Interesting Week

As the saying goes…”Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them makes life meaningful.” (Joshua Marine).   By this definition it was truly an interesting week as I strove to also make it meaningful.

To recap, the Marathon Challenge was to run/jog 26.2 miles over 4 days in under 5 hours total time.   My strategy was to run a longer run on the first day, a shorter run on day two, give the old bones a rest on day 3 and then run the remaining miles on day four.  

Day one the weather is chilly but clear, a good day for a long run.   The target is to go at least 10 miles but not to wear the legs down knowing I have to get up the next day and run again.   While in the past that might not have been such a big deal, the legs these days have a mind of their own and demand more recovery time.   At some point it’s not unusual for them to just declare “enough” and cramp up.    When the legs lock up it’s like watching the tin man trying to run after a rain storm.      The first few miles were OK but as the miles went by the legs got stiffer making the last few miles a tough slog.  

Day two dawns chilly and over cast but the rain is holding off.   On a typical day it takes me a couple of miles till the legs warm up and I don’t feel like the joints are filled with cement and someone has shrunk my lungs.   Today I’m stiffer than normal and a bit sore from the day before.  One of the challenges of the area where I live is that it is very hilly.   When the legs are stiff and tired hills are a literally a real pain.  While the uphills are challenging for the lungs and quads, the pounding on the downhills are can be like someone driving a nail into your thighs.    The strategy for the day, go extra slow and keep the hills to a minimum.   It worked.

Day three is only significant in that I had to go in for a colonoscopy.  Just what you want on your rest day.  The good news, everything is fine and I slept really well during the procedure.

Day four dawns windy and with occasional sprinkles.   Feeling better after a day of rest and while stiff starting out, I gradually loosen up.   At the end I was tired but able to push through the last few miles at a slow but steady pace.  Mentally it’s so much easier to keep going when you can see the finish line.

So, 4 days, 26.2 miles and total time around 4 ½ hours.    It’s not going to set any record books on fire but definitely a step up from where I was last year (7 days and 5 ½ hours) and two years ago when I wasn’t able to run more than 100 yards.   It will be interesting to see where we are this time next year.  Doctors say it is unlikely I will regain what I had before the chemo/transplant but I don’t think we have found my limit just yet.

Thanks for all the support, words of encouragement and donations to Help in the Nick of Time.   I don’t have the words to tell you how much it means to me.   Your support feeds my motivation to keep going, keeps good memories of Nick alive, and it truly has a huge impact on all the cancer lives we are able to touch with our programs.

Stay well and safe!

Focus on Distraction

I swear my dog has ADHD (Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder).   The three-year-old pug rushes from one activity to the next with extreme enthusiasm and frantic intensity often with the annoying goal of getting everyone else to participate.     Tucker’s idea of a good time is to wait for when I’m focused on some activity like paying bills or house maintenance and then to start bringing me his toys and pushing them against my leg to play.   If I don’t engage, he goes and gets another, and another, and another until the house is a minefield of dog toys.   If I do engage, he plays for 30 seconds and then loses interest and wanders off to terrorize his sister or get into some kind of other trouble.   He’ll be back in a few minutes to start all over again.

If I could read his mind, I’m sure it would sound something like….”Play time, I’ll bring him a toy.   Here’s a toy, let’s play.  Not that toy?  OK, I’ll get another.  Oh, there’s my sister, I’ll go bite her tail.   I need a drink.   What’s that outside?  Another dog walking by, I’ll bark a warning to keep moving.   Is it food time? Check the bowl.   Hey, there’s a toy.   Play time…..

My life these days seems to be full of distractions and interruptions.   There’s likely no more than I was use to in the past it just seems I’m more responsive to them these days.   Part of it is the concern that if I don’t respond to this issue right now I’ll forget about it.   Definitely an age thing.   My feeble attempts to multitask only make things worse.   And don't even get me started on the impact of the internet and email.  The other day I spent an hour writing two checks not because it took that long to write them (not that senile yet) but because I kept thinking of issues related to the bills that I needed to take care of and was afraid I would forget if I didn’t handle them right now.

Distractions can be blessing when you are running long distance.   Anything to keep the mind focused off how tired you are, how far you still have to go, or that nagging little pain in your left hamstring.    Some people run with music as a motivator and distraction while others listen to podcasts or audio books.   I find the crowds during a race are also good distractions and motivators.    In the past I would often use the time on the road to work on business or family problems.   The challenge these days is running takes a lot more effort and focus.  Since the transplant I’ve had a problem with a “lazy” left leg (likely the result of micro-strokes) that makes my stride and balance a bit awkward.   Where in the past I may have been able to run on autopilot letting my mind wander, these days it takes constant attention to form and effort.   I really could use some distractions to focus on.

This weekend (traditionally Boston Marathon weekend) is the start of my Marathon Challenge (the goal is 26.2 miles over 4 days in under 5 hours total time).   It’s a step up from last year’s goal (26.2 miles over 7 days in under 6 hours) although a long way from the last Boston Marathon I ran 4 years ago.   No complaints though, just could use a few more distractions during the upcoming miles.   Maybe I should take some lessons from Tucker.

If you think of it, send along some good vibes over the next few days.  I’ll provide an update on the effort when I’m done.  Wish me luck!