Lazy

I am being totally lazy, this is a copy of an email I sent to friends.

 

Well my visit today with the Surgeon "killed" any chance that I will be running any events for a month or so. I'll probably attend some limited trail running mornings but he really wants me to take some time off to heal what ever is bothering my lower abs. He wasn't overly concerned but wants me to take it easy a while.

 

Anyway that means this Saturday I won't be running Byron but I'll come as "Photo Guy". Can I hitch a ride with you Larry, the weather looks good.

 

Also had a CT Scan today, one of the "interesting" things about the procedure is that they inject some stuff into you that feels like a double shot of Jack Daniels after a long day of hard work. I guess the tech had someone tell her it was like "Bad Mexican" but since I never had Good or Bad "Mexican" I would not be able to tell.  (What is Mexican anyway?, guess I'm getting old) So, the warmth from the stuff just flowed throughout your body really quickly, I was saddened when I asked.......and was denied, another shot.... ohh well.

 

So after all was done, the tech looking over my paper work said..... Mr... O'Grady, you'll need to drink lot's of fluids to flush the contrast out. Of course I was thinking "Beer". And then she said, this will also put some extra pressure on your Bowels...... need I tell you...... ten minutes later ........ I had given up any idea of Christmas shopping and was balancing the "Need for Speed" with safety and potential for a speeding ticket.

 

Hope all had a Great Thanksgiving !

 

Mike "O"

JFK Number Nine

JFK 2012

It's done and I am happy even though things did not work out as I had hoped.

Days before the race I sat down and “Guesstimated” three different running scenarios, fast, relaxed and really relaxed. I spanned all three during my run and finished between relaxed and really relaxed, not to say that much of it was relaxing.

The fast part of my race was the first sixteen miles to the canal where I was right on or slightly under my predicted fast time of two hours forty five minutes. These miles were run with ease and not a whole lot of effort, I seemed to just float over most of the course. Running into Gathland I was totally shocked as I thought we had two more miles to go, it had passed by so quickly.

By the time I reached Weverton aid station I had a sinking feeling the ease of running was over, ahead of me the battle would be waged. It wasn't legs, energy or GI track holding me back, it was building pain across my lower midsection, I bit a pain pill in half, kissed Susan goodby and headed to the canal.

When I originally considered using pain medication during the race it was to help settle down my guts not to control pain. A month before, on a muddy trail a quick left hand turn resulted in the slip of my left foot twisting my body in an unusual way. The resulting pain was unmistakable yet unremarkable at the time, I didn't give it much thought until it just would not go away.

To stay on my fast plan I needed to run nine minute miles for the next eleven and a half miles, I made it for two. I had hoped the pain would not get worse but it just was not to be, at mile twenty five I swallowed the second half of the pill.

By the time Susan met me at Snyder's landing I was confident I would finish but knew it would be at my “Really Relaxed” pace.

I have never had a pacer before but somewhere prior to mile thirty eight Larry Key was waiting for me; I had not been feeling well and bit another half pain pill just prior to seeing him. Relief from midsection pain wasn't forthcoming but running and walking with my friend made those miles sail by.

Leaving the flatness of the canal the runners are immediately presented with a pretty good hill. Most will walk but I ran, albeit slowly until I saw a homeowner with a sign.... Bagels, Bananas and Beer, I had to stop and ask if he really had beer... he produced a fresh can of Yuengling and poured half a cup; Man did that taste good !

The remainder of the run would have been a “Trudge” but I was fortunate enough to be joined by an unexpected pacer with four miles to go. Corrine, one of my trail runner friends walked and jogged me to the finish. We had a blast and I felt quite good as long as we walked. As the finish line approached she gave me a big hug, turned around and ran four miles back to her car.

A sense of satisfaction and relief swept over me as my medal was placed around my neck. A time of ten hours thirteen minutes and six seconds placed me four hundred and sixty first, almost dead in the middle of the nine hundred sixty seven who finished. It was by all measures a very good day.

The support of many made this day possible, without all of you, this would never had been. I am very appreciative. The "Coat of Arms" for the name O'Grady has the Latin phrase "Vulneratus Non Victus" which translates in English to "Wounded but not Conquered", it is how I feel about my Cancer.

Mike

Evening Before JFK

I have always been nervous before starting anything I care about and this evening is no different. Running fifty miles would be a challenging anytime but this time perhaps more so than others. In my head I know that I am better prepared than in most years, yet I am still dealing with a body that throws curve balls and surprises at me all the time.

Well no sense to worry about it, I'll simply do my best ad enjoy the hell out of it.

Later ........... Mike

Reading Directions

Timing is everything “they say”; who are they anyway?

Thank goodness this past Saturday was not JFK day for if it had been my chances of completing the course would have been slim indeed. The week had gone fairly well, I enjoyed my relaxed running schedule with no hint of trouble ahead.

Saturday morning I woke up feeling a bit off my game but assumed I would feel better as the day wore on. This was not to be as my GI track rumbled and grumbled with no resulting relief. A trip to Mom and Dads in the afternoon left me feeling more and more uncomfortable to a point that I needed to leave early in the evening. Back at home I went to bed knowing that I probably would not sleep the evening.

It started at 2 AM when I woke with pressure the likes I had not felt before; at 5:30 AM after a dozen or more trips to the bathroom I felt there certain nothing could be left. At 8:00 AM I joined my trail group for a relaxed five mile jaunt, having a good run without issue. Later in the day rumbling and grumbling returned, as did the need to spend another couple of hours in my comfort station. As I said, had I been running JFK it would have been very difficult and potentially very embarrassing to try to run through the problems I was experiencing. I will review my diet to try to determine what is going on.

Many guys, including me have some sort of aversion to reading instructions. This morning I went back and read the instructions on the can of Metamucil. ONE ROUNDED TEASPOON IN EIGHT OUNCES OF WATER UP TO THREE TIMES PER DAY. Hummm.......... Guess two or three heaping tablespoons a couple times a day might be too much? No wonder my mix seemed thick as I chugged it down.

Yikes !

On other notes; Mom received an IPAD Saturday loaded with over five hundred photographs and MP3 music. This was the idea of my dear friend Joe who asked me three weeks or so ago if I thought Mom would like one. As mom is not really a “Computer Person” I initially thought it would receive little use but as Joe explained how I could load photographs, music and video I began to see the light. For those of you who have not seen the latest IPAD let me just say the display is stunning and the sound simply amazing. Mom had tears in her eyes as we paged through photographs and listened recordings made by her grand-kids. I will be adding more photographs and music with each visit.

Among the recordings were two I had never heard before, there were Irish songs Kevin and a friend had recorded while Kevin was at UMBC. The duo had intentions on singing at Irish Bars to earn some cash. Too bad that never came together because the quality of their work was as professional as any I have heard.

Mike

Mr Hyde I Presume ?

Halloween came and went Wednesday but a truly scary transformation waited until Sunday afternoon.

Power, Power, more power, I was consumed with the thought of regaining power we had lost for six days. Though my body had adjusted, no longer were six heavily piled blankets required to keep our bed warm, no longer did I need to stalk the house in down vest, hat and gloves. Yet, I craved a hot bath, lighting that looks like lighting and my “normal” life. Add to the equation that we had already burned up three hundred or more gallons of propane from the office generator; I was ready for a change.

My Friend Rick, Daughter and Friend

Returning home from my volunteer duties Sunday Afternoon after a March of Dimes Trail Run, I got out of my car to an eerie quiet. “Oh, damn. I should have checked the oil in the generator”, I thought. How negative to assume something broke when something when the reality was that something was actually fixed, the power was back on.

Finally understanding that power was restored the transformation began. I am sure it was quite similar to a werewolf with an arising Moon seeing claws and hair growing beyond his control. Like the werewolf I was out of control. “Turn on all the lights, turn up the registers”, I yelled as I entered the house. “I won't be cold tonight ! “. I am almost ashamed to admit I even turned on the oven for a while even though nothing required cooking. Quite simply, I was out of control in a pure one hundred eighty degree turnabout from normal self. Well all, the house pushed past the sub/low sixty temperatures we endured for a week and life was better. I carry no shame, even after a fifteen minute hot shower..... ahhhhhhhhh.

It's humbling to consider what generations ahead of us bore without the modern conveniences we have today. It is also mindful to consider that burdens we bear often are dwarfed by those who carry a much heavier load. Yet, we are all human, our nature centers around ourselves and if you don't believe that just smash your big thumb with a hammer and try to concentrate on something like, “World Peace”.

My brother Bill came down today to assist me with cutting firewood. We got a good bit cut but I managed to “Hang” two trees and get a the saw bound so badly that I had to cut the chain out from the tree. I haven’t screwed up that badly in years (Cutting firewood at least) . Never the less, it was a wonderful afternoon. 

I forgot to post this on Tuesday and now it is Thursday, ten days until JFK, I grow ever the more nervous even though my logical mind knows I am well prepared. 

My sister Trish is heading up to Mom and Dads tonight, I hope we can get together for some photography on Saturday.

Stay Happy and Look Forward to the Holidays ............ Mike

Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy ripped through the area five days ago leaving in

it's wake massive damage in New Jersey and New York. With the

exception of a few broken branches, our home and office saw little

damage. It seems strange therefore that we are in our fifth day of

no power with the distinct possibility it may not be restored until

Saturday, thank goodness we have a generator. 

If loosing power wasn't enough, we lost phones, email and internet.

Amazing in a modern world how much we depend upon communications

to conduct business. Most of our purchase orders are received as

attachments to emails, shipping is scheduled and most ordering is

conducted on-line. Our phone issues actually started sometime prior

to the storm when the phones stopped ringing. Turns out our main 

business line was “Switched” so instead of receiving 4199 calls we

were getting 1033. When I would call out of our office on “Our” main

line it was actually the 1033 number. Sure hope whomever had our

number didn't make a lot of international calls and that they have

a decent long-distance plan. This may end up being a big mess.

This past Thursday Rick O'Donnell joined me for a walk in the

woods to my Stone Pile. This pile of stones is at the intersection

of the Blue Trail and Stoner Road (An old jeep trail), it's not an

official land mark just a pile of white quartz and sandstone that

grows one stone larger each time I pass it. “My Stones” are always

white quartz, relocated yards or miles away from their original

resting place. The size of the stone, pea to melon, has no bearing

on the quality, length or duration of the run. As you might imagine

some of the smallest stones were those carried from the greatest

distance. Thursday afternoon two new stones were added, mine, a 

medium size to build up the base and Rick's, a rectangular quartz

beauty placed on top. I will make sure each time I pass to think

of Rick and assure his stone remains where he placed it. My wish

is that Rick and I will place many more stones on this pile together. 

JFK training “Ended” this past Sunday morning when I churned out

the first twenty eight plus miles of the run. The good news; no

cramps or tightness, great energy. The bad; pain in the lower

abdominal area would have stopped me at about mile twenty two if

not for pain medication. This was not a lasting issue as I awoke

Monday morning with no more discomfort then normal.

I ran an easy five miles Wednesday with only moderate pain so my

“Gut Feeling” (Sorry, could not resist) is that I'll be all right. 

No doubt that masking pain to run a fifty mile race may not be

the smartest decision I've ever made. However I am convinced that

the pain is a pull or slight tear that can be managed. I see

Dr. Yang today, (Gastrointestinal) I will honestly discuss the

injury and seek his opinion. 

The side effects from Chemotherapy still hang around in the

form of sore hands and partially numb feet. I have noticed fingers

going numb at temperatures below fifty degrees, guess it's time I

should match up  gloves. Right now I'd be in great shape if I only

required gloves for my left hand. Where are all the right hand 

gloves hiding out ? There has been very little change with the 

side effects the past two /  three months so I must consider the

possibility that this may never go away completely. 

My Gastrointestinal track continues to improve even if at a snails

pace. I can eat just about  anything I want and can enjoy a beer or

so.(within reason). 

My brother Bill will be spending the week at Mom and Dads so

I'll try to head up this weekend to see him. Sunday morning I'll 

help lay out the course for the March of Dimes Trail run held later

in the afternoon starting at the Gambrill Park Tea House. 

I am undecided as if I'll run, with only two weeks to go a turned

ankle or just a bad slip could end my JFK hopes. 

I have talked with Mom several times during the past week and

it seems as though some of her strength is coming back now that

treatments have stopped. There will be difficult days ahead but

there will also be times to cherish as well. I pray  I can lock

in memory every one of her hugs, smiles and laughs; that I may 

have her inner strength and compassion for others. 

Mike 

PS> Just finished a short trail run, trails wet, air crisp and

clean, little discomfort with the abs. (Yes!) The only negative;

hearing the hum of the generator as I returned to the office.

Just as I went to save this note to my computer the Internet came

back ! Five hundred emails are downloading so I guess I know what

I'll be doing for the next several hours.