Each Day Is a Gift

April 26, 2024

15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

UT,

Member Since:

Oct 14, 2008

Gender:

Female

Goal Type:

Age Division Winner

Running Accomplishments:

85 marathons, 5 times Utah Grand Slam finisher (division winner twice).

7 Bostons (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016).

Two 50Ks, one 50 miler (Pony Express).

A handful of AG wins in all distance races.

Marathon PR: 3:57:09 (Boston'08)

Half Marathon PR: 1:48:41 (Bryce Canyon '11)

10K PR: 47:50 (Spectrum 10K '09)

5K PR: 22:31 (Nestle 5K '08)

Short-Term Running Goals:

2017 Races:

June 10 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:13:43)

June 24 - Morgan Valley Marathon (5:49:01)

July 8 - Hobbler Half (2:19:37, 2nd AG)

July 24 - Temple to Temple 5K (27:43)

July 29 - Timp Half (2:08:01, 3rd AG)

Aug 26 - Mt. Nebo Marathon (5:16:16, 3rd AG)

Sep 16 - Huntsville Marathon (4:48:53)

Oct 7 - St. Geroge Marathon (4:57:11)

Nov 4 - Canyon City Marathon (5:30:07)

2018 Races:

Jan 13 - St. George Half (2:19:45, 3rd AG)

Mar 3 - The Woodlands Marathon (5:01:35)

Apr 6-7 - Ragnar So. California

June 1-2 - Ragnar Wasatch Back

June 9 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:19:22)

June 30 - Morgan Valley Half

Sep 1 - Pocatello Marathon (6:00:43)

Sep 15 - Huntsville Marathon (5:37:08)

Oct 6 - St. George Marathon (5:25:43)

Oct 20 - SoJo Marathon (5:29:23)

2019 Races:

June 1 - Utah Valley Marathon (5:44:24)

June 22 - Morgan Valley Marathon (6:15:13)

Aug 31 - Pocatello Marathon (5:38:47)

Sep 14 - Big Cottonwood Marathon (6:03:51)

Oct 5 - St. George Marathon (5:57:46)

Oct 12 - SoJo Marathon (5:55:45)

2020 Races:

Jan 18 - St. George Half (2:38:28)

Feb 15 - Sun Marathon (5:51:54)

May 5 - Conquer Covid-19 Virtual Marathon (5:49:07)

May 16 - Clear Creek Canyon Half Marathon (2:32:15)

May 25 - Utah Valley Virtual Marathon (5:33:110

June 9 - Independence Run Virtual Marathon (5:55:22)

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run happy and healthy all the days of my life. Be an example and inspiration to my family.

Personal:

I'm 64, retired RN, happily married, nana to 14 beautiful grandchildren, mother to 6 children (1 daughter, 5 sons) who are kind, hardworking, caring, wonderful people! Wish they live closer!!! :) :) :)

Picked up running in 2005 at age 50, to stay healthy so I can take care of my husband who had endocarditis resulting in AVR and MVR in 2004, end stage renal failure in 2014, kidney transplant on Dec 30, 2015. Six months after the kidney transplant, we discovered that he has a rare auto-immune disease that was probably triggered in 2004 with then the undiagnosed infective endocarditis. The doctors had to make up a name for this rare disease, Monoclono Gammopathy with Renal Significance (MGRS). It is not curable. After desperately trying different chemotherapies, the doctor finally found one immuno-therapy, Daratumamab, that works to treat the MGRS. It is a miracle!!!

Grateful for the gift of life, blessings, dear friends and loved ones!!! Thankful for the ability to move, walk, jog, and yes run!!!!

Favorite Blogs:

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Saucony Guide ISO Wide Lifetime Miles:						311.91
Saucony Guide ISO Lifetime Miles:						313.31
Sacony Guide ISO (2) Lifetime Miles:						225.26
Altra Torin (sz 7) Lifetime Miles:						44.49
Saucony Guide 10 (2020) Lifetime Miles:						60.91

Wed, Aug 01, 2012

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
5.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	5.00

Ran with hubby and Wendy east to Smith, west on Timp Hwy Trail, south onto 600W home for an easy 5 mile loop. Wore HR monitor average 140. AP: 11:34.

***********

Went to see Dr. Eric Carter, the cardiologist. He took a thorough history of my running, the tachycardia episodes, etc. and listened to my heart, carotid and femoral arteries which are all within normal range. He said he wish he could've captured the episode with an EKG. Based on the history he is pretty certain that it is atrial in nature. There are two possibilities, cardiac fibrosis and atrial fibrillation (AF). He said that endurance athletes often put so much stress to their hearts that they develop AF. He wants me to take some diagnostic tests: cardiac MRI, treadmill stress test, EEG, and last option cardiac holter monitor (not practical based on the infrequency of the arrhythmia episodes that happen mostly while running). These diagnostic tests will then determine what treatments I will need. He mentioned surgery and ablation. We scheduled the cardiac MRI 3 weeks from today, still need to schedule the other tests. Our insurance does not cover any diagnostic tests...such a bummer!

When he asked if we have any questions....hubby immediately asked about curtailing my running. Thankfully the doctor said because I did not experience syncope, I could "party on". :) However on the way home, hubby said I'm just too stubborn and would not limit my marathons to "normal" amount. He said he wants me around and to watch our grandkids grow up. I sat in silence and felt "heart broken" on the way home. I am going to "sleep" on this. I have registered for PCM, TOU, SGM and a Dec marathon...I really would like to finish these marathons.

***************

Some articles on AF in endurance athletes:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090621143221.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19654095

http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/runner-communities/masters/atrial-fibrillation-running-performance

http://europace.oxfordjournals.org/content/6/3/222.full

Elixir 6 (hot Pink) Miles: 5.00

Night Sleep Time: 6.00	Nap Time: 0.00	Total Sleep Time: 6.00	Weight: 0.00

Comments

From Toby on Wed, Aug 01, 2012 at 16:29:35 from 199.101.229.6

Oh Smooth....I'm so glad you have a good doctor who is going to take care of you! You do need need to be around for those grand kids :)

From Maynard on Wed, Aug 01, 2012 at 22:26:58 from 71.213.4.240

Smooth, it's good to have someone that cares that much about you.

From Smooth on Wed, Aug 01, 2012 at 22:40:44 from 63.230.18.70

Toby ~ yes, I was thinking today that I need to do some races with my grandkids after seeing your cute kids' running camp race pix!

The first thing Dr. Carter, the cardiologist, said to me was: "Dr. Cosgrave must really like you. Not very often do I get a phone call in the middle of the day from a doctor to talk about his patient." :)

It seems doctors like to "practice" on patients and order lots of tests which insurance won't cover! O well.

Maynard ~ thanks for pointing that out. I should be more grateful. I am the luckiest woman! :)

From DaleG on Thu, Aug 02, 2012 at 00:32:30 from 152.216.11.5

You are indeed lucky, but it's a lot to think about.

How's your foot feeling?

From Nancy on Thu, Aug 02, 2012 at 06:07:31 from 76.23.21.118

I'm sorry about the heart trouble. I know your husband really loves you and wants you around and I also know you love running.

From Teena Marie on Thu, Aug 02, 2012 at 09:44:58 from 67.2.96.50

Hey Sistah!

You hanging in there? I really want you to read the full study of the abstract you posted. I have access to it through the Eccles library and so I am going to email you the PDF of it now. Please read it. Like Larry, I want you around for a very very very long time and the full research article concerns me a bit. I love you!!! You are my sistah!

From Andy on Thu, Aug 02, 2012 at 11:17:03 from 159.212.71.173

We all need you around for a very, very long time. That's a lot of marathons for somebody without a possible heart issue. Sounds like you have a good doctor. Follow whatever advice he offers.

From RAD on Thu, Aug 02, 2012 at 13:23:44 from 98.202.23.178

Oh smooth, what a heartbreaking day. I'm not sure I can put into words what my heart feels right now. I feel so conflicted (as I'm sure you do)! You can't take away the one thing we love, but you need to be healthy and like Pres said "be around to watch those grandkids grow up!"

I didn't read any of the studies, but if there is one thing I know it is this: you will not make a decision lightly and the one you make will be the one the Lord wants you to make.

Everything you do is with others in mind, and running is the one thing you do for yourself. You will find the right answer to all your questions and be at peace with your informed decisions as you pray and listen to your Heavenly Father.

I love you Smooth! Keep your head up...and at least run Park City :) hehehe, see? SO self-ish I am!!

From Smooth on Fri, Aug 03, 2012 at 15:37:34 from 63.230.18.70

Dale - yes a lot to think about! My foot is feeling ok. It gets achy after long runs, otherwise no pain! :)

Nancy - I am very fortunate to have a husband who is so very patient and understanding. He does love me tremendously. I need to be unselfish like him and think of the consequences of my choices/actions.

Teena - thanks for emailing me the full study. The disconcerting thing is that the recommended treatments for A-fib in endurance athletes are the same as for the general population. There is not enough data or history to see if doing nothing about A-fib would cause further damage.

I love you too, sistah. :)

Andy - I remember once, not sure if it was you or Cal, answered my questions when I inquired about how in the world do you run the Utah Grand Slam on the Flyers Forum. The comment was something like, "Just like running one marathon is not for everyone, neither is the Grand Slam.". I seriously thought running multi-marathons in one year is only reserved for the super humans! I believe I went in the Grand Slam with the right attitude, not to prove anything, but to use them as training runs, to keep my body at marathon-ready shape. Subsequently I got addicted to marathoning as evidence of my doing the Slams in five consecutive years. Things have changed obvisouly for me this year. I know I am treading on thin ice or playing with fire... THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kind and caring words of wisdom! It means the world to me.

RAD - I SO appreciate your caring about me! It was a heartbreaking day for me not just from the doc. Visit but in another matter that truly truly broke my heart...and it has nothing to do with running! :(

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