So the last twelve months have been interesting to say the least. The year has been disruptive at times. It has also tied things together. Looking back I think they all came at the right time. 2023 ended with a blood test saying I had no evidence of disease via email about 5 PM on the 31st of December. I was elated, as Sonja and I headed out to a New Year’s Even dinner with friends. This really helped start the new year off with a high note. Little did I know things would change in a few short months.
This set up my ileostomy reversal to also include removal of my port. Frank the Shit Talker was only around for a few months. He was inconvenient but also required for my healing. The port was a constant reminder for 11 months about my current state. I could not shoot a rifle, carry a pack, it made casting and rowing difficult. Once that surgery was out of the way, I started to build out a running plan to get on track for the year and lead to my ultimate goal of running an ultra marathon. My wound recovery amazed the doctors and staff at the wound clinic and I was cleared to start running by the end of February. I just started to pound the pavement and plan races, when I was provided with a small obstacle. I had a blood test come back positive, meaning my cancer was back/still there. This happened about the same time in March that I my normal scans did not detect any mass. My medical team quickly got me in for in-depth scans. Those scans located a 5MM mass near my original mass on my liver. We found out where Waldo was hiding. Now we knew where it was and could action on it. We decided to have the surgery in SLC at Huntsman due to the quality of care. This one blood test derailed my plans at the time.
Luckily we were able to have the surgery in April and I was back on the recovery track very soon. Additionally, the liver surgeon stated the core from the other side of my liver was very healthy. Oh how little that amazing surgeon knew about how I treated little buddy in my younger days. I have to respect my liver for still being around, let alone in good shape. I recovered enough to go on a fishing trip to Alaska in June. I really needed that experience but also realized how I was out of shape. I knew I needed to get back to running and back on the path of my original goal.
I put my head down and started to pound the trails again. I also got another negative blood test and clean scans. Things were looking up again. I kind of kept up on my running but lacked some focus because I did not have a race to drive me. I finally signed up for a 5K in Gardiner MT. I went out on a very warm September morning and started to fast, pushed to hard on the hills and walked way more than I wanted. However, I did finish and the best part was finishing with Sonja. She did beat me by 1 second according to the chip timer but I am OK with this at my stage in life. I had a race down and needed to look for another.
I started to have better focus on my running. I even took running gear on a business trip AND used the gear for one run. I skipped the other. Once back home I debated the Huffing for Stuffing 5K or 10K. The 10K would be a stretch goal but a decent one. Eventually, I decided on the 5K and this proved to a be a blessing due to a calf injury at the end of October. This set my training back, but did not stop me from getting out some. I changed to a more run walk program and brought myself back. On the cool fourth Thursday in November I set out to get better. I felt a bit like the final scene of The Color of Money when Fast Eddie Felson tells the world, “I AM BACK”. Sonja and I started out together and kept a nice pace. We picked up the pace and started to have negative splits as the distance passed by. The final stretch involved a quick jaunt over a snow packed trail, a slight uphill and a turn into an icy finish line. We again crossed the line together with a better time. AGAIN, I was beaten by ONE second. We both knocked about six minutes off our previous 5K.
This string of a few success led me to sign up for the local half marathon in March. This is a daunting task considering the possible winter weather, but I am determined to keep on pace for my ultimate goal. My goals for the half are one finish and two finish under 2:12. I also signed up for the Adirondack full marathon. I need to avenge a half marathon I was not able to run 20 years ago thanks to Hurricane Katrina. I have not set a goal for the full yet! I will determine that based on my half marathon. I also have my eye on the prize of the Weiser River 50K in April 2026.
These words provide an insight into a bit of the highs and lows of the past year in respect to running and my health. Being able to run again was a huge boost in many ways. Completing a race was amazing. Crossing the finish line with Sonja was through the roof. Getting beat by one second each time was just fucking fine. However, none of this was the best day of the year.
The best day of the year was the 4th of July. We took off for the mountains to keep Pepper away from fireworks. We got into camp the afternoon prior and was pleasantly surprised to find a spot at one of our favorite places. We slept like babies that night with no cell service and hearing a creek near camp. Upon waking up we had an amazing breakfast of cowboy croissants cooked over an open fire. I spent most of the next sixteen hours tending to the fire, reading, chatting, thinking and sometimes nothing. That day was the best day of year. Negative blood tests, clean scans. amazing races are all great. However, the ability to check out except for the most minimalist things really made it the best. I was with my family and nothing else.
I am eight months NED. I was able to run five miles under fifty-five minutes this morning. I have a positive outlook on 2025 but also know things can change with one test. I will stay on path, attempt to avoid obstacles and have more days like the 4th of July this year. At the very least I offer you this, just Keep Fucking Going!!!!