A moment 22 months in the making...

Years ago (seven, I think?) when I was visiting my older sister Susan in the hospital as she underwent chemotherapy and radiation, I vividly remember a conversation between us and my mother about her potentially losing her hair. Naturally, Susan was freaking out and was borderline hysterics at the thought of being bald. And my mom, in her good humored nature suggested that because our hair is exactly the same, I could just shave it all off and make a wig for her. I joked that rather than give her the hair on my head, I'd gladly donate the hair on my legs (which grows ridonkulously fast, for the record...GMR folks you know what I'm talkin' about).

Lucky for all of us, she didn't lose her hair like many women do who undergo those painful cancer treatments. But the truth is, I would've gladly given her my hair.

Okay...so I wouldn't actually shave it all off as my mum so eloquently suggested...but I definitely would have hacked a good chunk of it for her. Sisterly love, right? I mean...I may have been a spoiled brat when I was younger, but I was definitely good for something...be it leg hair or head hair.

I didn't really think about that moment too much the following years. Mostly because I hated thinking about those months Susan spent in the hospital since it made me really angry.

It wasn't until I became involved with Team In Training that I revisited the thoughts of those chats while sitting with her in her hospital room.

The very first TNT training run I attended our mission moment was delivered by a woman, who was close to Susan's age, who was battling leukemia. She wore a pale purple bandana to hide her delicate white scalp. That's when it hit me...that woman could've been my sister (sure the cancer was different, but cancer is cancer is cancer...and no matter how you slice it, cancer really effing sucks). So in many ways, she was my sister.

On the drive home from my gruesome first run ever (a whole 3 miles, in cotton socks no less...which for me, a non-runner on that day, was a very huge deal) I decided that I was going to grow my hair out. For my sister. For cancer patients everywhere. For everyone who has ever had the possibility of losing their hair.

So here I am. 22 months or so later. I'll let the photos speak for themselves...

So yeah...there you have it. No more ridiculously long hair that I just throw up on top of my head. My head feels soooo much lights, I think the extra weight off may knock a few minutes off my pace (I can dream, right?). The look? It's inspired by Maggie Gyllenhaal's super cute bob (I sooo have a girl crush on her, but that's the subject matter of a different post).

I promise the full GMR report tomorrow. Or maybe Wednesday since we've got 8 miles with 10x100 with Leah and Jason in the evening. It's about halfway done...and I'm still catching up on my sleep. And let's be honest...work is totally getting in the way of my blogging. But such is life.

Catch you kittens later! Happy running...