Hi Tom.  I'm glad Ribs shared his wisdom and experience.  Being a runner, you know to take this recovery period one step at a time.  I have no doubt that the 300th will not be your last.

Glad to hear you are on the mend Tom! Good reminder to us all that just because we "do the right thing" we aren't invulnerable. You will be back better then ever, those blockages didn't happen overnight.  Good for your siblings taking this as a sign to get checked. Hang in there!

{{{{{{Tom}}}} - I've been wondering about you and hoping you would post to let us know how you are doing.  I never dreamed you would not be running.  I'm relieved that you caught the problem in time - must a minor setback in your running career.  You'll be back to great running form in no time.  Keep us posted -we care!

Tom, I had been thinking about you lately and wondering how you were doing.  Your post wasn't the news I was hoping to hear but I am very happy you had things checked out and corrected.  I'm sure the road back to full recovery will seem long and perhaps frustrating but YOU CAN DO IT.  Before long you will be back running then racing and working on the next 300 marathons.  Hang in there buddy.  All your friends are pulling for ya!

Wishing you all the best!

Skip

Tom,  I've been thinking about you, too.

Thank you for sharing this story and do what Ribs said!  You have already overcome so much in your life.  Walk and walk and walk until you are able to run again.

Don't rush the recovery by running too soon, it will make the process longer.  Try to consider  "resting" as "cross-training"... very important to getting you to that marathon in September.

Make sure to stay connected with your running friends here and in real life.  Your friends need you.

Peter NC

 

Yes, I had regular physicals and checked my cholesterol regularly too.  My cholesterol was at 157 with the 100% blockage.  My good cholesterol was at 41, which was the highest I ever have had it.  Low good cholesterol runs in my family.  My diet keeps my bad cholesterol very low, which helps my cholesterol to be in the 150's.

 

My last physical had been 13 months before in December 2008.  It was in my family history and if I had not been a runner I would be one more person waiting for an unexpected heart attack. 

 

In my view of things all this seems crazy to me.  Last summer I still expected to live well past 100.  Now I am not sure since this open attack surgery will only last 10-15 years.  Then what.  I do not want to live as an old man as how I have been feeling.  To be old, not to be able to be active, not to run, and go through life alone is not for me.  I can live being alone if I have the rest, but not to run and being alone as I have been these past several weeks is not worth living for.  The only thing that keep me going is knowing I will be able to run again and I should do better than last week.

 

The past several weeks has been like a prison in my own home.  With day after day without seeing anyone else.  At least the past week I have been able to drive to the store and such.  At least I have been seeing others.  I life right now is so very boring, but that will change on Monday when I will be able to go back to work.  I have a job that I love and the people I work with are great.

 

Things will become much better for me soon.  I would very much hate to live a life that I have been living.

 

 

TomD