SSB Half: Chapter 2

Do you use recreational drugs?

COROS Race Predictor updated my Half Marathon from a 1:57:02 to 1:56:28.

Saturday: 2.10.2024 (Day 8 of 84): Group Run

Running with friends is better.

It’s almost impossible to put into words how blessed I am to have found a run club in Clayton Area Runners and have made the friends I have. On any given weekend of the year someone is getting in a “long run” and throwing an open invite out to the group for anyone to join in. We call it “Free Association Running”. These FAR runs are always welcome on the weekends, especially when you get a group of people who are concurrent in their training for an upcoming race. Running in a pack is always great.

This Saturday morning was a game-day decision for me. Friday was raining and nasty out and I really did not want to run in the rain on Saturday. Luckily Chrissy organized it for an 8am start, thus giving me plenty of time to wake up and ensure the weather was copacetic to my ideal running conditions.

We all linked up, sorted out who was going for what distances and then stepped off. I had a long run planned for 7 miles with an average pace of 9’36” - 10’06”. The group decided to stay together and I made the decision to stick with the 10-mile group until my turn around at mile three. The group had some strong runners, especially Cameron. She was tackling her longest run ever at 10-miles! I’ve ran with on a few occasions and she’s a great runner with strong legs. As I turned around at mile 3 and bid them farewell I had no doubt that she’d complete that distance without hiccups.

I ran my three miles out with the group and turned around with Carolos. We upped the pace on the last half and enjoyed a good conversation during the run. It’s great to have found a community of people who enjoy running as much as I do. If you’ve never ran with a club or found a group of people who will share in your journey, I highly recommend you do.

Mile 1: 10’09” ~ Mile 2: 10’29” ~ Mile 3: 10’41”

Mile 4: 10’24” ~ Mile 5: 9’23” ~ Mile 6: 9’23” ~ Mile 7: 9’25”

6.02 Miles | Avg Pace: 9’49” Avg HR: 143 | Best Mile: 9’47” | Feeling tight.

Sunday: 2.11.2024 (Day 9 of 84): Massacre Marathon Relay

Sunday was here and I was finally running a race that my friend Rich had been telling me about for years. We formed a team of 4 men, the “Crushing Hearts and Minds” and drove 90 minutes from home to tackle this 1.6 mile loop for a total of 26.2 miles.

The team consisted of Robert, Dave, Mike and myself. We didn’t set out to win the race, but to have a good time, drink a beer or two and enjoy a day of running. On either side of us were two more teams from Clayton Area Runners and we had a great cheering section as we motivated the hundreds of runners that ran through the tent area.

Each of us had to complete 4 laps, my portion of this race was 4 laps of the 1.6 mile loo, but I wasn’t even aware of this until I already completed 2 laps! For the life of me, I was thinking this was 3 loops each! On the 90-minute drive up, in my mind it was 3 loops each. On my first lap, I figured I was 33% done. This just goes to show you how much of an idiot I am and how I am apparently not good at math.

After I completed Lap 2, it was brought to my attention that we had 4 laps each! This kind of through me for a loop mentally, but I was prepared physically to “Go One More”.

Lap 1: 8’11” ~ Lap 2: 7’48” ~ Lap 3: 7’48” ~ Lap 4: 7’55” | Feeling: Surprised!

Monday: 2.12.2024 (Day 10 of 84): A Trip to the Doc.

For years, I’ve been running with this nagging wheezing in my chest. It’s most prominent when I’m sprinting or doing a high-intensity CrossFit style workout. For years I’ve just chalked it up to being overweight, carrying more fat mass around then healthy and I didn’t feel my running was really being affected by it. My long slow runs didn’t seem to be affected and when I’m sprinting, well I just figured it was part of the aging process.

My wheezing is so bad you can hear it across the track. It damn near echo’s off the nearby buildings.

It must be incredibly annoying to run with me while this is happening. I’m not sure how Rob and Dave has put up with it all these miles.

Within the last few weeks I did a 4-mile run with a new-to-the-club runner, Maureen. We pushed pretty hard on the run and my wheezing was loud enough that even I was getting annoyed with it. However, I did not feel like it was slowing me down or negatively affecting my running performance.

Following the run Maureen asked if I had an inhaler with me.

“Nope” I reply

She followed up with asking if I have Asthma.

“No, not that I’m aware of”

In her assessment I was clearly not using the full capacity of my lungs and I should consult with my Doctor about it. She said that an inhaler, like albuterol would most likely help me.

The following week I went in to see my Doc about my breathing issues. I really didn’t know what to expect in the exam, so I showed up in running clothes, in anticipation of doing some sprints and letting her see how intense this wheezing was.

After a conversation with my Doc, she wanted to listen to my lungs. Yes in fact I did have a wheeze during her exam. This was followed up with a Spirometry evaluation in which it said I had the lungs of a 68yr old.

Fuck. This isn’t looking good. Lungs of a 68yr old, wheezing on the exhale.

The nurse takes the Spirometry results to the Doc and a few moments later she enters the room with the results and a worried look on her face.

“I have to ask this, but, do you use recreational drugs?”

“No” I reply, “I’ve never done any drugs in my entire life. Except a few drinks, but never any drugs. I’ve NEVER put anything in my lungs except natural air.”

“Are you a heavy drinker?” she continues to probe.

“Nope. I literally drink less than 20-beers a year and rarely any hard alcohol.”

“How much caffeine do you intake? Do you drink a lot of energy drinks?”

Again I respond, “Nope! I have about 2 cups of coffee a day, usually no more”

The look on her face was a little concerned. In her exam of my lungs and chest, she said that she could hear an irregular heartbeat and was going to send the nurse in with the EKG.

Oh great. I’m a fucking mess. I came in for my lungs and now I’m getting an EKG.

The nurse entered and handed me a robe, asking me to strip down to just my shorts and put on the robe. I’m glad I don’t have to strip all the way down, but really I don’t care because I know the Nurse and Doc don’t care. They’ve seen more naked bodies than I’ve seen squirrels on the trail. Regardless, I strip down and put on the robe.

“Sir, it goes the other way”

Great, I put the fucking robe on backwards. No big deal, I get it turned around and then she gets going with the EKG. I lay as still as possible and make an effort to relax as much as possible. Before I know it, the EKG is over. She takes the machine and printout and says the doc will be back in to see me.

With the results of the Spirometry, EKG and exam in hand, it’s obvious she is about to have a serious conversation with me.

The good news, if you want to call it that, is that she is most certain that I have Exercise-induced asthma. She prescribes me an inhaler and a nightly pill that she indicates will absolutely help with my breathing and running.

Then comes the kick to the nuts.

“Your EKG results are abnormal.”

Now, I’m not going to get into the details of the follow on discussion or details of the findings, but it’s clear that I have something abnormal with my heart.

“Does this man I have to stop running until we get more tests done? I have a half Marathon on April 27th!”

She continued explaining the findings and her recommendations. I was happy to hear that she told me to continue exercising and making a serious change to my lifestyle and by lifestyle she means my eating / nutrition. All of these findings also lead to a Chest X-ray and the results are still pending.

I have more Doctor appointments and tests next week and into the future. Needless to say, this has been an eye-opening, terror inducing ordeal for my wife and I. My wife ordered me to not die because she’s too young to be a widow.

The only silver-lining to this ordeal is that I now have an inhaler and it has almost completely removed all my wheezing and it feels weird to be able to breath!

ZERO DAY: Trying to mentally and emotionally wrap my head around this.

Tuesday: 2.13.2024 (Day 11 of 84): Back on the Track

So, what do I do after visiting the doc and getting an inhaler, chest x-ray, abnormal EKG with more appointments and tests?

I go back to the track!

My Doc approved me to continue working out, so that’s exactly what I did. I believe the reality is, if I hadn’t been a runner and had such a strong heart, I probably wouldn’t still be here and would have joined my friends in the Holy legions above.

So, continue running and lifting is what I shall do.

I’ve never had a problem with exercising or working out or running. It is truly something I enjoy and I have the discipline to do it often.

So, back on the track I went.

It total we do 12-laps for a total of approximately 3-miles, a little further if you run on any lane other than Lane 1. The efforts were good and the pace was pushed. For the first time in a LONG time, I wasn’t wheezing! It felt strange to be able to breath again! With the nightly meds and inhaler before running, my wheezing is almost completely gone and I not longer find myself short of breath when pushing hard. I wish I’d have taken action on this years ago.

3.10 Miles | Avg Pace: 9’35” Avg HR: 125 | Best Lap: 6’42” | Feeling Grateful.

Wednesday: 2.14.2024 (Day 12 of 84): WW & Valentine’s Day

Yes, the rumors are true. I’m on weight watchers. Damn it sucks being perpetually stuck in a “bulking” phase. After 3 decades of bulking, it’s time to cut it back!

But really, my wife is extremely concerned with my current condition and wants to ensure that I live for as long as possible. Well into our 80’s would be nice, I think.

So, I’m on weight watchers. Elizbeth cleaned out the fridge and cupboard. Everything that is not sugar-free, low fat or heart healthy is gone. Processed foods, gone. Extra snacking bullshit that we usually keep around. Gone. A whole new grocery list was created, acquired and placed in the house. Things are changing.

One thing that hasn’t changed was that I run on Wednesdays!

So, it’s a Wednesday 5K with the club. It’s been an ongoing habit of mine for a few years now.

Dave contacted me and asked if I’d like to get in 1.5miles before the group run at 6:30pm. My workday was full of mind-numbing meetings so it was a welcome break to get in a little more before the group run. I’ve probably logged hundreds of miles with Dave if not a thousand, and today was another one of those conversational paces.

1.56 Miles | Avg Pace: 11’09” Avg HR: 120 | Best Mile: 11’06” | Feeling: Thankful

After the warmup run we linked up with the club and decided to step off for the 5K route. It was an easy out and back 5K with the group. Everyone was giving each other encouragement and it was a good evening to get in an easy run.

Yes, I know. It was Valentine’s Day! Yes, I went and ran instead of having a romantic evening with my incredibly beautiful and amazing wife. Not because I didn’t want to, we’re just at a point in life where she was working, our grown kids were home and life is just busy. No worries though, we’ll be on a Disney Cruise in 3 weeks and enjoying time in Florida and the Caribbean.

3.11 Miles | Avg Pace: 10’50” Avg HR: 125 | Best Mile: 10’28” | Feeling:

Thursday: 2.15.2024 (Day 13 of 84): Another PR!

Last Thursday I made a decision to step-it-out on the Thursday run, resulting in a new PR for the Deep River 5-miler. That was before I got the inhaler and my wheezing was really out of control. I felt labored and almost like I was running with a weighted vest on over my chest.

Now it’s a week later and I’ve been taking my meds since Tuesday and I have the inhaler at the ready.

My goal tonight was to maintain a sub-9min/mile and to finish the run in 45-minutes or less. So I stepped off on my own, fully expecting to complete this task solo. So much so that I brought my headphones and started last in the group.

That lasted about 1/4 mile when I found myself next to a Leo. (I think that was his name?!? Truly I’m the worst with names). So at the 1/4 mile mark Leo and are in an unspoken running agreement that we’re going to stick together. One of us may move forward a little, the other falls back but we each stay within about an arms length of each other.

The pace seemed to never cease and every time I looked at my watch, we were going just a little bit faster.

During the run I learned Leo was an Air Force Veteran and has been stationed at a few places I’ve visited in my life. We both agreed that Minot, ND was a horrible, no good place.

The run ended before most and it was a good run where I actually felt like I could breath fully. This is a pretty new and odd feeling, being able to breath unrestricted.

After being told about these health issues on Monday, I’m extremely grateful to be out running still. It’s a blessing to be alive and to share miles with friends and like minded people.

5.02 Miles | Avg Pace: 8’53” Avg HR: 151 | Best Mile: 8’33” | Feeling: Clear in the chest.

Friday: 2.16.2024 (Day 14 of 84): A Friday Finisher

Usually I do a Fast Track Friday on the track on Friday mornings, but I simply couldn’t make it happen this Friday. I really had too much on my plate to handle and get done on a Friday. I’m someone who has customers world-wide and sometimes that support is at odd-hours throughout the night or early mornings, maybe that’s one of the reasons they pay me so well. I’m available 24/7 for the needs of the customer.

I made my way to the YMCA for some weight training but as the sun was cresting over the horizon I made a last minute decision to get in a 2-mile run before the weights.

It was an incredible morning to run with the trails empty except for the occasional white-tail deer looking at me like I was out of place. I passed a few walkers and they offered the morning greeting with a smile. This run felt great after last night’s 5-mile PR with the club.

Never be afraid to go on those “slow” runs. Whatever that pace is to you. This was a very easy run for me where I kept my heart rate around 120bpm which is very low.

2.02 Miles | Avg Pace: 11’18” Avg HR: 119 | Best Mile: 10’50” | Feeling: Like I made a good choice to run before lifting.

Thank God that I have a love of fitness and running. Thank GOD I have such a strong heart. Had it been any weaker, I may not have ever made it off my couch a few months ago. My time on this earth could have ended before Christmas 2023, but it didn’t.

I’m still here and still running. Yes, I have more tests upcoming and odds are there will be more lifestyle changes, medications and hopefully I can avoid any surgeries.

Still, to this very day the first thing that I think when I wake up is “Thank you Lord for the air in my lungs and the blood in my heart.”

Even before this health scare, and now even more I do the following EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I tell my wife: “Good morning, I love you.” - “What can I do to make your life better today?”

When I see my kids, the first thing they hear from me is “I love you”, I give them a hug and tell them that I’m happy they are my son/daughter and I’m happy I get to see them this morning.

This isn’t my first close-encounter with death and it won’t be my last. Nobody gets out of this life alive, NOBODY. Even Christ died. It will happen to all of us.

Like all the other times, the closer you may come to death, the sweeter it makes life.

So while you’re alive, get out there and live! Run, lift, travel, hike, walk, ride and swim and do it with a smile. Seek new experiences and learn new things while growing current relationships and galvanizing the relationships you have.