Mission: Impossible…NOT! Possible…YES!

My mission, which I chose to accept, was a secret one…known only to a very few. The mission I accepted and accomplish -ed successfully was to complete today’s Humpy’s Marathon. With today’s accomplishment, I have declared my recovery from open-heart surgery in January complete (well sort of). For months I’ve been dreading this day because I was putting so much pressure on myself to participate, but I never really knew what I would accomplish. I registered to run the full marathon months ago, knowing that I could run something less than the full and even drop out if things just didn’t click. Dropping out was the likely scenario today because I’ve been (up to today) reacting badly to my beta-blocker medication, which is designed to keep my heart rate down and to some degree also my blood pressure. All my previous runs this summer have been a real struggle…just a week ago I painfully completed the 5K Musk Ox Farm run and nearly died…a pure disaster! Fortunately, I had a visit with Dr. Linda Ireland (my cardiologist) on Thursday and I presented a two-page summary of everything “going wrong” (poor running, dizziness during the day, cold fingers, fatigue, etc.). She agreed to cut in half my beta-blocker meds, in concert with doing more medical tests next week and keeping a daily log of how I react to the decreased dosage. Well, if today’s event is any indication, I’m reacting favorably!

I promised Marian and my running buddies that I would drop out of the marathon at the first sign of trouble, well; there were no signs of trouble to be had. The marathon time limit was six hours and I really didn’t know if I could finish before then because I had only run two 13-milers before, I hadn’t really built up my base, and I didn’t know how I’d react to the new medication dosage. Running with a full fanny pack was a real pain also…I had a cell phone and emergency numbers, an extra long sleeve tek-shirt, 8 Gu packs, a chocolate chip Cliff bar, three Ipod shuffles, tp, and a water bottle…I had to be prepared because I really had no idea how long I might be out there. Running conditions were perfect…temps in the upper 50s, slight breeze, and overcast skies.

I carefully planned to, and started slow and steady. It was a strange feeling to be at the back of the pack after only running 6 blocks (there were only about 250 marathon runners). I had intermediate goals…get to the half marathon milepost and do a reality check…got there with a time of 2:39.59. I was real happy with that, as I normally would run my half in 2:10ish. Next goal, get to mile 16.5, that’s where I’d have to make a decision to go left (which would be a 2 mile detour back to the starting line) or go right (which takes you out to the furthest point – mile 21 - from the finish line and double back to the finish line). Going right would give me about 2 ¾ hours to run 10 miles…I could do that, I was at 3:17.38…I went right (not politically). Beginning around mile 22 on my way back along Chester Creek Trail, I began to realize that my running pace, although steady, had slowed considerably. So much so that I thought I could walk as fast as I was running…I tested it out. I walked mile 23 in 15 minutes, about 1 ½ minutes slower than I was running. I decided to run/walk the remaining 3 miles and was glad I did. I tested it out and walked mile 23 in 15 minutes, about 1 ½ minutes slower than I was running. I decided to run/walk the remaining 3 miles and was glad I did. I believe the walking helped move the build up of lactic acid out of my legs. The only hiccup occurred at mile 24 ½ …a strong wave of nausea hit me: I almost lost it. I had to concentrate real hard to get through that. Luckily the mile 25-aid station had some Gator Aid, which really help get rid of the nausea. About mile 25 ½ I began to feel euphoric and emotional, especially when I started to see runners doubling back on the Coastal Trail already wearing their finishers medals. I knew I was going to finish…I couldn’t believe it!!! Upon reaching the top of the steep H Street hill (the bastards) and with only a few blocks left, I lost it when I turned left onto 6th Avenue…there was the finish line 100 yards ahead and my friend Sandy Bowker screaming support my way…the emotions flowed freely and I welcomed it. My mind began to play back the many months of recuperation I went through and all the associated family and friends support. I thanked God for the medical professionals who saved my life back in January. I also never thought back in February when I started my rehabilitation at Providence Hospital with Hal and his crew that I would be where I am today athletically.

Approaching the finish line I heard my name being announced…I puffed up my chest, cleared my mind and waved victory signs proudly over my head as I crossed the line: time 5:42.19. I kissed the finishers medal as soon as it was placed around my neck. Coming out the shoot, my buddy Bob Bowker (who finished his first marathon since having prostate cancer surgery in March: time 4:36) and I embraced and again he and I let the emotions flow. The tears turned to smile soon afterwards, especially when we went to Humpy’s for mass quantities of food (and for me, beer).


I did it! Bob did it too! We both came back from surgery...hooray! How the hell I did it I’ll never know. Funny thing, I really didn’t have any physical problems: no black toenails, no sore ankles, no cramps in my calf muscles or in any leg muscles, no side stitches, no lower back ache, no racing heart rate, no fatigue to speak of, no dizziness, no nothing (except the slight nausea at mile 24 ½). I’ll let this all settle in for a few days and do a reality check about my physical fitness…I’m not sure what my next “goal” will be but after today, Trampathon 2010 to Europe sounds like a real possibility…stay tuned!

Check out the Humpy's Marathon slide show to the right.