tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18239481846711816812024-03-12T16:01:04.891-07:00Not A Fast RunnerI joined Team In Training to get ready to run my first ever marathon. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. And one of the best. I've since signed up for several more seasons with the Team, and though this blog is not exclusively dedicated to my involvement in running with TNT/LLS, that is a large focus... thank you for joining me on my journey,[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-71559058201423516472016-11-03T06:17:00.001-07:002016-11-03T06:17:36.445-07:00ValidationIn case no one has told you this lately... you. are. awesome.
[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-5266436190117239102016-07-29T09:55:00.000-07:002016-07-29T09:56:02.856-07:00not someday, today..
We are living in an extraordinary moment. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is supporting research that is on the brink of incredible breakthroughs which have already begun to change the lives of thousands of patients. There are new treatments that can manage a person's condition with a daily pill, therapies which seek out cancer cells and kill them, and the use of [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-68195756674808439092016-07-12T06:05:00.003-07:002016-07-12T06:05:51.550-07:00trail running with wildlifeWent for a walk with the dogs and my husband last night at dusk, and almost ran smack dab into a mama deer with three tiny spotted fawns... paused for a moment to watch her silently shepherd them to safety at the edge of the trees.
Unfortunately, it was too dark to take photos.
I do, however, have a photo of the wildlife Remy and I saw on our Sunday morning run. I give you now.... the [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-33326656676821112582016-07-07T06:51:00.001-07:002016-07-07T06:51:23.304-07:00in other newslong weekend flew by in a flurry of picnicking, paddle boarding, and pouring rain... with a leisurely 16 miler thrown in on Sunday morning for good measure.am now wishing for more vacation time... even though it's now so hot and steamy out that i want nothing more than to hide out in the air conditioning and just watch through the windows as the gardens turn to a jungle of green. (we're picking [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-70162305998041562242016-06-20T07:59:00.000-07:002016-06-20T10:12:57.666-07:00updates (training and otherwise)This weekend was a good one as far as marathon training and friends with cancer goes...
Ran 5 hot and steamy miles in Alexandria with the Team on Saturday morning. Nice to run somewhere I've never been before, and to run with new friends. One of my new teammates works with my husband, which was a delightful surprise!
We had our seasonal honoured teammate brunch at the LLS office, and heard some[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-5413595792214289612016-06-13T10:58:00.000-07:002016-06-13T10:58:50.135-07:00more lovelove more.
be kind.
be compassionate.
be brave.
love more.
love more.
love more....
[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-13004034288180470842016-06-08T06:39:00.002-07:002016-06-08T10:17:25.213-07:00summer onAs I often do at work, I'm listening to music... today's music selection is The Tragically Hip live in Abbotsford. So, I'm singing along as I work. Processing credit card payments, speaking with customers, and in the back ground I hear Gord Downie talking to his people, to me... My new call to action.
"Summer on, people! Summer on! Take care of each other. Drive the speed limit.
[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-46770960826587445772016-06-05T04:17:00.001-07:002016-06-05T04:17:13.136-07:00fools (like me) run half marathons without training
Having done pretty much nothing in the way of exercise since Paris Marathon, I ran the Ex2 Adventures Fountainhead Off Road Half Marathon yesterday.... Not an ideal training regimen. I don't recommend it. Fountainhead is a challenging course, very hilly (some very steep and rooty), a few water crossings, and in June when the temperatures can be expected to be in the 80s at least.
Yesterday was [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-35582921349235101782016-05-25T07:37:00.001-07:002016-05-25T07:38:23.468-07:00It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken
I am sure you all know how I feel about it by this point... but in case I haven't said it explicitly enough up 'til now... Cancer can just fuck right off.
[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-86891215370933021632016-05-14T10:46:00.000-07:002016-06-01T05:04:04.067-07:00withdrawal sucksso... a week or so ago, with the encouragement of my coach and doctor... i withdrew myself from America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride.
six weeks of no activity due to coming down with pneumonia following the Paris Marathon has left me feeling grossly unprepared for a 100 mile bike ride. and there is just not enough time to regain the fitness...
i hated having to make that decision, but it is the [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-37820655807689208982016-04-22T06:14:00.001-07:002016-04-22T06:14:04.758-07:00Paris marathon report (ish)So, it's been a few days since the Paris marathon and I've thus far said nothing about it... not because it wasn't a great experience (it was!!), but because there's been a lot going on.
First off, it was a whirlwind two week adventure... first week gallivanting about southern England, visiting family, running the Thames Bridges Trek in London in wild weather and going to concerts.
running [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-37026511731794931212016-04-22T05:48:00.000-07:002016-04-22T05:48:35.963-07:00My Powers Turned UpAs you may know from reading past posts... there is a fairly extensive history of cancer in my family. My maternal grandmother died of breast cancer. Her sister, my great aunt Christine, has lymphoma. Christine's daughter Andrea had breast cancer. My maternal grandfather had colon cancer. His brother, my great uncle Art, died of colon cancer. My mother has ocular melanoma. My cousin Amy died of [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-40469340900158793842016-03-20T05:07:00.004-07:002016-03-20T15:50:33.864-07:00hairless in solidarityMy friend Jenn started chemotherapy 3 weeks ago, and last week her hair began falling out. Her company hosted a head-shaving party, turning what could have been a painful experience into a celebration. Together they raised over $1100 for Saint Baldrick's... which is an organization that funds research for childhood cancers.
It was a beautiful sunny day, so chairs were set up outside... clippers [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-74126741144250931252016-03-03T05:09:00.000-08:002016-06-02T11:19:27.521-07:002016 Race Schedule (thus far)I thought I'd just jot down the races that I have planned for the year... In part as a commitment to run them, and sort of as motivation to start planning to add a few more. Gotta keep up my numbers you know!
Last year was a low numbers year for me, but triathlon training took up a lot of time! I completed 1 marathon, 3 half marathons, a 6 hour relay and a two Olympic distance triathlons...
[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-68897826732199955282016-03-02T10:12:00.004-08:002016-03-02T10:12:38.071-08:00Also... raffle ticket?if you're contemplating making a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, but want more potential bang for your buck than my Leap Day lake video can provide...
maybe you'd like to consider purchasing a raffle ticket with a 1 in 2500 chance to win a new Mercedes?
tickets can be purchased online right here
just put "Megan Tataje" in the "referred by" line and that's it! you've made[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-49927249076183216402016-03-02T06:33:00.001-08:002016-03-02T06:35:27.477-08:00Several successes of the weekGood morning all...
It's been a busy week (and it's only Wednesday!)
Saturday was the first Cycle Team training session that I have made it to thus far this season... We met out in Sterling, on the W&OD trail. Pumped up our tires. Share our mission moment. And hit the trail. Starting temperature 36 degrees F, finishing temperature 42 degrees F. At least the sun was shining and it was [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-11183489074208111102016-02-26T14:11:00.004-08:002016-02-26T14:17:53.315-08:00how is it already the end of February?i'm getting the seasonal black runners toenails out of the way early this year....
following the Dahlgren Trail Half Marathon last weekend (a very low key, but exceptionally well organized little race... in case you were considering it for next year), the two toenails that have just finished growing back out from last year are now black and blistered and likely to fall off again.
i've tried [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-63582476118297412102016-02-18T10:51:00.002-08:002016-02-18T11:04:15.030-08:00LEAP!
this is a LEAP year!
Just reminding you in case you, like me, had forgotten… this is a
year in which we receive an additional day. We can do anything with that
day, from extremely ordinary things like calling your grandmother and
doing laundry to extraordinary things like composing an opera or
learning to surf. It’s a gift, this extra day.
extra ordinary laundry...
<!--[if gte mso 9]>
[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-62578132216886317682016-02-04T06:04:00.002-08:002016-02-04T06:04:55.525-08:00personal honoured teammateI'd like to introduce you to my friend Jenn... We became friends
several years ago, when she started working with my husband. We became
running buddies and have logged many long (but fun!) miles together.
Starting with training for the DC Nike Women's Half Marathon in 2013.
Jenn had no personal connection to to the mission of the Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society at the time, but was looking [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-57949963921755484302016-02-03T05:29:00.001-08:002016-02-03T05:32:34.264-08:00I want to ride my bicycle (bicycle!)What's on my mind this morning? Well, within the course of one week I
will have had friends and family go through a full spectrum of cancer
related events: diagnosis, on-going treatment, surgery to remove
cancerous cells and post-cancer reconstructive surgery...
A good friend here in Northern Virginia is waiting on biopsy results which are expected to confirm a diagnosis of lymphoma. My [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-52356753894127457492015-08-16T05:04:00.005-07:002015-08-16T06:25:30.590-07:00Highlights from Luray International TriathlonYes, it's true... I have completed my first true triathlon, with swim!!
The Luray International (Olympic distance) Triathlon was yesterday morning. I'll write a more in depth post later, but wanted to jot down a few highlights while they're fresh in my mind.
1. A few of us camped by the lake the night before the race. There are advantages and disadvantages to camping...
On the plus side, we [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-1787411389981337672015-07-17T16:21:00.001-07:002015-07-21T05:51:50.431-07:00reading the signsUgh... training for first triathlon, split my elbow open 4 weeks before race day and needed stitches... put a kink in my swim training plans. Did my first 1 mile open water swim just one week before race day. Wasn't sure that was ever going to happen!
Now, training for second triathlon (since we didn't get to do the swim portion in Philly)... Race day is in 4 weeks... and as of yesterday morning[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-11296657611006657672015-07-15T13:03:00.000-07:002015-07-15T13:15:43.304-07:00distractionso, apparently... one doesn't "chat" with the other swimmers when taking part in an open water (lake) swim.
hanging out on the beach before the swim, sure!
hanging out in the lake after the swim, why not?
but people find it distracting when you're swimming along and trying to hold a conversation at the same time.... (sorry Melody!)
what can i say? i was doing my recovery stroke (face out of [Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-35719657787880327852015-07-15T08:25:00.003-07:002015-07-15T08:25:46.924-07:00super stem cellsGood news!
As you may recall, my friend Jeff has been going through a stem cell transplant process... He was in hospital to extract stem cells from his own blood... then a series of chemotherapy to knock out his immune system... followed by a transfusion of his previously harvested stem cells, and a period of waiting for the stem cells to start working their magic.
Once Jeff's white blood[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1823948184671181681.post-50514387747129609932015-07-04T07:40:00.001-07:002015-07-04T07:40:42.050-07:00one week onso, race day was last week... and, it came as no surprise that things did not go quite as we might have hoped.
we had had so much rain that the Schuylkill River was high and fast and full of debris, so the swim portion of our Triathlon was cancelled for safety reasons.
my tri-experienced teammates referred to our event as a Dri-athlon... but that was not an entirely accurate description either.[Megan]http://www.blogger.com/profile/01123347826917368247noreply@blogger.com0