Next Phase

Now, after a brief respite for the holidays it's time for me to start the next phase of my goal. I achieved the Deadman2Marathonman but that's not the name of this blog. As soon as I had finished my marathon I recall thinking to myself "why would anyone ever do that a second time?" But, I guess like child birth, the immediate pain of the experience passes and you start thinking about the next one. In this case, the next one is a triathlon.

I'm even more determined to attempt it than before. A couple of weeks ago NBC broadcasted the Kona Ironman on TV. I found it very riveting and couldn't stop watching. It made me want to do it.

Several things have to happen to start the path to the Ironman. 1) I have to gage my abilities in the water. Though I swam in high school, lifeguarded in my youth and surf when I can; I'm not sure how well I'll do in the water. 2) I need a bike, and all of the equipment that goes with it. Running was an easy activity to fund; it just takes the shoes. Biking is a whole new level. 3) I need to start training for the event. Finding time for a workout on 3 sports is 3 times as hard and fare more complicated to coordinate while trying to work too. And, 4) I have to pick and sign up for an event.

I’m happy to report that I've about completed all 4 things. First, I thought I'd run up to the YMCA and see just how far I can swim. It was a cold rainy night during our deluge here in California. I felt bad for the lifeguards because, when I got there, they were hunkered down inside as no one was in the pool. I figured that they are getting paid anyways; they might as well have to do something. So I went outside to the pool to start swimming with my own personal lifeguard in tow.

At first it felt pretty natural but I quickly started feeling like I was drowning. My breathing, which is difficult when I run, is nearly impossible while swimming. I don't know if it's old age or as a result of my accident but I really don't like the feeling of water in my mouth. I never notice it before but now while swimming and breathing I really get a lot of water that has to be dealt with. Unfortunately, a lot of it got swallowed and, as a drowning victim, I can tell you that it is a very uncomfortable feeling.

I pushed on anyway and my breathing got better but I still had to take several large refilling breaths every once in awhile in order to originate myself. In the end, I was able to swim a mile in about a half hour. I even finished my swim with a couple of lengths doing fly. Not a very good fly stroke but a good attempt for my part. It's good to know that my shoulder is up for the job. It's still not as strong as it was before my accident but it gets better all of the time.

Second, Santa was good to me and got me my bike for Christmas. Everything just worked out so well, in that, I just happen to mention to someone that I was going to look at a bike I was thinking of buying. He told me that he had one for sale himself. It was the right size, type and price so I got it just then. Of course the bike is just the half of it. This is where sponsors would come in very handy. I had to get special shoes that go with the special cleats I needed to buy that go with the special pedals on the bike. Next, I had to get the biking cloths, including padded pants, jersey, gloves and an helmet. I have no idea why helmets can vary in cost from $29 to $200 plus as they all have to meet the same safety standards but I tried to get the least expensive I could. Well not the least, as that would have been a women's helmet. Don't ask me why there's a difference between men’s and women’s, something to do with pony tales.

Next, I started my training. I found a site on the web with a beginners level triathlon schedule to use. It mixes multiple days, activities and number of workouts a day. I plan on starting at the New Year. I tried out my bike for the first time yesterday. I went 20 miles in just over an hour. I did get passed once but for the most part I did the passing. I’m paying the price for it today though, the padded shorts don’t offer that much in the way of cushion and I’m feeling the sore muscles that don’t normally get used.

I thought I’d try to run after my ride to see how the transition goes. That was an eye opening experience. I’m hoping that I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew because when I went to run, I could hardly move. My legs felt like two large over inflated led balloons. I could hardly jog down the block. I’m sure that its going to take a little building up to.

Finally, I’ve decided to enter the Oceanside ½ Iornman race on April 2nd. The race is already sold out but I found someone wanting to sale his entrance. That puts me only 14 weeks out so I have to jump into the middle of the training schedule I found. I’m hoping that, with just having come off my marathon training, the fact that I could swim the mile with little effort and the relative ease of the bike ride; I can string them all together to at least complete the race. Next week will be the tale. I’ll keep you posted.

Marathon Done

Well, I did it. My finish time was 5 hours. I have to say that I think I under estimated what it would be like. I felt really good up through 15 miles. Once I hit 19 miles I started having more of a mental struggle. The furthest I had run up to that point was 18. I started thinking "why didn't I just pull off at the 1/2 marathon"? I was sure no one would begrudge me that. From 19 to 23 it was a struggle, alternating between running and walking. My thighs were starting to really get sore. They stopped working very well as shock absorbers and my back started hurting. Once I hit 23 I started to win the mental battle. I figured that all that was left was a short 3 mile run and I could do that. I started running more and walking less. At 24 miles I stopped walking with one exception of a small rise up the freeway overpass. I finished running strong, even sprinting (if you can call it that) past the person directly in front of me at the finish line.

At the end of the race my family and one of the doctors who helped to save my life were there. I hate to say but I did get a little emotional. I'm sure that it was only because of my weakened state that made me so.

In fact, I'm sure that it is.

Dr. Laura Boomer was one of the many doctors that were instrumental in saving my life. Because I was moved so quickly from UMC to Kindred and because of the heavy drugs I was on at the time, I don't truly remember all of those that were at UMC. So this was a special chance to meet with Dr. Boomer. She was the one that gave me that great scare down the middle of my stomach.
We must have sat there for an hour and just talked. Which was good for me because I was pooped. Unfortunately, since we couldn't drive from our hotel to the marathon we had to walk back another mile. In all, I had to walk a mile to the race, 26.2 during and another mile after. So I really did 28.2 that day. Yuck.

Now it's off to the next phase of my goal, the triathlon. I just have to get a bike, start swimming and biking, and find the race that will work for me.

All most there

Well, I've done it again. In a world that you're busy living, it's tough to stop and find the time to write about it. A lot has happened since my last post. My training is over, I ran for the last time today before the marathon. Tomorrow we leave for Las Vegas and Sunday is the big day. I've done a lot of running without putting anything down in my blog. I successfully ran my 18 miles but didn't my 20. The 18 went ok although I had to walk and drink every mile for the last 3. Two weeks later I ran my 20. The only problem being that it was the hottest day of the year when I attempted to run it. It was also very dry that day. I made it 10 miles before I realized that my water was not going to make the whole trip. I started rationing water and ran out at about mile 15. I tried to make it to where I could refill my water but hit a wall at about 17 miles. Fortunately, there were people at a near by park watching soccer games that gave me some bottled water. I ended up walking another 1/2 mile and had to call to get picked up. By the time I got home and in the shower I was shaking and really felt crappy. The only other person home was my son-in-law visiting from Utah and I was getting worried that he was going to have to come in and get me; bringing our relationship to a whole new level. After that, I began tapper down the amount i ran till today. Now I'll rest up for 2 days and then do the run. After my failure on the 20 mile run I started getting a little nervous that I might not be able to do it. Just last week was thanksgiving and we went to Utah to be with our daughter and her family. While there I was to do a 3 mile run and then an 8. I tried the 3 mile one morning that happened to be about 10 degrees outside. The cold air, combined with the high altitude made it almost impossible to breath. It was so cold and difficult I thought I had better try the 8 on an inside track so I went to my old stomping grounds, the Orem rec center. The same place that Allison and I met and worked together when we were just out of highschool. They have an inside track that I gave a try. Unfortunately, 1 mile took 6 and 1/2 labs around. While having issues keeping count, figuring what the total was going to have to be (over 50 labs) and my lower legs starting to get really tight; I decided to call it at 3 miles. Later I found out that my legs got so tight because of the tight loop and constantly turning while running. All of this didn't do a lot to make my nerves go away. I hope that I'll be able to shake it off and finish.

High altitude

It's 10/10/10 and we're in Utah visiting my granddaughter. Since I knew we would be here for my Saturday long run I decided to do my long run my long run for the week last Thursday. I was suppose to do 15 miles this weekend and I was worried about attempting that at 4000 feet. So, I ran to work Thursday morning. Since it's not quite 15 miles from my house to work I had to do a couple of laps around the block once I got there. Unfortunately, time ran out and I could only do 13 miles.

Since Las Vegas is almost 2000 ft I thought I better try some altitude training while I'm here. Saturday I went for my run but instead of a long one I did the 7 that I was scheduled to do on Thursday. I was very surprised at how easy it turned out to be, even with only 3/4 of a right lung and running up the canyon. The next couple of Saturdays will be tough as I ramp it up to 16 and 18 miles.

I'm starting to think I might just be able to do this. To tell the truth, if I hadn't started this blog or told so many people my goal, I don't think I would have gotten this far. Have I said how much I dislike running!?! The truly good thing about it is that it let's me continue my love affair with food without repercussions, like gaining back the 45 pounds that I lost this year. I think I can honestly say I'm in the best shape I've been in for the last 10 years despite the accident. Now I'm signed up (and paid) for the marathon. I've also booked our rooms. I'm going to have to follow through now.

I did it! 13 miles without stopping. I did walk in the middle so that I could eat my "goo". If I didn't I couldn't have eaten it and without a little energy along the way I'd collapse.

I don't like to run out half my distance and then turn around and run back. So, I try to do loops or run out and then get picked up. Today I ran from my house to the beach and then south past buccaneer beach. I thought I was going to stop at any moment from about 8 miles on but I just kept pushing through it. Once I did stop I turned around, looked back the way I just came and asked myself, "could I just run back home?" Today that answer would have to be NO! Hopefully, by the time December gets here I'll be able to say YES!

I heard that if you can run 13 you can finish 26.2. I'm counting on it, since I'm officially signed up and have paid the entry fee. Now I'm going to have to do it for sure.

1/2 Marathon

Yesterday was my 47th birthday. Thank you to all those that took time out of their day to send me birthday wishes. But it got me thinking that I haven't updated my blog for awhile. I'm finding that I'm not a very good blogger. While running I can always think of interesting or funny things to post about but by the time I do, I can never remember what it was I thought of. For example, last Saturday I was brilliant, but now, for the life of me, I can't remember what I was going to say. So here's the status on my progress.

Yesterday I started the day with my 3 mile run and then spent the next 16 hours working. Ending up spending my birthday night with my customer at a going away dinner party for my customer's program manager. It was nice but it wasn't where I wanted to spend my birthday. Even worse is, my cell phone battier ran out and I couldn't talk to, or email anyone. Like my son Quinn said, "wow, who lets their phone die on their birthday?"

By the way, all of those who say they love running, your sick. I still find the only think good about it is not doing it. For better or for worse, my personality is to keep 100% to what I've decided to do or 0%. That means if I were to miss even one day on my schedule I might just throw it all in and stop. Fortunately, I'm on track for my training. I did have to do my 6 mile run late Wednesday night and yesterday's 3 miler early in the morning. With only a 6 hour sleep in between, it made if very hard to get through the 3 miles, but I knew I had to do it. I pretty much hated every minute of it.

Last Saturday was my longest run yet, 12 miles. I finished, but ended up walking the last 1/2 mile due to a miscalculation on my part. I could have gone farther, and will have to this Saturday as it will be my official 1/2 Marathon. The amazing thing was, I actually passed other runners on my path, that never happens. Even better, I wasn't passed, which tends to happen from time to time. It was the worst when 2, fairly lengthy ladies blew by me. They were obviously runners, a lot younger, I pretty much think that neither of them were hit by a boat in the last 2 years or so. But, my competitive nature still took it hard. I pass plenty of walkers but last Saturday was the first time I passes a few runners.

Well, got to run, not litteraly, but I do need to get going. I'll try to write less, more often; and proof read...

10 Miles!

Here's a sentence I never thought I'd write, "Just finished my 10 mile run". After working up in miles and doing 9 miles last Saturday, I just did 10 this Saturday. I ran down to the beach from my house. I felt like I could have done more, maybe even finished a half Marathon, but in order to not push myself too hard too soon, I stopped at 10. In the coming weeks I'll increase the mileage. My weekly Saturday schedule we be:

9/11 - 7 miles
9/18 - 12 miles
9/25 - 13 miles
10/2 - 10 miles
10/9 - 15 miles
10/16 - 16 miles
10/23 - 23 miles
10/30 - 18 miles
11/6 - 14 miles
11/13 - 20 miles (what?)
11/20 - 12 miles
11/27 - 8 miles
***12/5 - 26.2 miles***

I feel like I will actually do it. So much so that I've registered for the event and paid the entry fee. Now I'm committed and will have to finish.

Longest Run Yet

Well, I made my longest run today, 7 miles. Now I feel like I just might make it. I completed 1/4 of my goal and if I can do 1/4 I can do 1/2. If I can do 1/2, I can do a full. Now it's just a matter of following my training and, as my doctors are telling me (and my family and friends as well), listen to your body.

This last week I met with my Polomologist about my lungs and my breathing. We looked at x-rays and blood work and, for the most part everything is normal. As we looked at my chest x-rays I was reminded of how banged up my ribs are. My left lung and rib cage is completely normal but my right side is a jumbled mess. We could even see some of the staples still left inside of me from the repair work. My right lung has a lot of scaring, which explains the shortness of breath and lack of lung capacity. Dr. Nelson ordered a breathing test to measure my lung capacity and breathing so we'll see what happens with that.

For the most part, Dr. Nelson wasn't as admit about not doing the Marathon as Dr. Halgager is but he did recommend caution and taking things slow. He suggested making sure why this was important to me and being sure to watch myself.

Today reminded me as to why I'm doing this. I would say that I can honestly answer inquires into how I'm doing with a resounding better than 100%. I would say that last December I was close to 100% but I realized then that that wasn't where I wanted to be. Then, I was an over weight, out of shape 45+ year old man. Now, 2 years after my accident, I'm only slightly overweight, better shaped, under 50 year old man (who can run up to 7 miles without stopping). I would say I'm about 110% now. But how much better can it be?

Tough Run

I'm several weeks into my training program now and this month will be when I start to really ramp up the miles on Saturdays. Last Saturday was a 6 mile run and by the end of August I'll be ready for double digits. However, today was only 3 which proved to be very difficult. That may be more due to what I did yesterday than today. I took my first day of vacation as the opportunity to play 2 hours of basketball, run 3 miles, repair the washing machine, do some laundry (only to make sure that the repairs took) and grout the guest bathroom tile floor. All of that took place before 1pm. I had to go back into work just to rest. After 3 hours of working, I went surfing till I couldn't get up anymore. Turned out to be too much for a vacation. Today I'll have to take it easier.

While on my run I seriously considered stopping and walking. I started think that maybe I can't do this and have taken on too hard of a goal. But, I made it through and will reserve that question for a later date.

What happened next?

In my first posting I talked about my accident on lake Mohave. However, I didn't say much about what happened after the initial impact. Like I said before, most of this comes from bits and pieces that have been told to me by others (as I have zero recollection of what happened).

Upon impact I suffered all of the damage described before and caused me to drown. If you look to the right of my home page you'll see a list just some of the people involved in my rescue. Which, started first and foremost with Jordan Rodebush. He was the first to reach me and begin the process of saving me. The best recollection that anyone has is that I was in the water for about 2 minutes before Jordan turned me over and helped pull me on to boat that took me back to the dock.

On that boat was my next major rescuer, Ted Sage. Ted had just launched his own boat with his family for their traditional annual trip on lake Mohave. They were leaving the dock when another boat, speeding in the wake less zone, intercepted them asking if anyone knew CPR because someone was dead in the water and another was drowning. Fortunately for me, thou I was the one they were saying was dead in the water, I had only drowned (or "only mostly dead"). Well boy, does Ted know CPR. You see, Ted is a Fireman from Orange County (one of their best if you ask me).

Ted joined the other boat and reached me as Jordan was trying to help me. They pulled me onto the boat and Ted began administrating CPR. He complete 4 rounds before I began breathing again. That amounts to a total of about 6 minutes without air (2 before CPR and 4 during). While Ted was performing CPR the boat (and I wish I new the owners of that boat) took me back to the dock.

Once on the dock the local rangers helped to get me on the air transport to Las Vegas. Good thing for me Ted stayed to make sure all went well. Although I'm sure the rangers do well, Ted had the most experience with rescue as a member of an elite t group of firefighters, known as California Task Force 5 that travel around the country helping where ever they are needed. Ted helped to make sure that my C collar was placed correctly and that I was properly handled, safeguarding my neck and back against further damage as my neck was broken.

The next in the line of my rescuers was Bishop Tum Vongswad and Barry Bean. They were two of the people there on the lake with my group. They also hold the Priesthood of God and where able to use that priesthood and where able to administer a bless to me as they loaded me into the ambulance.

After that I was in the hands of medical professionals with all of the skill and ability necessary to save my life. They had to use all of their skills as the first challenge was in transport to the hospital in Las Vegas. While on the medical helicopter, my heart and lungs failed again. They had to work to get it working again. The best news of that day was that they were taking me to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas, undoubtedly the best hospital east of the Mississippi. I've listed on my "My Stories" page several things that I "experience" while in that hospital.

I listed several of the doctors and nurses instrumental in my treatment. I know I've missed several and will work to complete that list in time. There is a lot to go over just in the hospital so I'll save that for another posting but, I'll sum up my list of rescuers with everyone that prayed on my behalf. I believe in the power of fasting and prayer and appreciate all those who did so for me. I know that that was also a major contributor to my recover.

Now, I'm on this journey to see how far back I can come from that. Yesterday I run 4.5 miles and Saturday will be 6. The next major running milestone will be for me to hit the double digits. My training schedule has me running 10 miles on Saturday 9/4. I hope that I can make it...

Time for a second opinion

Well, I saw my orthopedic surgeon for my hip today. His response was predictable. Although my hip showed no new degradation since my accident, he's still concerned with me participating in high impact sports. He suggested that I bike and/or swim. I told him that that was only 2/3 of my plan. I still need to run. He showed me where my hip was showing early signs of osteoarthritis and where a cyst was on my joint. He went on to explain that my joint was stiffer than the other one and had less range of motion. We talked about the risk and treatments if my hip did start to get worse. I could need anti-inflammation shots, joint resurfacing or complete replacement. He told me that I could go my whole life without needing to replace it if I take care of it. However, my feeling is that I could spend the next 40 years NOT doing the things I enjoy, i.e. basketball, surfing, etc. (I can't say running because I don't enjoy it but it is my goal), and keep my hip or 20 years of doing those things and then another 20 not. Either way I can still have my grandchildren on my knee. As I see it, it's all bonus time now anyway after that day on the lake. So I took the news and immediately went out I ran 3 miles. Two more 3 milers this week and then 6 this Saturday. Next, I'm going to find a new orthopedic surgeon and get my second opinion. Maybe someone with a sporting influence. I also setup my pulmonologist for 9/10 to make sure I don't have exertion induced asthma. We'll see if I can't get 2 out of 3 thumbs up anyway.

Poo Dollar

Wow! I just got my first real sponsor, Gaujome Regional Park. While running this morning I came across a dollar in the path. Now, I wouldn't stop for a quarter or something but a whole dollar; that's a different story.

Stopping is no small deal. I don't think I've said this previously but, I HATE to run (good thing I made this my goal, huh!?!). You've heard "if man was meant to fly...", well, I prescribe to the similar notion that if man was meant to run, God would have given us wind-(thanks Janice)-up legs (like a McDonald's Happy Meal toy). The only good part about running is the stopping. So stopping and then going again is a big deal.

Back to my paying gig: So I decided to stop and pick up the dollar but then it came immediately to my thought that "maybe this is a practical joke" and someone has left a "rigged" dollar to see if someone will try and pick it up. When you do, bam! You get more than you hoped for once you grab the money. Well, I looked around to see if someone was near that could have dropped it or, was waiting to watch someone try to pick it up. Then I examined it closely, decided it was safe and took the money and ran. Now I've made my running work for me. Maybe I can run some more lucrative paths in the future.

Cardiologist Down

Great News! I just got the word from my cardiologist, Dr. Carr (how appropriate is that name?), about the results from my stress Eco that I took on Monday. All signs point to YES! He said that my heart is "completely recovered". In fact, he said that it strengthens with exercise and showed no signs of any problems. It was as though I wasn't even in an accident. He cleared me to start an exercise routine. Not bad for the heart that stopped 4 times 2 years ago and was only 30% efficient.

Now I have my orthopedic surgeon appointment on Monday to clear my hip for running. I'm sure he's not going to like it as he was the one that told me to stop playing basketball (which I totally ignored). Although, he said I could keep surfing and that's the only thing that has hurt my hip since the accident so....

I do need to check in with my polmonologist since the only thing that really bothers me is my breathing. I have diminished lung capacity since they were torn open and notice it when surfing and running. I can't hold my breath nearly as long as I could before, which can get worrisome when you're being held down by a large wave. When I run it's not 50 yards before I'm breathing like an asthmatic in search of an inhaler. The good thing is that after 2 miles that settles in and I can run, until I come to too steep a hill.

I did complete my 3 mile run last night but proved that one must never "eat and run". Most people already know that but after having a late dinner with Allison last night I still had to do my run for the day so I went out at about 10:30. Getting the fun done was worse than normal. One thing you need to understand about me is that I HATE running (I guess that's why I'm doing this). The only good part about running is the stopping But, last night it was even harder. I guess I'm going to have to make sure I only run on an empty stomach.

I was reading through the diary that my sister-in-law, Brenda, kept during my recovery. It brought back many memories and got me thinking that I should share some of what went on then. So, if you check out my links at the bottom of the page you'll see on to "Care Pages" where my family posted details during my recovery in the hospital. From time to time I'll add interesting stories that aren't posted there under "My Stories" link at the top of the page.

In the beginning

This blog is born out of a question I've heard over and over the last 2 years. "How are you feeling now?" Any time I've seen someone for the first time since my accident, that's the first question that I hear.

I don't mind the question, people genuinely what to know how things are going for me and as my wife says, I don't mind talking about myself. But, in order to understand why getting this question regularly is the birth of this blog, I need to go back two years to it's inception.

Two years ago my wife, Allison, and I were traveling through the California dessert to spend the weekend with friends and family camping and boating on Lake Mohave. While traveling we were having one of those conversations that help to build your relationship. I don't remember the specifics now, but we spoke of our children, grandchildren, ourselves etc.

The one thing I do remember very clearly is my saying "I feel very fortunate having lived a life with no real adversities". Now, mind you, we've had our share of stuff. Everything from loosing my job in the dot com bust to family trials, but nothing I considered true adversity. Little did I know, in a mere 24 hrs those words would prove to have been a little premature.

The next day, after an evening of enjoying my oldest granddaughter and a morning of playing in the water with her, I proceeded to hit, head on, a boat while riding a rented wave runner.

Much of what I say next comes from a collection of witnesses, park ranger reports and my best guess since I really don't remember up to 10 minutes before the accident. The last thing I do remember is telling Allison that I was going to take the wave runner back to the dock to get somethings from the car. That was just 10 minutes before I collided with the boat at a combined speed of about 60 mph.

The report says that I was jumping a wake and was several feet in the air and lost control. Witnesses say I was passing friends in a boat in the opposite direction. Knowing me, I was probably trying to show off to my friends and jumped their wake behind them. What I can only assume is that I didn't even see the boat just coming up to speed and beginning to plane in the wake behind my friends boat.

In a weak attempt to accuse myself: I know that the boat was traveling from the dock where several large house boats were moored off shore. I suppose that with the boats in the background, I couldn't perceive the looming danger in the foreground. At any rate, we hit and hit hard.

They tell me, at the last minute, I tried to make a hard turn to the left in order to avoid impact. Unfortunately, this exposed my right side to the front port side of the bow. In the collision almost all of my ribs on my right side were broken in at least one spot and some shattered and punctured my right lung in both the upper and lower lobs. With the hard turn to the left, my right arm was raised in the attempt. This allowed my right shoulder to be jammed into the right side of my head breaking my neck at the occipital bone. My left leg was trapped by the handle bars of the wave runner, causing my left hip to be dislocated. Both lungs aspirated and filled with water while I drowned.

There's a whole other story related to my rescue and saving to be covered in another blog but sufficient to say, I'm still here.

However, people like to hear how I've improved over the last 2 years. My answer has always been the same, about 80-90% of normal. But then, another month would pass and I'd be answering the question again and I'd realize that I felt better than the last time I was asked. Therefore, my previous response must have been incorrect. So, I'd answer the inquire the same, about 80-90% of normal.

Obviously, I'm a bad judge of my own status. That started me think though, how would I know when I was 100% back to normal. Could I even get back to where I was before. Not that I was such a specimen before but I was playing basketball 3 times a week and surfing as much as I could before the accident. I began wondering how I'd know when I had made a full recovery.

There are a few things I know are never going to get any better like, my lung capacity, the feeling that something is clamped to my chest and the range of motion of my shoulder. There's also never being able to fully clear my throat due to the scare on the inside of my throat from my tracheotomy.

Then I decided being a 50 lb over weight 47 year old wasn't necessarily the best thing to ascribe to. So I decided to get more than 100% of normal but how much more. Therefore, I have a new goal in life, improve enough to run a marathon, or maybe better, participate in an Ironman competition.

That's a big goal from where I was 2 years ago (or where I am now) and I'm not even sure if its achievable but I'm going to give it a try. So, I lost 45 lb, bought some running shoes and started training. My next step is to listen to my wife and get my doctors sign0ff before I going too much further.

Today I met with my cardiologist and performed a stress-Eco. I hope to get the results back this weekend and get the green light to proceed. In the meantime, I'm on coarse to run in the Los Vegas 2010 Marathon. I'm currently running 3 miles a day, four days a week. Soon I'll be pushing up to 3 moderate runs and one long run a week.

Before I get there, I need to get signed off by my Orthopedic surgeon. When I saw him a year ago he recommended that I not play basketball in fear that I'd eventually need a hip replacement. Since I haven't listen to him thus far I'm not sure if I will next week when we meet again but I promised Allison I'd see him so...

Well, this has been a long first post and I promise to not make them so long in the future but I though a good foundation was the best start.