OK, I am well aware that no one really likes to hear too much about the good stuff going on in my life but, you're going to have to bear with me. I RAN 10 MILES YESTERDAY!!! Add to that, I don't feel half bad today and you've got a party looking for a place to happen.
Yesterday was going to be my big test. It was a scheduled 10 mile run with my training group: T2 End AIDS. I had no expectation for actually completing the run. I had run 6 miles last Saturday so I expected to run 8 miles yesterday. That would have put me on course to catch up with my training group next week when we're scheduled for a short 5 mile run. Well, I don't know what got into me but I decided to give the 10 miles a shot. What's the worst that could happen? Well, there's failure but, I know that it's never failure to try.
The run went beautifully. The weather was wonderful and I really like the ladies that are in my time group. There is always good conversation. I have a couple of new apps on my phone. HIIT Interval Training and Sports Tracker.
H.I.T lets me program custom interval training times. We're running 4/1 and the coach's whistle the app uses seems to be very motivating.Sports Tracker is just too cool for words. It uses the GPS chip in my phone to collect information on my runs. I have the free app so it's just basic information gathered by the GPS: speed, route, time, etc. When I get a Bluetooth enabled heart rate monitor I'll do the paid upgrade so it will also give me information on calorie burn, heart rate, whether I'm having a stroke, etc. It will also download information into Facebook (Look, John's on the verge of collapse! And we can see it in real time.) And to think, we used to have to take our own pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. Barbaric times they were. OK, back to it...
I ended up being the pacer for our group. The H.I.T. app kept us on schedule. While it's just a guess I think the fact that I was suddenly in charge of the group's timing really struck a cord with my body. I became more than just about me, I became about us, our little group of four. Not making the 10 miles was no longer an option. If I failed, who'd make the timing calls? This is probably why I'm usually the Purser on flights. I'm at my best when I'm responsible for something. If I'm going to put myself out there, I'm going to make sure I perform. I knew things were going to end well when one of the women who had been running next to me pointed out that I kept speeding up and it was driving her crazy. This was around mile 7. I realized she was right and slowed my pace down. I also realized I was going to make it for the whole 10 miles.
At the end of the run we were greeted and congratulated. Deleting stops for water and the toilet, we were right on time. I called Russell to pick me up. I am so proud of all of us. During the run we shared stories. One lady's father had died of AIDS in 1986. AZT was it at the time. I told her that when I finally began treatment I was one of the 1% who couldn't take AZT because, at the common dosages of the time, I had a psychotic reaction. I couldn't take the damn stuff. When the protease inhibitors came around, though, my life changed dramatically.
I had no immune system to speak of and was just trying my best to remain generally healthy and upbeat. I managed to get on a study for Crixivan. While it wasn't a home run for me, it did show that I could still show signs of an immune system. My t-cells went from the single digits to 60. Yeah, I know, not earth shattering unless you look at the percentage. 5 to 60 is a, what, 900 percent jump? When the study opened up, meaning we were released from the confines of the study and could add other drugs into the mix I tossed in, I believe, 3TC. I had read a number of articles that said people were seeing some interesting results by mixing different classes of drugs. This is when my immune system broke loose and began to rebuild at a rapid pace. It is one of the reasons I am here today. There are many others but a new, from the ground up, immune system gets the lion's share of credit. It was also the beginning of the multi-drug therapy that is the common tactic today.
I'm not what you would call a religious man. My beliefs are scattered and varied. I do believe that we all hold responsibilities towards the greater good. I write as a way to reach out. I know there are those who would shy away from me as they find out more about me. I also know that as someone who is relatively isolated from the negatives that life likes to hand out, I bear a responsibility. I must step up and be noticed so those who feel they cannot risk notice will know it's OK. I tell my story as a way to share hope. I've seen the worst and know it's all survivable. HIV won't ruin your life, cancer can be beaten and bones heal. I know it's all very easy when your well insured, have a supportive partner and income. Yet so much of it is not dependent on tangible things. Go at life head-on. Gather your friends and your spirituality. Surround yourself with life and never give up. Live open and free. Survive!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Let's get this party started!
OK, first of all, who in the hell deleted my previous posts? Granted, I haven't said a whole lot, especially lately but, now I have to start from the very beginning. Ah, what the hell, I like to talk.
I had gotten tired to my friend Myrna's smear campaign against me because I have never run the Chicago Marathon. So this year I signed up with the Team 2 End AIDS to train for the marathon. I was so proud of myself and very excited. I ran the first 3 mile timed run and hit a pace of around 12 minutes....ok 12.36 to be exact. It was down hill from their.
You see, before I could start running I had to have my shoulder fixed. I was involved in an accident in Amsterdam that tore a tendon in my right shoulder. Surgery was done and after a 4 week recuperation I was given the go-ahead to run. After the first timing run, we were given our marching orders of when to run and when to cross train during the week. I was just thrilled to start this journey....and then.
I decided that my cross-training of choice would be roller blading. before you go jumping to any conclusions, I did not fall. (I have to insert that because my pride is at stake.) Against all of Russell's objections, I decided that I was going to roller-blade AND get some exercise for two of our dogs: Zara and Zelda. I parked the car, got my blades on and got the dogs out of the car. Everything was good. Now I knew that the over-riding rule was not leashes in my right had as my shoulder was still healing but...I was getting ready to walk over to the parking meter and I was trying to balance the two dog's leashes into my left hand. For a split second I had Zelda's leash in my right hand. She took the moment in time to bolt after a squirrel/bird/blade of grass. Instead of dropping her leash I clamped down. She may only be about 45lbs but she's build like a diesel truck. My arm went straight out and the sound was like a .22 going off. (I didn't fall, remember.) I howled like I had been shot. I dropped to my knees cradling my are. I was terrified that I had popped the screw out of my shoulder.
By the grace of God, I had my cell phone in my pocked because once I was down, I couldn't get up. I called Russell and told him to please, please, please come get me. He jumped in a taxi and the rescue operation was on. He got me to my feet and off to the doctor we went.
I knew in my heart that I had popped that damn screw out of my shoulder. I also knew that I was going to get a dressing down from Dr. Saltzman. After the x-rays he came in and told me that I did not ruin the work he had done on my shoulder, it was actually much worse. That hard tug by Zelda had ripped apart the humerus in my right arm. It was going to be a long recuperation and there was going to be no running involved.
During the recovery period Russell and I took a two week trip to China and brought along his aunt and uncle. (Separate story but a great one.) In a city called Xi'an, the original capital of China, known for the Terra Cotta Warriors, I managed to pick up an infection on my left foot and lower leg. Mind you that this was not Beijing or Shanghai, so language was a definite barrier. We were graced with a hotel staff that had a solid command of English. The hotel doctor came up with a bellman to act as translator. She looked at my foot and made it clear that I needed to go to the hospital. The infected area looked like it could be an out-break of herpes. (Where in the world had that foot been!?!?) The bellman and I went on a little journey. We jumped into a cab and made our way to a local hospital. He walked me through the whole process which was very similar to our Emergency Rooms. I got checked in and we went directly upstairs to see a doctor. She, on the other hand, was far less dramatic about my infection(s). She prescribed an antibiotic cream and sent us on our way. The whole process cost us 50 yuan. That amounts to about 8 bucks.
I was not really confident in the diagnosis. What I really wanted was the advice of my doctor. Problem with that idea was that he's in Italy on vacation. Well, I had to talk to someone. I made a call to the on-call doctor at home. "You are 8000 miles away. I just can't help you." Not one to take no for an answer, I e-mailed him pictures. "OK, you've obviously got an infection going on. It is sort of presenting like shingles but without actually seeing you....." He recommended getting an antibiotic like Bactrim or Clindamycin. I had no luck on that front and we headed to Shanghai.
The infection had now turned purple and was very painful. I decided that going home was the best idea. I just didn't want to lose a foot to an infection that was getting out of hand. The worst part of it was we were in one of the most incredible hotels I have ever stayed in. I was going to miss out on soooo much. Oh well, back home I went. Saw the doctor and was given a 10 round of antibiotics. I have to say, I'm healing slower that I expected. My guess is that the infection was actually able to take a solid hold of my foot. I've done a week of the drugs and it's still purple and a little sore. It does look a little better but I still can run because it has formed a big scab that I know would rub off during a run.
I ended up having to make a tough decision. I'm not going to run the Chicago Marathon. What I am going to do is run the Honolulu Marathon in December. If I start training next week, I'll only have missed a couple of training runs. I should be able to work myself into the group easily. It will also give me additional time to raise money. Oh, and we get to go to Hawaii, one of my favorite places in the world.We'll get there, I'll run the marathon and then spend a week recuperating. How perfect is that?!?!
So, as of Monday, expect to be hit up for money whenever you come into Zspa/Zane +Zara's pet boutique. You can give me spare change, you can attach a donation to your purchase or you can go to my fund-raising web-site: http://afc.aidschicago.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1092&frsid=17541. AIDS research is cause near and dear to my heart and no money means no research. In these days of budget cuts and desperation money needs to be raised wherever it can. Come in and give us a hand.
Thank you
John Ira
I had gotten tired to my friend Myrna's smear campaign against me because I have never run the Chicago Marathon. So this year I signed up with the Team 2 End AIDS to train for the marathon. I was so proud of myself and very excited. I ran the first 3 mile timed run and hit a pace of around 12 minutes....ok 12.36 to be exact. It was down hill from their.
You see, before I could start running I had to have my shoulder fixed. I was involved in an accident in Amsterdam that tore a tendon in my right shoulder. Surgery was done and after a 4 week recuperation I was given the go-ahead to run. After the first timing run, we were given our marching orders of when to run and when to cross train during the week. I was just thrilled to start this journey....and then.
I decided that my cross-training of choice would be roller blading. before you go jumping to any conclusions, I did not fall. (I have to insert that because my pride is at stake.) Against all of Russell's objections, I decided that I was going to roller-blade AND get some exercise for two of our dogs: Zara and Zelda. I parked the car, got my blades on and got the dogs out of the car. Everything was good. Now I knew that the over-riding rule was not leashes in my right had as my shoulder was still healing but...I was getting ready to walk over to the parking meter and I was trying to balance the two dog's leashes into my left hand. For a split second I had Zelda's leash in my right hand. She took the moment in time to bolt after a squirrel/bird/blade of grass. Instead of dropping her leash I clamped down. She may only be about 45lbs but she's build like a diesel truck. My arm went straight out and the sound was like a .22 going off. (I didn't fall, remember.) I howled like I had been shot. I dropped to my knees cradling my are. I was terrified that I had popped the screw out of my shoulder.
By the grace of God, I had my cell phone in my pocked because once I was down, I couldn't get up. I called Russell and told him to please, please, please come get me. He jumped in a taxi and the rescue operation was on. He got me to my feet and off to the doctor we went.
I knew in my heart that I had popped that damn screw out of my shoulder. I also knew that I was going to get a dressing down from Dr. Saltzman. After the x-rays he came in and told me that I did not ruin the work he had done on my shoulder, it was actually much worse. That hard tug by Zelda had ripped apart the humerus in my right arm. It was going to be a long recuperation and there was going to be no running involved.
During the recovery period Russell and I took a two week trip to China and brought along his aunt and uncle. (Separate story but a great one.) In a city called Xi'an, the original capital of China, known for the Terra Cotta Warriors, I managed to pick up an infection on my left foot and lower leg. Mind you that this was not Beijing or Shanghai, so language was a definite barrier. We were graced with a hotel staff that had a solid command of English. The hotel doctor came up with a bellman to act as translator. She looked at my foot and made it clear that I needed to go to the hospital. The infected area looked like it could be an out-break of herpes. (Where in the world had that foot been!?!?) The bellman and I went on a little journey. We jumped into a cab and made our way to a local hospital. He walked me through the whole process which was very similar to our Emergency Rooms. I got checked in and we went directly upstairs to see a doctor. She, on the other hand, was far less dramatic about my infection(s). She prescribed an antibiotic cream and sent us on our way. The whole process cost us 50 yuan. That amounts to about 8 bucks.
I was not really confident in the diagnosis. What I really wanted was the advice of my doctor. Problem with that idea was that he's in Italy on vacation. Well, I had to talk to someone. I made a call to the on-call doctor at home. "You are 8000 miles away. I just can't help you." Not one to take no for an answer, I e-mailed him pictures. "OK, you've obviously got an infection going on. It is sort of presenting like shingles but without actually seeing you....." He recommended getting an antibiotic like Bactrim or Clindamycin. I had no luck on that front and we headed to Shanghai.
The infection had now turned purple and was very painful. I decided that going home was the best idea. I just didn't want to lose a foot to an infection that was getting out of hand. The worst part of it was we were in one of the most incredible hotels I have ever stayed in. I was going to miss out on soooo much. Oh well, back home I went. Saw the doctor and was given a 10 round of antibiotics. I have to say, I'm healing slower that I expected. My guess is that the infection was actually able to take a solid hold of my foot. I've done a week of the drugs and it's still purple and a little sore. It does look a little better but I still can run because it has formed a big scab that I know would rub off during a run.
I ended up having to make a tough decision. I'm not going to run the Chicago Marathon. What I am going to do is run the Honolulu Marathon in December. If I start training next week, I'll only have missed a couple of training runs. I should be able to work myself into the group easily. It will also give me additional time to raise money. Oh, and we get to go to Hawaii, one of my favorite places in the world.We'll get there, I'll run the marathon and then spend a week recuperating. How perfect is that?!?!
So, as of Monday, expect to be hit up for money whenever you come into Zspa/Zane +Zara's pet boutique. You can give me spare change, you can attach a donation to your purchase or you can go to my fund-raising web-site: http://afc.aidschicago.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1092&frsid=17541. AIDS research is cause near and dear to my heart and no money means no research. In these days of budget cuts and desperation money needs to be raised wherever it can. Come in and give us a hand.
Thank you
John Ira
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