Still Crazy After All These Years

Aloha Friends,

You've heard me mention Alec Brownlow "The Old Guy", who has followed closely in my footsteps, with his own brand of cancer...colon cancer. Alec and I met a year or two ago and I was especially interested in him at the time because he was one of the few runners out there that was older than me...not much, but still older. ie" "The Old Guy". Neither of us knew at the time that we both shared the fact that we had tumors. It was a few months later before we knew that. I got a jump on Alec by finding out a few months earlier than he, about having cancer.

Alec and I talked today, and he's getting very close to finishing his very tough and long chemo treatments. As I listened to him tell me the awful side-effects, it brought me back to only four months ago when I was on my last round of chemo. It seemed like ages ago...much longer than it's actually been. I was able to make a few suggestions to Alec, as to a few things that would make the ordeal more bearable and this made me feel good. I do not envy him the next four chemo treatments ! Compared to Alec, I was lucky on the chemo...as he's getting three different types of chemo, so anything to ease the discomfort will be a blessing. Good luck, my old friend.

When Alec asked how I was doing, a part of me was reluctant to tell him how good I'm feeling, for fear that it might make him feel worse about himself. But, I got past that and told him about my plans to do my first race since Mr. Cancer and I got acquainted. Alec seemed impressed, and I felt like it might have given him a ray of hope for the future. I sure hope so. So, this Saturday I'll tow the line at Run to the Sun, on Maui, the 36.2 mile Ultramarathon that starts at sea-level and goes up to the summit of Haleakala at 10,023 ft. Am I ready? Absolutely not ! Did I come up with some secret training formula that would bring me to my old pre-cancer fitness level, in the very short time since having Cancer? Absolutely not ! Can I do it? Who knows. The only thing that I'm sure of is that I must "Still Be Crazy After All These Years". I'll definitely give it my best shot and will certainly have fun along the way. I'll be thinking about many of you as I wind up the switchbacks to the summit. Everyone of you should be so lucky !  Don

Comments

[Bob Mc.]

Don, I will be thinking of you on Saturday. I think the most important thing is having the right attitude and you've got it. I look forward to hearing how it goes for you.

[cheryl]

and we all have no doubt that you will finish...
you are one stubborn 'ole guy'...
our favorite 'ole guy'...

[Judy]

Don,

Great job today!!!!! You finished a tough race on a tough day. It was great seeing your smiling face as you climbed that mountain. Congrats on your comeback.

Judy