The Europe Trampathon is in full swing!

Now that I'm back into training regularly without experiencing any medical problems (knock on wood), planning and "tempting" others to join me on my excursion can proceed in confidence...hooray! The marathons I plan to run between mid-March and late-April are Rome, Paris and Madrid. Between the runs will be lots of beach time, museum hopping, eating, drinking lots of wine, and generally hanging out in little towns along the way. My buddy Bob Bowker has recovered from his prostate surgery and plans to join me for the Rome and Paris portions of the trip. Both Bob and I completed this year's Humpy's Marathon, the first since our respective surgeries. For Rome and Paris, we'll be joining up with Marathon Tours. We'll also be joined in Paris with my running friends (and fellow tempters) Bill Parady and his wife Salome. I have lots to do to nail down an itinerary, flights, BnBs, etc....it'll keep me busy during the dark, cold, snowy Alaska nights. Actually, they'll be here soon, as the leaves are falling, nighttime temperatures are dropping, and termination dust (snow) will be on the Chugach Mountain peaks really soon...like tonight! Stay tuned for details and those interested in joining us on the trip, JUMP IN!

I finally posted my photos from my trip with Hannah to Washington, D.C.. Check out the slide show at the right.

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.

Hurricane Hannah's neverending adventures: Part 4

What an adventurous summer vacation Hannah has had! It started the first day of summer vacation when she was attacked and trampled by a cow moose (Part 1). Mid-summer she made a trip with me to the Jersey coast (Part 2) and Washington, D.C. (Part 3). Part 4 began this past Thursday morning when Hannah complained of abdominal pains and she stayed home from camp at the Campbell Creek Science Center. Pain pills worked somewhat through the day. Actually, Marian and I thought that Hannah may be experiencing her first menstrual cramps. I took off to a late movie (Terminator: Salvation I give it 3 stars) thinking things were under control...not! As soon as I got out of the movie I received a call from Marian that she and Hannah were at the Providence Hospital emergency room. They were advised to go there immediately after going first to our local Doc-in-the box. After arriving there at 9:30 pm, the tests began...blood work, poking here and there, CT Scan, etc. Yep, it's appendicitis and at 3 am she went into surgery. The laparoscopic surgery was over at 5 am and we accompanied her to her room. It was amazing how strong Hannah was through this entire ordeal. Her weakest moments were related to her fear that she would not wake up from the general anesthesia...she was pretty scared about this and it actually made me have flashbacks to my fears of not waking up from the pain/sleep medicine that was administered to me during my heart surgery hospital stay. The entire Providence staff was very supportive and treated Hannah tenderly. We had been given the impression that Hannah would come home on Saturday but that didn't happen. Dr. Jolly (yes that is his real name) wanted Hannah to be more pain-free and digestively active before being discharged...that happened today, hooray! Hannah has 1 1/2 weeks before school starts and should back to Hurricane Hannah strength before then.


Thanks so much for all the supporting calls and visits from our family friends...it was much appreciated.





She is now home resting comfortably and has us under her thumb for a few days living the good life.

Alaskan Summer..."Scotty, I need more power." "That's all she's got Captain. Anymore and she'll blow!"

The past seven weeks have been a blur. Colorado, New Jersey shore, Washington, D.C., Kenai River, etc... So much going on this summer, as it should be. Not much quality time to keep the blog up to date and post photos of all the adventures. I'll get there sooner or later...stay tuned.

Short story is that we are having a wonderful summer in Alaska. The weather is sweet, no mosquitoes, fishing is hot, and my running is improving each day. I recently ran the Alaska Mens 5-mile race to help raise funds for men's cancer research.

I ran in support of my friends Bob Bowker, Bob Lipsy, and Jimmy Fuhrer...all are prostate cancer survivors. I was happy with my time (around 54 minutes) because I finally ran faster than an 11 minute per mile pace, plus the course was hilly. Slowly and steadily my running is recovering from my January heart surgery. Getting to a 9:30 pace before the snow falls (sometime in Sept/Oct) would be amazing!

"Scotty, we'll need everything you've got." -- Kirk, "Aye. Warp drive standing by." -- Scotty, Star Trek III: The Search For Spock