Allipalooza-Southwest Has Begun!!

As I write this I am sitting on a plane flying across the country. Allipalooza-Southwest has officially begun.  I begin my trip by spending 5 days in Las Vegas for the 5th Annual OMG 2012! Cancer Summit. 

On Monday I am renting a campervan and driving around the Southwest including Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase / Escalante National Monument, Grand Canyon National Park and Sedona. 

I am very excited. I've been planning this leg of Allipalooza for months.  Not only do I get to spend the weekend with 500+ young adult cancer survivors, caregivers, and advocate, but I get to spend 10 days exploring the desert. 

A few minutes ago we flew over the Grand Canyon.  Such a beautiful sight from the sky. Hard to believe I will be there in person in just a week.  I am truly lucky to have this opportunity to make a dream come true and travel the country. 

I will try and update this blog and post pictures on twitter throughout my travels.  www.twitter.com/THEallipalooza.  (You do not need a twitter account to view my updates and pictures on twitter) 

The pilot has just called for us to turn off all electrical devices so I must go.  I will post this as soon as I can get connected. 

Goodbye for now, 

Alli 

Shamrock 5K

Things have been quiet on the Allipalooza blog, but I can assure that life has been anything but.    I came home from Colorado on March 8^th and three days later completed my next Allipalooza activity – a 5k as my Team FD challenge.

I was very worried about the 5K.   I was only 8 weeks out of knee surgery and still in need of another surgery on my other knee.   I had been walking in Colorado and I figured that if I can train at high elevation walking at sea level would be easier, but I was still nervous.

Wearing my Team FD gear and my hat from camp.

The day after I got home I picked up my race packet and I was super psyched.   I have been planning on walking a 5K since I got home from camp and it was finally happening.

At the finish line with Aimee

My friend Aimee wore my race jersey and walked with me. She was a great companion and I could not have done this without her support. I dedicated the 5K to my fellow FD camper Sage who passed away in November, my father and in celebration of where my experience at First Descents has brought me. 

Below is an update I wrote for my fundraising page after the walk.

UPDATE:  On March 11, 2012 I finally completed my 5K with a great time of just over 1 hour.  It was a better time that I could have dreamed of.   I find it no coincidence that it comes exactly 8 months from my first day on the water at First Descents.   That day was life changing for me, just like today.   In Montana I had to overcome my fears, today I overcame my body.   A lot has happened since that first day at camp.  I have reclaimed my life, but it has been a roller coaster.   For every milestone of achievement there has been a challenge, but that is what life is all about.  
I was not sure I was going to be able to complete my 5K, but that is not what Team FD is for, it is about taking a risk and challenging yourself.  If you would like to support First Descents and the wonderful work they do, please make a donation at http://teamfd.firstdescents.org/2011/fd/Lolli/Alli/ and help another young adult have a great experience at camp.  

Having fun with shadows on the way to the start

We had to walk about a mile just to the starting point so by the time we completed the walk and got back to the car, I walked over 4.5 miles.   Pretty good for someone who was afraid I could not complete the 5k. It did not matter that I was at the tail end of the walkers, it only mattered that I tried. 

 

We were almost lapped by the parade and had to sprint to the finish line, but that added to the excitement of the day.   My final time was 61:42. Average mile time: 19:52. I beat my previous time without even trying.

Needless to say my knees were not particularly happy with me that night nor the next day, but I was still flying high on my achievement.   I had my follow-up appointment with my Orthopedic Surgeon the next day and he determined I need to have surgery on my left knee.   I have that scheduled for April 19^th, right after I get back from Allipalooza – Southwest .

All smiles at the end of the walk

More to come in the next update on the plans for Allipalooza Southwest.   Thanks for all your support. 

Another glorious week of Allipalooza

This has been a crazy week.   Saturday afternoon two great friends came up to the mountains to visit.   We had a wonderful day/evening chatting and catching up.   While one of my friends went skiing, I talked to the other one about the experience of writing her books.   I am seriously thinking about writing a book about Allipalooza and it was good to hear someone’s experience with writing.

On Sunday, I went back to my new favorite coffee shop, drank fresh brewed Chai and spent an hour or so writing.   It was glorious.   After spending the rest of the morning and early afternoon working on my fundraising letters, I had more visitors.   Ironically, it was friends that were moving from Maryland to Seattle and had stayed at my house in MD the prior weekend.  While I had the privilege to fly across the country, it was nice to hear their adventures from driving.   Later that night I went to a local pub to finish my “mini-tour” of beer tastings and receive a St. Patrick’s  day t-shirt.  

Not all my writing inspiration was from Chai

As expected I enjoyed my beers, but what I didn’t expect is to sit next to an incredible woman from Iowa.   After talking for a while we learned that we had a lot of things in common.  It was almost eerie.   Both of us are on the cusp of taking a big risk and embarking on an adventure that will likely change our lives.  Hopefully, our paths will cross again during another stage of Allipalooza.

On Monday I headed into Denver and had lunch with the founder of First Descents and later that day made dinner for a bunch of First Descents Alumni.   It was so nice to share experiences at FD and my thoughts about Allipalooza with these wonderful people and get their take on it.     I am also planning for a 5k on March 11^th as a Team FD challenge (more on that later) and I am very nervous about being able to complete it.   I voiced my concerns and received so much encouragement from these people that I had no doubt I will be able to not only complete the walk, but do it with confidence.

Awesome Chair in one of the Clubs

Tuesday morning I had to get up really early and head to the airport.  I went to Las Vegas for a planning meeting for the event I am working on for the end of March.    I was actually a little peeved that I had to interrupt my vacation to go to this meeting, but it was a great day.   I hung out with awesome young adult cancer advocates putting the last minute touches on what will be an incredible event for 500+ young adult cancer survivors, caregivers and advocates.  I even won a hundred dollars from the slots.

Wednesday, I flew back to Colorado and drove back to the mountains.  I felt like I was coming home.   This place speaks to me in a way I never thought possible since my time in California.  I feel so alive and love life so much.   Someone asked me how much I’m loving life and I responded “more than my nearly 40 years times a trillion”.   I feel like singing from the mountain tops.   Don’t worry, I will not pull a Julie Andrews and sing “The Hills are Alive”, at least not anytime soon.    

Thursday was a productive day of work and writing.   I spent most of the day at the coffee shop soaking in the atmosphere and being inspired.   As is my habit has been the last two weeks, I went to bed early and unlike most mornings today I slept in.   I did not get up until 7am.   If only I can continue this schedule when I get back home and stay productive.   Speaking of home, I really do not want to go back to Maryland.   I do miss my friends and family, but I am enjoying my times in the beautiful mountains that I feel like I belong here.  For twelve years now and twenty-some before that Maryland has been my home, but I am not too sure that hold true anymore.  I think one of the purposes of Allipalooza is to ponder not only what my future is, but where it will be.

Enjoying the outdoors

Yesterday it snowed again and I loved walking Maya in the snow.  It was one of my favorite things to do with Oscar, my golden retriever.   The world seems so fresh and unspoiled when it snows and all the missteps of previous days are covered up and we get the opportunity to begin anew.

This weekend three more friends are coming to the mountains and we will enjoy each other’s company, good food and the peaceful surroundings.  We are going tubing tomorrow afternoon and I plan to take them on a walk to the coffee shop one morning.   

Did I mention that Maya gets to go with me to the coffee shop with me?   Could there be a better place to get work done and while having great food, beverages and conversations?   I met a couple that used to live 15 minutes from my condo in Columbia.  The world is a very small place.

Well that is enough rambling for today.  Basically I just wanted to tell everyone how happy I am and how much I am enjoying the first stage of Allipalooza.

Peace, Hope and Blessings,

Alli