Kicking the Habit

Well, after reading another article on the dangers of tanning beds and hearing a very moving speech by a woman who lost her daughter to melanoma, I decided to make a change. I cancelled my monthly unlimited tanning package and am now on the road to a paler, more healthy ME! Considering I have frequented the tanning salon and poolside religiously for most of my life, this was a very difficult thing for me to do. I have not seen the true color of my skin for more than 20 years (except briefly while I was pregnant with Ian that is) As the color begins to fade, I am faced every day with a new "spot" that I never noticed before. Have all those years finally caught up with me? Needless to say, I have an appointment with a dermatologist on the 31st of this month. I originally had a few places I wanted him to check. But every day, I find another one -- I think I'll be asking for a full body scan! The good news is that this has breathed new life into my running. I have either run or walked every nite this week and I am looking forward to a 3 mile jog in the park with my son as soon as the sun goes down. I don't know if there is a correlation to my decision and my renewed love for running, I just know I have been waiting to get this part of my life back for a long time.

I don't know what the outcome of my trip to the dermatologist will be. And although I'm not scared, I am quite concerned. Until then, I will learn to love the new, paler me as I make my way back to becoming the strong, fit runner I used to be. Until then...

Gotta run...with sunscreen...
Lisa