Monday, April 30, 2012

Run... Forrest.... Run...

If all of us runners of dad had $1 for every time someone yelled that phrase (Run Forrest Run) to us while running when the movie “Forest Gump” was at its peak, I think we’d be at our fundraising goal by now plus some. (Also it makes me laugh when my cousin Jim signs off his positive emails I look forward to receiving saying Run Missy Run) I was flipping through the channels this weekend and saw this movie on, when I turned to it he was just at the moment of running across the country and I couldn’t help but laugh.  The quote “I just kept running…..” seems to be a response I give sarcastically sometimes when someone asks “How do you do it” during the long distance days.  I’ve yet to develop a group of followers on my little country road, but I have to say at least people wave most days and I’ve learned who’s dog belongs where when I look back and discover I’m being followed.

Friday I did the usual 5 ½ mile up and back loop up and back…but I tried to challenge myself a little bit to struggle at breathing for this run (meaning I’m pushing myself effort wise).  I’ve been very timid on any sort of speed to avoid being discouraged at “where” I’m at training wise, and it felt nice to not feel like I was going to die every step of the way.  I’m sure when I decided to do this going down a hill helped with the turnover of my stride but it felt good to push myself a little bit. 

Saturday:  We spend the day running around working on some projects without a lot of time to run because of the weather.  Our little youth basketball team had their season celebration party, and I’m proud to say Blue Thunder took home first place trophies.  I didn’t realize they would give out places for the league, so I was happy though to go home with 1st place honors.  (To think I was all worried about being to competitive…well finishing 1st probably doesn’t help my argument  I wasn’t too competitive)  for those who know me J  It was a fun filled evening, the gym was filled with inflatable party kits and the cafeteria was filled with pizza and team themed chocolate chip cookie cakes along with homemade ice cream.  It was good to see the kids again too and a few of them hear they miss basketball. 

Sunday:  I was off to get a long run in and enjoy the weather and make up for not running yesterday.  I ran for about 10 miles (I think/hope) going a little further then the last long distance run I ran on this road, and clocking time around an hour 15 minutes.  I really felt like I could just keep on running after I started back up the hill to head home, but I guess I better not get to wild too soon.  I pretty much talked to mom the entire run this day.  

Kelly shared a picture yesterday that I wanted to share on this blog.  You hear me speak about my sisters and mom a lot.  We have a “not technically” adopted brother, Andy, who has fit in well with the family over the last few years and has helped a lot with dad (him being a nursing major has been a blessing).  If he fits in well I suppose that must mean he’s crazy too J  I love that dad is laughing in this picture with Andy because those who know dad know he’s usually cracking up about something (or giving someone else a hard time).  So for those who are getting to know dad through this blog you can see what we all mean.  When we met with Dad’s Parkinson’s Support group, we had spoken about humor many times and to make the best of a situation by laughing.  I mentioned to Larry how a previous blog I noted “laughter is the best medicine”.  Dad has always been a jokester. 


Dad has his good days and bad days with this fight against Parkinson’s.  The last few days I’ve found myself “friending” a few other Parkinson’s advocates and reading their story, and how they are in this race against Parkinson’s as well.  It’s amazing how many people approach this  battle to make a bad situation positive by fighting together towards finding a cure.  Prior to dad’s progression with Parkinson’s he was one of the most mobile people anyone had ever seen, I’m not even sure if he even knew that a chair was used for sitting down because he was always on the go.  Rather it be standing on the sideline (because if he was sitting it probably meant trouble), Walking up and down the sidelines of a football game, running our normal training route along Route 50 to the Ellenboro bridge and back, running circles in gym class with the kids, or trekking through the woods hunting.  Dad was always “doing something”.  The longest he’s probably ever actually sat down was when he was cutting grass on the riding lawn mower, where he’d enjoy mowing for hours at a time.  I guess I try to touch on the positives so much because that’s what I want to think about.  However, to keep this blog “real” I suppose I need to focus on the negatives as well to educate others many of the reasons to find a cure. 
Dollars for Dad Upate:
We've added Alaska and Connecticut on Friday!!!  We now have: WV, OH, CT, AK, and CO... we need to keep these coming!!  Don't forget to pass along to friends and help us with this!


When Michael J. Fox started his foundation, he made a comment about hoping to write an unsuccessful business plan, because if his plan failed it means they found a cure.  There are different advances and stages of Parkinson’s and through that there are still so many things to research and discover.  Some effects are faster than others, some stages are more progressive then others, some tremors are more noticeable, some are more active…some medicines have been the hardest to overcome where you have to see if the risks and side effects of the medicine are worth the benefits.  That is a struggle dad discovered all too well.  From falling asleep randomly during everyday events, to swollen muscles that created broken bones, to impaired decision making effects and more, it was all about determining if the slower tremors or the assistance in being able to speak was worth the change due to the side effects.  Parkinson’s isn’t just about a shaking hand or fingers…it consumes so much more than that. 
For today though, we’ll smile about what we do have as opposed to what we don’t or wish were different and embrace the moments we are blessed with.  We all have become better people from it and others have been influenced by who dad is.  I challenge everyone to do something to make a difference today either in your own life or someone else’s because there isn’t really a reason not to.

1 comment:

  1. I find it very appropriate to challenge everyone to make a difference. For those of us who had the chance to play for my dad, he was always challenging us to do our best. No matter how small of a task you may be taking on, there is always an opportunity to do it to your best potential and in the process, try to make the day of someone else. I listen to KLOVE on the radio and they always talk about Mondays being "Make a Difference Monday." SO let's all make a difference TODAY on this Monday. Try to make someone smile :)

    Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

    ~ Colossians 3:23

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