“If I had to choose between my old pre-cancer life as a somewhat depressed, overweight, unmotivated, and unfulfilled couch potato and my current life with cancer, it’s easy. I’m energetic, happy, motivated, and love life each day.” –Lee Kilpack
In 1996 Lee Kilpack was diagnosed with breast cancer, with lymph node involvement. She began a treatment plan of surgery, chemo, and radiation. Lee had never exercised. The diagnosis was a shock to her spirt, and the treatment tested body, mind, and will power.
By 2000, things weren’t looking too good, and she felt bad most of the time. Then, one morning she woke up with the desire to start taking care of her body. She hired a personal trainer that day. By 2001, she was walking every day. Later that year she had inserted some running into the walks. In 2002, Lee walked the three-day, 60-mile Breast Cancer Walk and raised $3,000 for the cause.
The training for and the competition of such a strenuous event resulted in a big letdown in motivation, with extended recovery from injuries, aches, and pains. Lee struggled but finally started running regularly in December of 2003. After the 2004 New Year, Lee set a bigger goal—to finish a marathon in November. The training program she chose was too advanced, and she became injured in September. She didn’t give up.
In early 2005, her doctor cleared Lee to start running again. She picked up my conservative training program after attending our Blue Mountain Beach retreat. I worked with her via email and often found it hard to hold back her energy and drive.
The training for the Marine Corps Marathon was more of a challenge than most because she relocated to the Gulf coast to volunteer for relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina—squeezing in runs after exhausting days. Somehow, she also hikes, cycles, and paddles hard in her kayak—on the off days, she doesn’t run.
She regularly gets screened for tumor markers. While the tests show her out of the normal rage, her doctor does not see a threat in the near future and supports her running.
“I don’t know what the future holds for me. If it is metastasis tomorrow, I would be OK with that. What a good life I’ve been given. My health and happiness have never been better. What my oncologist doesn’t understand is what a dynamite combo vitality and endorphins make.”