Running Free: Great news for Courtney

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Great news for Courtney

Dear Courtney,
Congratulations! I am pleased to offer you admission to the University of Southern California. This offer is being extended to you as a result of your outstanding achievements both in and out of the classroom..for all the late nights and weekends you devoted to study, and the times you went beyond what was expected of you.

This is the first paragraph of the letter my youngest daughter received today in the mail. I am so ecstatic for her. She is a great student and an even better daughter. She is so excited as well. She also got into NYU, but she would prefer to go to school in Southern Cal. She is still waiting on a few more schools, but she did find out today that she did not get into UCLA. Apparently, there was 55,000 applicants with only 4,700 spots. Not great odds. Bummer.

Running has gone well this week. My new orthotics are perfect and my ankle is getting stronger. I think I may have mentioned that I pulled out of the Coyote Two Moon 100k that is this weekend in Southern California. I didn't feel ready and I don't want to start a race feeling like I haven't done my homework. I have a few friends running the 100 miler and the 100k there, so I hope they have a great race.

Saturday I am planning on doing a 32 miler from Skyline Gate to the top of Mt. Diablo. It will be hard and it should be fun. I can't wait!

For those of you waiting with baited breath....I did 7 push-ups in a row today!! I know it sounds wimpy, but I am improving. Have a nice evening!

4 comments:

GB said...: CONGRATULATIONS to Courtney, and to you! You obviously raised her well. :) USC and NYU are both so excellent and only in my dreams could I have gone to either place. Way to go to your daughter!!!

And you know what, 7 push ups are BETTER THAN NONE! Go, girl!; March 20, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Olga said...: Woohoo for the gilr! And mom:)

I started on assisted pull-ups 2 weeks ago, I was at 90lbs, then 80, today was 2x10 at 70! Now if only I can do one with full body...hey, lets progress together!; March 20, 2008 at 10:14 AM
kelly said...: Thanks, Olga and GB. Yeah, 7 push-ups....how embarrassing :) Oh well, like you said, "7 are better than none." I will have to try the assisted pull-ups. I'll let you know how I do!; March 20, 2008 at 7:45 PM
Doodlestreet said...: Wow! USC...excellent school...that's so great! Good for her! It's hard to believe your kids are just down the road--

7 is not only a lucky number, but a good solid start and you'll be stickin' a "0" after that 7 in no time!! ;o)

Okay, so since we are both working toward better push up numbers, I'll let you in on my little top secret pushup goal.........ya ready........

(whisper) ...a one handed push up...

(I didn't want to say that too loudly, I might scare myself---)!

Keep goin' girl!; March 22, 2008 at 4:36 PM

Post a Comment

Not Even Lupus Can Slow Ridgway

NOT EVEN LUPUS CAN SLOW RIDGWAY Published on June 26, 2004 © 2004- The Press Democrat BYLINE: BRUCE MEADOWS Three years ago when she was diagnosed with lupus, Kelly Ridgway didn't take much time plotting her course. ``I figured I could lay on the couch and be a drug-seeker for pain or I could choose to be as healthy as I can be,'' said Ridgway, 46, an outpatient surgery nurse at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Ridgway, defying the odds, is entered in the Western States 100 Endurance Run, which starts at the base of Squaw Valley at 5 this morning and ends 100 miles away in Auburn. ``I see people at the hospital in horrible shape because of lupus, but I realized I had a choice how to deal with it,'' Ridgway said. Lupus is a chronic auto-immune disease affecting mainly women. The immune system attacks the body's own tissues as a foreign substance, producing antibodies to fight it. The cause of the disease is unknown although research has shown it occurs when a specific set of susceptible genes is exposed to a combination of environmental factors such as infectious agents, certain drugs, excessive ultraviolet light, physical trauma or emotional stress. Ridgway said she has been a ``serious runner'' for 14 years and has also competed in 50- and 100-mile events on horseback. She started running to get in shape after the last of her three children -- Caleb (18), Chelsea (16) and Courtney (14) -- were born. ``I've found I really love ultras,'' said Ridgway, a single mother who graduated from Montgomery High, then earned a nursing degree from Santa Rosa JC. Dr. Lisa Kremer, Ridgway's rheumatologist said, fatigue is the most universal symptom of lupus. ``For somebody to run 100 miles with an auto-immune disease is incredible.'' Ridgway first experienced flu-like symptoms, then fatigue. ``But when I started having problems with cognitive stuff, I knew there was something more to it.'' She was having trouble doing simple math or even finding her way around town. ``I thought of all sorts of things, including a brain tumor,'' said Ridgway. Ridgway has been training with Santa Rosan Karen Hanke, 42, and Suzanna Bon, 39 of Sonoma. This is the second Western States for Hanke, who finished last year in 29 hours, 47 minutes, running the last 70 miles on severely blistered feet. It is the first Western States for Ridgway and Bon. Because of the glut of applicants -- more than 1,000 annually apply for 400 spots -- runners must not only qualify with an acceptable 50-mile run time but also get lucky by having their name drawn by lot. Bon, whose goal is ``just to finish although I'd love to do it in under 24 hours,'' is impressed with Ridgway's effort. ``Kelly is strong and smart about training,'' said Bon. ``We'll run at our own pace this weekend, not together, but we want to do the best we can.'' Ridgway sees herself as a runner who happens to have lupus. ``My case is relatively minor and medication has really helped,'' said Ridgway, who logs 75 miles a week. ``But I don't know anybody with lupus who runs as much as I do.'' She has bouts of fatigue and deals with them. ``There are days I am really tired and need to come home and rest for a while,'' she said. But this weekend there will no place to rest. ``I'm not the type to quit,'' she said. ``I will persevere.'' Kremer said people with lupus react differently to the disease. ``Some have a real tough time with it and others take it as a challenge,'' said the doctor. ``In general, a disease like lupus provokes self-evaluation ... some patients look at it as a way to straighten out their lives, physically and socially.'' Kremer said most lupus patients with a positive outlook exercise to some degree. ``For them, making an effort is a personal victory.'' Ridgway, who left for Squaw Valley Thursday, has been on the Western States course before, having competed in the Tevis Cup horse race and also working the run the past two years as a medical helper. ``It's beautiful ... I fell in love with the trail,'' she said. ``I'm excited but not nervous.'' Ridgway will be tested following the race to determine how running 100 miles affects a lupus patient. ``I know I am capable of doing this.'' She likes to run, even 100 miles, because it makes her feel healthy and alive. ``Maybe in some ways this will speak to people who are trying to make choices,'' she said. ``You can push ahead and take charge of your life.''