Central Park and Surgery

One of the joys of being a runner is that you can do it just about anywhere.  Last week, I was a guest speaker at a conference in New York City...and, of course, I brought my running shoes.  We were staying only a few blocks from Central Park, which has some great running routes...so I gave one a try!  The view from the Onassis Reservoir is amazing:

And, from the runner's perspective:

It was a great run -- planned about 6.5, but ended up running 7.2.  It turns out that Central Park is easy to find and easy to run in, but almost impossible to get out of.  I missed my exit no less than three times.  Still, a great run!  I also got my first real long run out of the way last weekend, and did 17.2 miles -- felt outstanding from start to finish, a great sign.  I did the run in 2:17.28, right on 7:58 per mile.  3:45 in Seattle is still looking good!

Unfortunately, it's not all sunny skies and open roads -- from the prior blog you know that I'm on the road to my third surgery.  I'm happy to report that I've successfully fought (for a third time) with the insurance company, and they will cover the full cost of the surgery and the travel.  This is great news -- it means I can go back to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, to the same surgeon who has done my last two surgeries.  He was recently profiled in a Newsweek article -- pretty fascinating!  It's only a page and definitely worth reading, but feel free to disregard the statistics...I've already beaten all of them ;-).  After getting the insurance approvals, I went ahead and scheduled surgery -- get your calendars out -- I'm going back for brain surgery #3 on December 11th.  Pre-op labs and scans on the 8th, neuro consult on the 10th, and surgery on the 11th.  According to the surgeon, I should be home in time for Christmas!  

In all, we're very happy with the timing, and with the approval to return to the surgeon we know and trust.  Of course, little Monkey had a great time in New York (here at the giant Toys-R-Us Times Square)...
So, we're all set for a third surgery.  I'm running a marathon the week before I go into surgery, and already have another scheduled for six months after surgery...crazy?  Sure...but what do you expect from someone who's had two -- soon three -- lobotomies?  

Here we go again...

Wow!  Where do I start?  Good news and bad news across the board.  First the good news -- no more chemo!  Now, on to the bad news...

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I was accepted into a research program at the National Institutes of Health's National Cancer Institute.  After a few initial interviews, I had my formal in-processing and medical review on Friday.  Here's where I spent much of my time:  

The doctors there are stellar.  Very thorough, very intelligent, and they have a massive wealth of experience and resources.  They spent almost five hours with me, and the bottom line is this -- chemo isn't working.  Starting this Tuesday, I'm back at NIH for another MRI, and on the road to my third craniotomy, where they'll probably remove the entire right frontal lobe.  Surgery hasn't worked, chemo isn't working, so this third surgery will be followed by six weeks of radiation -- the only option we have left.  Pending lots of legwork and insurance paperwork, I'll have surgery at Harvard Medical Center's Dana Farber Cancer Center, with Dr. Peter Black -- one of the most brilliant surgeons on the planet.  Radiation will be here at NIH/NCI.

Now, those of you who know me are acutely aware that this is a serious blow, but it won't slow me down much.  My "therapy" was a good ten-miler today, and I averaged 7:56...not blazing, but fast enough for me.  I'm still on track to run the Seattle Marathon in November, and training is going quite well.  My 14-miler last weekend felt great, and today's ten-miler was a walk (okay, run) in the park.  JD (see my previous post about him) is also doing well, and he and I were both featured in a nice two-page article in Racecenter Northwest Magazine this month -- if you're in the USATF Northwest region, pick up a copy and turn to page 50!  

So, how do I feel about it?  It's strange how many people ask me that question, and I'm never sure how to answer.  Yeah, it sucks.  No, it's not what I want to do.  No, it's not the news I was hoping for.  Yes, I fear for my life and for my family.  What do they expect me to say?  But, you can't dwell on those thoughts.  You have to keep living.  You have to press on.  In the words of Paul, embroidered into the shoes in which I ran my first marathon, we must "run with perseverance the race marked out before us."  I've been here before.  I've come through two prior brain surgeries.  I'll come through again, have no fear.  I'd love to power through in time to run the inaugural Rock-n-Roll Seattle Marathon in June.  Here's a challenge to all the bloggers out there -- if I make it, care to join me?