Day 1

I am completely terrified.  In 148 days or 4.93 months, I am going to compete in the Chicago Triathlon, Sprint distance.  I'm not sure compete is exactly the right word since I'm pretty sure I will not be competing against anyone.  I don't know the appropriate athletic term for "want to participate, finish and survive"...in that order.

Just to be sure you understand the complete weight, pun intended, of my previous statement, I am 5'2, 263 pounds, 53 years old and have not seriously exercised in years.  I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you are asking, "why"? The answer follows below:

I spend most of my days, in one way or another, in the company of the most amazing, infuriating, stubborn, creative, infuriating, driven, persevering, stubborn, funny, insightful, indefatigable, adorable....did I mention infuriating,  person I know.  His name is Patrick Stein.  He is 19 years old.  I adore him, I love him and on most days he is the cause of every wrinkle I have.

His also a quadriplegic and has been for the last 18 months.  In October of 2010 Patrick underwent emergency brain surgery for a brain aneurysm.  After the surgery, Patrick was diagnosed with Locked-in Syndrome.  It is medically defined as having lost control of all purposeful movement other than your eyes and eyelids.  You cannot speak.  You cannot swallow.  You cannot move a single muscle other than your eyes and/or eyelids.  You cannot call out for help.  You cannot leave a room when you are tired of a conversation.  You cannot push someone out of your way.  You cannot kiss someone you love.  You cannot taste your favorite food.  You cannot sing your favorite song.  You cannot go to the bathroom by yourself.  You cannot breath without the tube in your throat.  You cannot fuck (at least not in the same way you used to).

You can: smile, laugh, think, understand, feel pain, happiness, frustration, anger, spell fuck you to your nurse, work hard on physical therapy every day, make huge improvements, text inappropriate messages to your friends (using a third party otherwise known as a texting bitch).  You can dream, concentrate, learn, make other people laugh, make other people cry, enjoy movies, watch Tosh.0 until your nurse is ready to run from the room screaming.  You can communicate with your eyes by spelling, giving the you are the dumbest person in the world and I can't believe you just said that stare, and smiling.

I am one of Patrick's nurses and he has impacted my life beyond description.  Earlier this week I was talking with Patrick and his athletic trainer, Greg Cadichon, during Patrick's physical therapy session.  I was whining about wanting to lose weight, not being able to lose weight, hating to try to lose weight....you get the idea.

Greg left the room for a minute and Patrick said (spelled) to me, "It is so easy for you to lose weight".

I started to answer, defending myself, outraged because if it was so easy, why am I still fat, smart ass?

As I'm talking, Patrick starts rapidly blinking his eyes, which is his signal that he has something to say; so essentially he was interrupting me.  I stopped talking and asked "why would you ever think it is so easy for me to lose weight"

He replied, "Because there are so many things you can do".

"You mean compared to you"?

He looked up. "Yes".

Well shit.  What do you possibly say to that?  There is no possible childhood trauma, lost love, missed opportunity, or bad marriage to trump that.

So.  I am going to be in the Chicago Triathalon, August 26, 2012.  I will be doing about a half mile swim, 14 mile bike and 3 mile run (walk).  This will be a fundraiser for Patrick and his foundation.  Much more to follow on how you can help Patrick and me out. His trainer Greg will be helping me prepare and train.  Others will help me with nutrition.  Mostly Patrick will motivate me because every time I mention it, he starts laughing hysterically.  Watch out dude.

Today is Day One.  I have done nothing but write this blog and started to cut out sugar in my diet.  Tomorrow I am going to "Boomer's Yoga".  I am hoping by midweek I will have actually completed some cardiovascular activity.

Follow me on my journey.

I am terrified.  But I'm more crazy about this kid than I am terrified.  That seems like a good place to start.  Patrick is a tremendous athlete.  Before his competitions he would tell his team "Crush it".

I will crush it.  Watch me.  Join me.

I dare you.  "There are so many things you can do."