It's Never Too Late

You've probably heard me say that I get ideas for columns from lots of different places.  My grandkids.  On the back of my bicycle.  Driving down the street. 

I asked someone this week for suggestions.  She's a patient of mine right now so I'll leave her name out of it but she wanted a column on beginning a running program at an advanced age.

Now she's hardly an advanced age but I guess she does qualify as someone that might be considered someone late to running, having only started in the last couple of years.

I immediately thought of my friend Ed, who is a living, breathing example of being a little  "late" to running.  So let me introduce you to Ed.

Ed Dennison is 67.  He had been up and down with his exercise routine for years, knowing that he needed regular exercise in his life but just not sticking with anything for long.

His wife had been a member of the Ruby Tuesday corporate gym and encouraged him to join up there.  That was 10 years ago.

He remembers well when he walked in the door the first time.  A staff member looked at him and declared "oh, you're a runner."  He insisted he was not.  A second staff member said the same thing.

His answer was that running was punishment.  And that's how he had looked at running for roughly 57 years. 

Those same staff members talked him into doing a 5K anyway.  I suspect their idea (well done!) was to give him a goal to work toward.  When he went home to tell his wife, she, shall we say, did not agree that it was a particularly good idea.  She refused to attend that first 5K.  Even his sanity might have been questioned.

He did that race anyway and was hooked.  He immediately signed up for the next one.  His wife did attend that one and then signed up for the next one herself, the Reindeer Run (this December will be her 10th anniversary in that race).  She's been running ever since.

A big part of this story is about Ed's wife Kay.  Ed did everything growing up and lots of things as an adult.  Kay, on the other hand, was never an athlete although both their kids were outstanding athletes.

And, as they say, the rest is history.  In his running career, Ed has run 4 marathons, the first at 60.  He's done too many 5K's and 10K's to count and at least 25 half marathons, averaging 2-3 a year since he first got started.

Today, you will find Ed still running but he's also coaching for a group called No Boundaries, a program offered through Parks & Rec which provides instruction and coaching for budding and experienced runners, focusing on the three Parks & Rec races in Blount County. 

There are all different sorts of runners in No Boundaries.  One of their primary goals is to reach those that have may have not even been regular exercisers and make help them fix that.

A lot of folks in No Boundaries hardly walked in the beginning and now they are regular runners.  Ed is the perfect spokesman for that.  When someone tells him "I'm no runner" he can tell them that he wasn't either.

This weekend, Ed has been in DisneyWorld where he will have ran a 10K  yesterday and a half marathon today.  Back to back.

What's next?  A half Ironman.  And not just any Ironman, the one in Kona, Hawaii.

Let's Have a HEALTHIER TENNESSEE!

This Friday (April 15th), there is an event at the Blount County Chamber of Commerce that I think you might be interested in.

"Healthier Tennessee" is an initiative from Governor Haslam's office with the goal of improving the health of all Tennesseeans.  The local program is led by Blount BEneFITs program and starts at 11 and ends at 2 offering a broad array of events, displays, and presentations.

There will be cooking demonstrations, a bicycle tour along the Greenbelt, and lots of information on things like weight management, diabetes control, and all kinds of healthy habit ideas.

Healthier Tennessee will have programs on how to stay healthier in the workplace.  Healthier workers are more productive and you make more working than you do sitting home sick or injured.  (Sounds like a win/win situation to me!)

There are a lot of resources available to Blount Countians that can help in the pursuit of good health.  Our own Health Department offers all kinds of programs and Parks & Rec provides us with tons of opportunities to be active.

Blount BEneFITs (get it...BE n FIT s)is a local program provided by my employer, Blount Memorial Hospital. 

Now think about that for a minute.  Here we have a hospital funding all sorts of initiatives to make people healthier and keep them out of the hospital.

Initiatives like smoking cessation, weight management, and emotional health.

It really isn't a contradiction.  Hospitals are (or should be) in the business of making people healthy.  

The old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is so very true.

And I might add, so very less expensive.  When over 17% of the GNP is spent on health care, we all have an obligation to do everything we can to prevent illness, injury, disease, or disability.

For a modern health care system, it has rapidly moved up the priority list.

So what can we do?

You may recall my column from a couple of weeks ago in which I covered "The Best Exercise Program Ever."  And if you recall the content, you will know that I am a firm believer in the proposal that the BEST exercise program that you can do is THE ONE THAT YOU WILL DO!  

Not everyone runs marathons or hikes the Appalachian Trail.  For some people, a daily walk on the Greenbelt is perfect.  Do the little things.

And the little things do add up.  Maybe it's parking farther away in the parking lot at work than you usually do or maybe it's taking the stairs instead of the elevator. 

From an exercise standpoint, that's what Healthier Tennessee is all about--taking small steps.

Maybe the first week you just walk around the block.  And aim to walk twice around the block.  Pretty soon, you are likely to be looking for bigger challenges.  

And there's lots of other little things we can do.  

We should all eat better.  Lose weight.  Stop smoking.  Lead by example.  Raise active kids.  Find the joy in physical expression.

Don't know how to do all that?

Join us on April 15th, 11 AM to 2 PM, at the Chamber of Commerce and you can find out!

The "R" Word

As I fast approach my 63rd year, the "R" word keeps popping up. "When are you going to Retire?"

Uh...never?  (Well, maybe that's not quite true.  But I don't have  plans to retire any time soon.) You see, I'm one of those increasingly rare birds--I actually look forward to going to work.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday finds me in the Total Rehabilitation clinic at Cherokee.  Tuesday and Thursday are reserved for those management responsibilities that make my job sound more important than it really is.  We have excellent managers at all of our clinics and the title "Manager of 

Outpatient Rehabilitation" requires less time than I want too many people to know.

Yep, when the alarm clock goes off in the morning, I spring from bed (sort of), excited for what the day may hold for me.  People come see me in pain or having had surgery or with an injury or disability and are there for me to help them get better.  And then I get to be on the MHS football sidelines. 

Nope, not gonna mess with that gig.

I even heard from one of the doctors that refer us patients.  His comment to one of my colleagues:  "I didn't know Joe was still seeing patients."

Uh...yeah.

Don't get me wrong, I love my life at home.  I've got my small farm set up just like I want it.  

Blueberries.  Blackberries.  Cherries. Apples.  Raspberries.  Raised beds.  A re-built barn.  Plans to put out a lot of Black Walnut trees.  And maybe even a vineyard.

And oh my goodness do I look forward to getting home to my wife each and every day.  My children and grandchildren may be the light of my life but my wife is my rock. 

I have lots of interests outside work.  Besides my bicycle, I travel, paint, write (obviously), garden, hike, and paddle my canoe around.  I'm active in my professional associations and teach at seminars from time to time.

The retirement thing probably came up more often on that recent mountain bike trip I took out west.  I was with my buddy Dr. Ken Bell who recently retired and I had always said that when he retired it would make it hard for me to continue to work. 

Well, it has, but I'm still not ready. 

And why do we retire anyway?   Do we retire because we're "supposed to?"  Is there a certain age where we are expected to be thinking about retirement?

A lot of the candidates for President are at an age where most others are thinking of retirement.  Clinton is 68.  Trump is 69.  Sanders is 74.  Cruz is a youthful  45. I think I'm just getting started!

Is there something that you always wanted to do and work always got in the way?  Could be time to retire.  Are you tired of doing the same job?  Could be time to look for something else to do.  A lot of people look completely out-of-the-box and find something that they could only dream of doing.

I suppose I could be a fly-fishing guide (but then I'm not really very good at it).  Or a bicycling guide (although I'm already doing that a bit right now).  But no, I'm gonna stay at it.  When it stops being fun, maybe then I'll retire.  But I'm having too much fun right now.

As long as that holds true, you know where you can find me.  

The Best Exercise Program Ever

I watched someone as they walked/jogged on the Greenbelt last week.  It was probably more walk than jog.

The buddy I was with said somewhat disparagingly (he's not nearly as kindhearted as I am) "why?"  

He seemed to be asking "why bother, when all you're going to do is shuffle along at a pace that generates barely a sweat in most people."

Why indeed.

My oft-repeated quote on that (well, I oft repeat it anyway) is that the BEST exercise program that you do is the one that you do.  The WORST exercise program is the one you don't do.

Effective exercise programs take many, many forms.  It can be something as simple as a walk in the park (literally) to a demanding CrossFit workout that leaves you gasping for breath.

Is one better than the other?  I don't know if that is the most important question to ask. 

Again, the best exercise program is one that holds your interest.  That you can sustain. That you even (yes, really) enjoy!

You may have the most evidence-based exercise program in the world, recommended to you by the best personal trainer ever, and based on a thorough examination of your physical capacity and medical needs but if you don't do it, it is totally worthless.

Just like the millions spent on diets and diet plans that people just don't follow, that exercise program that you don't do will never help you.

So let's look at the ingredients for a good exercise program.

It needs to have some components of cardio training.  In other words, it needs to be strenuous enough to get your heart rate up. 

How much?  That's where your Primary Care Physician (PCP) comes in.  You must depend on them to determine if you are physically able to participate in any type of exercise first and then they should be able to help you set safe parameters.

But if your PCP says that exercise is a bad idea regardless of your health, then go find yourself a new PCP. 

It needs to have some components of strength training.  This is especially true as you get older.  And it is more important for females than males.  Strength training may be your best hedge against osteoporosis.

I've also often stated that it is more important for the 40-something (and older) to lift weights than it is for the 20-something.  Yet, our gyms are full of those 20-somethings, looking for the better body through throwing around weights.

But we begin losing muscle strength at about age 28 and will lose a half to full percentage of our muscular strength every year.  That means that at 48, we have lost 20% or so of our muscle.  Since we likely haven't also lost 20% of our body weight, that means that muscle has been replaced by...well...bad stuff, like fat.

It needs to have some component of stretching.  Maybe yoga.  Probably some every day.

The second most important component is that it have a significant focus on developing core strength, which I define as essentially that region between your armpits and your kneecaps.

And the most important component (already mentioned above) is that you will do it.  

Teammates Can Be the Tie that Binds

Family is family and family should definitely come first but the friendships that we develop on our playing fields are something special. 

There's just something about working together for a common cause, fighting together, being a part of a team...that just brings us together.  It's a bond that is cemented by shared wins and  shared losses.

Although we don't communicate often, I feel that special bond with a couple of guys that I played high school football with. 

J.L. Millsaps was one of those.  A head-hunting linebacker, J.L. signed to play football at Memphis State University.  Lonnie Hawkins was another.  Lonnie was our star tailback and headed off to Tennessee  Tech after graduation.

I don't see either of these guys often.  Through the years, it has mostly been for medical reasons or ballgames of one kind or another.  But when we do see each other, it's like the years melt away and that friendship that reaches back (WAY back) to our teenage years is immediately renewed.

It's like that friendship has been put in suspended animation or something and is immediately available to us whenever we meet.

I find that in my professional life too.  Some of the very best friends that I've got in the world are found all over the country.  Tab and Barney in Georgia.  Skip in South Carolina.  Barb in Michigan.  Mike in Nashville, Debbie in Chattanooga, and Danny in Elizabethton.  Secili in Virginia. Pete in Ohio.  I'll stop because the list gets long. 

We see each other maybe twice a year but it's like nothing has changed--that friendship just steps in where it always was.

Despite going our separate ways professionally, one of my former partners in private practice (Baron) and I have stayed as close as ever.  He has always been someone that I could count on.  All of my former partners have remained friends.  I work with two of them every day (Randy and Tracy) and talk to another (David) regularly.  Distance has had no impact on those bonds.

My best friend in high school and college roommate and I still stay in touch.  Again, we don't talk often but when we do, you can be sure that it won't take us long to get around to old stories (and maybe old lies) and it's like nothing has diminished from that friendship.  We renew and become as close as ever.

I just got back from a week mountain biking with another great friend.  For some reason, he and I can spend 24/7 with each other and never have the hint of disagreement.  We genuinely like each other.  I realize how special a friend like that can be.

What's the point of all this?

Your teammates should be your friends.  Take care of them.  Build those relationships and then don't let anything get in the way of holding on to them.  Oh, they won't all stick around but the good one's will.

A friend is too valuable a commodity to waste.  A friend will tell you when you're wrong without being judgmental and loves you even when you don't listen.  A friend knows who you are and likes you anyway.  With a friend, you never have to worry about rejection.

A friend is someone that lets you be yourself.

They aren't your family and they most likely can never be but they are an important part of your life now and for hopefully for many years to come.  

Travel We Must!

I've had the good fortune to travel here lately. Actually, throughout my adult life, I've been really blessed to go places and do things that I didn't even have the room to dream about when I was growing up.

I'm convinced that we all need to travel.  And we need to travel to places and truly experience those places.  Meet and get to know the people. 

We need to see new places.  Try new things.  Eat different food.  Listen to different music.

We need to discover how somebody else does things.  We might just find a better way to do what we do.

When I was a high school junior, we won the football state championship.  It was a big deal in my little town. The community actually raised money and sent the whole team to see Tennessee and Florida play in the Gator Bowl. 

Most of the players on the team had never been out of the state of Tennessee.  One player, my age, had never been outside of our home county. 

So we find ourselves in a budget motel in downtown Jacksonville where we were told to stay off the streets because it was the big city and so it was dangerous and all.

That didn't stop us.

One boy discovered liquor that trip--a discovery that would haunt him the rest of his life.  A few went looking (unsuccessfully) for girls.  Most just wandered the streets.

In some small way, we all learned that there was another world out there.  A world outside of our tiny burg of three red lights and two grocery stores.

Yes, travel.  Get out of your comfort zone.  See new things and experience different cultures.  It will be good for you.   

I just got back from a trip this week.  It was all that and more.  I had even been reluctant to leave my comfortable little world for a week.  I like my life.

But seeing new things and new places teaches us that the world is a big place.  It gives us perspective.  It lets us know in no uncertain terms that the world does not revolve around us.  That we have to live with others and find a way to make it all work.

Travel, put most simply, opens our eyes.  Opens our eyes to the beauty that lies in our own backdoor.  Opens our eyes to the value of collaboration with people sometimes very different from us.  It makes us more accepting of things that are different.  It opens our eyes to the possibilities of humanity.

In part of those recent travels, I crossed Oklahoma.  I saw people there, people of the Cherokee nation whose roots in this area--in the hills and valleys of east Tennessee--are far, far deeper than our own. 

People who were forcibly marched across this land to an area that was harsh and even barren, especially when you consider the mountains and rivers where they came from.  Certainly far from their home.

Yet, they have survived and have built a life and yes, a culture there.   That survivability, that uniqueness of the culture that has evolved, is something that we could all learn from.  While we will never be able to relate to what they've been through as a people, we can still learn from them.

But we've got to get out to where they are to even have that opportunity.  We must travel and not inside some monstrous ship or to a cookie-cutter hotel that happens to be on the beach.  We've got to get out there.

"Finish each day and be done with it."

"Finish each day and be done with it.  You have done what you could.  Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in;  forget them as soon as you can.  Tomorrow is a new day;  begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered by your old nonsense."

That's my favorite quote attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I remember back in the middle of the football season when a local coach said of his quarterback "he can make a mistake and then put it completely out of his mind.  It's over.  It's on to the next play."

It was meant to be a compliment.  It certainly seems compatible with Emerson's advice.  Could there be any better advice in the middle of a big game?  It is often said of those athletes that can do that (forget about past mistakes and move on) have ice-water in their veins.

Forgot about it.  Put it behind you.  Move on.

One of my responsibilities with the MHS football team is the conditioning of the kickers.  Think about it.  Pretty much all they do at football practice is kick.

And I can tell you that it's easy to kick too much.  Sometimes we even count the number of kicks.   

So what happens is that the kickers get finished before the rest of the football team.

That's where I come in.  I take them through their conditioning and stretching drills.

What also happens is that I get close to them.  We become pals.  I don't coach them--we've got plenty of good folks that can do that--but I'm definitely there to encourage them.  Maybe pick them up when they get down.

I am part of their support system.  I know that I try to be the first one to greet them when they come off the field during a game, whether they had a good kick or not.

For a kicker that has just missed one or shanked a punt, nothing is more important than to live by Emerson's mantra.  Forget that last kick.  It's gone.  You can't do it again. Just nail the next one. 

We all make mistakes.  No one is perfect.  We're going to miss a free throw or strike out or double fault. 

But it's what we do next that is most important.  Do we shake it off?  Forget about it?  Move on to the next opportunity?

Or do we dwell on it.  Beat ourselves up for the miss.

I think we should all take Emerson's words to heart in our games and in our lives.  In the real world we're going to make mistakes.  We're going to screw up.  We're going to make bad choices. 

When we do, the best thing to do is to move on and do better the next time. 

I've said many times that sports are life lessons.  Maybe this is one of those lessons.  Learn from your mistakes and do better next time.  Figure out what you did wrong and fix it. 

But do move on.  Do forget about it.  What's happened has happened.   What you do next--how you respond to adversity--often defines the person you are and the person you are to become.