I always knew someday my consecutive exercise streak would end. I did not know how it was going to be, or the circumstances that would be involved. The one thing I knew for sure it that it would be because of something I would have no control over. It was not just going to be an “excuse” to say I could not do it that day. That day happened last Sunday. I will expand on this more in the next several weeks, but will briefly summarize by saying my life changed that morning. I developed a clot going to my right kidney, and I was losing my kidney. I also had a clot in my right leg, and found out later that it was brought on by my heart, and had what is a called PFO: Patent Foramen Ovale. 3 angiograms later, with 3 subsequent procedures, 5 days in the hospital, I was able to come home. My exercise streak however, stopped. Day # 4196. This is how far I went. This has been driving me for the last 12 years. Lead by example. Don’t just tell people, my patients, that they need to stay active. Show them! As the saying goes: Records were meant to be broken!
Sometimes, you do just need to go with the flow! Life is always changing. My world changed over night. But, I am here. For the next 6 months I will be on multiple blood thinners, and will be taking it easy. I can’t do any aerobic activity for the next month, and then will be very slow progressing. But, I still can!
Things will changes. Things are going to be different. But I will be able to run again later. It will then be time to start a new consecutive streak. I look back now and wonder how I went this long. Things come up, life throws curveballs. Most of the time it is just an excuse. An excuse your mind can take control of. You just need to take charge. Many different events, races, causes have been accomplished over this time period. Many of them with my Watertown Area Run Club (WARC) members. Working together to raise money for charity, FARA, and going somewhere different for a race just to have fun!
Last Fall, Jill, Amanda, Paula, Sarah, Tom, and I went to Denver to do the Rock and Roll Half Marathon. These 3 came up with a shirt they had printed: South Dakota Girls…and Dan! We had so much fun with this, and had so many comments on this!
That same WARC spirit carried on this last week as well. Here they had a large group together on Wednesday, and ran for me, which would have been day # 4200! Holding a sign, and peanut M and M’s (my favorite candy!)…it still brings tears to my eyes when I look at what they did for me! But this is what WARC is about. We go the extra mile for one of our own. This is why this group of people/friends are so important. It is not about running. It is about being there for each other, and we just happen to run at the same time! I can’t thank WARC enough for this! I was at a pretty low point that day, and just had the 3rd procedure done, and this just lifted me right up! Thank you!
I guess it is gonna come down to how tough am I? I have gone through adversities before. One thing for sure, I am not gonna let this be a excuse to not restart another consecutive streak. It did definitely put life in perspective. We are all human, and don’t know what tomorrow is gonna bring. Live today! I have been watching (too much) TV lately being down this week. A movie came up that is one of my favorites. Shawshank Redemption. It has a great line in it that opened my eyes once again: “Get busy living, or get busy dying!” Choose…
Sarah and I have done a lot of talking. The consecutive streak was not the goal. The exercise was not the goal. Being together is the goal. I am going to listen to her and recover from all of this because I want to be able to do more things/events with her later. My daughter is getting married in August…the first wedding for one of my kids. I do not want to miss that for anything. I will be back. I will start a new streak. In the process, maybe this will not only help motivate others, but also help motive me! Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day finished at 4196!
