Dick Foster - My 2010 Challenge

Love, hope, joy are powerful healers.

Walking for American Cancer Society

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I’ve decided to walk (not run) the Country Music half marathon in Nashville, TN on April 30 for a few reasons. First, I’m feeling great and I want to regain my stamina so I’m not fatigued at the end of the day. I’m now six months post-treatment and my lingering side effects are minimal. Since mid-December, I’ve been exercising by walking extra distance and at a faster pace. Initially, I was on the treadmill for 10 minutes, and then 15 minutes a day. That was boring so I started walking outside.

A few weeks ago I decided on a new goal – to walk the Country Music half marathon in under 4 hours. I do better with time-bound goals like this to get me motivated.

Another reason I’m walking the Country Music half marathon is to support the American Cancer Society. I am so grateful that the miracles of modern medicine have provided a treatment that has given me a second chance. I want make a contribution to help others successfully overcome their cancer challenge.

If you would like to support me and the American Cancer Society, please click here and make a donation of any size. Every contribution helps!

You can also follow my progress, click here. Thank you for your support!

Great Morning to Walk 4 Miles

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The weather was great this morning for a four-mile walk – just above freezing and not a cloud in the sky. Last night I realized that my training schedule called for a four-mile walk on Monday. Oops! So now I’ve shifted my schedule forward one day for the rest of the week.
I joined Team Rio last week and they provide a weekly training schedule for half and full marathons – beginner, intermediate and advanced. I guess runners and walkers use the same schedule. Anyway, I’m using the schedule for beginners “doing” the half marathon. Four miles twice this week plus 7 miles on Saturday. In between I will be walking two miles or so each day to get in my 8,500 steps a day (this week’s minimum). Click to track my walking results.

I am walking in the Country Music half marathon on April 30, 2011 to support two groups. If you would like to make an online contribution to either of these groups to support my walk, simply click on one of the following links:
Donate to the American Cancer Society

Thank you!

Walked 7 Miles Today

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I walked with “Team Rio” training group for the first time today in preparation for the Country Music half marathon on April 30, 2011 in Nashville, TN. I have been walking a couple of miles each morning for the past few weeks, and last weekend I walked 3 miles on both Saturday and Sunday. That was the furthest that I had walked since my cancer treatments ended 6 months ago.

When I arrived at the Team Rio meeting place in downtown Nashville this morning, I learned that the planned route was 6.68 miles. I was expecting to walk maybe 4 miles. The route was out 3+ miles and then back the same streets. So I could always turn back early if I got tired or was hurting. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. About 1.5 miles into the walk I missed a turn and did not realize it until I had walked a quarter mile or so down the wrong street. I turned around and got back on track.

There were lots of runners out today, and a few walkers. Team Rio and the Athletic House had water stations along the route so I kept well hydrated.

When I was nearly back to the starting point, I got off course again and walked an extra couple of blocks. So my 6.68 mile walked turned out to be much closer to 7 miles. I was tired, but not exhausted. It felt good to walk for 2 hours without stopping. Now I feel even more confident that I can walk the half marathon in under 4 hours, my goal.

I am walking to support two groups – the American Cancer Society and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. If you would like to make an online contribution to either of these groups, simply click on one of the following links: Donate to American Cancer Society

Great News – Oncologist Appointment-Feb 7

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Another early morning appointment so I hope there won’t be much waiting. No blood work, that’s good. I get checked in, fill out the paperwork where I happily report that I’m feeling great and there are no new problems since my last visit in December.

At about 8:15am, here comes Kim to take Mary and me back to the exam room. Along the way we stop to see how much I weigh. Wow, I’ve lost 9 pounds in the past 8 weeks. The walking is helping me lose weight and improve my stamina. My blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate are just fine.

A few minutes later Dr. Barbara, my oncologist, arrives with great news – the results of last Thursday’s CT scan were good, nothing abnormal 🙂 Yes! Two scans down and six more to go, as I will be repeating this process every six months for two years.

I tell her that I’m feeling fine, swallowing is normal, and I don’t get fatigued like I did a few months ago. Am I doing my head and neck exercises? Yep! How about good oral care – brushing with the prescription fluoride toothpaste, flossing, seeing a dentist? Yes to all three! My only lingering side effects are dry mouth most mornings, occasional neuropathy in my feet, and minor lymphedema swelling in my neck (gobble, gobble).

I tell Dr. Barbara that I’m walking 8,000 steps a day this week on my way to walking 10,000 steps a day by next month. She’s pleased. Then I tell her I’m interested in walking a half marathon at the end of April and ask if she has any concerns. She was delighted, even excited, and encouraged me to do it. Only one caveat – join one of the groups that is training for the event. So now I have a new goal, walk the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville on April 30, 2011. The American Cancer Society is one of the charities for the marathon so I will check into walking to raise money for them.

Have fun! Dick

CT Scan – 6 Months Post Radiation

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Time for another CT scan to make sure the cancer is still gone. Dr. Barbara, my oncologist, says I will be having these scans every three months for the first two years following my treatment. So 2 down and 6 to go! I will get today’s scan results on Monday when I see Dr. Barbara.

Everything went like clockwork today. I arrived at 6:55am to check in and I was leaving the hospital at 7:25am. Wow, just 30 minutes! I guess that’s the advantage of having one of the first appointments in the day – very little waiting. After I signed in, it was only a few minutes before the nurse was inserting the IV and drawing blood. She was good – found a good vein on the first try. They checked my creatinine level to make sure my kidneys were working well enough to deal with the contrast fluid used during the CT scan. It was fine.

After another five minute wait I was off to get some rest in the CT scanner. Really, it’s still early and I’m lying there flat on my back with a small cushion under my head. Why not relax and rest for a few minutes? They warn you that you may get a warm sensation from the contrast fluid and it may feel like you have to pee. I wouldn’t know because neither happened to me.

Sooner than I expected, it’s finished and I’m looking for the exit. Now the wait – it will be four days before I get the results. But I feel so good that I’m confident everything will be clear.

Have fun! Dick