Waterfalls of Iceland

 

Miles for Melanoma

It’s been a while since I posted, but I have an event coming up this weekend that I thought was worthy of a return from my blogging hiatus.

This coming Sunday, I’m running the Bloomsday 12k in Spokane, Washington. For those of you not familiar with this event, Bloomsday is a huge local tradition consisting of celebrations throughout Spokane, culminating in a 12k (7.46 mile) run through the city. About 60,000 runners participate each year. I ran my first Bloomsday last year and it's a lot of fun.

Running this event has always been a special event for my husband and my in-laws and this year we wanted to make it extra special and run it in remembrance of my father-in-law, Ron, who lost his battle with melanoma in 2008. We formed a team with Miles for Melanoma: Ron’s Runners. So far we’ve already raised more than $600 benefiting Melanoma Research Foundation. If you happen to be from Spokane and are on the course on race day watch for us in our bright green Ron’s Runners t-shirts!

Some sobering facts about melanoma:

• Skin cancer is the most common form a cancer in the US and melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer.
• One-in-50 Americans has a lifetime risk of developing melanoma.
• Every 8 minutes, someone in the US is diagnosed with melanoma. Every hour someone dies from the disease.
• Use of a tanning bed before the age of 30 can increase risk of melanoma by 75%.
• Marathon runners can be at a higher risk for melanoma.

For more information visit Melanoma Research Foundation. Click here to donate to my fundraising team. 

And remember! Wear sun screen, get regular checks at the dermatologist, and, please, stay out of tanning beds!

Statistic Sources
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/21/health/21baka.html
http://www.melanoma.org/learn-more/melanoma-101/melanoma-statistics-facts

February Photo Challenge: Days 16, 17, 18

Day 18: Drink

Day 17: Time

Day 16: Something New

February Photo Challenge: Days 8 to 15

Day 15: Phone

Day 14: Heart

Day 13: Blue

Day 12: Inside my closet

Day 11: Makes me happy (Elliot Bay Books)

Day 10: Self Portrait

Day 9: Front door

Day 8: Sun (barely)

February Photo Challenge: Days 6 and 7

Day 6: Dinner

 


Don't let the fact that my husband described this original recipe as "not as bad as expected" and "edible" deter you. I thought it was a delicious, easy, and healthy vegan soup.

Aduki Bean, Rainbow Swiss Chard, and Wild Rice Miso Soup
3 cups vegetable broth
1 carrot, coarsely chopped
1 small onion, diced
5-6 leafs and stems, rainbow Swiss chard, sliced into one-inch strips
1 can adzuki beans, rinsed
Wild rice, prepared according to package directions
2 tablespoons brown rice miso
Nori sheet (optional)
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper

Saute onions and carrots in small amount of olive oil.
Add onions, carrot, rinsed beans, and cooked wild rice to vegetable broth. Heat over medium-high until carrot is tender (about ten minutes)
Add Swiss chard and simmer lightly until tender (around ten minutes)
In a separate bowl, dissolve miso in a few tablespoons of the hot broth. Reduce heat and then add to soup, taking care not to boil the miso.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Snip pieces of nori on top of soup to garnish, if desired. 


Day 7: Button

Can I also title this: "buttons I hope never to push"?