|
I am running to raise funds for and awareness of RSD..... In 2006/07, I completed the equivalent of 10 marathons (26.2 miles each) in 10 months.
Next up for RSDSA, I am taking on my ultimate challenge to date - running 50 miles non-stop from Big Spring, Tx. to Midland, Tx. on June 14, 2008. Note: This is a date change from the original planned date of May 31st to allow my local sponsors, Paul and Monika Kennemur, to be present (see my schedule below for more information).
___________________________________________
What is RSD?
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSD) - also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) - is a chronic neurological syndrome characterized by:
- severe burning pain
- pathological changes in bone and skin
- excessive sweating
- tissue swelling
- extreme sensitivity to touch
RSD is something that has touched my life on a very personal basis - my
wife Yvette was injured at work a few years back, and developed RSD shortly
after that. She is now permanently disabled (20% according to her Drs) because of this condition. She had a spinal implant (a device that is surgically implanted in her back that has wires running from it to her spine) about a year after her accident to help make the pain "bearable". With the help of this device, her pain level (on a scale of 1 to 10) went from a 9 or 10 to a 3 or 4. Before the implant, she refused to go out in public for fear someone might bump into her. One day, I heard her scream in agonizing pain when an envelope fell on her leg - RSD is pretty wicked stuff. And all of this resulted from a simple fall at work (she slipped on some wax that was left in the floor by the cleaning crew). Her only option at this point is to have the device in her back the rest of her life plus be on heavy medication forever as well. Her life will never be the same again, that is until a cure for RSD is found.
I started my streak on Sept. 17, 2006 in St. Charles, MO running with the world famous Dean Karnazes.
Troy's Schedule and Results:
Sep 17, 06: Marathon, St. Charles, MO. - COMPLETED - spent over 30 hours on the road driving to and from this marathon.
Oct 09, 06: Marathon, Tulsa, OK - COMPLETED - this was the 2nd time I had the pleasure of running with my idol, Dean Karnazes. This was part of his amazing Endurance 50 where he ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days.
Nov 12, 06: Marathon of the Americas - San Antonio, TX. - COMPLETED - this marathon started in front the Alamo and ended inside the Alamodome (the former home of the World Champion San Antonio Spurs). We mixed in a couple of history lessons for the kids along with this run.
Dec 10, 06: White Rock Marathon - Dallas, TX. - COMPLETED - luck was on my side - I finished this marathon just before heavy rains hit and then was given a free pair of New Balance running shoes at the finish line.
Jan 01, 07: Kingwood Marathon - Kingwood, TX. - COMPLETED - Nothing like starting off the New Year with 26.2 miles at 8:00 AM!! To make matters worse, I was forced to stay up the entire night on New Year's Eve (because of work related issues) - I began this marathon with zero hours sleep. It was the first time I was exhausted BEFORE the marathon. And as fate would have it, I ran my 2nd fastest time ever (3 hrs. 58 minutes).
Feb 10, 07: Surfside Beach Marathon - Surfside, TX. - COMPLETED - this was my first marathon run completely on a beach (see the picture to the left). "Footprints in the Sand" has always been my favorite poem - God had already brought me a long ways just to get to this point, and as always guided me along the beach (this time literally) to finish this marathon.
Mar 25, 07: Troy's Marathon - Coll. Stat, TX. (Lick Creek Park) -COMPLETED - this was my first marathon run completely on a trail. My LEAST favorite part of running on trails is having to dodge snakes!!
Apr 14, 07: Troy's Marathon - Coll. Stat, TX. (Lick Creek Park)-COMPLETED - my 2nd trail run.
May 31, 2007: Troy's Marathon (football track -College Station, TX.)-COMPLETED****On this marathon, I was forced to "split it up" because of the heat and humidity. I ran 20 miles on the school track and then 2 hours later ran 6.2 miles on the treadmill. I still completed my 26.2 Miles!!! The month of May was quite busy. I ran/walked for 12 hours on a school track to raise funds for another one of my charities - the American Cancer Society. I followed that a week later with back-to-back half marathons on a Saturday and Sunday and followed that a short period later with my May 31 run at the track and treadmill described above. Again, a busy but productive month!!
June 30, 2007: Troy's Marathon (treadmill - College Station, TX.)- COMPLETED - this was my first marathon run completely on a treadmill - definitely, in some aspects, running this distance on a treadmill is tougher than running a marathon "on land".
July, Aug, 07: Summer Break.
Oct 07 - Mar 08: Participating in events for Lance Armstrong Foundation and Karno Kids.
Lance Armstrong Foundation: www.livestrong.org/grassroots/troygrimes Karno Kids: http://www.active.com/donate/karnokids/TroyRayG
June 14, 2008: I will be completing a 50 mile run from my dad's house in Big Spring, Tx. to the Midland Rockhounds game in Midland/Odessa, Tx. The Midland Rockhounds are a Double-A affiliate of the Oakland A's. Going to these games were something that Yvette and I enjoyed doing in our younger days. I plan to complete my run before the start of the game, and then stay to watch the game just like Yvette and I use to do.
My Book
Please purchase a copy of my book! Read how I went from an unhappy, overweight corporate slave to a marathon runner by finding a purpose for my life. But more importantly, read about how my wife battled (and is still battling) RSD. The book is called "Putting One Foot in Front of the Other". Follow the link below for more information:
Putting One Foot In Front of the Other
My Sponsors
Settles Hotel Development Company, LLC: , and its owner G. Brint Ryan, CPA.
Settles Hotel Development Company, LLC
P. O. Box 1471
Big Spring, Texas 79720
432.264.0317 Office
432.264.0735 Facsimile
940.206.4648 Mobile
website
___________________________________________________________
Medicine Center Pharmacy (1001 S. Gregg, Big Spring, TX. ) and its owners, Paul and Monika Kennemur .
__________________________________________________________
Childress Engineering Services, Inc. (2525 N. Plano Road, Suite 1200 Richardson, TX. 75082) and its owner/President Tony Childress, P.E., S.E. website: www.cesglobal.com
__________________________________________________________
More Information
For information about RSD and the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome
Association, go to: http://www.rsds.org
|
