No Resolutions, Just Goals

I don’t believe in resolutions, because they don’t work.  But I do have goals, so what better time to restate them than at the first of the year.   My number one goal for 2012 is to maintain my health, so that I can continue an active lifestyle as I age, and more importantly, so that I can continue to be an effective support system for my daughter, who lives with a chronic disease.

Old injuries don't get better with age.

As I age, the aches, pains and limited mobility from my 49 year old spinal cord injury are getting worse.  While I can’t do anything about the injury, I can minimize the effects of aging by staying active and taking care of myself.   It’s more of a challenge now than ever due to old knee, foot and shoulder injuries that want to limit my activity.  But I’m determined to work through or around them by whatever means necessary.

I started swimming competitively when I was eight years old.

I plan on doing this in four ways:  by swimming, cycling, strength training and eating right.   In the meantime, if my knee and foot will cooperate (and if we get some snow) I plan on cross country skiing as much as possible this winter.  I crave the mountains any time of year.    I live 12 miles from Brighton, Solitude, Snowbird and Alta, so it’s crazy not to get up there as much as possible.  Solitude has a great Nordic track, which I plan to frequent.   Park City’s White Pine touring center is also great.   

Lots of veggies, nix the bread and sugar.

To help me with nutrition, I came across two great websites that have terrific information, most of it free.  Peertrainer is one, and the unlikely name of JJ Virgin is the other.  (JJ is a PhD. nutritionist who collaborates with Peertrainer.)   Eating right is critical, because I want to build my strength and endurance, while dropping about 10 to 12 pounds.   Part of this is a vanity thing.  I have a great cycling kit that I want to wear, but it’s spandex and a race-cut, which means it fits very tight, hiding nothing.  Got to get rid of the love handles and extra flab.

The MS Bike Tour is only five months away.

The deadline for this goal is June 23^rd, when I’ll be riding in the annual MS Bike Tour to raise funds to find a cure for multiple sclerosis, which affects more than 40,000 Utahns.  That gives me about five months, which is plenty of time to shed 12 pounds.   I’ll keep you posted on my progress.  Right now, I’ve got to go buy some new swim goggles.  Swimmers take your mark….  

The Summit Challenge:

A chance to celebrate success. 

The National Ability Center hosts a great bike ride every summer.

When I broke my neck at the age of 22 and was paralyzed from the neck down, fear of the unknown became my constant companion. Would I walk again? Would I have any kind of life again? What would the future hold? I had to constantly put fear behind me and take each day as it came.  Today, even though I've recovered substantially, I still battle fear every time I get on my bike.

At the top of the first climb, there's always a smile to be found.

That’s why it’s important that I ride in The Summit Challenge to benefit the National Ability Center. It’s an opportunity to put fear in its place yet again. You see, I’m afraid of that climb up Highway 248 from Park City to Kamas. And I’m afraid of the climb up Brown’s Canyon at the end of the ride, even though I’ve done both four times. I know I can do it. But I’m still afraid. I’ll be scared right up to the time I start up the hill. Then fear quickly turns into resolve and determination.  I’ll make it to the top again, just like I did before. And I’ll celebrate, just like I did before.

The Summit Challenge is for riders of all abilities.

I’ve learned that it’s the longest climbs, the coldest rides, the windiest rides--they are the ones I remember. Cyclists call their toughest rides “epic”. Epic also means “heroic, majestic, and impressively great.” All reasons to sign up for the Summit Challenge on August 27th in Park City. But probably the best reason is that it raises money for the National Ability Center to continue providing life-changing recreation for people with disabilities, from toddlers with autism to war veterans with post traumatic stress disorder. 

The best way to overcome fear is to just start riding.

And if you don’t feel like an “epic” ride that day, there’s a delightful 20 mile route around the Snyderville basin that’s just plain fun. I’ve done that one too. Join me and hundreds of other cyclists in Park City on August 27th. It’s a great ride, with terrific support, lots of food and a bunch of fun. You can sign up by clicking here. I guarantee it will be epic, in all definitions of the word.

Come ride with me in Park City!

Lance Armstrong was right:

It's Not About The Bike.

Riding as a team captain for AARP Utah.

I just finished my fifth MS Bike Ride and the title of Lance Armstrong’s book chronicling his battle with cancer rings loud and true: It’s Not About The Bike. Spending two days on the road with 2800 other spandex clad cyclists would make you think otherwise. But what really matters isn’t whether you ride 10 miles or 100 miles. It doesn’t matter whether you ride a $5,000 carbon fiber race bike or a rented mountain bike. What counts is the dollars you bring to the party, all of which go to find a cure for MS and provide a better quality of life for those living with it.

Our small but strong Team AARP.  I'm the only one who didn't do 100 miles!

As I watched rider after rider pass by me (with my 12 mile per hour average speed), it gave me great satisfaction knowing my bib number was 106, meaning I was number 106 out of 2800 riders in amount of money raised. While it took me more than three hours to ride 40 miles, I smoked 2694 riders in dollars raised. And I had just as much fun as anyone out there. It’s such a beautiful ride. Best of all, the ride will raise over $1.5 million dollars for MS research and quality of life programs here in Utah.

Cache County fairgrounds, getting ready to head out, 6:30 a.m.

But I also rode with a measure of sadness. My neuropathy stricken daughter just had major surgery to rebuild her right foot, which collapsed due to muscle weakness. She was home, just one day out of the hospital, and every mile was filled with concern for her pain and suffering. But she would have been crushed if I hadn’t ridden. She knows how much I love to participate in the MS Ride. It’s one of the highlights of my cycling year. I’m hoping that some good Karma will find its way to her, helping her to heal and regain her mobility. Neuropathy makes healing difficult, so we need many blessings and good luck on our side.

 One big reason why I ride: for  my daughter.

I also rode with gratitude for my family and friends who supported me with their generous donations. I know there are many great causes out there, and I appreciate them for agreeing to get involved in this one. I’ve already signed up for the 2012 MS Bike Ride, to be held next June 23 and 24. If you want to find out more about this excellent event, click here to visit the MS Bike website. Then take a look through the gallery of photos on the MS Bike Facebook page, and you’ll see hundreds of smiling cyclists. Better yet, sign up and come ride with us. You’ll discover firsthand why we’re all smiling.



Accessible Utah: Everyone Can
Play In My Backyard



Splore takes people of all abilities on river trips
like this one through Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River.

I’ve recently had the pleasure of working on a project with Dr. John Librett, Executive Director of Splore; a Utah based non-profit organization that provides recreation for people with disabilities.   Conceived by Dr. Librett, the project is a national marketing campaign to brand Utah as the number one destination in the nation for adaptive recreation.

Handcycling is one of the year-round sports at the National Ability Center.

 

Adaptive recreation is recreation for people with disabilities who may require specialized equipment such as handcycles instead of bicycles, mono-skis, also known as sit-skis, for those without the use of their legs, river running rafts or kayaks that can accommodate people in wheelchairs, and so on.

Matt Lund tries adaptive skiing after a diving accident left him quadriplegic.

Utah’s one-of-a-kind geography, with its highly accessible mountains, rivers and red rock canyons is an unparalleled playground for any kind of recreation.  Combine that with a wealth of adaptive recreation organizations like Splore, the National Ability Center and others, and Utah’s terrain becomes a great big outdoor therapy clinic for those of us with physical or developmental challenges. 



Scott Parkinson is a regular golfer through the use of adaptive golf carts.

Thanks to the cooperative efforts of the Utah Office of Tourism, the campaign just took its first step forward with the publication of the Accessible Utah One-Sheet Guide.  It will be available at state and local welcome centers, adaptive recreation locations, as well as online.  In addition, a press release was issued announcing the new publication, and will be sent to key local, regional and national news media. 



Every year I support the National Ability Center's Summit Challenge.

 I’m excited to be part of this campaign.  I get evangelistic about Utah’s accessible recreation, which I get to sample every day.   As a spinal cord injury survivor, and someone with a love for the outdoors, I consider every day I get to play outside as a life sustaining privilege.  I’m  happy to help spread the word about my backyard.  I don’t mind sharing.  Just be kind to it. 
  

Here's a listing of Utah's Adaptive Recreation organizations, with links to their websites:

TRAILS
University of Utah Rehabilitation Center
50 North Medical Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84132
801-581-2526
Tanja Kari - Program Coordinator

The National Ability Center 
1000 Ability Way
Park City, Utah 84098
(435) 649-3991

Wasatch Adaptive Sports
Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort
Highway 210
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Snowbird, Utah 84092
(801) 933-2188

SPLORE
774 East 3300 South Suite 105
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106
(801) 484-4128

Salt Lake County Adaptive Recreation
8446 Harrison Street, Midvale, UT 84047-3501
801-559-1500‎

Common Ground Outdoor Adventures
335 N 100 E Logan, UT 84321
(435) 713-0288


Camp Kostopulos
2500 Emigration Canyon
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
801 582-0700

My Grateful List Grows

At the MS Bike Tour finish line with my grandaughter Ellie.
Having healthy children and grandchildren is at the top of my Grateful List.

Having just spent all night in the emergency room with my daughter, I reflect once again on what’s important in life. Watching your child suffer in pain is one of the most excruciating experiences a parent can have, and I’ve done it a lot. When you’re faced with potentially life changing episodes, previously important things become inconsequential.

Material possessions, careers, and personal goals all become secondary, when all you want is your child to be well. Its times like these when I reevaluate what matters and what doesn’t. In the darkest moments, when fear is raging, thinking becomes focused and razor sharp.

You’ll settle for one seemingly simple, yet incredibly elusive thing-- a healthy child.

You just want to go home and live. That’s all. Please, no CT scans, surgeries, infections, just let us go home and live a “normal” life. Of course, having survived a spinal cord injury, I know that “normal” is a relative term, when it comes to the reality of life.

Fortunately, my daughter’s pain was caused by something that didn’t require any drastic measures, and we were allowed to go home and resume our lives in peace. Once again, my prayers had been answered.

And my Grateful List grew again.

Christopher Reeve Day in Salt Lake City

Christopher and Dana Reeve

September 25th was officially Christopher Reeve Day in Salt Lake City as proclaimed by Mayor Ralph Becker, on what would have been Christopher’s 58th birthday. On the eve of Christopher Reeve Day, the Utah Chapter of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation honored Christopher’s legacy with a dinner and silent auction at Market Street Grill Cottonwood. The Utah Chapter exists because Christopher’s stepsister Katie Johnson-Hill and stepbrother Tom Laabs Johnson live in Salt Lake City. Christopher Reeve Day would not have happened without the dedication of Katie and her energetic daughter Heather. They put hours of hard work into the event.

Katie Johnson-Hill with her brother Tristam Johnson

Christopher’s mother Barbara Johnson traveled from her home in Princeton, New Jersey to join us and I spent a good portion of the evening conversing with this strong, intelligent woman. Tall and athletic, she stays fit by sculling. Turns out she is also a journalism graduate, so we had much common ground, in addition to the fact that her son and I both had spinal cord injuries in the prime of our life. The evening was a powerful mix of emotions. Smiles and laughter mingled with tears and reflection.



Christopher Reeve's mother Barbara Johnson

 I also had the distinct pleasure of sitting next to our keynote speaker Meg Johnson, founder of Miss Wheelchair Utah. Meg is quadriplegic from a fall while hiking near St. George in 2004. She’s a dynamic speaker, whose personal motto is: When life gets too hard to stand, just keep on rollin’. She delivered a message of service, saying that we gain strength from helping others, no matter what our personal situation. If you want to find out more about Meg, check out her website http://www.megjohnsonspeaks.com/.



Keynote speaker Meg Johnson with husband Whit

Right now I’m caught between being amazed at the strength of the human spirit in people like Meg, and being resentful at the masses of able bodied people who wallow in apathy and selfishness. Many of my so-called friends fit into this latter category. They’re the ones who buy vacation homes and luxury cars yet ignore the opportunity to contribute to a cause as important as spinal cord injury research.  I know there are many critical causes out there, but if everybody would pick just one and support it, what a much better world we’d live in.



L to R: Emery Blanchard, Utah Chapter board member Stan Clawson,
sister Ann and Jackson Richards

 

 I’m grateful that Christopher Reeve chose to take the route of courage and commitment and create a legacy of hope for the nearly 1.3 million people who live with paralysis in the United States. Because of his energy and passion, we are closer to a cure for spinal cord injuries than ever before, and maybe I will see it happen in my lifetime. Thanks, Chris and Dana, for all that you have done.

My Tour de France Connection Revisited

Spinning with the "esteemed and legendary" Massimo Testa.

A while back I wrote about having the opportunity of working with world renowned cycling physician and trainer Dr. Massimo “Max” Testa. He recently moved to Utah along with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Eric Heiden (yes, the five-gold-medal-speed-skater and cyclist Heiden) to establish a world class training facility for elite athletes. Utah's emergence as a year-round sports mecca was a key factor.

The Park City based Rosenbert/Cooley/Metcalf Clinic looks more like a ski lodge.

Dr. Testa, whom Bicycling magazine calls “legendary and esteemed”, was about to leave for the Tour de France when I visited him in the Rosenburg/Cooley Metcalf Clinic in Park City for a follow-up bicycle fitting. After my elaborate foot and ankle surgery in January, I wanted to make sure I had the proper positioning for my newly rebuilt right foot, to prevent any further injury or pain  The next week, he and Eric Heiden were heading for France as the chief medical officer and team physician respectively for Team BMC.

Team BMC medical staff:  Max Testa, Eric Heiden, Scott Major.

 Team BMC also includes Utah resident Jeff Louder, who recently earned the Best Utah Rider jersey in the prologue of the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah. Another Team BMC rider, U.S. National Champion George Hincapie, was also here competing until an unfortunate crash put him out of the race. Fortunately he was not seriously hurt. Former Utah resident  Levi Leipheimer was the 2010 Tour of Utah overall winner. All in all, an impressive array of world class cycling people right here in Utah!

 Stage five Tour of Utah leaders at the bottom of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

So there I was, a 60 year old spinal cord injury survivor, spinning on a trainer under the watchful eye of a cycling icon. I was blown away. Not only is Dr. Testa an incredibly thorough physician and bicycle fitter, but he is also one of the most genuine people I have met. Born and educated in Italy, he exudes Italian charm with a sincerity that is unmistakable. I always feel comfortable and welcome in his presence.

The best exercise you can get sitting down.

 After an hour of examining, measuring and tweaking, he had my cycling position perfect, with my surgically repaired foot spinning comfortably. Now it’s up to me to go put some miles on my newly adjusted bike. It’s the least I can do after all of Dr. Testa’s hard work. Ciao!