Holidays on the Trail

Happy Thanksgiving

The life experiences of two trekkers and soldiers include holidays observed around the world -- most times together (absent deployments), sometimes solemn, often humorous, always grateful. 

This year we are recalling birthdays celebrated in the Andes and the Himalayas; two funny/ironic Independence Days in the United Kingdom; an anniversary (our second) on a field exercise in Germany that was supported by a couple of crusty but compassionate commanders who enabled shared pizza on the hood of a quarter-ton jeep (the vehicle preceding the now ubiquitous Humvee -- says how old we are . . .), a Y2K New Year's Eve in Korea (Remember the concern of what would happen at the stroke of midnight as we entered the 2000s?), and Thanksgivings (the many fabulous Thanksgivings shared with our Army Family for more than half of our adult/married lives) in Germany, Korea, Guantanamo Bay, Alaska and around the contiguous U.S.A..  Through it all we have been blessed with a life that is good, experiences that fill and inspire us, and an abundance of love and support from our communities, friends and families.  For all of that we are grateful.

In a text exchange with a pal this morning, I noted how this year the thanks and gratitude of the day seem particularly poignant and strong for me.  There is no doubt that an especially challenging trek heightens appreciation -- for life, for opportunities and challenges and for the ability to do.  This unexpected journey has raised my awareness of all that is good and positive and plentiful to new heights.

And as I give thanks this year, I want to single out my hero.  The greatest blessing in my life is my partner, Cliff.  Through four decades he has challenged, inspired, championed and loved me without condition.  On this journey, he is ever present: By me in medical appointments and treatments, with me through the post-treatment wonky side effects, and the blessedly calm and strong recovery weeks.  He is humorous and kind when the craziness threatens to skid out of control.  He becomes the "warm-up chef" when I can't face the kitchen and has assumed the mantle of vacuum king without complaint (hustling to clear our floors of the dog hair, dirty paw prints and dust that characterize the high-desert life in New Mexico).  He's a powerhouse; and I only hope I am thanking him enough. 

On this Thanksgiving I want to say publicly, thank you, darling Cliff, for dancing with me  -- Every. Single. Day.  Thank you for the flowers.  Thank you for your practice of patience and presence on this unexpected journey.  We have many songs still to dance to and many trails still to travel.  And we'll do it together.  Because on my list of reasons I'm living -- right at the top -- is because TeamBoltz takes two.

Progress Report:  Week Two, Cycle Five. 

• This cycle has been an adventure.  I'm doing great and feeling positive about our medical way ahead.  Weather has forced some of my walking inside (yep, mall walking -- no shame, just getting it done).  

• Today I'll Peloton cycle my miles toward base camp.  Marty, I'm almost there. 

• My hair situation can best be described as a Chia Pet having a David Bowie bad hair day.  Loving my hats and scarves! 

• Appetite is sketchy -- shrimp are my current fave food.  Still eating through it all.  Still able to gain back my pre-treatment weight every cycle.

• I'm reading up a storm (fifteen books since my diagnosis).  Currently I'm reading my way along the Via Francigena with Timothy Egan, A Pilgrimage to Eternity.  Don't buy it, Marianne, it's headed your way! 

Quote of the Day:

If you only say one prayer in a day, make it thank you.

                                                          ~Rumi 

An exhausted Munro (after plowing through a snowy field on a White Thanksgiving in Santa Fe)

VIA FRANCIGENA, 2020!

And the Joy of a Goal Achieved

Ah, the joy of reaching a summit, crossing a tough pass, completing an ultra-long trek -- a goal achieved.  It is the satisfying award of much hard work, gritty determination and often, a good dose of inspiration we carry in our hearts.  For many years, I ran long-distance races in honor of the daughter (gone too soon) of one of my USMA classmates.  It was inspiring to run for Jill.  Her challenges dwarfed my effort, and kept pain, doubt and exhaustion at bay.  If she could face every day with a smile -- and she could -- I could dig deep to honor her spirit.  Inspiration is a major part of this unexpected journey too.  So this morning, I was thrilled to get a text from our trekking pal (and dear, dear friend) Marty who is at Everest Base Camp!!

Marty at Base Camp (17,600') with Everest in the background

Marty has been an inspiration for my Rule of 21s.  And last treatment cycle while Marty was on his high-altitude approach, I logged 21.5 miles of walking in his honor.  This cycle, of course, I have to keep walking to (virtually) meet Marty there -- and by the time I arrive, he'll be home in California.  But his inspiration carries on.  Congratulations, Marty.  You are fierce!!!

Chemo Week One, Cycle Five, is underway.  I am feeling strong and positive.  Marty's text communication super-powered my morning; and this blog honors his achievement.  Hooah, Marty!

Progress: I'm nearly halfway through my (12) prescribed chemo/targeted treatments.  Dr. Rixe is pleased with my progress and on Monday even told us as part of the Mediterranean diet, I can have a "glass of good red wine" every day.  While it is less appealing right now (I'm in that nothing really sounds appetizing period of Week One), we did toast (from NM to FL (my sis)) on Monday evening.  Little things like this, which make life feel more "normal," are a nice boost. Last night we danced to Celebration, by Kool and the Gang (Come on . . . ♫. . .)

Quote of the Day:

Believe in yourself.  You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you can imagine.

                                                                                    Roy T. Bennett

VIA FRANCIGENA, 2020!

Moon Walking

This blog is about the exercise of remaining present:  How staying in the moment can take some doing and how creating highlight experiences can help.

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On what we would characterize as a "normal" TeamBoltz trek, we've always had the luxury (and fun) of extensive planning.  We've enjoyed our training (all the while working toward a ready-to-trek confirmation goal).  We've enjoyed pre-trek cultural immersions of reading and research that enliven our journeys.  Landing on the trail mid-stride on our unexpected journey means we hopped past those actions.  What we haven't, and don't have to, skip are the multitude of incredible opportunities and rich experiences that every journey guarantees, when we are aware and noticing.  One of our missions, therefore, is to step into the opportunities and revel in the experiences available on our unexpected journey by leveraging the power of presence.

For sure, the absolute unknown (assumed to occur at some point in the future) of the unexpected journey taunts the imagination with distracting, vacuous daymares -- hungry to be filled anxiety and fear.  We see the shadows.  We recognize the seductive pull.  We even have days when we walk the rim of the void.  Resisting that oh-so-scary place is not as simple as, "Don't think about it," (a surprisingly recurring encouragement). 

We have a little magic, though, that keeps us on our path when we are plagued by sinister musings that beg us to stray from our path of strength and determination.  To remain (and at times to return) to the present moment, where we can relish in the highlights of the unexpected journey, we sometimes have to create a highlight opportunity to kick-start awareness.  Being aware and noticing the beauty and goodness of life is is our soul-quenching reminder that we cannot truly live in any other moment but this moment (so why go there?).

Every trek has its highlights -- those in-the-moment experiences that are so demanding, engaging, and joyous, that they leave no space for pain or doubt or regret.  They are unique in their power to fill the spirit and steel the muscles, neither teasing a future outcome, nor begging a step into the past.  These highlights inform a way of being that is energizing, strong and positive.  I think we all have these highlight experiences.  I also believe our visceral knowledge of them (more feeling than recollection) can empower our awareness and keep us solidly present to live them fully.   These highlights are, for me, prized imprints that release a flood of endorphins, refresh my knowing and prompt my battle cry: "I'm here!  I can do this!"

A few such TeamBoltz trekking highlights come to mind:

• The four-limbed scramble up the Barranco Wall en route to our Kilimanjaro summit (exhilarating!).
• Meeting a kid (goat) on our descent from the Gosiankund in Nepal (so innocent and fearless it was).
• Our first view of the ruins of Choquequirao in Peru (in 2008, still mostly undiscovered by trekkers).
• Reaching Robin Hood's Bay at the end of Wainwright's Coast-to-Coast (Oh the celebration . . . and our immediate thought, "Let's not stop walking.").
• And one of my personal favorites -- bungee jumping off the Karawau Bridge in New Zealand (one incredible swan dive into full presence).

Most, but not all, highlight experiences are spontaneous (bungee jumping -- not spontaneous 😉).  And I daresay, when we are preoccupied (less than present), we risk missing some highlights entirely.  Sometimes (these days in particular for me) it takes creating a highlight opportunity to reset my journey azimuth.  Once reset, I can see highlights all around me -- twinkling like a sky full of stars -- that true my path.

So wonderfully, on Tuesday evening of this Week Two, (the night of the full moon) Cliff and I created an incredible highlight experience when we chose to log our routine three-and-a-half mile walk (along the dirt road that rings a significant portion of our equestrian neighborhood where street lights are nonexistent and dark sky lighting rules prevail) along a path illuminated only by the moonlight.  Along the way, in the moment, we were rewarded by the sound of wing beats that drew our gaze to the silhouettes of two owls passing just over our heads.  We marveled at the changing night shadows playing off the ridge lines, pinon and juniper as the moon cleared the horizon and headed high into the sky.  Hushed by the quiet of the night, we were fully alive, charmed and charged by the magic of the moment.  The present powered us forward, far from the void of the known.  Had our minds been crammed with fearsome worry, the preoccupation no doubt would have delivered a very different (mindless) experience.  This conditional shift (from daylight to moonlight for our walk) created a highlight that anchored us in the present.  What we could know fully (and choose to embrace) in the moment was the mindful moon walk -- a highlight experience ON our path, which we chose not to miss.

Santa Fe Full Moon -- Perfect for Moon Walking

Listen, it simply would not be truthful for me to suggest that the unknown (rimmed with fear and anxiety) does not loom larger for us on some days than others.  In truth, that can be every minute of every day for any of us, whatever the journey.  And we (each of us) can choose to acknowledge the unknown, without diverting to its shadowy fork -- lined with rows of gremlin worry and goblin foreboding.  Creating highlight opportunities can super boost awareness, which then powers us along so that we don't miss the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and touches of today.  Noticing, creating, rejoicing in our very present experiences, fortifies our ability to stay true to our path (and ourselves).  The future will no longer be the future when we arrive. And worrying about the future at the expense of today is a waste of the moment  -- the only moment -- in which we are truly alive. 

Progress Report: Week Two of Cycle Four is coming to a close.  It has been an active and enjoyable week filled with friends, reading, cooking, exploring, dancing, and walks (I'll exceed my 21-mile cycle goal and I've met my 21 minute daily exercise goal -- Every. Single. Day.).  I'm heading into Treatment Cycle Five strong and positive.  Tomorrow, we meet with our super-hero oncologist.  Round five chemo begins Tuesday.

Quote of the Day:

Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, it is the only time we have.

                                                                                              ~Art Buchwald
Bonus Quote:

Because I'm not giving up!  I'm here and I'm stayin'!

                                                                                             ~Kermit the Frog 

VIA FRANCIGENA, 2020!

Base Camp Trekking and the Rule of 21s

It's Day Five, Week One, Cycle Four and I'm blogging!  And I'm giving my increased understanding of cycle rhythm, continued attention to build/peak phases, the inspiration of Kikkan Randall, Marty's Everest Base Camp Trek, and my new Rule of 21s tons of credit for this breakthrough.

Marty's what?  

So, one of our dear friends and trekking pals (Marty) is in Nepal as I type, trekking to Everest Base Camp (South) over the next two weeks -- and I'm going with him, at least in spirit.  While Marty's base camp adventure will take him to 17,600 feet, my base camp is pretty much established right here in Santa Fe and defined by a refrigerator and freezer adorned with large bows to remind me NOT to touch/consume anything cold, a note snuggled next to my place at the table that warns, "SMALL BITES" (large bites blow out my chemo'ed taste buds with excruciating pain), and a wide variety of different flavored teas, proteins drinks, bone broths and snacks that encourage me to eat, eat, eat.  And from my southwestern perspective, I constantly am considering what I can do to maintain and increase my strength and determination through treatment cycles (at least eight more). Well, Marty has 65 high-altitude kilometers (40.3 miles) of trekking to reach base camp.  And I'm walking those 40+ miles over this and my next treatment cycle, during which he'll be gone.  And yep, I'll still owe him the 40+ miles back to his start point over my next two treatments.  No problem -- walking "with" Marty (and certainly, he is walking with me too) holds me accountable to my new Rule of 21s.

The Rule of 21s

Since reading Kikkan Randall's inspirational cancer-fighting story, I've been thinking about what it will take to keep me active every day of each treatment cycle (Kikkan committed to 10 minutes of movement everyday) . Starting with the current research on exercise and cancer patients, I found multiple studies on the National Institute of Health website, documenting how exercise reduces treatment-related fatigue and nausea, reduces weight loss (builds muscle, stimulates appetite), increases patient safety through improved balance and functional fitness. and supports cardiac fitness.

So with this feedback and encouragement from Dr. Rixe  "Do what you can -- and if you can do that, do more! " --  I've decided to amp up my treatment fitness routine.  Previously I focused on an every cycle achievement of two, one-hour Peloton sessions and one, four-mile walk. Now, using the recommendation of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (as reported by the Harvard Medical School) and the American College of Sports Medicine that cancer patients get 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week (and mindful of my own pre-diagnosis fitness level) I am exercising (walking this week) for at least 21 minutes each day (yep, even on Day Four) and turning in at least 21 walking miles each treatment cycle -- and on top of my yoga, (and dancing, of course), I'm adding strength training days (3/7, set/reps). 

Why 21?  Because 150 minutes/7 days = ~21 minutes a day.  Because our circuit walk is 3.5 miles and if I do that most days of Week Two, I'll log 21 miles, easy.  Because I like 21 as an accountability tab (heck, it's even our house number).  I can check-off my 21s -- and after starting to rack them up, I'll be motivated to keep those 21s coming.  And perhaps most importantly -- those 21s will get me to base camp with Marty!

Progress report: Day Five and I've not missed a day of activity.  While I continue to lose some weight each cycle -- and Cycle Four is no different -- I have been able to regain my weight lost during each cycle before the next treatment.   And as always, I continue to look forward to what I can do to stay strong, active and connected.  I'm in this to win it.  Pain is temporary -- quitting is forever (Lance Armstrong quote written on my tri-bike aero bars).

Super Cool Note:  Yesterday my darling sister of the perennially long and lustrous hair sent me a photo of her with an adorable ultra-short haircut in sister solidarity.  And she donated a 13" ponytail to Locks of Love.  How cool is that?

Quote of the Day:

Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must -- but never give up.

                ~ Dean Karnazes (ultra-marathoner and master of mental and physical endurance)

VIA FRANCIGENA, 2020

Walking the Plateau

Day Two, Week One, Cycle Four

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The following is a short flashback blog from Week Two, Cycle Three:

One of my favorite pleasures of trekking's big climbs is walking the high plateaus.  It's that fabulous reward when the heart-pumping climb evens off to the lofty, level path where the walking becomes fluid, the view extends beyond the next foot placement to the glorious surrounds and the trail ahead is a long forgiving stretch that says, "Job well done, now let's even the breathing and swing loose the legs before the next climb."  I never think of a plateau as a "stuck point" to rush through.  Trekking has taught me to never to take plateaus for granted.  They are present throughout our lives -- on any journey.  And I find that rushing to the next climb without experiencing fully the plateau cheats reflection, awareness, growth and presence itself.  Savoring each climb as well as the culminating rewards and opportunities of the plateau is a gift. Since we can be nowhere else but right where we are, why speed- or sleepwalk the moment?  Better to breathe deeply, be aware, smile -- and notice (just notice) what comes.

Plateau Walking in Tibet

Plateau Walking in Wales (Offa's Dyke)

Week Two of treatment Cycle Three was for me an incredible plateau that urged an even rhythmic gait.  Relaxing into the terrain of the moment revealed an amazing landscape that supported connections with friends (telephonic and visits), a long Santa Fe downtown walk for more re-connecting with pals (and a little shopping), organizing our new pantry and laundry rooms, prepping our downtown space and greeting new Airbnb guests (two sets), getting in my Peloton sessions and 14+ walking miles.

It was a fabulous Week Two.  My busiest Week Two so far.  And in welcoming the gifts of the plateau, I became aware of and was inspired by Olympic Gold Medalist (and Anchorage Alaska hometown girl) Kikkan Randall's approach to managing breast cancer.  Her fight plan gave life to my new fight plan, which I'll blog about later this week (just the idea of blogging in Week One instead of getting quiet hints at a plateau-inspired change).  I'm calling it my Rule of 21s.  Stay tuned!  And by the way, this weekend Kikkan Randall met and exceeded her personal goal in her post-cancer battle running of the NYC marathon; where she turned in a time of 2:55:12 (her goal was to best a 3:00:00 finish).  You can read about Kikkan's approach to her cancer fight via the link, below.  It's awesome.

A plateau read: Kikkan Randall beats breast cancer

Progress Report: Neulasta worked and my white blood cells rebounded!  I arrived for the start of Cycle Four yesterday feeling great.  And to top off great, my USMA roommate and 40+year pal, Deb (Chip) and her amazing hubby, Mark, made a second visit in as many months and supported me through my chemo suite appointment.  I am grateful.

Quote of the Day:

A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.

                                                               ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Chip and Dale head to Chemo Four

VIA FRANCIGENA, 2020!