No Vegas Marathon

[Mark Wagner]

Hi my Friends.
I'm pretty bummed this last week. When I train for a marathon, my training is in a 17 week block. So I was half way into it. My first setback ... Okay, call me an idiot ... My wifes cat started loosing weight. She is a neat cat I have to admit, 3 years old, and follows us from room to room. (at least she did before I got the dog!) Anyway, my dad came over to visit and noticed the weight loss on the cat In the course of the next two days the cat became very lethargic, and quit eating. We took it to the vet ....
$300.00 on a IV to hydrate and hospital stay; $300.00 exploritory surgery; $500.00 to remove a tumor and 5 inches of small intestine, where the tumor came from just to make sure if it was cancerous, they got it all. Stiches still have to come out (another vet visit) meds. Total so far is just under $1,100.00. With our move to the new house and Christmas, the Vegas Marathon will have to wait. On May 2nd I will run the marathon in Vancouver, Canada instead. All I have to say is, "That cat better live a long d**m time!

Setback number 2 ...
On a personal note. After I chose to not run the marathon, I thought okay, I'll just keep the pace up, and on the first week of January, (which is when my 17 week training block for Vancouver will start) I'll just be ahead of the game. Well most of you know I ran the marathon in October then immediately jumped right into training for Vegas. I ended up in the hospital Friday for exhaustion. It was an eye opener in the fact that taking a rest day is not going to kill me. Not taking it could. Doctors orders ... "Mark, I know you won't stop running, but would cut your milage back and take some time off." It is killing me, but I'll do as I'm told for a couple of weeks. ... Mark

 

[hensylee]

sad news - bad news.

Mark, don't kill yourself to run. You can run when you feel like it but your family needs you around for a long time. I know it's a real joy for you, but not if it's hurting you to this extent. Exhaustion is really, really bad for you. You will get it back before Vegas.

As for the cat, you sure love her a lot - read where during the lifetime of a dog, we spend about 6000$ - at least. You are getting to the mark faster, I think. I hope she will be just fine after all this. Have to get Miss SS to vet for her shots today - $$$ - part of that $6000!

 

[epstns]

Aaaargh!

Aaaargh!

Mark,
In a much smaller way, I know how you feel. I've been "convinced" to cut back from a joyful 7 day training week to "just" 5 days. It has been six months, and still feels like I'm slacking off. My cardio is OK with the 5 days, but thought I might need a couple of days off each week just to re-charge. I keep rotating the days, so at least it doesn't feel like a new routine.

Hang in there -- you're still an inspiration for me!

 

[Ross]

Dude if I even attempted trying to run with you one block, I'd be dead. Did anyone ever tell you that your better at running when your on this side of the soil? I know it's a love for you and I wouldn't want to stand between you, but man, slow down and rest awhile. Look for some of those little things in life that you don't normally see when your busy. We need you around.

Sorry to hear about the feline. Hopefully, she'll be fine now. There shouldn't be any charge to remove those stitches.

 

[M&M]

Hi Mark, sorry to hear about your cat. :-( I'm also really sorry to hear about your marathon plans.. I know exactly what your going through. I was all planned to do the Disney Marathon next month and I just can't - I don't have the strength in my legs to do it. I did a 5k Saturday and after the second mile - I thought I was going to drop. My legs were killing me.. I don't whether it was because it was freezing out - and it was windy and I couldn't catch my breath and perhaps my legs weren't getting enough oxygen. I thought I can't do a marathon - I can't even run 3 miles in the outdoors.

Along with my Plantars fasciitist which is killing me and my pulled ham strings - I'm just bummed out - big time. I was so excited to be doing my FIRST marathon. I'm afraid if I don't do a marathon before the surgery - I'll never get to it after my surgery. As for the doing to much and ending up in the hospital - I've done that every year for the last 3 years. I said - No way - not this year - I'm going to take it easy - I hate hospitals. I got the chest pains anyways not as bad as last year - but I got them. I don't know why we 'push' ourselves until we 'have' to stop. But I see alot of runners do it. I was thinking last night as I lay in bed - maybe I'll take up swimming - giving my other muscles a rest and then next spring I'll try to do a duathalon !!! Maybe my body just wasn't made to do 26 miles. But a Duathalon or Triathalon - now that's alittle bit of everything !!!

On the bright side - I read an article in the newspaper and it said every runner should take two mos off a year and rest their muscles - then go back out and run again and your 'time' actually improves from year to year !!! So, if we rest - we could be FASTER next year....

Take Care and Happy Trails..
Runner

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi mark!
sorry to hear about your cat_ atleast it sounds like she will be getting better.
and, also the marathon.... but, your health comes first, right?
i'm sure this won't be the last marathon around for you..
i agree that it's a good idea to give your body ( especially you) a rest; you've been going non stop for so long!
feel better and have a wonderful holiday along with your family.
all the best, sylvia

 

[Mark Wagner]

Thanks everyone. Hang in their Runner! A mararthon is a lofty goal, and you have a lifetime to achieve it. With your motivation it is in the bag!
I understand the injury thing, and I now cross train on a bike and swim when I need to cut back on my running. Hamstrings are pesky. I tore mine back in July, and still am bothered by it, especially when it is cold out. The good news is, I ran a marathon three months after the tear. (Thanks to cross training.)

Steve: I think where just getting old!

Ross: I'm not ready to push up daisies yet!

Mark

Two weeks I'll start training for number three ... just a minor setback!!!!
As far as the exhaustion .... my problem is I work 12 hour days and commute 2 hours on top of that, four days a week. During that time frame I try to eat, run, shower and sleep. The lack of sleep is what takes me down. I average 4 to 5 hours a night during those 4 days, then play catch up on my three days off. It just so happens with the move and all, I just stretched myself to thin.
You have to understand, I have to get marathon number three done soon, or that Simon guy from England will pass me up! It would be un-american to expect less from me!

Mark

 

[Les]

Mark,
Don't make me spend my Christmas shopping money on a trip up there to kick your butt into taking it a little easier!

 

[KimC]

Mark,

I can relate re: the vet expenses. My husband and I had a beloved cat named "Berkeley". He was our "first child" and suddenly became ill. We sent him to the best d**n vet in DC and $2K later, he died. We were devastated. We were also out the dough, which hurt us at the time.

Re: running, don't give up but don't kill yourself either. I know where you're coming from, even if I don't have a valve replacement. I cannot run the five miles/day that I used to, but I walk FAST and enjoy the time alone. Try to remember how blessed we are to be able to do that.

You are my inspiration!

Peace,

 

[Mark Wagner]

Thanks Kim and Les. I am taking it easy. 4 miles every other day untill the 4th of January. Then I'll pick it up again. Les, I wish you could come up and spend your Christmas money. I am sure we could find a pub to drink some Christmas cheer!

Thanks Kim. I know how quick it adds up. Since my last post the biopsy came back. My Roxie has lymphoma cancer. The last two days she ate very little. She is such a special cat, and like yours, she is my wifes baby, from shortly after we were married. The vet said because she is so young, his recomendation was to go with cemo for two weeks, and if we see it working, she will be treated for about 8 weeks. We started that tonight and were told if she was going to make it, she would start eating by Friday. The good news, she started eating fairly well within 3 hours of coming home. If the cancer does not start in remission and we don't see a difference by next week, then we will put her down. Her age is on her side, and if it does go in remission, we may get another year to several years with her. I know it is crazy to spend so much, but for us she is like one of the kids. Like Charyl said, she could not live with herself if she didn't give her every (reasonable) chance. Feline lukemia is a horrible disease. Her mother was a wild cat where a lady saves the kittens, and turns back the adults after they have been spayed and nuetered and seen by a vet if their too wild. Roxie had a test as a kitten, but the disease just didn't show at the time. It showed up with another blood test right before her surgery. Of course we didn't no we were dealing with a tumor before the surgery. We thought she may have swallowed something and it was causing a blockage.
Our other cat is also lukemia postive. Both are indoors, for they would be subject to disease and sickness if outside. Their immune system could never handle anything major. We know now we have done everything we can.
A lot of tears have been shed in this family this week.

Mark