2018 was both a great year and a bad year for my health. First off, I ended up with the following accomplishments – the largest numbers for me by far in my life:
- 4,003 miles cycling
- 1,036 miles running
- 32 miles swimming
When I finally achieved those numbers on the last day of 2018, I looked back and thought “dang, those are some pretty big numbers!” I always liked riding bicycles but never was a runner or swimmer, but this past year I decided to get really serious about my health and was pounding out some pretty good exercise numbers all year, especially during the summer.
I also did a half Ironman-distance triathlon this year. No, not in an organized race. I just woke up one Saturday morning, hit the local YMCA pool for a 1.2 mile swim, jumped on my hard tail mountain bike and did 57 miles around Lake Hefner, then came back to Edmond and ran a half marathon – all in one day. Whew, that was TOUGH and thanks to my wife Kay for cheering me on, hauling me around and feeding me for the day.
Open Heart Surgery
The bad news? I had open heart surgery on October 15, 2018. That was a pretty milestone moment in my life, and life hasn’t been the same since. Surgery was extremely hard and I have been saddled with an inordinate amount of complications since – at least according to my heart surgeon. Atrial fibrillation, repeated fluid around my lungs, and serious nerve damage that causes constant pain. Well, I guess that is payback from eating all those Sonic cheeseburgers, huh?
I am slowly recovering and have been back on the bicycle, running, and swimming since mid-November. Not nearly as fast or as long or as strong as before heart surgery, but consistent and steady, trying to build my strength back up.
As 2018 ends I am feeling good about my accomplishments and hoping for an even better 2019. Not sure I can top the accomplishments I reached in 2018 but we will see how it goes – maybe I can!
