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Sunday, September 26, 2010

What defines an Athlete?

We didn't walk on Friday but Saturday was the Hemophilia Walk at the Milwaukee Mile.  Hemophilia is a blood disorder that prevents normal clotting.  So a simple bloody nose could be a $7,000 bill for the ER for somebody with one of these disorders.  And many of the people afflicted have $200K in medical bills a year.

Now I wish I could say that I walked to help the charity, but just like the ourhike event I did I walked for more selfish reasons, my health.  I have found that there is something uniquely rewarding about helping a charity, as I have said in the past my blisters feel good after these events (and I blistered again).  But I have found that doing something for these lessor known organizations that deserve the attention but just dont get it is more rewarding also (I am doing a hike for Childrens Hospital, that one is different because it is personal).

Casey Fitzrandolph, who is a gold medal Olympian was the honorary host, let the group on the track for three laps (we did a little more).  I was happy that my wife and I were near the front of the group and we even lapped some people.  The corners are banked slightly at the mile and we immediately felt the increased angle, even though fairly slight, in our knees and ankles.

But during our walk I saw two guys that made me question what is an Athlete?  Most are in excellent physical condition, but these two were not.  If you define an Athlete by what is in his heart these two could teach a lot to many. The first was a young man who I don't think was even a teenager, he was walking with a definite purpose, we would later find out he suffers from this disorder.  But that was not what made him unique, he had one foot in a walking cast and trudged himself around that course for three laps, did I mention in a WALKING CAST. 

The second man was even more inspiring, he arrived in a wheelchair, I do not know what he was afflicted with, but I am guessing that it was MD.  He arrived with 5 family members and one carried  2 canes that had the big four foot bottoms.  Once the event started they moved him on to the track and helped him to his feet, one cane in each of his hands and somebody following very close with the chair.  We lapped him somewhere past the first lap we walked a mile in about 15 minutes, he walked about 1/4 mile this way and would finished at 1/2 mile.  I nay have finished the 5K, but what he finished I will never forget

Sunday we didnt walk because I hurt myself at the event.  I have a very high pain tolerance, which is not a good thing.  I blistered again on my heel (not a big deal I dont feel them).  I did have a chaffing issue that I am told that I have ripped away a few layers of skin about the size of a quarter, that has become infected.  My wife has helped me clean it up and washed the area with peroxide (twice) and bandaged it up.  She has told me it looks better and we will bandage it up tomorrow before I go to work, but it means no walking for at
least Sunday and Monday and hoping to be back to health for an organized walk of 5 or 10K this weekend

Saturday 8435 steps for 5 miles

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