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'I felt I needed to do something'

Photo provided by CINDY KEEHN

Cindy Keehn, who has been in remission for three years, participated in a half-marathon in Alaska last summer.

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By CINDY KEEHN

Special to the Tribune

Published: November 12, 2009

Updated: 11/12/2009 11:22 am

NAME: Cindy Keehn

AGE: 50

CITY: Clearwater

GOAL: Complete the Women's Running Magazine Inaugural Half Marathon on Nov. 22 in St. Petersburg in honor of those who battle blood cancers, as I celebrate three years in complete remission.

WHY I DID IT: When I was initially diagnosed with leukemia in February 2006, my doctor began preparing me to spend the next few months undergoing intensive chemotherapy at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. Instead, I was then blessed to learn my "brand" of leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, could be treated by a new "miracle pill" called Gleevec. Instead of going to a cancer center, I went home and was soon back to work. I continue to take a Gleevec pill daily.

Three months after my diagnosis, my friend Kim in North Carolina was diagnosed with another type of leukemia. Her treatment required prolonged hospitalizations and sickening chemo sessions away from her home and children.

As I followed Kim's course as compared to mine, I felt I needed to do something! I heard from an old running buddy of mine from high school about the Team in Training program with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

This friend had kept running over the years, while I had been much less active. She encouraged me to get involved with TNT. I learned that Gleevec was discovered by research that had been funded partly by money from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and that 75 percent of money raised through the Team in Training program goes to fund research and patient programs.

I had also benefited from the peer support and educational programs of the society after my diagnosis. So I enthusiastically signed up to compete as a walk/jog participant in my first endurance event, the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in San Diego in June 2007.

HOW I DID IT: The Team in Training program has specially trained coaches who make couch potatoes into marathoners. We met three times a week and learned about shoes and stretching and nutrition and hydration and many things I had no idea that I needed to know, but discovered I did!

We do shorter, quicker distances and cross-training during the week, and long, slow distances on the weekends. We follow a preset training plan established by the coaches, who are there to encourage and motivate us in our workouts.

I trained for five months for that first half marathon, as I did before my half marathon in Alaska this past summer and as I am doing now for the race in November.

HURDLES: One major hurdle is simply finding the time in my busy schedule to do the workout. As a "power walker," a usual workout distance of four to five miles can take up to two hours to complete. Then, when our mileages get longer before the event, so does the time involved - the workouts can take up to 4 hours, not counting the drive time to various training locations around Tampa Bay.

GOING THE DISTANCE: This is my third year at "undetectable" leukemia levels in my bloodstream and my third half marathon through TNT.

I have learned some great new places for walking or other outside enjoyments. Plus, I made new "walking buddies" with others connected to the blood cancers leukemia and lymphoma.

For me, the reward is health and fitness and clarity of mind. For others who benefit from the money raised, it is hope and a future.

My friend Kim died from her disease two months after my San Diego half marathon. I am grateful to God to be able to train, to have control of my own schedule to do this and, in a small sense, to give back what has been given to me: life.

BEST ADVICE: I think when we do something solely for ourselves, we can lose our determination along the way. When we connect our efforts to helping others, it drives us further than we expected we would ever go.

I have found my life story is an encouragement to others. People can live with leukemia, and another breakthrough can happen any day to give hope to people with the other types of the disease.

I Made It is a regular feature highlighting individual fitness success stories and does not reflect the opinions of 4you, which encourages you to work with a trainer or research ahead of time any new fitness plans. To share your story, visit TBO.com, Keyw

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