October "Madness"

Just as the “Retail” Christmas seems to start earlier each year, winter seems to following right in line. Sitting here in the office with four inches of wet heavy snow all ready blanketing trees, ground and roadway I'm thinking the song “I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas” could be modified to “I'm Dreaming of a White Halloween”; sorry faithful “Trick and Treaters”

Power is out, wind is blowing but with the Generator humming along and an ample supply of firewood we should be set for a lazy “Not Going To Get out of My PJ's” day. Unfortunately this freak snowstorm means that the visit I expected from my sister Cathy and brother Bill has been postponed or possibly canceled all together.

Yesterday, just before I set out for a Reiki session Larry emailed me wondering if I was interested in joining him on a run on the C&O Canal. I knew I wanted to get a run in because of the impending weather and had planned on my five mile trail loop; I “Begged Off” asking Larry if I could get back to him later.

My Reiki sessions are nothing short of amazing, although not as stressed as two weeks ago, I need and look to these sessions as a way to prepare myself for the next chemo treatment. Dee and Lorette once again “worked Their Magic”, and as I walked out of the building I felt “Light on My Feet”, ready to join Larry. Returning home the “Deal Was Sealed” as two packages awaited me. My brother Bill attends weekly men's church group meetings and a new member, Jim Spivey, former Olympian, still holding the US record for the fastest 1500 meter run by an American in an Olympic final (1984) had sent me a new pair of road shoes and technical shirt. Jim works as a College Team Representative for ASICS and upon hearing of my battle sent these to me, If encouragement was the goal, it worked.... Thanks Jim.

I called Larry, “I have two questions, what time and how far?”.

“Ten miles”, was the answer , drawing in a breath I wondered if it might be a be a little much. No matter, the beauty of the canal training runs are they always are out and backs, meaning I could turn around at any point. My longest run since surgery has been eight and a half trail miles which included walking. A ten mile canal run just doesn't “justify” walking so this would be interesting.

Even though Larry “sold” this run as slow, it was still ten miles of a constant pace, something I have not done in many months. At four miles out I thought, “In For A Penny, In For A Pound”. I am happy to report it was a good decision and through nine miles I felt great, only when I bent over to remove a broken branch from the trail did I feel tightness and muscles reminding me, “It's been a While”. Ten miles was perfect, at the end I was tired but a good tired, the type one can appreciate after a good workout. It was also a huge confidence builder for the November 12^th 50K.

The only negative comments I need to make have to do with the side effects of chemo. There is no doubt that they are getting worse with each treatment and last longer after infusion is completed. I have little doubt that after a couple more of these I will be limited by outdoor exposure.

The psychological impact of this also becomes more difficult. I try not to fixate on what's ahead but it's hard not to. Imagine if you were told that in order to enhance your life, every two weeks, for four months you would walk a dark alley where four guys waited to beat the living daylights out of you. Each beating would be measured with the intensity increasing with each stroll. I certainly don't think of my health care professionals as thugs, they are there to cure me, to add me to the roster of Cancer Survivors but this is as hard an alley as I've ever had to walk.

This next treatment will place me half way through this adventure, the glass will be “Half Full”, and, as one of my runner friends said, “Mike, I'm sure you know how to count down”.

We'll as I finish this up it's 11:00 A.M., the “Official” time that it was supposed to start snowing, we have six inches of snow on the ground, the wind is blowing and our power is still off. Like I said earlier, a Great Day to stay in the PJ's.

In the Words of the Great Philosopher and the “Singing Fish” I have in the basement. “Don't Worry, Be Happy” ..... Mike

PS> I can never thank you enough Susan and Maggie, your love, support and patience will see me through.