Editor's Note: NewsChannel 2 anchor Wendy Chioji is grateful to all of the viewers who have expressed their best wishes as she wages her fight against breast cancer.

Chioji has chosen to use NewsChannel2000.com as her way of keeping the public updated on her health. New diary entries will be posted every Friday.

So I did something this week that I haven't done since the end of April: I got a haircut, and my hair was even long enough for Michael to put some highlights in the front.

BREAST CANCER INFORMATION Four Steps Promote Early Detection WENDY'S DIARY Oct. 31: Ride For The Roses Oct. 24: Another Cycling Weekend Oct. 18: An Emotional Finish Oct. 17: Singin' In The Rain Oct 16: Rally In Indianapolis Oct. 15: Chilling In Arkansas Oct. 14: Monster Crosswinds Oct. 13: Tailwind To Texas Oct. 12: An Uphill Climb Oct. 11: The Race Begins Previous Diary Entries WEB LINKS Florida Hospital mammography locations Complete Guide For Breast Cancer Breast Cancer Decision Guide Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation National Breast Cancer Coalition American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Coalition INTERACTIVE Breast Cancer Survivors: Share Your Experiences Meet Other Breast Cancer Survivors

I was looking forward to the appointment for days! It's another sign of life returning to normal, I suppose. Afterwards, somebody looked at my hair and said, "Now, you actually have a hairstyle." I know exactly what they meant, and it's so much fun to have highlights again. As long as I can't be blonde, I'll have the next closest thing: highlights.

This weekend, I took part in an awesome event: Track Shack Foundation's Lady Track Shack 5K in Winter Park. About 1,500 women and girls came out -- boys weren't allowed. It was a fundraiser for the Alice T. McMahon Scholarship Fund at Florida Hospital.

Basically, it pays for mammograms for women who can't afford them. We raised $14,000 for the cause. Isn't that incredible? The race and its proceeds doubled last year's totals. I didn't run. Since I had surgery a week before, I walked. It took forever. At 18 minutes, I was just passing mile one.

When I'm in good running form, I'm done with a 5K in 22 minutes and change. At least I had good company. I got to walk with Orlando Miracle coach Carolyn Peck, and Dr. Dave was working the water stop. That was fun.

At the race, they gave breast cancer survivors little stuffed teddy bears. I have a friend who lives nearby who's just starting her chemotherapy, and I thought she'd like the bear. I brought it over, and we talked about what she's going through. Her second treatment was this week.

It seems like such a long time ago for me, although I know it wasn't. She's doing better than I did. She isn't throwing up from the drugs. Uggh. Terrible memories.

I caught that fever-cold-cough-hoarse voice-sneeze-junk that's going around. I slept most of it off this weekend. I found myself comparing it to when I was down-and-out with chemo sickness, and it really wasn't that bad. Funny how a little cancer can change your perspective on things. :-)

I am putting together my racing calendar for the year, and that's lots of fun. I really missed that last year. I know I did some 5Ks, but I did them just to do them. I wasn't racing. I have the dates of the triathlon series, and I am making plans for the Lance Amstrong Century Ride (100 miles!), and I'm trying to pick a fall or winter marathon.

My goal is to race every distance, 5K, 10K, half-marathon and marathon, faster than I did b.c. (before cancer). I think that's a good goal, although it makes me wish I had been a little slower last year.

Wendy
Feb. 1, 2002

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