relaxing cruise to celebrate this milestone--we decided on an adventure.  We are so strange!  :-)

When we found out the weather was going to be beautiful on Sunday we found babysitters and decided to tackle the 45 mile loop.  I had been out on my bike for 15-20 mile rides but never this far since the chemo started.  I'm always nervous when I head out--is my body going to give out on me somewhere along the road?  Our good friend Tim, promised he would come and pick me up if that happened.  But I certainly was not going to let that happen if I could help it!

So off we went. . . and I felt great!  Finished the 45 no problem!  In fact we averaged 15.5 --which isn't too shabby at all!  It felt so good to be on the bike and to be flying down the hills--wind in your face and to feel your muscles strain cranking up the hills.  Just to be able to be out there was so healing.  I had such a good time and felt like my old self--the Renae before the cancer.  I wish I could be with her more.  I would give anything to rewind the clock back to December 14 and change the course of events.  My life was so perfect back then and I didn't even know it.  Sigh . . . . 

Here we are at the rest stop!  The food was GREAT! 

And the day was perfect.  The best Mother's Day Present!

Krista, Joanna, Darla, Renae

                                                   LENAPE SURVIVAL CHALLENGE

If you would have drove past the Perkiomen Watershed in Schwenksville on April 28 you would have seen a bunch of runners getting ready to run the "Lenape Survival Challenge".  It's a great race--first you run a hilly 4.7 miles, then a quick sprint up and down Spring Mount, followed by a 2.5 mile canoe race down the Perkiomen Creek!  We've been doing the race for years!  But this year--with life so upside down--we didn't make any plans.  But when I received the postcard in my mailbox I decided to register myself and Darla.  I emailed her, "Are you ready to run?  We are NOT going to miss out this year!"  And with tears in both of our eyes--we decided to go for it.

So, just like every year--we met our good friends Joanna and Krista at the parking lot, tried to decide what to wear, and listened to the last minute instructions on how to paddle a canoe!  As I pinned my bib number on I couldn't help but compare myself to last year.  How different I look.  How my confidence in myself and my strength has been stolen.  How others look at me.  How much things have changed in my life.  But today was not a day for sadness--rather a day for celebration.  I mean.  . . seriously . . . how many people run races in the middle of chemo treatments?  Before my chemo treatments started I was stockpiling groceries thinking I would not even be able to make it to the store!  Now, here I stood ready to run!  This was a victory on MANY levels!

We lined up along Haldeman Road and were off!  It's funny. . . probably the place where I feel the most comfortable walking around bald is at the gym and with fellow exercisers!  Maybe it's because it takes so much energy to exercise, run, bike--you just don't care what you look like--you just hope to make it to the finish!

Here we are jumping into our canoe!  It always feels good to give the legs a rest and get the arms working!  The day was beautiful!  We were laughing about all of our canoeing experienes!  We noticed the creek was a little low and knew we might have trouble downstream!

As we worked our way downstream we came across a couple areas where the water was so low that we had to hop out of our canoe and push it over the rocks--a canoe drag!  I was wishing I hadn't eaten so many cheesy fries the night before!  ;-)

After we finished the race, Darla and I just hugged each other!  WE MADE IT!  Our first race together after this cancer nightmare.  In so many ways--a symbol--a victory--a statement to myself . . .

I am strong.
I will not give in.
I will not give up.
I will try and then I will try harder.
I will not allow cancer to define who I am.
I will cry but I will continue to push forward.
I will embrace life to its fullest.
I will love and laugh.
I will cherish every moment.
I will LIVE!