I am typing this blog while watching "Grease" on the television of my hotel room in Jacksonville FL. The Gate River Run 15K was this morning, Saturday, March 10. This 15K is our National Championships at this distance. Because of recent workouts, I knew that my teammates were all in good shape. This fact didn’t take away from the absolute pride I felt when I, Meb, Jen Rhines and Ryan Hall took the top four finishes in The Equalizer race. This is a race within a race, which gives the top women a 5 minute head start over the top men, and challenges them to catch us on the course.

Jacksonville was a sweet end to an imperfect week. Prior to leaving home for Florida, I went to my dermatologist for two skin biopsies. One of the irregular skin samples was taken next to where I had melanoma in 2003. I am anxiously waiting for the results, hoping for my phone to ring and to see “Dermatologist” pop up on the screen. The biopsies have created an underlying stress since last Tuesday. I felt this stress, this insecurity, every time I threw my backpack on and felt the straps scratch into my cut shoulder. I’ve felt the stress every time I’ve changed the band-aids. My only comfort is that I’m actually going to the dermatologist every three months to get checked. I wear 30 and 60 SPF sunscreen. I wear a hat to block the sun when I’m running. I’m doing the best I can. 

My recent races and training have been a great indication of my Boston Marathon preparations. But, now that the Jacksonville 15K is over, I can truly focus on Boston. I feel fresh and prepared. I am excited and confident. I also know this is a fragile feeling. The scales can tip any day and leave me tired and depleted.

I hope to continue to enjoy this fitness, to take care of myself and not to take any of it for granted. I am totally dependent on my husband Andrew, who keeps me healthy. I depend on my coach for inspiration, direction and race strategies. I need my training partner, Mike, to share the intense miles with. We have made a great team this year.

As "Grease" is finishing on the television, I have to wrap this up and enjoy the last song. I have no idea what the lyrics mean, but the song is about being together, and it makes me feel good. This is the same way I feel with the people that surround me every day. It's the team that I know I can count on to get me in top shape for Boston: “We go together like rama lama lama ke ding a de dinga a dong/Remembered for ever like shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yipitty boom de boom.”
Cheers!
Deena
www.deenakastor.com