End of January 2014

I have surprised myself with a desire to post in my Blog far sooner than I thought.

Perhaps it is because I am so bored, it’s driving me crazy, while the month of January started out busy the last week and a half have been terribly quiet for my business. In the past three days I have not received a single phone call and few emails worth any mention.

Dry spells have happened before, and, in other times they might even be a welcome excuse to get out and run but with the weather we have had lately …. Well let’s just say running in single digits, no longer, as the song goes is, “One of My Favorite Things”. Not to say that I have been a complete laggard, I managed to run a hundred twenty six miles this month with the majority of them being  run in snow and temps below twenty degrees.

In addition to the business lull there has been a hit to the “personal side” of my life. The Reiki Master, Dee Grimmett, one of those who helped me through the darkest moments of Cancer treatments, died. Dee was one of the kindest individuals I have ever known with a “Wild Streak”, I never would have imagined until I was enlightened at her funeral. I was fortunate enough to see Dee perhaps a couple of weeks prior to her death at Frederick Memorial Hospital, we had a splendid hour and a half conversation. I have also had friends and family facing issues that I care not to discuss, except to say that the downwards spiral will cease, just like the cold temps of winter will yield to the inevitable consequence of spring.

As for me this cold weather has been unkind to my hands and feet with hands being far worse than feet (THANK GOD). I often go to bed trying to avoid pain killers but more often than not, lately, I relent after two or three hours in favor of getting needed sleep. I am concerned about the addictive potential of the narcotics I’m taking but I am on a very low dose and almost never need more than five milligrams a day. They work well, pain is relieved and they don’t seem to give me any sort of “High”, which I experienced once when I screwed up and in no way liked it. At least I have that going for me.

Punxsutawney Phil will crawl out of his hole this weekend, the little Celtic Devil will predict the outcome of the rest of this winter, No matter what HIS VERDICT I’m sure we are in for it at least another six weeks, could be worse but I’m an optimist.

 

Come on Spring ...... Mike

Time for a Break

I was upstairs, retrieving running pants left in the bathroom the night before. The early morning light was dull, yet not as dull as the faded upholstery of the couch in the loft. Ten feet across, the computer desk supports a broken computer, the desks’ partner, a chair, somewhat in need of repair. To the right of the desk a stand up lamp is crawling with stink bugs, its illumination apparently attractive. Plucking stink bugs from the white plastic globe of the lamp, introducing them one by one to my red plastic beer cup, half filled with water and foaming with dishwashing detergent I am almost done when I realize part of the lamp is missing.

Gazing into the cup……. stink bugs …. I realize, apparently are not great swimmers. In my “Pool Party” they crawl over each other in a frenzied attempt to escape the cup. In doing so they most assuredly have set their fate as most panicked swimmers will.

Running pants in one hand, stink bugs in the other, I start downstairs only to see our worn hardwood floors. It dawned on me that perhaps, just perhaps I was starting to become like my possessions, worn and tattered. It was not a feeling of self-pity, no, perhaps a brief insight to reality.

I imagine all of us lucky to live long enough to feel like an antique might want to decide what type of antique. Should I be a broken dresser, functional but a throw away at the end? Or, try to be that restored piece, a treasure which grows in value over time? Both approaches have their trade-offs, I am hopeful that I'll strive for ongoing restoration.

I was recently asked me if cancer changed me. There is no denying that it has but not in ways that I fully embrace or care about. Cancer did not change my fundamental nature, my core outlook on life. I have been and continue to be one of those individuals granted, if not a perfect existence then a pretty damn good one.

Cancer however has made me more attune to suffering, the suffering of others and I cannot say this is an improvement. Often, I turn away from the nightly news casts as reports and images of sadness fill the screen. Those few “Good News” reports simply do not seem to provide balance. Phone calls and emails with news of illness, death and struggls impinge my connection to Morpheus, and I’ll lay in bed for much of the night looking at the red illuminated output of the digital clock.

Cancer has also made me acutely aware of time and how we can easily squander what has been given us. GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY I certainly do not hold myself innocent. Yet as guilty as I am I worry about the next generation, watching my almost grown up children, I see the seductive and unhealthy affinity to spend countless hours among bits and bytes, the electronic life.

A friend told me that I have been an inspiration. Perhaps this is the most ironic part of my experience. If others could look deep inside my heart, my soul, they would know why I do not consider myself an inspiration. I had a choice (actually no choice), either give up or fight. Over the millennia I’d place pretty high odds that most would fight. Running, in and following treatment is an important element of my life, an addiction, a good one for seeking psychological and physiological relief. It’s the best addiction I have. No the real story of inspiration belongs to my wife Susan who quietly stood by and took care of me. My brutal honesty at times had to hurt but she never outwardly showed anything but compassion, love and understanding. Susan is the true role model that others might strive for.

On my run yesterday I did not pass my “Rock Pile” but I did find two outstanding white quartz stones to place for Mom and Rick O’Donnell. This morning, I was saddened to learn of the death of a runner, a friend of a friend, hit by a drunk driver while on her morning run. She leaves three young children, a husband, family and friends wondering why. Later today a third stone will be placed at the pile, a prayer will be said, a prayer with the hope that grief shall fade, replaced by peace.

This will be my last post for some time, I am hopeful that I have “Run Through Cancer” and now I’m “Running Through Side Effects”. I have no illusions, I may never recover one hundred percent but I do expect some improvement.

 

To my family, friends and those who may stumble on this blog …….. Peace and happiness.

Mike

Humpty Dumpty Two Years Later

Humpty Dumpty couldn't be put back together again but two years ago today I was.

I thought I remembered the day quite vividly but even so I went back and read my blog. Reading what I had written validated memories and reminded me of the long slow journey I’ve been on.

Two years have seen good progress but not as far as I had hoped. There is no way to sugar coat it, I'm in some sort of pain almost one hundred percent of my day. It's not severe but it's a  gnawing presence that keeps me on edge if I give in to it. There are exceptions of course, pain pills, booze and running.

Well at least one of the three is actually good for me. It's tough however to run just when you want to go to bed, it's then, in the quiet comfort of my own bed I feel every tingle from hand and foot nerves damaged from chemo. Lately with some self massage or mental imagery I have been able to suck it up and go to sleep anyway but not always.

The GI system is workable as long as I stick to a fairly simple diet that has limited meat and dairy intake. Limited is the key as well when it comes to alcohol. Two nice glasses of wine (Almost always red) prove beneficial, three are risky and more is a sure fire prescription to the throne room the next morning / day. I have used this knowledge to my advantage to prepare for a race or other noteworthy event.

Looking ahead I feel progress with my GI track will continue but I am coming to the realization that my hands and feet may be an issue for some time to come. Warmer weather , running, attitude and diet will hopefully get me to a point where I will not require any pain killers to “dull me up”, I feel dull enough as it is.

Today, two of my kids had their wisdom teeth extracted. I'm pretty sure it's their first time to experience physical hardship lasting longer then a cut to a finger, minor burn or a twisted ankle. I am grateful for that and for how well they are both doing, it's a day they won't soon forget either.

Stay Happy

PS> I've signed up for Terrapin Mountain which will be held at the end of March. The last two times I have run this I have been inspired to run perhaps the finest races I have ever run considering the circumstances, I hope I may continue in that tradition.

A Year Later

A year ago to the day Patricia Rose O’Grady, my mom, lost her battle with kidney cancer.

Sometime around three AM this morning I awoke, restless, thinking about mom and how the holidays seemed somewhat empty without her. As I often do when I wake up and can’t sleep I head to the kitchen for something to eat.  There sitting on the counter was a note signed, Love Pat.

The note, written to my wife was a recipe; though I’m sure my wife may have dozens of such notes I can’t ever remember finding one. How odd that I should find this on the first anniversary of her death. After reading it I felt comforted and was able to fall asleep after returning to bed.

Just a while ago I was walking in the blowing snow, below zero wind chill and brilliant sunshine. I was singing and talking the entire time, comfortable yet aware how quickly things can change, just like the year which has passed.

2014, a new year, a time for new beginnings ….. Welcome

2013 Ends

This morning I hiked in a cold pouring rain with my head "bouncing" from thought to thought.

The weather, though particularly nasty was my option to experience. I could have just as easily stayed indoors in the comfort of my house or office. Yet hiking allowed me to think about the coming Year (I do my best thinking on the trails), and what it might bring, hopefully brighter days then the year who is closing it's doors.

This entire past week has been a time of reflection, there has been virtually no business activities over the holiday. There has also been reminders that I am not the same as I was just a few years ago. Monday evening I was a "stones throw" from having Sue take me to the hospital, pain in my gut grew intense enough to double me over and send me to bed by seven P.M.. While I probably will never know the cause I suspect just getting out of my normal routine and not drinking enough water left me dehydrated.

On the flip side, last night I spent the entire evening virtually 100% pain free with no assistance from pain killers or drink. This after a day of dual trail runs and several hours of cutting, hauling, splitting and stacking firewood. Odd isn't it that a high degree of physical activity should leave me pain free, the first time naturally in two and a half years. It was wonderful.

I am also waking up often with almost one hundred percent feeling in my feet, of course a minute or two of walking and "Mr. Left and Right" dulls up but I'm feeling this is heading in the right direction.

With the feet getting better of course the hands have to bring balance by being as big a pain in the ass as ever. The cold weather aggravates whatever is going on and I need to be careful when the temperature falls under fifty degrees.

As this year comes to it's conclusion I will focus on those things I can control and try to forget about those which I cannot. There is much on my plate, no doubt I will feel pressure, yet I have gained a perspective over these past couple years which should help me to be a better husband, father, brother, son and friend ..... and after all, isn't that all that really counts?

Happy New Year All.

Mike

Twins

Monday I drove down to Baltimore to pay last respects to a “Business Friend”, an individual that I have worked with for twenty plus years, just a great guy.

Personally, I know of no one who would include viewings and funerals in their “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things” song. (Although there are some twisted souls who might). In addition I have never seen a corpse who looks good, they look dead; not a good look even if you’re a vampire.

Seeing my friend laid out, he did not seem to bear any resemblance to the man I had known, I even considered that perhaps I was in the wrong room….. Until ….. There he was ……. Standing right in front of me ……… A Vision, Hallucination, Out of Body Experience ……. No none of the above …….. For my friend in twenty some odd years ………… never mentioned …………. His identical twin brother.

Goodbye Fred, I’ll miss you.

Mike

Surprise

Monday afternoon a box truck arrived with a early Christmas gift from a great friend and his family.

If you have not read my blog then you'll never understand the significance of "The Putt", an entry I made after participating in a charity golf event. Well to be perfectly honest I had forgotten it as well but the "Special Santa's" had not and their "Santa" Box Truck delivered what the "Golf God's" had "Robbed" me of.

The element of surprise, it is so variable.  Sometimes arriving as a nescience, a wakeup, a PITA, new joy or the devil you did not want to dance with. In any case, surprise takes many forms. In the past few days surprise has spanned a gamut for me, yet Monday afternoon, after good news, snow and ice shoveling the day ended with a total surprise I had not counted on.

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa. (New York Sun 1897)

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Thanks and Happy Holidays all ... Mike

PS> At Sixty Years Old I still feel like a kid

All Clear

Well excepting for ice, snow and freezing rain received yesterday and early AM today I managed to make my appointment with Dr. Goldstein, my oncologist.

I am happy to report that my CT Scan came back with no indication that anything is wrong with me. Well nothing

So, now very much relieved here is where I am at.

The side effects from the treatments and surgery linger on but seem to be getting better. I have identified many "Triggers" which send my body into complete revolution including ...... drum roll ....... intense physical exercise.

The irony that I can go out and run ten fifteen miles on the trail at a twelve minute pace with no issues. Give me a 5K ..... Running Hard ..... A Price Will Be Paid. This past weekend I ran a ten miler at the Byron Run in a comfortable hour twenty and the spent four hours in the can. Well, I can deal with that.

I received bad news for a couple of friends in the last forty eight hours. I imagine it's just life but I surely do wish that just prior to Christmas, bad news would cease.

I am happy with my news, ready to put 2013 behind me and look ahead to brighter days.

Mike

JACK and CAT

It has been eleven days since JFK. In those eleven days I have seen some really good days and some which I would have preferred to have passed by.

Tomorrow I head down to be scanned; (CAT Scan) to see if there might be any signs of Cancer. Depending upon how you look at it this shall be two years after treatment ceased.

I’m nervous yet hopeful as well, I have recovered well after my 50 miler and am feeling pretty darn good even if my alter ego (Mr. GI) hasn’t been fully cooperative.

My eight mile run this morning took a whole lot of edge off of me and I suspect everything will be just fine ……… yet …… I wonder …….. and yes worry.

I am hopeful ……. the shot of “stuff” they will give me tomorrow before the scan will elicit the same “Jack Daniels Effect”; I had the first time ; a warm glow flowing through the body. (Just like doing a real shot after a long day of hiking)  They told me at the first one it might make me feel like I have to “Pee”.

Bring it on!

Enjoy ….. Mike “O”

JFK 10 Complete

JFK Number 10 is complete.

There have been only a few times in my life that I been so consumed by an event. While it may be perfectly normal to have a case of “The Nerves” prior to anything we deem important I have been obsessed for months.

There are rare moments in life when everything comes together to produce the extraordinary; Saturday November 23, 2013 was one of them.

Early in the week the weather forecast for Saturday looked bleak. Rain, Wind and Cold would have meant a long and miserable fifty miles. By Thursday the forecast was much better, yes there might be some cold and wind but it would hold off until the end of the day. The forecast was right on the money and for me, almost perfect.

My week long pre-race preparation went even better than planned starting off with a fantastic Monday nine mile hike up Old Rag Mountain in Virginia. Sleep was hard to come by but the diet was on target even if my planned “illness” wasn’t enjoyable.  

Saturday morning I felt good, the best I have felt in weeks. Legs were “fired up” just itching for running, Achilles happy and GI Track quiet. Sue and I left the house at 5:15, and for the first time in quite some time I felt like “I can do this”. My running partner, Craig and I agreed we would run “our own races” as both of us would be dealing with issues.

The entire portion of the race to the C&O Canal things could not have gone better. My plan was to slow down, aiming to reach the canal in about three hours. I was there in three hours and five minutes. With Sue waiting for me I was able to get a change of shoes, hot broth and baked potato chunks rolled in salt. A hug and a kiss later I headed off to “Meet the Beast”, the C&O Canal.

The canal is my nemesis, as a trail runner I don’t have the training for the repetitive motion that canal or road running demands. Though I train on the C&O for months previous to JFK it’s not enough and often this becomes apparent during the race, today would be no exception.

I felt good as I started on the canal but not quite as good as I had hoped, I wasn’t tired or sore but my legs did not want to move any faster than they had on the Appalachian Trail, even so, this was a pace that, if kept up would let me finish somewhere around ten hours.

Twenty four miles into the race all was well, I was at a relaxed pace, one I thought I could keep up forever when “Crunch”.

There was no immediate pain, nothing that screamed “What the Hell”, yet, just like laying on the ground after a fall, thinking “This is Going to Hurt” I knew my left knee would “speak”, it was only a matter of time. When pain started it was pinpoint, while uncomfortable, workable. When the pinpoint expanded, radiating downwards towards my already questionable Achilles tendon I knew it was time to walk. As time progressed walking a minute or so would allow me to run slowly for several minutes, this was a pattern I would repeat over and over again.

Not the hero I indulged in pain medication, not enough to get completely rid of the pain but enough to keep everything tolerable.

At mile thirty I was joined by son Patrick who would pace me for four or five miles. It was the first time any of my children had run with me at JFK which made it very special. I must admit to asking for a piggy back ride but as Patrick pointed out, it probably would have slowed our progress down.

At mile thirty eight two of my running friends, Larry Key and John Kippen meet me to “bring me home”, I was grateful. The pain medication was working enough to allow some running but more important the presence of my friends kept my head in a good place.

Finally, the end of the canal, with a quick handshake and hug Larry turned around and ran four miles back to his car; John would run the final eight miles with me.

When you leave the canal there is hill immediately “In Your Face”, some runners might feel this a special type of torture but I welcome it. Not only do I like trudging up the hill I look forward to rounding the first turn to see a stranger, the one who sets up a table complete with snacks and cups of cold beer. Yes, at mile forty two I’ll allow myself to indulge with a beer. Someday, I’m going to have to drive down that road and leave a case for that kind gentleman.

John talked me in (and others) the last eight miles, as each mile marker was vanquished I could be privy to another story. Perhaps story number sixty two or story number something or other that Kimball Byron and he couldn’t repeat out loud. As we passed or were passed by other runners there was always a “Hello, where are you from?” coming from John. This was just fine with me for all I had to do was to listen.

Three miles to go, it was getting dark, it was getting cold, it was windy and I was well of my mark. Three miles ahead a number of people stood in the wind, getting cold, wondering and waiting for at the finish.

Ironic isn’t it, while friends and family shivered I was actually quite warm and comfortable.

One mile to go John, had me kiss the mile marker, a tradition he had been carrying on for many of his JFK finishes. “Upper Left Hand Corner, has to be the Upper Left Hand Corner”, he said. I have to admit at that point in time it took a second to discern left from right. The marker, now “Happy” allowed John and I to trudge on to the finish.

How sweet that final hill, those bright lights, applause of the crowd, announcement of your name and the receipt of your medal. The hugs, handshakes, fist bumps and kisses as emotion builds to displace any pain or fatigue. The long walk back to the car, the ride home, the “I did it” phone calls, a cold beer, warm bath as all becomes a memory.

This journey started eleven years ago as a mid-life challenge, I have seen and come through much since then. I have discovered during those years we are enriched by those around us far beyond anything we can by our own efforts.

I will continue running but this may have been my final ultra-event. We will just have to wait and see.

How can I thank all of you who have made this moment happen, I simply cannot. To my wife, children, family and friends, my running companions who have endured TMI my deep appreciation and love. To the many others who have been instrumental in my battle over cancer also my deep appreciation and love.   

- - - - - - - -

Final Time 10:55:38    

Pacers: Patrick O’Grady / Larry Key / John Kippen

Waiting Crew: Susan / Kevin / Maggie / Larry / Craig / Debbie / Steve / Randy / Jim / Jon / Lisa    

YO YO Man

It’s quite a ride I’m going through lately, five days up, two days down.

In all honesty my training for the JFK 50 has exceeded all expectations. What bothers me is that all will depend of the fickle nature of five feet of large intestine.

Thank God I don’t have to listen to myself. Over the past few months, friends who have asked, “How are you doing?” often wish they never asked. (TMI I’m afraid) Recently I have noticed a distinct drop off of questions regarding my health. “How about those Redskins”, might be a quick diversionary substitute? Well, they suck almost as bad as my guts do.

Never the less, my “Plan” is now set. Race preparation will start Tuesday night with a double dose of Miralax, this will, well you might guess …. Start things rolling Wednesday.

Wednesday evening I will enjoy a soup type dinner along with ¾ to 1 bottle of a nice Merlot which will keep the “fun” rolling into Thursday.

Thursday and Friday will be low fiber days with lots of rice and pasta.

We’ll see …… the plan is set. If I succeed it might make an interesting article for Ultra Running Magazine.

Thanks to all my patient friends, my patient wife and family. I could not have gotten this far without you.

I will not post until after the race, finish or not it has been one hell of a ride.

Mike

Sunday November 3ed

Following last week’s C&O Canal Run experience I must admit being quite uncomfortable with the idea of a JFK training run with a group.  It worked out just fine. In fact had Sunday been JFK day I’m sure I would have finished the race. Our run ended up with twenty eight miles, covering all of the AT portion and half of what we will have to run on the canal. I was tired, my feet were sore but overall I was pleased with how I felt.

There is no explanation to my good fortune, there was no special preparation. The two day prep of low fiber / liquid diet was “tossed” to the dogs as a miserable failure.

Truth be known, Susan and I enjoyed a nice evening out inclusive of a couple glasses of red wine the night before the run. Perhaps this will be incorporated into JFK preparation eighteen days from now.

On the drive to meet my fellow runners I was fortunate enough to witness an extremely stunning sunrise. The photograph does not do it justice.

Mike

Best Made Plans

If I learned nothing else Saturday:

NEVER TO TIE YOUR RUNNING SHORTS if you have GI issues.

Following the success of last week’s twenty mile run I was confident that yesterday’s run would even be better. A perfect fall morning if ever one were to be had. White Grass, painted with Frost looked good against deep blue cloudless skies. Five of us met with different mileage goals but we decided to run together.

Craig and I were looking for twenty two, Don and Jim sixteen, Randy and Riley (Randy’s Golden Lab) twelve.

Six out and back looked like the best way to start.

I felt good as we started, confidence boosted by a dietary plan followed for the previous two days. Thursday was Deemed “Low Fiber Day”, Friday, liquid diet day. (No not beer)

The reasoning for this approach was simple, Near Zero x GIissues = Near Zero Issues or Nothing in the Pipeline, No Problems.

Perhaps two miles into our run I knew something was not working to plan. At mile ten all hell broke loose.

I had hoped to make it back to our starting point but it was not to be. Off to the woods I went, it wasn’t too bad, I had plenty of time and lots of trees to hide behind. The second time wasn’t bad and without thinking I tied my running shorts as I “Put Myself Back Together”.

Number three, three times a charm? This was no charm and there was no time. As I bounded off the C&O I prayed that no one would run or ride by while my shorts were hugging my ankles. When I tugged my shorts I realized I had to untie them. Why is it I would invoke the Lords name at a time like this? “Oh God, Jesus, hurry up”

The fourth attack was like the third but without the need to untie my shorts. YES!

To say I felt like ^%&* after the fourth time would be accurate and appropriate. It was a long mile and a half back to the car and I had convinced myself my day was done.

Sensing that something was wrong Randy waited with Craig in case I needed a ride home. I was ready to quit until something “Clicked”. I had the foresight to put a pain pill in my fanny pack, I took half.

It took about two miles when I started feeling better, by the time Craig and I covered our “Five Out”, I was better yet.

At the completion of our run I’ll admit I was tired but I was elated as well. Had I given into temptation and quit I would had not experienced the ability to come back. Now I know that if I have a problem during JFK, one way or another I can try to work through it. Apologies in advance to whomever might get mooned.

Thanks to my friends, again.

Mike

Feeling Lucky

On occasion I go a bit “crazy” ….... like I did this afternoon, …... my home page ,“GOOGLE” showed a “I'm Feeling Lucky Button”. To be honest I don't know why I clicked on it as “I'm Feeling Like “*@#$” would have been far more appropriate.

Perhaps it was fate; I was lucky, the click took me to works of art, new and classic that I paged through for the better part of a half hour.

For that half hour I was fully engaged; forgetting that my GI tract was hell bent on punishing me for some totally unknown reason. I don't care who you are; after ten to fifteen trips to the can most of us enter the “This is not fun” state of mind.

As I paged though the pages I was drawn into the emotion, composition, colors and depictions of men/women, I began to feel at peace. Pain lessened and my mood reversed itself.

I have no great insights to offer nor recommendations ..... but I do know this ….. The next time I feel like “*@#$” I'll seek out art or listen to some classical music.

On another note, my JFK training is going OK. If my body gives me any cooperation on race day I think I'll make it.  My running friends are amazing with how they are supporting me. Thanks Guys (and Gals)

Mike

Sweet Dreams

Another sleepless night I'm afraid, a good time to catch up with the blog.

About a week ago I made one of my breakfast shakes with a fresh Pear and believe there was an immediate improvement to my system. For the past week, the addition of Pears, be it my "Wonder Fruit" or just pure coincidence may just be what I need to help me get through JFK. While my GI Track is still screwed up I have been able to complete several long runs and a 5K without issue. 

Now to tackle this "Sleep Thing"

There have been many times in my life when sleep was difficult to come by but but rarely has it been as bad as this. Last Wednesday for example, after putting in almost eighteen miles of running I went to bed physically and mentally tired. I fell to sleep almost right away only to wake up less than an hour later, I would not sleep again that evening.

The odd thing is that it's not that I'm having one of those nights when thoughts of work, family or issues are filling my head with angst. It's not some invisible song repeating itself over and over that can't be "Turned Off". Nope my head is pretty empty (OK easy shot here) I just can't sleep.

Short of wrapping my head in Tin Foil to keep radio waves and other "Alien Beams of Energy" from entering my mind, I've tried just about all the "Tricks" I know to no avail. 

All right some good news ...... I participated in the Frederick Pink Ribbon run this past Saturday winning my age group. I ran twelfth overall in just a few seconds slower than in the Susie's Cause 5K. The "Odd Thing" is that I finished twelfth overall for the second time in a row, I would imagine that the odds of that are pretty remote but I've done it before in the 2007 / 2008 JFK's, finishing two hundred twenty third out of fields of around a thousand, having a twenty minute time differential between races. WEIRD !

Enjoyed a thirteen and a half mile run Sunday morning ( No Issues) but hardly slept again Sunday night.

All right it's now 2:20 in the morning, I'm finally getting sleepy enough to head back to my room. If sleep comes let's hope the clock display is beyond 3:20 when I look at it.

Sweet Dreams ............ Mike

Cruel Cruel Golf

Golf is a wonderful, fun and cruel game all of which can be experienced in the same round.

Today I played in a charity event for the benefit of Saint Jude’s Hospital. A scramble or captains choice event (as some call it) I would be paired blindly with my fellow playing partners.

Imagine my surprise when our group is a threesome and my playing partners are a guy who hasn’t played in a year and a gal who is joining us after a thirteen year layoff.

Often in these events a threesome may have a distinct advantage, if the players actually are familiar with the game. This comes from the second shot a player can hit to make up for the “missing man”. For someone hitting the ball well …………….. Let’s just say “Green Light Special”. There would be something else special for my appearance today. For the first time ever, I got to play from the senior tees.

Our first hole was a par three, I hit second, sending the ball ten feet from the stick. Our lady partner would get “Two Whacks”, swing one a complete whiff, obviously to the trained eye a mere practice swing. Ooops, strike two but finally metal made contact with plastic and the ball politely dribbled to the front of the tee. I took the two putts, each hitting the hole and spinning out. Predictions began to echo through my head, could we shoot par?

There was a calm feeling as I stood on the next tee. From the senior tees these holes look really short ……….. Swing easy.  Three hundred yards later a twenty yard chip shot was all which was left. Birdie!

The Eagle on the next hole heightened my senses, perhaps this might go better than I had expected and indeed it did.

We hit all eighteen greens in regulation and had I been able to putt we might have won the event. We were a highly respectable ten under par with yours truly only making two putts. I did not putt poorly, indeed I burned edges and lipped out all day long.

Once again the putter served to beat on me, to tease me with the “almost, would of, could of, should of “.  Until, yes …….. Until the long putt competition.

A fifty foot challenge with ten feet of left to right break.

We passed the putting green in the middle of our round; five bucks rewarded three whacks at it. What the hell I thought, I’ll try because we sure could use that fifty inch LCD TV, the prize for closest or in.

Perhaps the touch of an angel smoothed the stroke, rolling the ball in almost perfect harmony with the world. With twelve feet to go the force of gravity broke the ball hard to the left, with two feet left there was a chance. Oh, so close as the ball slid past the hole on its back side, stopping a mere four inches from the intended destination. Now for a surprise, I thought the attendant would send my ball back but he announced, “You have to leave that ball there”.

With this “Local” rule it was more like Bocce Ball than golf. If I knocked my first putt away with either of my remaining efforts, well, tough luck. As you might imagine neither of the other putts were as close.

Tournament over one solitary golfer stands on the putting green. There is no doubt he is the last as they are close to awarding prizes. I had just sat down with a well-earned cold beer and some veggie snacks.  

Whack, a screamer of a putt ten feet wide of the hole and twenty feet past. I breathe a little easier seeing who will be the last player to try to best me. The second stroke resembles the first but perhaps has been hit even firmer as it screams down the green it all good chance to move thirty feet past the hole.

DON”T COUNT YOUR CHICKENS UNTIL THEIR HATCHED. How many times have I head that?

This screaming putt hits the flagstick, jumps straight up in the air a good two feet only to land right back in the hole. OH MY GOD!

If there is insult to injury, the winner takes his third and final putt placing it no closer than twenty feet from the cup.

I LOVE GOLF, I HATE GOLF, THAT TV WOULD HAVE LOOKED REAL NICE IN THE LIVING ROOM. IT’S GOLF, NOTHING ELSE NEEDS TO BE SAID..... Mike

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Reincarnation

I would imagine that it is quite normal for anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis to consider the possibility that cancer would win. This could trigger, as it did with me, a look at what might or might not be waiting for us after death.

Today, two and a half years ago, after I received news I had cancer, I have it figured out ………. I’m coming back as a cow.

Sunday started this line of thought …. I won my age group at the Susie’s Cause 5K. (My friend Kristin won first woman) While winning my age group sounds great, keep in mind that the next sixty plus year old finished almost twenty minutes behind me. Now in my defense I was twelfth overall and just a few seconds behind the guy who won the fifty year old division. (OK a small pat on my shoulder)

Twenty minutes after a good 5K finish I was sprinting to a Port-O-Potty, an hour and a half later, my foot pressed hard on the gas pedal of “Big Red”, speeding the ride home.  Ten seconds in the driveway was almost too long, but I made it to the office bathroom. The extra fifty yards to dash to the house might have been out of reach.

So, after a week of intense “activity”, with plenty of time to think (I have adapted the Thinkers Pose) I may have come to the conclusion that the Hindu’s belief in reincarnation may be correct. In this light, I have to assume that I am merely being conditioned for my next assignment ………. As a cow.

For anyone who has been around said animal no explanation required. For any who may not understand ….. For god sake …..  Get out more.

If we can’t laugh at ourselves then we are really in trouble, oops here we go again, have to dash off ….. Mike

 

Epson Salt

The instructions on the Epson Salt bag advised two to four teaspoons dissolved in eight ounces of water. With the exception of prepping for a “Rooter Router Job” (Colonoscopy) I have had no need and hence have no experience with laxatives. I imagine for thirty some odd years my love of beer had been enough to place me in a “Relaxed” state.

When I started running Ultra Marathons I had little idea that my GI track would be a limiting factor. Now, at sixty, with the effects of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery I find myself in need of experimentation to be able to participate in that which I love.

“How are you doing?” the doc says. “I’m making progress, but I’m really having a real issue when my runs get beyond ten or twelve miles” ……. A pause follows .........I’m sure the good doc is thinking “Well just don’t run more than ten miles”

Sorry, not the answer I want to hear…..… I’m not upset, I realize that I must appear to be some sort of freak and I need to figure this out for myself. It's not all that bad, I don’t mind “Mooning” the wildlife of Gambrill State Park on training runs but human animals along a race course may not be forgiving or appreciative of the struggle.

So here is the thought process ……. Little or nothing in the pipeline, little or nothing screaming to see the light of day?

Experimentation!

It’s 9:45 A.M. Thursday morning September the 19th, I have no appointments but I may want to go on a run with my buddies at 5:00 P.M. Two teaspoons dissolved in eight ounces of water, the low dose for an adult.

An hour later, rumblings, grumblings, nothing urgent so an easy walk to the comfort station started the process. The second hour inspired me to pick up the pace when nature called and in the third hour I decide to work downstairs to reduce the distance between me and the bathroom. I’m glad no one was around to hear the displeasure I uttered loudly with each visit. I am sooooo glad that I started with the minimum dose, proof positive that more is not always better.

At four o’clock, convinced there could not be anything left inside me I met my friends for a five mile trail run. No problem with the run but with a mile to go I ran out of gas (no pun intended). I think I was a bit dehydrated.

It’s now Saturday afternoon, my GI track isn’t 100% settled, I race tomorrow, Susie’s Cause 5K in Towson Maryland in the morning followed by five mile laps at Rick O’Donnell’s Memorial Run. Tomorrow will also be exactly two months before the JFK 50 miler.

 One side note, on one of my solitary runs this week I approached a large bolder in the trail. Without thinking I jumped up on it, went into “Four Wheel Drive” for a few feet and then jumped down the other side with a couple of bounds. As I mentioned there was “No Thought” in this maneuver.

IT WAS SIMPLY FUN

There is always hope ……………………….. Mike

A Good Morning Run

The past two days have been picture perfect, low humidity, deep blue skies with whiffs of white clouds rolling by. With temperatures peaking in the sixties it's my perfect idea for great running.

Today as I laced up my shoes my head could not stop thinking that this would be make it or break it as far as JFK was concerned. The plan was for sixteen miles, a run we call “The Cliffs” as our turnaround point is a cliff overlooking the valley between Frederick and Thurmont MD. In addition to providing a good view the large rocks might also reward the runner with a glimpse of a morning Rattlesnake warming itself in the sun. Today there would be no snakes, perhaps we were too early and it was still a bit chilly.

Saturday evening I had the best sleep I've had in weeks. After retiring at nine thirty I awoke an hour later to aching hands and feet; determined not to take a pain pill I rolled over thinking it would be a long night. I'm not sure when sleep came but when I woke I was shocked to see five thirty on the clock.

The run started well enough but after four miles the GI track started acting up, a half mile later I had to stop. Two miles later I had to stop again followed by another four miles later. Even though each one of these stops is an “energy sucker” I felt reasonably well. My Achilles, which I was most concerned about remained calm over the difficult terrain.

Fourteen miles into the run my body started to “tell me” it's been a while since I covered this distance. I was tired but not exhausted, glad when it was over, uncomfortable “downstairs” yet convinced that I can keep training for JFK.

It seems strange to me that I should have more GI issues then I did last year but that's the way it goes. I just need to figure it out.

Thanks for a Great Run Larry !

Mike

Rollback

It was one hell of a week with some highs and lows that I will not soon forget.

Throughout my recovery I have come to know the effect stress has on my body, and while it can be quite unpleasant it pales in comparison to the emotion of anger. 
 

While I don't care to elaborate on what angered me I managed to work myself up to a point where I was physically sick for a day and a half. Only when I could let it go could I began to recover. It was a powerful lesson, one I hope to never repeat again.

Yesterday I joined three friends for a round of golf for a local charity. The scramble format is often fun, especially for someone who no longer plays a lot of golf. Thirty years ago I played an extensive amount of golf and for five hours, somehow, I managed to role back time, playing to a level that I have not held for an entire round in years.

My playing partners commented that it looked as though I wasn't even swinging. Somehow, perhaps because I was tired, the swing was smooth and I stuck the ball dead solid almost every time. Drives were long and straight, more then a handful of iron shots settled a few feet from the pin. Putting, the enemy of my golfing career was good as well. During the round I made several birdies on my own ball.To say it was a good day would be quite the understatement.

This morning I ran five miles on the trails, tomorrow I'll be joining my running buddy Larry for hopefully a sixteen mile relaxed run which may just determine if the JFK Fifty Miler in November is still an option.