13, A Lucky Number

"Numerology is any of many systems, traditions or beliefs in a mystical or esoteric relationship between numbers and physical objects or living things... Today, numerology is often associated with the occult, alongside astrology and similar divinatory arts. The term can also be used for those who, in the view of some observers, place excess faith in numerical patterns, even if those people don't practice traditional numerology." (1)

Numbers have an important meaning since we are born. They are important for Chinese, in alchemy, science, in the Bible, and, I bet each of you have a favorite number, or a bad number.

In most of our weekly reports, we, runners, post our numbers. At the end of the year, we, runners, sum them all, and post the grand total: numbers of miles we ran, number of races we participated, number of hours and/or minutes that took us to complete a race, number of calories we burned, number of colds we got throughout our training, numbers of days we couldn't run, etc...etc...etc...

Number 13 has been a very famous number. Though related to bad luck in many countries, it is also seen as a lucky number. We've been across the States in buildings that skip that floor; Friday the 13th is a superstition about a day of good or bad luck depending on where in the planet we are; Tuesday the 13th (Spain, Greece and Latin America) is a day of bad augury. I am not a superstitious woman, and three members of my direct family were born on a 13th, so there was no way that I could look at that number as a bad thing.

Yesterday I went to pick up my final cancer results, the oncotype dx test. A test that study 21 genes within the cancer tumor determining the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence in 10 years and predicting the magnitude of chemotherapy benefit. When the doctor came into the room, the only thing I asked was: "What was the number?" She said "I think I have good news." I said: "Please, just tell me the number". She replied: "13" and I cried of happiness.

13% means the likelihood of breast cancer recurrence in 10 years. 13% indicates that there is a low risk that my breast cancer will return. Any number below 18% is categorized as low risk. 13% also means that the benefits of chemotherapy is almost zero, so chemo is NO NEEDED. 13% means that after five years of hormonal therapy (tamoxifen) my likelihood of breast cancer recurrence will be reduced to 8%.

My favorite number will always be Seventeen 17. My brain will always register number 7 as THE lucky number as my dad always had faith in the 7th inning to get the Detroit Tigers ahead of the other team. But the number 13 now has a new meaning to me: 13, A Lucky Number, the number that removed chemotherapy fears and a burden off my shoulders.

To celebrate such a wonderful news, other than a glass of Chianti, I got out this morning to run. But I needed to run big. I didn't have a plan on how many miles to run, when I thought: 13%? Then the light bulb went on: I had my Half Marathon Celebration. What better way to celebrate a 13, than with a 13.1?

My total miles of the week were 22.9 miles. I feel so alive and thankful for my life, that running the half distance on the treadmill (35F and cloudy outside) was not boring at all; it was wonderful and I was full of joy.

I have a question for you: What's your number?

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(1) Wikipedia

Ten Miles of Insanity

Ten miles is a nice distance. I like it... but I like it outside. Seattle's weather didn't improve last week, so under 38F/3.3C I drove to the gym to work on the treadmill.

I used the strategy I had for my kids when they were teenagers and visited me at the office. Their behavior was, of course, way different than when they were little kids. They rolled the chairs around, and made fun of somebody else, danced behind a column so nobody could see them but me, etc... I always laughed.... besides telling them to be quiet, I always told them to look at a fixed point in the wall and don't move.... Of course it didn't work but gave them more fuel to make fun of me... After looking at the dot for a minute without even breathing, they always cracked me up.

That was my strategy last Saturday, to look at a fixed point in the wall. That was insane. The dot didn't make me laugh as my kids did... From time to time I looked through the window but the view didn't give me too much excitement.

The TV in front of me had the Slam Dunk Championship, and I couldn't understand how people get entertained with that, and worst than that, how people pay to see that. When the championship ended, more basket continued.














Notwithstanding being resigned with my three options (the dot, the window, and the slam dunk), the work out was good. I had a steady easy pace and completed Ten Miles of Insanity.

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PS: The intervals of the week were 3 x 1 mile at 8:34. Recovery of 3min. The first interval was completed. The second was reduced to 0.65 miles because I was about to die. The third was 0.75 miles. I think they were good, even though didn't follow the fine print of the plan.

Fastness, Cheating And The Weather Is Not Helping

FASTNESS: Let's talk about fast and not precisely the Lent one. I almost collapsed when I saw the Intervals plan for the week: Six of half a mile at 8:34, and 90" recovery. Ok, there I go. One, is ok, Two is semi-ok, Three, I believe I am going to die. Four, I will die. Five, Now I know am dying. Six, am I alive? I did it and I didn't die.

Two days later, the tempo, which I am starting to dislike, was done at my LT pace of 10:00 for 4 miles after 1 mile of average training pace.

CHEATING: There was some life support during these events. For sure. During the intervals and the tempo my arms had to be placed on the dashboard. Couldn't go with the flow of the body. The recovery had to be 120 for the intervals instead of 90, and for tempo I needed to add one minute of recovery after miles 2 & 3. Well, I assume that doing this "cheating" is way better than quitting, thought that I contemplated throughout the whole thing on both days.

WEATHER: It is not helping. I want to run outside. The spring is here. The flowers are blooming, the lawn tells me to get the mower out... but, no, oh no, .... on Friday 03/28 and Saturday 03/29 the snow was falling during the whole day, even though didn't stick, I prefer to be outside in the 50s as minimum. There it went my hope of running outside.... here a pic of my route around Lake Serene at the end of March.

One Does As One Wishes With The Body

Arrived in Washington DC on Monday @ 3pm and got ready for a 12 intervals session of a quarter of mile @ 8:34 min/mile each, with recovery of 90".

After a couple of miles of easy running I started the work. At Interval #6 my body was saying HALT!!! but I kept going. I7 & I8 were ok but I was getting desperate at I9. When I finished I9, I knew I was going to make it. Only 3 more. Total success.

Frederick The Great, King of Prussia whispered in my ears throughout the work out: "One does as one wishes with the body - when the soul says quick march it obeys."

Then a complicated week full of meetings, plus a couple of nice dinners (Macadamia Crusted Mahi-Mahi in mango coolie sauce @ Chart House, Alexandria, VA) pushed Tempo for another day, like today, when I am supposed to do my long run. Oh well, Sunday will be Easter, no long run this week was decided.

Back in Seattle on Saturday I got ready for a tempo session @ Boeing gym. Full of energy and enthusiasm my tempo was a disaster. I ran 2 miles easy and when switched to Tempo (9:40) my legs became so heavy that only could run 1/2 mile. Frederick The Great words didn't resonate this time. I couldn't understand what happened, especially after the intervals success of the week, but decided not to even bother on finding a reason. I quit and went home.

After arriving from the so-called tempo, I took my gloves, ear band, breath thermo jacket and went running around Lake Serene in front of our home (1.6 miles). The day was a little bit cold (42F/6C) but absolutely sunny. My legs were still heavy, but at least I added more mileage to the already short week.

Have y'all a Happy Easter!!!!

PS: The Mahi-Mahi was delicious. I amply recommend it.