I’ve waited to make this post because, well honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to run with the team. Well, let me tell you officially, I can and will be on the team this year. Yesterday was my sixth run since my ankle injury and I accidentally did 5 miles, not 4.
It was a very cold morning, somewhere around 15 degrees. I had talked with Ali, the new director of the Cincinnati CFF, and told her that I would get her through her first team run. But, when I got to Fleet Feet and looked at the course, it was the Mt. Everest course again. Bluewing, Lobeila, and Waxwing! There is no way my ankle will do that right now.
So, I decided to take Ali, her husband Dave, and their friend Abby on the Kenridge Lake route. From what I had remembered, it was a four mile run. Now, Ali told me that she was “slow,” around a 12 minute mile on the treadmill. However, yesterday, she was pushing the pace. But, that’s a good thing.
Dave didn’t do much talking, and left us at about mile 1. I think he felt we were going too slow. Funny, we found him half way around the lake, not exactly understanding my directions (hard to imagine). But, I think he had worn himself out. He ended up walking with Abby for a while, and Ali and I didn’t see them until about 10 minutes after we finished.
Abby, new to the team, is crazy. She had abdominal surgery 3 weeks ago, and was running with us yesterday. She had a tough time, I can’t understand why. But, she did finish the 5 miles.
Ali and I had a great conversation. Mostly “shop talk” about CF and the Foundation, etc. I’m glad to say that she “gets it.” She’s young enough to know that she doesn’t know it all, but experienced (notice I didn’t say old, Ali) enough to handle the role of Executive Director. She also has a very close friend with CF. We talked about him, about CF, the team, and way too much about me.
I look forward to more runs with her. I also look forward to running with old friends, Victoria, Ralph, Jamie, Amye, Scott, and a whole host of others. I’ll miss a few friends that aren’t running with us this year. Priorities change over the years, and I get that. But, they’re always welcome to come back home to the team.
Welcome BACK!
hello,
my son is 18… diagnosed with CF last year after years of illnesses, surguries and fusteration with doctors who wouldn’t take his sickness serious enough and help us keep him well. He has run since 7th grade…. UNDIAGNOSED… struggled through it all… is VERY competitive… but would have unexplained “off” days when racing… like the year he was diagnosed. He turned blue at the Regional CC meet… a meet he was favored to place in the top 10… he was diagnosed 1 month later… by a wonderful pulmonologist that LORD took us to!!! This was a devasting finding… but one that finally explained everything. after a year of Proper medical treatment… Taylor is healthier than he has ever been. He… like always… just bulldogs his way through the breathing difficulties he faces… but his stomach… it is the WORSE pain he has and can totally break his racing potential… taylor has a chance to run in college… has already been contacted by 4 division 1 universities… along with many others… but it is his senior year… and he lacks a state patch on that decorated jacket of his… this track season is his last chance… please offer any advise you can to help him.
Taylor has always said… pain doesn’t scare me… i’ve lived with pain all my life… just thought everyone hurt as bad as I did… his lungs burn like fire when he is running… the pain he can deal with… the cold he can push through… but dry air…. it shuts him down… he looses 60% lung function from his 75-80% he started from… please if you have any special treatment ideas we could try… any advise before a race when he has to run in these conditions… UIL sends him to west texas for the regional meet… both in CC and in TRACK… the last 2 years… his fastest time would have placed him top 10 in the state if not won some of these races…
we don’t know who to turn to offer suggestions… running with this disease is heard of but not common… it is a trial effort to overcome any of this…
we would welcome any and all advise…
thanks
charla