Susie's Cause 2012

What a difference a year makes.

Last year, prior to the start of the Susie's cause 5K run for Colon Cancer I stood outside a Port-O-Potty with my wife, Susan, wrapping a very large ACE bandage around mt waist to support my six week old Ostomy Bag. Bound as I have said before, “Tighter then a Southern Bell going to a Cotillion” I ran and unbelievably won my age group.

A year later, nine months after loosing “Frederic”, I returned and once again won my age group. It was amusing as this year as I got lost for almost two tenths of a mile. Yes, the “Great Trail Blazer” of Gambrill State Park lost his way on a well marked five kilometer road race course. If not for the lung power of my running friend Kristen, I might still be running circles in the streets of Towson and Baltimore. Even after adding almost two tenths of a mile and something more then a minute to my time I finished in twenty two minutes and twenty seconds.

My recovery is far from perfect but standing in the Courthouse Square after the race. I found myself as relaxed as I have been in some time. The morning was perfect, cool but not cold, low humidity with white billowing clouds circling overhead. I was with friends and hundreds of possible friends. Once again I had run “Within Myself” and performed well; it felt good to be alive.

Walking back to the car I could hardly wait to call Sue to let her know how I did, I was “pumped”.

One frickin minute on the phone and then ream-ality set in. Mr. O'Grady, Mr. O'Grady call from the never regions, please proceed to the Port-O-Potty four blocks from here.

Oh well, it's just a process, if that's the price I pay then I intend to continue paying up.

Stay Strong, Stay Happy........... “Mike O”

Stick To The Ribs

Yesterday I went for a short run with Molly, “Hog Dog”, after just a short distance I sat down to remove something sticking me in the side of the foot. It's happened before, nothing in the shoe, just sleeping nerves waking up.

A mile later I was impressed with “phantom” stabbings emulating from my foot. Pollyanna would have been proud, “Just a nerve waking up Mike, deal with it”. It seemed a long two and a half miles, so soon after returning home I jumped to the opportunity to remove the offending shoe. As before, nothing in the shoe, but as I started to remove my sock from the top down , peeling it off inside out, there it was, a single sticker most likely from a Raspberry or Blackberry Bush. UGH!

Still undecided about Steamtown, I ran a good training run on the C&O Canal on Saturday (Twelve Miles) and a fun nine mile trail run on Sunday. While running I felt good but once I stopped it wasn't long before GI issues reared their ugly head. Fortunately neither experience lasted for more then a couple hours, but even so.

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I will be trying some new foods this week to see if they might make a difference. This morning it was Irish Oats, “This stuff will Stick to Your Ribs”, Sue proclaimed as she placed a bowl in front of me. “Trust Me Sue, Sticking anywhere is the last thing I want from these”, I replied.

Let's hope Sue is dead wrong.

Mike

Mid September

It's been a while since my last post and while a lot has gone on there is little I want to actually write about.

My recovery has decided to take a hiatus, sending me back to a time of half numb feet and aching hands. I really noticed yesterday, running an eight mile trail loop, the technical sections felt awkward and off balance. This mornings run was better and I'm hoping to go out again this evening with good anticipations.

The decision to run the Steamtown Marathon will most likely be made at the very last minute. I know I'm in good enough shape, it would be a pleasure to see my college roommate Bill and his wife yet I'm wary of the possible aftereffects of the race. Having GI issues at home is one thing, away, another.

While I'm on the topic of running, this past Sunday Morning, after our group run I was presented with the gift of a shirt and armband. As you can see by the photograph, a very relevant and timely gift. Timely because next Sunday the 23ed I'm scheduled to Run Susie's Cause, a 5K race to raise awareness of colon cancer and money for research. I hope I have enough “Guts” to wear my shirt at the race.

To close this entry out I must write about my Mother. The news that her cancer has spread certainly was not what anyone wanted to hear. I was glad to be with Mom and Dad when they found out, just to be there for them as they have been for me.

Speaking with my Mother I saw nothing other then courage, dignity and a desire to take full advantage of each day. It is still difficult for me to wrap my head around all of this but her attitude and strength has had a calming effect for which I am grateful.

Mike

Twists and Turns

Such a strange combination of twists and turns the past few days I just need to simply admit that I have no clue as to what the hell is going on.

Long weekends are always a chance to relax and renew and so I thought it would be for Sue and I. So I thought........

Friday morning started off with a short three mile run with Molly followed with a trip to the FMH cancer center for a Reiki treatment. As always it was a pleasure to see Dee and Lorette, my time with them rewarded me with a calmness I hadn't felt for several days. As I left the center I looked ahead to the weekend, my sister Kathy and my Brother Bill would be at Mom and Dads, we would be joining them on Sunday with a Half Bushel of Maryland Blue Crabs. I was ready for a good weekend.

Everything seemed to be pointing up until late Friday afternoon when out of the blue my guts rebelled, sending me dashing from the couch to the can for several hours. I was miserable and by seven o'clock I bit one of my pain pills in half for relief. Before the medication could even kick in the phone rang and I found out that Dad was on the way to the hospital, perhaps with internal bleeding. Thank God my brother Bill was already there to handle things as I was in no shape too.

Saturday morning I felt well enough to head out for a short run. The weather was “iffy” but as I ran clouds parted, drizzle stopped and rays of sunshine occasionally drilled their way to the ground. Three miles turned into five, five to seven, seven to nine and would have been more except, something “Downstairs” started talking to me again. I made it home only to spend hours, again in the “Loo”. It would have been a totally miserable day except for good news that dad was doing well and most likely would be released from the hospital on Sunday.

Sunday morning I woke up feeling “Empty and Light” from the bashing I took the day before. A quick trip to the bathroom scale confirmed what I thought, one hundred forty six pounds. With that, I whispered to my half awake wife, “Sue, I'm going to run the Thorpewood 10K this morning, I'm light so I should be able to run pretty fast”.

Thorpewood, in addition to being a beautiful place for a wedding or corporate meeting serves at-risk youths. The run is a double loop on very runnable trails with one steep and challenging switched back hill. My plan was to take it easy, after all I was going to head to my parents soon after the race and I didn't want to spend my afternoon in their bathroom.

The race was small, perhaps seventy five runners with me standing near the front of the line at the start. As the race started the “speed” people quickly passed placing me somewhere around fifteenth place. About a half mile into the race I started passing people, the trails were wet and slippery slowing down the “road runners”. Around the two mile mark I caught a glimpse of the leaders, Lance (one of my trail running friends) and another young gun were leading, it was then I realized I might just be running in third place. At this point I was still running well within my limits.

At the top of the hill volunteers at the water station confirmed that I was in third place, fourth place seemed no where near. I thought I'd enjoy my moment as I was sure some young guy would zip by me in the second lap. One mile, then two into the second lap I just didn't see anyone closing in.

Once again at the hilltop aid station I decided that if someone were going to pass me if would have to hurt and I took off. There was no Garmin to record my last mile but I'm sure it was run under seven minutes. Soon after I crossed the finish line I wandered over to the Tag board to see if Lance had won, sure enough he had but my name was right under his. I was shocked but apparently the other "Young Gun" had gotten off trail and I passed him along the way. I finished second. My time was respectable but normally would have placed me in the top five or seven runners even that small a race. I imagine the lesson to learn is that just showing up is part of the battle.

I stayed a little longer then I should to welcome friends to the finish, partake of a nice cold beer and receive my second place award. A quick trip home, a quicker shower and off we were to pick up crabs before heading to Berkeley Springs.

While we drove for crabs Bill and Kathy drove to the hospital to “Spring” dad. This might be a good day after all.

Arriving before they could return with Dad, we unpacked our treasure and prepared for a feast. I sat down to relax and was pretty content until my daughter's voice announced, “Dad, Mom's in the Bathroom, she's throwing up”.

Sure enough, after a gentle knock on the door, I peeked inside to see Sue face down in the toilet, hardly able to move, obviously in great distress. There was nothing I could do except prepare a cold compress and promise I would check on her every few minutes. I don't know how long it was before she could move, movement, even the slightest made her sick. I imagine it was at least two or three hours before we could get her into a bed. Later that evening I returned home with the kids, leaving Sue so we could take care of the dog and other chores that needed to be done. I would pick her up Monday afternoon but by then the relaxing weekend we had hoped for turned out less than perfect.

Of course everything was not a bust, my Dad returned looking OK, Mom seemed to be doing all right after the first treatment and it was great to see my brother and sister. Sue seems better but not one hundred percent today, ..... as normal for Sue she was more concerned about missing work then anything else.

The Twists and Turns of life, ain't it Great ?

Mike