Posted 12:08 am Sunday, February 05, 2012
From Medical Problems To Marathons: A Tyler Paper Reporter’s Fitness Journey
By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
The placard on the side of Rockridge Drive indicated the 25-mile mark.
The muscles in my legs twitched with pain and my lucky baseball cap was sweat-soaked from the hours of running.
Looking at the sign as I ran past, a wave of emotion overcame me as I thought of all of the obstacles I had hurdled including beating a two-pack per day smoking habit.
There was still just more than a mile to go, but even with my feet throbbing in pain from the multiple blisters, I knew I would complete my first marathon – something only a few years earlier would have seemed impossible.
Staff Writer
The placard on the side of Rockridge Drive indicated the 25-mile mark.
The muscles in my legs twitched with pain and my lucky baseball cap was sweat-soaked from the hours of running.
Looking at the sign as I ran past, a wave of emotion overcame me as I thought of all of the obstacles I had hurdled including beating a two-pack per day smoking habit.
There was still just more than a mile to go, but even with my feet throbbing in pain from the multiple blisters, I knew I would complete my first marathon – something only a few years earlier would have seemed impossible.
In May 1998 a simple chore of picking up a generator from a jobsite near Laredo resulted in a lower back injury that required a double fusion. That nine-hour surgery was the beginning of four additional surgeries, 18 months of therapy, years of pain medication and a lot of changes.
The changes included moving from South Texas back to Tyler, a divorce, going back to college and taking a job at the Tyler Morning Telegraph as an intern after working in the construction field for 15 years.
As I learned a new trade with the newspaper, my doctors suggested a pain pump implant and other surgeries to help alleviate the constant nagging back pain.
But after physical therapists explained that the body would heal itself if I would just allow it the chance I took the radical route and canceled future doctors’ appointments and started exercising.
I had decided no more needles, no more pain medications and no more surgeries.
The journey began by tossing the cigarettes aside and signing a contract with a local gym.
With each passing month my lungs began to clear and I began to have more energy and more desire to exercise.
Two years later I decided to take up running and I quickly learned it was not going to be easy.
Day one was miserable as I prayed no one could see me half walk – half run about a quarter mile. I was sucking air and felt as if I might die right smack on Loop 49.
How had I gotten so out of shape in just a decade?
Day two, I made myself run a half mile and each day I pushed myself a little farther and with the new distances I felt stronger.
Three months later I ran my first 5K race at Tyler’s Susan G Komen Race for the Cure, but in my mind I thought a marathon was out of the question. Run 26.2 miles? Why?
A few months later I registered for the first Tyler Rose Half Marathon in October 2010 and to my surprise - finished the race.
I ran a couple more half marathons, five more 5K races and 13 months after my first half marathon I found myself passing mile 25 of the 40th Space Coast Marathon in Cocoa, Fla., held on Nov. 27.
With less than an eighth of a mile to go the crowd cheered as I caught my first glimpse of the finish.
Though my arms felt like lead weights and my thirst seemed unquenchable, I was on top of the world as I raised my arms in victory just as my right foot hit the line.
With my daughter holding me up a few minutes after crossing the line I realized I had overcome the injuries, the depression and the negative thoughts I had conjured in my mind.
My confidence had grown, I felt better, which allowed me to excel at work and in my personal life which now includes an engagement to a woman who encourages me to keep going.
I had gone after a goal and through hard work and encouragement from those around me, I had become successful.
I have since run the Houston Chevron Marathon and I am eyeing the Chicago Marathon in October.
If I can do it, so can you.
The changes included moving from South Texas back to Tyler, a divorce, going back to college and taking a job at the Tyler Morning Telegraph as an intern after working in the construction field for 15 years.
As I learned a new trade with the newspaper, my doctors suggested a pain pump implant and other surgeries to help alleviate the constant nagging back pain.
But after physical therapists explained that the body would heal itself if I would just allow it the chance I took the radical route and canceled future doctors’ appointments and started exercising.
I had decided no more needles, no more pain medications and no more surgeries.
The journey began by tossing the cigarettes aside and signing a contract with a local gym.
With each passing month my lungs began to clear and I began to have more energy and more desire to exercise.
Two years later I decided to take up running and I quickly learned it was not going to be easy.
Day one was miserable as I prayed no one could see me half walk – half run about a quarter mile. I was sucking air and felt as if I might die right smack on Loop 49.
How had I gotten so out of shape in just a decade?
Day two, I made myself run a half mile and each day I pushed myself a little farther and with the new distances I felt stronger.
Three months later I ran my first 5K race at Tyler’s Susan G Komen Race for the Cure, but in my mind I thought a marathon was out of the question. Run 26.2 miles? Why?
A few months later I registered for the first Tyler Rose Half Marathon in October 2010 and to my surprise - finished the race.
I ran a couple more half marathons, five more 5K races and 13 months after my first half marathon I found myself passing mile 25 of the 40th Space Coast Marathon in Cocoa, Fla., held on Nov. 27.
With less than an eighth of a mile to go the crowd cheered as I caught my first glimpse of the finish.
Though my arms felt like lead weights and my thirst seemed unquenchable, I was on top of the world as I raised my arms in victory just as my right foot hit the line.
With my daughter holding me up a few minutes after crossing the line I realized I had overcome the injuries, the depression and the negative thoughts I had conjured in my mind.
My confidence had grown, I felt better, which allowed me to excel at work and in my personal life which now includes an engagement to a woman who encourages me to keep going.
I had gone after a goal and through hard work and encouragement from those around me, I had become successful.
I have since run the Houston Chevron Marathon and I am eyeing the Chicago Marathon in October.
If I can do it, so can you.
