No ifs, ands or butts (yes, butts)

It's been a while since I wrote a blog post. My apologies. I've been quite busy dodging ice patches and trying my best to avoid getting sick in all this cold weather.

Plus, there has been nothing monumental about my training as of late so I really don't need to be boring you with details that include "I ran today. It was cold." Because really, that's all it's been for the past couple of weeks.

However, I recently attended a two-day convention in South Bend Indiana where the American Cancer Society Community Events team gathered to learn about our mission and how we can make the biggest impact possible in 2014.

So, allow me to introduce you to "March: Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month."

Now, let's be honest; there is nothing really sexy about our colons. They serve a necessary purpose. And if you're like some people I know, when you think about the colon, this comes to mind:



But (haha, Butt!) did you know colon cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer today? If found in the local stage, colon cancer has a 90 percent 5-year survival rate. The problem is screening rates are low and only 39 percent of people with colon cancer are diagnosed at an early stage. We need to change that - and ACS has a plan to do exactly that.

Let me give you a quick vocab lesson to put the whole colon cancer progression into perspective.

A polyp is a noncancerous growth in the colon. Most colon cancers develop from polyps. "In Situ" means some cancer has formed, but it's not actually growing inside the colon or rectum walls. In the Local Stage, cancer is growing, but nearby tissue is unaffected. Local is followed by Regional and Distant, in which cases the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

So what can you to to reduce your colon cancer risk? Well, living a healthy lifestyle is key. You can reduce your risk of many forms of cancer by maintaining a healthy diet that is low in processed foods and rich in vegetables. Maintain a BMI between 18 and 25, be physically active, limit "screen time" and alcohol and don't smoke.

But it's not enough to do those things and hope you don't get cancer. You also need to get screened. For most people at average risk, you don't need to be screened until age 50. You can find out more about assessing your risk here. Now, screening isn't glamorous so get ready for some real talk in the next couple of paragraphs.

For those 50 and over or at increased risk, you're probably thinking you need a colonoscopy. The most well-known of colon cancer screenings, colonoscopy gets a bad reputation. I mean, who really wants something stuck in that very sensitive part of the body? For some, it is necessary, however there is another test you can do in the comfort of your home that doesn't involve bodily violation of any kind.

It's called a Fecal Occult Blood Test or Fecal Immunochemical Test. Basically, it's a stool sample test you can do at home. No doctor having you change into a booty-exposing gown, just you, the test kit and the bathroom. Done. If blood is found in your sample, then you need to progress to move invasive forms of screening. But if you could find out some real information about your risk of colon cancer by doing something you have to do anyway, why wouldn't you?

Why? Because until just now, you probably didn't know it was that easy. And so many people in this country and around the world have no idea it can be simple and private to get a colon cancer screening. The American Cancer Society is dedicated to making sure everyone learns how simple it is to get screened. The goal is to get to an 80 percent screening rate across the nation by 2018.

They are so dedicated to this cause, in fact, that they created a new department called "Primary Care" to address the problem of access to screening. ACS is working with offices across the country to ensure everyone knows and has access to colon and breast cancer screenings.

And because they have dedicated so many resources to preventing cancer deaths through education and access to care, I have dedicated the next seven months of my life to raising money while training for the Chicago Marathon with the DetarmiNation program in honor of my father, who victoriously beat cancer thanks in part to breakthroughs in research.

I am putting my feet to the pavement and aiming high to raise $5,000 in this fight. Whether you provide financial or emotional support, any gift you give not only inspires me to keep running (and in this bitter cold, I need all the inspiration I can get), but it makes a huge impact in the fight against cancer.

For 100 years, ACS has made great strides in cancer research, programs and services. Help me make it possible to make more great strides in the next 100 years. Click here to help.