This was the common question going around in Fargo the day of the half marathon and marathon. Everybody asking “How ya doin’?” following the race. They want to make sure everybody is recovering, and nobody having any health issues following the race. I had to keep asking myself this same thing during the race, and wondering whether I really was or not. When the fatigue starts setting in, your mind starts playing tricks on you, and you have to try and convince yourself that you are OK. At least I did not have to worry about my latest training partner, Steve. I knew he was at the finish line waiting. As I mentioned in the last several posts, he had been having some issues with his heart that were brought more to light several weeks before the marathon day.
Here he is pointing at me, and congratulating me after finishing, and breaking the 4 hour mark. I was happy to have him there, and I am holding my finisher medal over his chest/heart. I wanted him running that day too, but it was much safer for him not to. I would rather have a friend forever, than to have a running partner for 4 hours that day. Having him be safe was far more important than some race. He was with me that day, and especially those last few miles. I kept telling myself: “What would Steve be telling me now? Steve, Carletta, and Sarah are waiting for me at the finish line…keep moving, one foot in front of the other.” Things are improving, and hopefully soon we will be running together on some long runs again. Initial plans and talks may be involving the Walt Disney World marathon in mid January. Some people might think that doing this is just plain “Goofy”, but when you are a runner, or you exercise regularly, you understand. If you don’t have goals in your life, then things just kind of stagnate. You have to be willing to push yourself (as long as it is safe!), in order to really experience life to its fullest. Life brings us challenges everyday, and we deal with it. Knowing that some of these challenges you create for yourself are attainable, it makes some of the everyday challenges we deal with so much easier.
I am going to discuss more over the next several weeks issues in relationship to heart disease, and how it impacts all of us, either directly or indirectly. Exercise is still very important, and very helpful in controlling heart disease, high blood pressure, and all the ramifications thereof, but you have to listen to your body. You have to be aware of the risks involved, and you have to get those risks under control. Once this is done, you can move on and enjoy life much more, and hopefully, it will be a long life.
Keep moving everybody, and be safe!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1703
