"I was letting life pass me by. I had just gone through all of this insanity, and I wasn't really a participant in my own life. How could I let that happen?"

I first met Carrie Kreiswirth in 2011, when a marketing campaign for a local running store brought us together. Several years later, I saw a photo of Carrie on Facebook. She was bald. What had I missed? In the time since we met, Carrie had tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation — the one that raises the probability of developing breast and ovarian cancer — and was diagnosed with stage one triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma. Breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and breast reconstruction surgery. She went through the process of having her eggs frozen. And then, the self-proclaimed "non-runner" ran the New York City Marathon. This is a powerful, emotional, and inspirational episode.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your Aeropex wireless headphone endurance bundle!

What you'll get on this episode:

• Carrie shares her breast cancer story, starting from diagnosis (4:50)
• What chemotherapy — and losing her hair — was like, and the aftermath (23:40)
• How Carrie took back control of her life (32:40)
• How Carrie celebrated five years since her cancer diagnosis (42:45)
• Carrie's message to women facing a scary diagnosis or life change (55:45)

What we mention on this episode:

Run for the Rabbit

Care+Wear

Center for Restorative Breast Surgery

First Descents

Coach Cane

The Breasties

Follow Carrie:

• Instagram @ckreiswirth
• Twitter @ckreiswirth

Follow Ali:

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• Facebook
• Twitter @aliontherun1
• Blog
• Strava

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