The Mysterious Rash Returns... and I ran a 5K!!!

Yep... it's back. To make a long story short:
-Took a steroid prescription while in Vegas
-Rash came back after I finished that prescription
-Went to dermatologist at end of March. He says I'm probably allergic to ibuprofen and other non-steroidal drugs
-I stop taking Advil and rash seems to diminish
-Start taking Tylenol, rash comes back
-Fill a prescription given to me by dermatologist. Prescription makes rash WORSE!
-Go back to derm. for biopsy, wait one week for results.
-I have urticarial vasculitis. Not sure what that means.
-Doc orders blood and urine tests.

Now I'm waiting to hear back on those tests. I think they're testing for Lupus, among other things, as urticarial vasculitis can be associated with Lupus and other rheumatoidal conditions.

In other news... I ran the Fargo Marathon 5K!!! And I'm so proud of myself! My mom is a marathon runner and I've grown up cheering on runners at various marathons across the state and volunteering at local races that my mom has helped direct. Something I'd never done was actually participate in a race. As a freshman in college, I set a goal to run a marathon before I graduated... and clearly that didn't happen.

About 2.5 weeks before the Fargo Marathon I found myself on the Web site and decided just to sign up for it (the 5K, not the full, OMG!). I trained as much as I could and set a goal of 45 minutes to complete it (although my secret goal was 40 minutes). I figured this would allow me to walk in case I thought I was going to die. With the help of my mom who ran with me and kept me motivated, I finished in 37:26... and totally beat my goal! Woo hoo!

Running it made me feel so good that I decided to run at least one 5K each month this summer. The next one I'm planning to run is the YMCA Chase Race 5K in June. Wish me luck and come run with me if you want!!

On a final note, today is really my last official day as an instructor at NDSU. My students have all turned in their portfolios and now I just need to read and grade them. And then my time at NDSU (for now, at least) is over. Speaking about that grading thing... time to do that.