Mo’ Smiles = Mo’s Miles

While my mother (Mo) was battling leukemia a group of her students came up with a wonderful way to raise money to help with the medical bills. They created shirts with a slogan that really defined what she had brought to so many over the years. Smiles. As a mother, teacher, and friend she taught many to never give up and to always laugh. So the shirts said we need “Mo’ Smiles.”

When I decided to embark on this little project (sorry, but I can’t think of a better word for it at the moment), Mo’ Smiles was my first choice for the site’s name. Unfortunately, it was taken by a dentist’s office – which I should have seen coming. So Mo’ Smiles became Mo’s Miles.

Today marks the 25th day since I started running, but also marks a more important anniversary. Acute myeloid leukemia took Mo one year ago today. She passed away the day after Thanksgiving after a courageous battle that lasted over eight months. Today is a sad day for me and my family, but one during which I can be proud. Proud of everything my mother was. And thankful that the fight to find a cure didn’t stop with her.

We all gave thanks for what we had two days ago, but give thanks again today. Thanks for your family and friends. Thanks for the people you know and the people you have known. Thanks for what tomorrow brings. Thanks for Mo.

The Mile and a Half Mile

It took me two weeks, a clicking knee, and a few sore muscles, but I finally got past the one-mile barrier. I’ve been trying not to push myself too hard until my endurance builds up – something to do with that whole lungs of a little girl thing – but it was finally there today as I made it through mile #15 and the first half of mile #16.

The weather has warmed up and will probably be tolerable for quite a while. This is Florida after all and despite it almost being Thanksgiving, we’re still reaching the 80s easily. With weather like that, I’m starting to think I started this quest at the right time. If I had started in July or August, I might have quit by now. Hopefully by then I’ll be far enough into it that, well, heat be damned.

I’m glad I was able to get further than just one mile. For me, it means my body is tolerating running more and more. My mind still hates it, with a passion, but my body is dealing with it so far. More importantly, it means more money raised for the fight against leukemia, for cancer research, and for Hospice. Not a lot more, but I’ll end that with what I always do in my mind when I change the numbers to the right…yet.

The Tenth Mile

The miles get easier with each one I run. My time has gone down dramatically. I only have minimal muscle soreness, in weird places I didn’t know existed. And I feel pretty good afterwards. I’m not in shape yet, still working on that, and I have developed a cough from running in the chill of the devastating Florida winter, but I’m getting there.

Mile #10 wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t ideal. I tried a new route which wasn’t the typical loop I run. Because of that I ended up further from home than I expected and walked slowly back out of breath and wondering why I didn’t think “run a circle!”

It was a also on a Friday afternoon. I don’t like running on Fridays. I don’t like doing much on Fridays. Anything on a Friday is an inconvenience. Luckily, it’s just a mile (for now) and is over pretty quickly and I’ve definitely learned my lesson about ending closer to home.

It’s still not much, but it’s good to see the dollar amount in double digits. It keeps rising and should start to build up pretty quickly. And I’m about THISCLOSE to pushing past a mile a day.

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If you shop at Gap, Banana Republic, or Old Navy, now’s the time to do it. From Thursday, November 11 through Sunday, November 14, not only do you get 30% off with this coupon, but 5% of your purchase goes to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. A great deal for you and those in need.

The Frozen Miles

It’s almost laughable to call them the frozen miles.  I live in Florida.  The conditions during miles #3, #4, and #5 were nowhere near as bad as the picture to the left.  It was actually probably fairly tropic in comparison.  But to me, a Canadian who has lived in the sun for the last 29+ years, it was cold.  Not too cold to sit on the couch and watch football for most of the day on Saturday and Sunday (it’s never that cold), but too cold to run.

But I did.  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Even though it was 45 degrees on Saturday morning and I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get enough air into my lungs to make it even one mile, I ran.  I may seem dramatic at times, but this has yet to be easy.  Rewarding, yes.  Easy, no.  For someone who considered himself moderately athletic (not incredibly, just moderately), I wasn’t in very good shape.

Miles #3 and #4 could probably be alternatively called the sore miles.  During mille #3 it was every muscle in the top half of my legs and during mile #4 it was the bottom half.  The pain in my knee had gone away for the most part.  It had its moments when it would flair up for no apparently reason, but it mostly kept quiet.  For a moment during mile #2, I thought it might do me in.  Now it seems to have surrendered.

The good thing is that I could definitely tell my body was acclimating itself to the fact that I don’t plan on stopping this new motivational form of exercise.  Recovery time has decreased and I only had a headache for about 15 minutes following mile #5.  I’d imagine one day I’ll even finish and feel refreshed, but not until the temperature creeps back up.  Luckily, this is Florida and any “winter” we have last three or four days at the most and then we’re back in the 80s.

Five days down and five miles done.  A milestone of sorts.  $5 seems like nothing, but it will only build and one day soon I’m sure I’ll make it further than one mile.

The Wet Mile

It was only mile #2, but I think I enjoy running in the rain. If anything, it masks a good amount of sweat. And I’m a sweater. During mile #1 a gnat died on my forehead. Not because of the sheer speed at which I was running (yes, that’s a joke), but because it drowned. The rain was a nice, welcome change.

There will be an environmental shift for mile #3 too. It’s about 20 degrees cooler than it was yesterday. I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or not. For the sweating, it seems like a plus. For the labored breathing, I’m not looking forward to it. I remember growing up playing soccer in this weather. It takes its toll on the lungs.

Mile #2 wasn’t as bad as a thought it would be. It was still a struggle and I was more than exhausted when I crossed the imaginary finish line, but the exhaustion didn’t last as long. Not long after, my body regained equilibrium and my face returned to its normal, non-fire-engine-red color. I’m not saying I’m suddenly good to go after only two days, but there was noticeable improvement.

What is interesting is the sensation I’ve begun to feel in my right knee. Sensation is a nice way of saying pain. I’ve had problems with my knees in the past so the feeling was nothing new, but it came back about halfway through mile #2. Good to know it’s still there and kicking. My hope is that it’s just adjusting to the fact that I’m not immediately retiring to the couch after work anymore.

The first two days weren’t easy, but I got through them in one piece (even if my thighs are screaming at me). Between breaths, I think about Mo when I run. $2 isn’t much, but it’s a start and I’m sure she’s somewhere smiling.

The Worst Mile

I went into first mile thinking it would be the worst mile, but HOLY ____ (there are many words that could go there, most of them of the four-letter variety, I said them all, but the one that started with F was most frequently used)!!!

It was far from easy, and here’s why.  I’m not in shape.  Not remotely.  I have the lung capacity of a little girl and that’s not being disrespectful to little girls.  I was actually told that once by a nurse at a career fair.  Apparently it’s true.  It was only a mile, but I was gasping for air pretty consistently.

I’ll held up despite the fact that I was an interestingly bright shade of red at the end of the run.  Nothing a sports drink couldn’t cure.  It took some time before my body regained equilibrium.  More time than I would have liked, but I made it through and was, and still am, alive despite the first mile’s best efforts to end me.

The most interesting sensation came a few hours after the run.  Soreness set into most muscles and I experienced a new kind of headache, one that literally hurt my eyes.  My eyes have never hurt before, but it’s now clear that they dislike running as much as the rest of my body does.

I know you’re probably thinking I’m one of the weaker individuals on the planet.  That might be true, but I’m hoping it’s temporary.  The first mile has to be the worst mile.  There’s no explanation other than the fact that I don’t regularly exercise and running is torture to me.  It’s not fun and I don’t expect it to be.  But…

…I’m not doing this for me.  I’m doing it for Mo and for all the others that have battled or will battle leukemia.  I may not have fun doing it, but I enjoy it…even if I can’t feel the upper half of my legs.  The first mile was hard.  The next mile will be too.  They’ll all be a tough.  Not nearly as tough as fighting cancer.

Motivation

The gentleman pictured on the left isn’t my motivation, but I will give him credit for providing the spark.

Walter Byerly is 80 years old and since 1974 he has run at least one mile a day every day.  This Friday will mark the 36th anniversary of his first run.  The day it all started.  He estimates that he has run around 39,000 miles in that time.

When listening to his story on the radio I thought to myself, as I’m sure many others did, “I could do that.”  I immediately asked the overly confident questions of myself that were expected.  “Only a mile?”  “How hard could that be?”  “I’m in reasonably good shape, aren’t I?”

Byerly’s motivation was his health.  He had begun to feel sluggish and had put on a few extra pounds.  I can relate.  But I continued to let my ego get the best of me.  If Byerly was 44 years old when he started running, it should be easier for me because I’m only 31.  Here’s a quick peek into future posts: it’s not easy.  I’m not in as “reasonably good shape” as I thought I was.  At least when it comes to running.  So there’s motivation number one.  The one Byerly and I have in common: health.

But, for me, there has to be more.  I’ve attempted running before.  I’ve tried to consistently exercise.  I push myself for two or three weeks and then come up with any excuse I can for missing a day…and then a week…and then a month.  Partially because it’s not enjoyable to me.  At all.  I definitely need more motivation.  And that’s where Mo of Mo’s Miles comes in.

I’m not Mo.  My name is Joel.  Mo is my mother.  Mo is my best friend.  Mo is my teacher, my hero, my role model, my inspiration.  Mo is my motivation.

If you ever had the opportunity to meet my mother, you knew you had met someone that was more than special.  She would hug you when you needed it and yell at you when you needed it more.  My mom spent her life making sure everyone else got better.  It didn’t matter what she was helping you get better at; she just wanted to help you get better.  If you had a goal, she was there to push you toward it.  Her life wasn’t a selfish one; it was one that was spent motivating others.

On March 19, 2009, her life changed dramatically.  She was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.  Although she put up a courageous fight, she lost the battle on November 27, 2009.  The day after Thanksgiving, Mo passed away.

During her time being treated for the disease, we met a number of wonderful people who work for amazing organizations.  People that make you want to do everything you can to help.  And I want to help.  Not just once.  Not just a few times.  Consistently.  That’s my motivation.  To help others affected by this terrible disease.

For every mile I run, I’ll donate $1 to those organizations (a few of them are in the Links section to the right) that did so much for my mom during her battle so they can continue to do the same for others.

The goal is one mile a day.  I have no idea if I can do it every day, but 365 miles a year one way or another.  And I have to be honest; I’ll actually be pretty disappointed with myself if it’s only 365.  Those organizations deserve more than that and so does Mo.  These are her miles and I’ll do my best to never stop running.