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

Dear Beloved Types,

I have been contemplating about how to update all of you on my chemotherapy therapies this summer season, which just so happen to have fallen proper smack dab in the center of starting to be a Beth Millner Jewelry ambassador. For a while I wasn’t confident if it was the worst timing or the very best timing when I was chosen, but then I realized that this is just how lifestyle goes: you do not get to pick the timing of your life’s problems or your chances. You only have regulate on how you pick out to assume about them, and how or if you decide to act on them. For instance, I could say that breast most cancers is the worst thing or the greatest point that is took place to me, due to the fact both equally are true. Operation and chemo are not particularly items that individuals rush to signal up for, but at the exact time, that is precisely what it took to explore how many angels I have in my corner and how variety and generous and considerate the world can be. 

 

Now that I’m approaching Week 8 of the 12-7 days Chemo Marathon that I in no way wished to indicator up for, sponsored by the club I’d by no means preferred to be a part of (breast most cancers), I have recognized a personal real truth: marathons suck. I necessarily mean, I’m sure there is at least a single person out there who enjoys operating so considerably that they appear ahead to beating the crap out of their bodies for miles and miles, and that perhaps there is some unusual runner’s euphoria I have however to faucet into, but dang! Not gonna lie, it was less difficult at the starting when you’re at the starting off line and there are a gazillion of your bystander peeps observing you and cheering you on. And I’m absolutely sure there will be just as many there ready for me to cross the finish line. But when you are on mile 8 of 12, and there are not as numerous persons on the sidelines observing you any more, your functioning gets fairly unsightly, and so do your ideas. 

 

And talking of that, there’s very little that’ll stir up your notions of splendor and ugliness very like a good spherical of balding chemo. But then once more, that’s the full level of this tale, a reminder that we have overall handle of how we choose to see some thing, and we can possibly seize an possibility or permit it pass us by. 

I don’t know about you, but because I did not program on getting all my hair drop out numerous periods in my everyday living, I figured now was the chance to convert a few lemons into lemonade. 

It was a handful of weeks back when I was equipped to begin pulling all my hair out in clumps, very considerably correct on schedule, all-around “mile 4” in the marathon. I understood that as tough as it was, I’d need to have to make peace with expressing goodbye to my hair, as “unpretty” as that may make me sense, and I’d experienced a good strategy that would distract me plenty of to get via at the very least the subsequent couple of miles. 

I was likely to chortle my way by way of the entire thing, and I was heading to make guaranteed that an individual else benefited from it, too. 

And that’s just what I did. I went out on social media and instructed all my mates that for every $20 they donated, that they’d get their names put in a hat for a massive drawing, and that the particular person whose name was drawn would get the honor of selecting the style that my Mumma would attract on the again of my bald head, the moment I’d shaved off all my hair. The proceeds were being split equally concerning the Delta County Most cancers Alliance and Wildlife Unrestricted of Delta County. Together my angels raised practically $2,500 to break up amongst two of my favorite charities!

It took me a few haircuts this 12 months to get to my bald canvas. All those of you who knew me 6 months ago understood that I experienced very long hair down to my lessen again, so my hair was a significant aspect of my id. I donated the very first foot of it to Children With Hair Reduction, so that somebody else would be ready to use a wig that I was able to grow for them myself. I’d finished this the moment ahead of and had resolved that after my hair reaches a particular size, I’m likely to preserve undertaking this till I’m no extended all over to retain developing it. Imagine of all the wigs that’ll be out in the globe following so numerous many years! Would make me smile. 

My second haircut bash was going from my shortened bob haircut length to tomboy size, which was astonishingly harder than likely pool-cue bald. Probably it reminded me of the very last time I’d experienced my hair this limited in 2nd quality, a minimal child mistook me for a boy, and my psyche hardly ever recovered. Probably it is due to the fact I just really don’t feel brief, shorter hair is all that flattering on me. Whichever the purpose, I experienced to power-smile my way via that total 7 days just before the true shave took position, and that gave me a clean up slate in extra strategies than one. 

Nothing at all says “I like you” fairly like your fantastic hairdresser good friend agreeing to switch you into a bowling ball (I have been instructed I have a beautifully round head) and your 75-12 months-old mother agreeing to draw a thing on the back again of your head for charity. And which is precisely what they did. The gal whose identify had been drawn required a hummingbird and a pink breast most cancers ribbon in the design and style, and thinking of that the canvas was moveable pores and skin coated in a light stubble, I consider my mother truly kicked ass on the finished merchandise! 

It’s been two months operating all around my corner of the earth with no hair, and the component I haven’t mentioned until now, due to the fact I’ve been way too active pretending that getting bald is a full hoot and a hilarious journey, is that oh boy, there are days when I feel sooooooo unsightly. I’ve place a number of photos of my new style out on social media, and quite a few folks have commented on how lovely I search. But I don’t seriously consider them. I’m convinced that they are indicating it just to make me really feel far better, because, you know, Mile 8. The element the place I’m “ugly running” and folks don’t have time to sit there on the sidelines and cheer me on just about every second of the working day simply because they have their individual lives to reside. 

I knew with no a question that I’d have hideous times during this marathon. The thing is, even when you know there will be struggles uphill, in some cases you don’t see them coming until eventually you are ideal smack dab in the center of a single. And all you can do is accept the hill, suck it up, buttercup, and keep plodding because quicker or later on the floor will be stage all over again. 

The beauty I have been in a position to acquire with me on this marathon considering that the beginning is my Beth Millner parts. Irrespective of whether I’ve experienced extended hair or quick hair or no hair, they’ve been with me for the whole marathon, like a talisman guarding me from feeling unsightly or from feeling like a entire failure. They remind me of so a lot of everyday living lessons I want to understand this time about. When I head into each and every chemo mile marker, I have received a unique do the job of artwork accompanying me. 1 7 days it’s my bumblebee pedant, reminding me to preserve fast paced and to hold relocating. The future it may be my heart pendant, reminding me of all the love and guidance I’m taking with me into just about every of these classes. A further is my butterfly collection, symbolizing the adjustments that I’m heading by way of. It’s possible I’m feeling hideous at this phase of my journey since that is how it’s meant to go, like how the caterpillar may possibly really feel right before it cocoons. But look at how I’ll be remodeled at the conclude of this marathon!

I’m seeking forward to sharing with you my complete line, my transformation, and my story as it proceeds to unfold. I’ve generally mentioned that my intent is to lead these an strange and attention-grabbing everyday living so that I’ll have truly superior tales to inform when I’m 100 a long time outdated in the nursing property, and boy, is this yr at any time manufacturing! Thank you, my angels and cheerleaders, for placing yourselves together my marathon route and rooting for me. 

Coincidentally, next 7 days you could practically cheer me on, if you’re in the Escanaba-Gladstone area. My husband Todd and godson Noah and I are all “competing” in the MISH mini-triathlon on August 27. Noah will be performing the 3-mile kayak portion, I will be biking 13.5 miles, and Todd will be running the 5k finale. I’m not guaranteed I’ll be breaking any data for speed on Saturday, but you can most assuredly count on me not becoming a quitter. 

Let us go, Staff G! 

Be delighted, be properly.

Kris G