For you rookies, simply finishing your first 5k or half marathon is a Big Deal. It may have been something that seemed unimaginable just 4 months ago and now…it’s a reality!  For those of you who’ve done this race nine times now…the training, the course, the build-up may all seem a bit routine, but think back to where you started.  To have 13.1 miles…on this challenging course…seem routine…That is a Big Deal!

While all of you followed the same path on race day, each of your journeys was different.  Your reasons for starting the training…for keeping it up…for actually making it to the starting line…All different.   And each year you do it, your reasons will probably change.   Next time your goal may be to not just finish, but to improve your time…or perhaps to use it as a way to encourage a family member or friend to exercise along with you… maybe you’ll try to run  it…or at least some more of it.   And while your motivations keep changing…they keep bringing you back…Back to the team where some things will stay the same.  You’ll continue to get stronger and healthier… to make lasting friendships…and to show the whole world that organ transplant recipients can and do live active, healthy lives!

And those things…well… those are the things that are the Biggest Deals of all!

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Highlights from the Big Weekend….Recapping a few memorable moments…
•    Watching our 5kers on Saturday morning…We had 11 participants entered in Saturday morning’s race including Vanessa Whitacre, Colin Rines, Carla Trulson-Essenberg, Reggie White, Jennifer Herlihy, and Frank Irigon.    They did an amazing job and showed that the continuum of training sometimes involves backing off and starting slowly…but not giving up completely!
•    Just as exciting was the support crew that showed up to cheer them on!   Believe me…when you’ve got Sam Patterson, Ron Adkins, Jason Stahl, Terry Way, Steve Reynolds, Lenard Yen, and Andy Deckert all rooting for you, you will pick up the pace!
•    Listening to Jennifer Herlihy and Jason Stahl tell their stories at the pre-race pasta dinner on Saturday night!   They did an incredible job and left everyone inspired for the next day’s events!
•    Hearing Janette Morantes say that she couldn’t believe how much better our team members looked coming up the hill on Galer compared to everyone else!
•    Mari-Jo Fraser‘s stealth appearance as she squeezed us in between baseball seasons!
•    Looking up to see Mark Rosinbum running up Galer Hill…and then watching Mark Scott, Lenard Yen, and Jonathon Baird (who, by the way, is totally a public speaker whether he thinks he is or not!)  all follow suit!
•    Anne Hagerty‘s big course PR!  She clipped 5 minutes off last year’s time and broke 3 hours in the process!
•    Dan Tennant’s and Shirley Schultz‘s incredible Team Transplant debuts!  Expect to seem them dipping below the 3-hour barrier very, very soon!
•    Terry Way and son, Jeff, finishing the race together; and Ron Adkins and daughter, Heather, doing the same!  It’s wonderful to see exercise becoming a family tradition!
•    Tami Sadusky…actually this is a missed memorable moment…I missed seeing the gap Tami gained on Mike coming up the hill.  Next time, Michael….I’ll be there!  You can count it!   And Tami…you go, girl!
•    Sam Patterson‘s course record of 4:11:06…Sam is now an HOUR faster than he was 5 years ago when he started with us.  Turns out he also negative splitted the race on Sunday (meaning he did the second half of the race faster than the first!)…an amazing feat in any race…but especially notable with the hills in the final half of this one.
•    Jason Stahl…Talk about continuum of training!   This guy has it down!  Last year he was just too fresh out of transplant to make 13.1 miles, but he still came up to do the 5k.  And this year…Look at him?   He’s a half-marathoner!
•    Having Dick Fitzgerald back!  He hasn’t sported a Team Transplant jersey for this race since 2006.  Good to know he’s returning to form!
•    Micah Gwinn...proving that commitment , dedication, and teamwork is what it’s all about as he finished along with good friend and training partner, Lenore Miller!
•    And last, but certainly not least….Allen Vary‘s debut marathon performance.  He learned the hard lesson that even when you do your best to train, things don’t have to go your way….But he also showed us that even though things don’t go your way, you can still feel pretty good about how you did!
Thanks for an amazing day, everyone!   It truly was a privilege to be out there on Sunday to cheer you all on!

Back to Mari-Jo Fraser.   It turns out that last Sunday was not just Issaquah Salmon Days.  It was the 6 year anniversary of her transplant…and so amazing that she chose to spend the first part of the day with us.  In true TT spirit, she showed up decked out in official wasabi-Gatorade green apparel, and carryied a helium butterfly balloon.   The plan…to release the balloon at some point during the race.  At the call to the start, she eagerly made her way to middle of the crowd.   As the gun went off, our crew of supporters provided an enthusiastic send off to our racers and as Mari Jo crossed the start line, our eyes looked up toward the sky for the balloon.  It was only a few minutes later that we saw it…drifting up into the sky, a tribute to all of the people who have provided the gift of life and opportunity for hope to so many others.

After getting coffee, our support crew re-assembled over near the 6 mile mark  where we could cheer our folks on as they completed their final 0.2 miles.  As Mari-Jo approached, she had a huge smile on her face…and the twinkle in her eye…another tribute to that the gift of life.

Congrats on a fine performance, Mari-Jo…and on your incredible journey over the last 6 years!

In the 5k, we were represented by another very fine crew with surprise entrant (and it could not have been more pleasant), Vanessa Whitacre who was joined by Janette Morantes and our good friend, Mary Pigott.    They finished looking very comfortable as they crossed the line in 53 minutes.

Rounding out the festivities was our solid support and cheering section led by Jennifer Herlihy and Todd McCoy, Colin Rines, and Gary Lanis.     It was so wonderful to see them…and to know that they still feel like they’re a part of the team despite their various reasons for sitting this event out.

Now…As promised…Back to Mari Jo Fraser.   It turns out that last Sunday was not just Issaquah Salmon Days.  It was the 6 year anniversary of her transplant…and so amazing that she chose to spend the first part of the day with us.  In true TT spirit, she showed up decked out in official wasabi-Gatorade green apparel, and carryied a helium butterfly balloon (see attached photo).   The plan…to release the balloon at some point during the race.  At the call to the start, she eagerly made her way to middle of the crowd.   As the gun went off, our crew of supporters provided an enthusiastic send off to our racers and as Mari Jo crossed the start line, our eyes looked up toward the sky for the balloon.  It was only a few minutes later that we saw it…drifting up into the sky, a tribute to all of the people who have provided the gift of life and opportunity for hope to so many others.

After getting coffee, our support crew re-assembled over near the 6 mile mark  where we could cheer our folks on as they completed their final 0.2 miles.  As Mari-Jo approached, she had a huge smile on her face…and the twinkle in her eye…another tribute to that the gift of life.

Congrats on a fine performance, Mari-Jo…and on your incredible journey over the last 6 years!

Our Marathoners

Bridget O’Connor competed in the Bellingham Bay Marathon on Sept. 27th.   This was her 4th marathon, and she went in to it with big expectations.  Unfortunately, the marathon is a race where there’s not much in the way of compromise.  And it turns out that the Bellingham’s course is full of uncompromising hills over the final 13.1 miles.  Of the course profile, Bridget says, “ The hills were brutal!  The first half was great but everything went downhill from there ( except for the course elevation).”

She still kept it together to finish in a very fine 4:21.  And while she didn’t necessarily get the big pay off she was looking for, she’s still looking to draw from all the fitness she gained by  joining us  for the Seattle Half where her big goal is to keep Marty Chakoian in eyesight!

Rachel  Lyons competed in the Portland Marathon last Sunday.  I still haven’t had a chance to catch up with Rachel, but I do know that finished in a very respectable time of 4:27:20.  Notably, this is 10 minutes faster than her debut marathon at Seattle Rock’n Roll in June!  Way to go, Rachel!   I believe she’ll be helping with a water station tomorrow so be sure to ask her for the details!
Liver Life Walk

One of our rookies, Dan Tennant, who lives down in Tacoma ventured up to Seattle for the first-ever American Liver Foundation Liver Life Walk on September 20th.  From the word on the street, his training had him more than prepared for the 5k event so he was able to go out and have a lot of fun with it and meet a lot of ”really nice foks”…We look forward to having both he and his wife (whom I hear are really nice folks too) join us in November!
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Lenard Yen, one of our liver recipients, served as point person at home base.  Lenard has been on the team now for 4 years and continues to get stronger and fitter each season.  He’s also got a very creative mind, wonderful, quirky sense of humor, and doesn’t mind helping out with our pre-workout stretching routine.  If you haven’t had a chance to meet Lenard, be sure to make the effort…He definitely exudes Team Transplant team spirit in all that he does!

Morgan Wong, one of our kidney recipients, helped out at the turnaround point out at Lincoln Park.  He is back with the team after taking a few years off.  As a testament to his disciplined work ethic, he finished the full Seattle Marathon in 2003 and has since completed several half marathons.  He’s served as race photographer for us, and in true Team Transplant spirit, is always willing to help out a fellow team member.  I think I speak for everyone when I say it’s truly wonderful to have him back!

steve, at the finish line, 2006 (image:asiphoto)

Carla Trulson-Essenberg

Q: When and what type of organ transplant did you have?

Carla: I had a double lung transplant on Halloween of 2004 for bronchiectasis with Pseudomonas.  I had been on “the list” for only 5 days.

Q: What attracted you to UWMC Team Transplant? What’s your favorite part of being on the team?

Carla: Susan Bussell, the dietitian in lung transplant clinic, is how I found out about Team Transplant.  She was a speaker at our Lung Transplant Support Group Meeting in February of ’09 and mentioned Team Transplant and the Rock’N'Roll marathon.  I e-mailed her and asked if people could walk this.  She said yes, referred me to Alysun and the rest is history.

My favorite part of being on the team is meeting such encouraging people and getting to walk in all the many locations we train at–some which I had not been to before.

Q: Were you active before your transplant?

Carla: I have not been very active due to a life-long history of lung problems.  I could not even walk to the mailbox (with oxygen) before my surgery.

Q: What roles have nutrition and exercise played in your post-transplant recovery?

Carla: It has been such a delight to be able to do things I could only dream of before. I love to walk and generally will walk 4-5 miles a day in the “nice weather” months.

Alas, I have put on 40 pounds since surgery even with keeping a journal and really being consciencious about what I eat.  My meds (including Prednisone) have really affected my weight.

Q: Can you describe the process of getting into shape after your surgery?

Carla: I had a difficult recovery but after three months I began to thrive and experienced such joy at being able to breathe and exercise without problems. I gradually worked up to walking 4-5 miles a day. I go to the gym 4 times a week for weights and treadmill work and my goal is to be fit.

Q: What does it mean for you to be able to complete a half marathon after your transplant? What are your future goals for training?

Carla: It was very important for me to do this marathon because it was a challenge (I like challenges) and something I could NOT have done at any point in my life prior to transplant.  I injured my spring ligament in my left foot about 3 weeks before the race (on the Galer St hill) and was concerned I may not be able to compete.  But with PT and taping, I did not feel it would be a problem for the race but held off doing any hills until the half-marathon.  About mile 10 I reinjured it and had to slow up a bit.  After I crossed the finish line and found my husband Dave, I just broke down in tears because the enormity of what I had just done really hit me.

My future goals for training are to begin doing intervals on the treadmill again after this re-injury heals. Then I’d like to start training with the Team (my husband wants to join too) and stay in shape.  I’ve not decided about the Seattle Marathon yet but definitely want to train as if I am. I’ll be the first to admit I do not like to walk in inclement weather!

Q: Do you have any training tips you’d like to share?

Carla: Team Transplant “Fourteen Half-Marathon Ron” (Heart transplant recipient, Ron Adkins) told me to start out slow which seems to be wise advice. It is also helpful to walk near someone who is a bit faster than you to help motivate you–in my case this person was Vanessa, one of the liver transplant recipients on the team.  I found that the adrenaline rush of being in the Rock’N'Roll half-marathon really helps you to increase and maintain your pace.

Thanks to Julie Sprinkle for the GREEN balloons!  Next time I’ll know to pick a meeting location that isn’t right at the shuttle drop-off and port-a-potty lines!

Let’s hear it for everyone who helped with the post-race BBQ…Lenore Miller, Jennifer Herlihy, Susan Bussell, Ida and James, and Janette Morantes all showed up at my house on Friday afternoon to help with some last-minute yardwork and set up tables and service lines… I know Mark Rosinbum, Jennifer H., Tami Sadusky, Harch Ooi, Lenard Yen, Julie Sprinkle, Lenore M., Susan Bussell, Janette, and Diane Vetres all brought items to share at the BBQ…Diane V., Tess Brown, Siobhan Ginnane, and Laura Lewis all helped with clean up…I’m sure I’ve missed people…just know if I did, your help was greatly appreciated…It was a crazy long day and some of the details are blurry!

Special thanks to Janette for spending her post-race recovery time grilling hamburgers and veggie burgers for us!  She did an awesome job…The burgers were wonderful…much better than you would’ve gotten from me…though I’m sure she had to rely on a few packets of GU to pull it off!

Let’s hear it for Jeff Edelman! Jeff, one of our pulmonologists here at the U, competed in his first Beat the Bridge race on Sunday (in fact, I think it may have been his debut at the 8k distance), and he seems to be a natural.  He ran a very fine time of 36:42 and successfully beat the bridge! What makes this peformance even more impressive is that he had completed the Vancouver Marathon (the full 26.2 miles) just 2 weeks earlier, finishing in 4:11:23.   Just his second marathon, his Vancouver time was a 28-minute improvement over his Seattle Marathon race in November.  Great job, Jeff…We’re proud to have you sporting the Team Transplant colors!

And how about a round of applause for Mark Scott and family!  They have made Beat the Bridge and annual event as Juvenile Diabetes is a cause that is near to their hearts. Mark, his wife, Monica, and their son, Patrick, who has diabetes, all participated.  Of the event, Mark says:

We saw many of the families we know who also have children with Type one diabetes. We really appreciate all the people who come out and walk. It lifts the spirits of all of us who deal with juvenile diabetes every day.

And let’s not forget, Sam Patterson!  Sam was our lone participant down at the Capital City 5-miler.  Sam has made this race…and his color commentary afterwards… an annual tradition.  And, well…I’ll just let Sam take it from here…

OLYMPIA,WA (Sunday,17 May, 2009) – It took the most gorgeous day of spring weather and courageous inspiration for UWMC’s Team Transplant race walker, Sam Patterson, to rise to the occasion.   Finishing ninth in his age group and turning in a time of 1:25.27 in the 5-mile event this morning at the Capital Cities Marathon, our wasabi green clad Team Tx member got off to an exceptional start taking the opening mile “hill” in 18 minutes.

“I knew when I saw the clock, it might possibly be a good day,” Sam related.  “But what really pushed me was a young man about 10 yards ahead of me. For some reason, he couldn’t seem to bend his knees. He just kept throwing one leg forward, then the other.  Pure guts! I’ve never seen such courage, and I can’t imagine how much strength it must have taken for him to keep going.  He stayed 10 yards in front of me.  I lost track of him around the third mile.”

Patterson also attributed technique to his successful sub-17 minute/mile average. “Two weeks ago, I got back to basics, remembering the Olympic walking coach Alysun brought in a couple years ago. Arms were up, elbows in. It was like 1-2-3, blow.  1-2-3, blow.  Again and again. Feet under me in short strides to the rythmn,arms pumping along.”

“The whole day was one of gratitude..the heart (transplanted ’99) I carry—a real second shot at life.”

We don’t get to see much of  Jason Stahl, who lives down in Olympia,  so I’m always excited to get his updates and to hear about all the walking and tennis playing and bike riding he’s been doing.  Last weekend he walked in the Thurston County Walk for Life.  Of the event, he says, “It was a small walk of about 1-1/2 miles, but it was fun to walk with friends for a great cause; and in perfect weather too! After the walk, I was all warmed up for another lap, but my out-of-shape friends weren’t up for it!”   That’s awesome, Jason!   Keep up the good work and we look forward to seeing you soon!