It's CRUNCH time!!!

It's not in reference to a cereal, to an abdominal exercise, or to the crinkling-crunchy sound walking on snow. It's CRUNCH time for no more slack in training and trip planning.  The blog countdown clock reminds me that in a little more than a month, my buddy Bob and I will be smack in the middle of this great adventure.

My training is intense these days.  Two days a week are my distance days.  On Mondays, I'm building up to 13 miles...I'm presently at 9 miles.  Friday is the killer-day...I'm presently at 16 miles and working up to running three, 20-milers.  My last 20-miler is scheduled for March 5.  Tuesday is a tempo 6 mile run.  Wednesday is speed work...I'm running 4 miles, two of which have me running 100 meter sprints...it's a b_ll-buster.  Thursday is a non-running day, as I'm up at 5 am for a weekly church function and then work 8 hours at the Corps of Engineers...I finish the day with weight training.  Saturday is a non-running day; however, I go Nordic skiing with my buddies on the fantastic Anchorage trail system.  Sunday is kind of mixed up, as I try to Alpine ski at Alyeska that day and tear up my thigh muscles.  If I don't ski, I do a light run.  I'm finally feeling like I'm making progress with my runs.  I still try to run outside, instead of inside at the Dome, but another cold spell is coming so it's back to running around the track like a hamster running in its exercise wheel. Actually, trip planning is coming along just fine.  All our lodging is set, car rental is set, and airline reservations are set.  The most complicated task is figuring out train schedules and costs.  For those not familiar with European train travel, one can purchase point-to-point tickets or a Eurail pass, which can cover travel in multiple countries for multiple days.  To figure out the best value, I'm having to cost-out both options, which is tough because Bob and I have multiple destinations in Italy to combine with trips in France.  I also have to consider my train trips in Spain, which Bob will not be taking.  It's a who's on first and what's on second puzzle.  The following two calendars map out where Bob and I are headed and when (click on figure to see an enlarged image):

  

As you can see, Bob and I will be every where.  I assure you, however, there is a lot of R&R scheduled, especially in Cinque Terre and the Sorrento area.  It's been a lot of fun having conversations with the folks I've contacted about lodging.  It's amazing how interested they are about Bob and I running marathons.  We already made a special friend in Venice.  The owner of Pensione Guerrato is named Roby, and he threatened to charge us more if we ran a sub-three hour marathon!  He was joking, of course, because he is a marathoner (he ran the Venice Marathon last October) and still has yet to break three hours.  We're looking forward to drinking some wine and chatting with him when we're there...he said he'll show us around...now that's service.  Scott, our Marathon Tours and Travel host for the Rome Marathon is also a runner and we talked track events...he was a 400 and 800 meters runner.  A number of other folks wished us luck and looked forward to hearing our marathon "war" stories.

That's it for now.  I have some other thoughts about inspiration, iPhones, and what-the heck-to-pack that I'll cover in future blogs, as well as fill you all in on the specific things Bob and I have planned.  Remember, train hard...run far!  Arrivederci!

P.S. The photo behind the blog title is in Florence.  Also...Hey Bill, congrats on finishing the Miami Marathon and Salome on running the Half!

Just happy to be here!

I'm writing this entry at 8:00 pm Alaska Time and this time last year I was in Never-Neverland! That is, I was still knocked out from having open-heart surgery 12 hours earlier in the day. I unsuccessfully tried to convince my wife Marian to write today's entry because she was more qualified and painfully aware of all that happened that day, and the next few days, before the doctor's thought it safe to wake me up. All the gory details of my operation, hospitalization and Marian's heartfelt thoughts of those first few days can be read in the entries she made on my blog (see archived entries).

I'm somewhat puzzled about my feelings today, or lack thereof. Efforts to try to understand it go unrewarded. Maybe it's because it's hard to believe an entire year has passed and yet the memories of the ordeal are crystal clear in my mind. A day doesn't go by that I'm not reminded of the operation by seeing the incision scar on my chest...but it doesn't bother me, I'm comfortable with it now. Frankly, I was more bothered by my doctor's attempts to medicate me with beta-blockers and other blood pressure control medications, because as you already know from earlier blog entries, I had a disastrous time getting back on track with my marathon training because of the medication experiments.

I had dinner with my European traveling buddy Bob Bowker today to discuss our upcoming trip; however, we spent more time conversing about our respective medical adventures (his successful battle with prostate cancer and my heart operation) than talking about the trip. A great amount of time was spent discussing whether or not our respective medical condition changed our lives, if we had an epiphany of sorts. Surprisingly, we both answered that it hadn't to any significant degree. We weren't sure why but we did think that already having a positive attitude about life (despite my periods of grumpiness) and being physically fit had something to do with it. One thing we both agreed upon quickly; however, was that the love for our family and friends was strengthened by the experience. With that thought shared, I'll end this entry and be thankful that I'm no longer in Never-Neverland!

Deja Vu

Besides being the title of one of my top 5 music albums, the title also reflects where I once was about a year ago. Back then I was pretty optimistic about my retirement and "walkabout" trip to Europe. I had no idea that within a few days of a January 5, 2009, blog-post things would get turned upside down...big time! But now after open heart surgery on January 13, 2009, things appear to be on track both physically and logistically. I can now relax again and reflect more on the reality of my plans to run three of Europe's most famous marathons (Rome, Paris, Madrid) and tour the countryside. Here's a recap of how the Eurothon trip and blog were born.

Regarding the blog title, my buddy Bill Parady, who blog-chronicled his 2009 Arizona Ironman training adventures, suggested I model my blog after a book written by Mark Twain: A Tramp Abroad.

The book was published in 1880 and details a journey by the author, with his friend Harris (a character created for the book), through central and southern Europe. While the stated goal of the journey is to walk most of the way, the men find themselves using other forms of transport as they traverse the continent. As the two men make their way through Germany, the Alps, and Italy, they encounter situations made all the more humorous by their reactions to them. The narrator (Twain) plays the part of the American tourist of the time, believing that he understands all that he sees but in reality understanding none of it.

I was sold on Bill’s idea modified the book title to reflect what I had in store for “Harris” and myself. My "Harris" turns out to be my buddy and running mentor Bob Bowker (known as the Silver Fox because of his flashy full head of silver hair) . Bob had planned to go with me in 2009 but he too had a medical setback but with prostate cancer...but now we are both "all cured up" and looking forward to the great adventure. Bob is here in Anchorage this holiday season visiting family so we're going to get together to run and work on the trip.

From an earlier blog post: "So how did I get this wild idea of running some of the great European marathons? The idea came to mind in 2008 after reading an article in Runners World about must-run marathons of the world. The top 10 list was packed with familiar venues, Boston, New York, Berlin, London, Rome, Paris, Chicago, etc. I was thrilled to see that some I have already run were on the list (New York, Boston, Chicago) but what really caught my eye were the dates of the London, Rome, and Paris marathons…in 2008, they were scheduled to be all 2 weeks apart. So, my mind started to work…why not combine a 2009 trip to Europe with running the London, Rome, and Paris marathons? I had already fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting some of the ancient ruins of Greece in 2002 (to celebrate my 50th birthday) and combining it with running the Athens Marathon, so I figured I’d also fulfill another lifelong dream of visiting some of the great cities of Europe and throw in a marathon or two or, in this case, three."

In 2010, Bob and I will run Rome and Paris together and spend time enjoying the sites and sounds of Italy and France. BONUS: My Ironman buddy Bill Parady, his wife Salome, and some of his friends will also join Bob and I to run Paris! The more the merrier! What's new for 2010 is that instead of Vienna, I'm running Madrid. I learned this past weekend that my cousin's ex-husband is Spanish, lives in Madrid, and is the retired Spanish Ambassador to China...and he has offered an invitation to visit with him while in Madrid...another bonus!

A quick note about my training. Now that my meds are all set, I have the confidence to really get into my training. The warmer weather we've been having lately has allowed me to run outside now and then. The Dome facility is nice but nothing beats running outside and training on various terrains and up/down hills. So far, I'm on target with my long-distance runs,in fact, I'm slightly ahead of schedule...hooray!

That's it for now. My next entry will describe the details-to-date of our trip including the cities we'll visit and the things we'll see. Remember, train hard, run far!

Free at last, free at last. I thank God I'm free at last.

Liberating words indeed from a great American, Dr. Martin Luther King. These words came to mind a week ago for reasons other than what Dr. King used them for. I finally was able to cast off the “medical chains” that have held me back for months from confidently training for my upcoming marathons in Europe and surprisingly, enjoying day-to-day activities with my family and friends. Let me explain.

For months my two doctors (Dr. Mues and Dr. Ireland) and I have been trying to find a blood pressure medication and associated dosage that would protect my heart and control my marginally high blood pressure without causing adverse side affects. The beta-blocker (Metoprolol) I started with caused fatigue, dizziness when standing from a sitting position, circulation problems, etc., and they are famously known to hurt running/athletic performance. Frankly, while on this medication I wasn’t the most fun person to be around … my family can attest to that! I couldn’t effectively complete my workouts. Luckily, cutting the dosage in half gave me an opportunity to run and complete my first marathon in August (see prior blog post about that adventure). Because some adverse symptoms remained, Dr. Mues prescribed a non-beta-blocker (Cozaar), which is supposed to be more athlete-friendly. Well, things went from bad to worse. All the adverse symptoms I had with the beta-blocker returned PLUS the new medication dropped my blood pressure too low (in the range of 75/55 to 90/70), so much so that I couldn’t finish most of my workouts and I was lightheaded all day. After another doctor’s visit I was prescribed yet another drug (Bystolic), a beta-blocker, a drug that supposedly got good reviews from athletes … WRONG! With this drug, I couldn’t even finish one lap at the Dome without gasping for air or feeling fatigue. Now, I’m beginning to think I’ll never run again; my trip to Europe should be canceled; I should give away my Alpine and Nordic skis, etc. … I wanted to go hide somewhere and mope. During this time I also was feeling despair, probably some depression, grumpy as hell…I was an asshole! OK, confession is over.

It was time to visit Dr. Mues (again). I arrived at his office with my carefully prepared written notes. He congratulated me for keeping my notes to one page this time, as I previously had provided him 8 pages of notes (and 3 tables charting my blood pressure measurements) the last time I visited him … at that time he jokingly (I think) said I had a obsessive compulsive disorder. (Aside: Dr. Mues told me that teachers come in with their notes in a spiral notebook, lawyers come in with their notes on the back of napkins --- Bill, is that true?---, and scientists like myself come in with bells, whistles, charts, diagrams, encyclopedias, and the kitchen sink). Anyway, Dr. Mues told me that he wanted me to try using a half dose of the Cozaar, if that didn’t work; we’d try a half dose of the Metoprolol. He also suggested that maybe all I need to do is lick a pill and maybe that dose will do. He said that in a joking manner but he wanted to make the point that athletes are difficult to treat because most of the medication and dosages designed/prescribed are intended for over-weight, out-of-shape people, and not for 150 pound runners. So I buy a fancy pill splitter on the way home and at home start making a huge mess splitting these tiny pills.

I waited 4 days before going back to the Dome to see how things would shake out. I haven’t any great expectations the first “trial run” on the day before Thanksgiving. I run my first lap cautiously, then my second, third, fourth, and so on. Before I know it, I’ve run 3 miles without any hardship … hooray! I stop at 3 miles, afraid to push it any further. I’m thinking on the way home that maybe, just maybe, good fortune is headed my way. I was correct. I proceeded to add 10K runs on the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving … I was so excited that I called my fellow “European Trampathon” buddy Bob Bowker to tell him the good news. Bob offered strong words of encouragement and was happy to hear the joy in my voice. He had sensed the last few times we talked that I was depressed about my predicament and that I was no longer excited about planning our European adventure…I confessed that he was right.

Since that phone call with Bob, my training has steadily improved without experiencing ANY adverse symptoms. I’d also like to think that my disposition has improved and the only fatigue I feel now is properly related to my weight training and running regime. I’m regularly running 10Ks as my base run and my once-a-week long run is now up to 10 miles. Once a week I’m plugging in some speed work also…something I couldn’t have dreamed of doing just a few weeks ago.

Yep, I’m free at last! Free from the medication’s adverse symptoms, free from feeling depressed about my inadequate training, free from feeling fatigued, free from the grumpiness, thank God, I’m free at last! I still have a long way to go to get back where I was athletically before the January 13 heart operation, but I now I have the renewed confidence that I’ll get there eventually. Rome, Paris, Madrid…here Bob and I come!

Blog Birthday ... Happy 1st Year!

One year ago today I started this blog at the urging of fellow running buddy Bill Parady. I spent a few hours reading my past entries and the many heartfelt entries my wife Marian made on my behalf. Too much to cover and too many emotions to adequately put to words what has happened over the past year. Ups, downs, and arounds! There was initial excitement about my retirement and plans for my European marathon adventure...then the disappointment of heart surgery in January and canceling my European Trampathon. Through it all, my family and I had lots of loving support (understatement) from many friends and family. Optimism started to build when I successfully completed my 12 weeks of cardio-rehabilitation and peaked when I completed my first post-surgery marathon in August (Humpy's Marathon). Now the excitement is building again! I'm marathon training again but still have some medication issues that need to be worked out. Trip planning is ongoing with my running buddy Bob Bowker, who has successfully recovered from his cancer surgery and is running 4:15 marathons again at the age of 68! Bob will join me for Rome and Paris and my friends Bill and Salome Parady will join Bob and I in Paris. I'm on my own for the last leg of the trip, which is the Madrid Marathon.

I have lots to be thankful for, especially this Thanksgiving ... I thank God for my family and loving relatives, my many friends, renewed health, and living in Alaska. Happy Thanksgiving and remember, train hard and run far!

Real Iron-men!

Two running buddies are in today's Arizona Ironman ... both their first full Ironman. Bill Parady (Bib # 1872) and John Clidas (Bib # 1819) have finished their 2.4 mile swim and are now on their bikes. Soon the marathon. Check out their progress at http://ironman.com/events/ironman/arizona?show=tracker&y=2010&year=2010

Goblins in Dublin

Two years ago today I was in Galway, Ireland with fellow running buddies Bill, Salome and John celebrating our successful Dublin Marathon run the weekend before and Halloween. We were in Ireland to run the marathon and tour Ireland with Marathon Tours. My God, the Irish sure know how to celebrate the ghoulish event...we, and our newly made running buddies, sure had to work hard to keep pace. We probably spent more energy doing that than running the damn marathon! However, the free-flowing Guinness and occasional shot helped replenish lost calories. The trip to Ireland ranks in my top three marathon-touring experiences...one worthy of repeating. Check out the photos I posted as a slide show...having a Guinness while you watch it will enhance the experience! Cheers!