Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a happy, healthy 2009! Speaking of health, I thought I'd update everyone on my knee. It has been very frustrating but it won't be long and I will be getting a brand new one! My right knee has been operated on 11 times since I first hurt it in college back in 1976, needless to say the knee is not good and is riddled with arthritis.
I went in for arthroscopic surgery to clean out the knee on November 17th hoping to get a few more years out of it. Unfortunately, my knee became badly infected and I had to be taken back into surgery, after surgery I was hooked up with a Pic Line and had to feed myself heavy duty antibiotics for three weeks, the good news is the infection has been taken care of but it really did a number on my joint. I went to another doctor for a second opinion and everyone agrees the only thing left to do is a total knee replacement.
As of today, I can't walk without using a cane or crutches so the idea of getting a new knee that will enable me to walk again without a cane sounds great! My surgery is scheduled for January 14th. I've heard the rehab part of it after surgery is a tough one but I'm up for the challenge! Most doctors recommend you not run after a total knee replacement, I know I will have to cut way back, but I hope to get back to where I can run a few miles a week and then get most of my "aerobic fix" from cycling. I will keep everyone posted on how things are going!
Take care and have a great 2009!
December 29, 2008
December 15, 2008
Dallas White Rock Marathon
I've been very fortunate to have been invited to speak at the Dallas White Rock Marathon over the last few years, Marcus Grunewald the race director and his staff do an incredible job putting on a world class event!
I flew to Dallas on Thursday, it was a little more difficult because of being on crutches, but the folks at Southwest Airlines were awesome! Since I could not have my leg propped up on the plane, by the time I got to the hotel it was hurting pretty bad!
Friday afternoon the expo opened and the place was packed! I gave my presentation at 1:00, my good friend Mark Bravo from Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon introduced me. I stood on the stage with my crutches and things actually went very well! I'm used to moving all over the stage when I speak but not this time. I lost my balance once and thought I might land in the front row of folks, but thankfully I was able to catch myself!
Afterwards I spent some time at the New Balance Shoe Co. booth and then headed back to my hotel to get my leg up. Friday night my wife Jill and our son Matthew arrived by car, we had a nice meal and Matthew and I had fun riding the hotel elevator up to the top and back a few times!
I gave my second talk on Saturday afternoon and it went very well, Jill and Matthew were in the front row, it was the fist time Matthew had ever heard me give a talk before and I think he kind of enjoyed it! After my talk, I spent a couple of hours at the NB booth selling and signing books, signing NB posters, taking pictures, and just chatting with folks. I really had a lot of fun and it was nice having Matthew there with me as he handled all the book money and he had fun helping me out!
Saturday night myself, Jill, and Matthew were at the Pasta Dinner (one of the best ones you will find at a marathon!) I had to sit up at the head table. There was only room for one more person so Jill sat down in the audience and Matthew sit next to me, on his right was Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist, Frank Shorter, Frank has been a friend of mine for many years and took soome time to talk Matthew, I don't think Matthew fully understood who he was sitting by and was talking to!
Also at the head table were my good friends Bill Rodgers and Bart Yasso and his wife Laura, always good to see old friends whenever I can!
Sunday morning, we were up early for a nice breakfast and then on our way home back to Austin. Thanks Marcus for the great weekend we had, keep up the AWESOME work you do!
I flew to Dallas on Thursday, it was a little more difficult because of being on crutches, but the folks at Southwest Airlines were awesome! Since I could not have my leg propped up on the plane, by the time I got to the hotel it was hurting pretty bad!
Friday afternoon the expo opened and the place was packed! I gave my presentation at 1:00, my good friend Mark Bravo from Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon introduced me. I stood on the stage with my crutches and things actually went very well! I'm used to moving all over the stage when I speak but not this time. I lost my balance once and thought I might land in the front row of folks, but thankfully I was able to catch myself!
Afterwards I spent some time at the New Balance Shoe Co. booth and then headed back to my hotel to get my leg up. Friday night my wife Jill and our son Matthew arrived by car, we had a nice meal and Matthew and I had fun riding the hotel elevator up to the top and back a few times!
I gave my second talk on Saturday afternoon and it went very well, Jill and Matthew were in the front row, it was the fist time Matthew had ever heard me give a talk before and I think he kind of enjoyed it! After my talk, I spent a couple of hours at the NB booth selling and signing books, signing NB posters, taking pictures, and just chatting with folks. I really had a lot of fun and it was nice having Matthew there with me as he handled all the book money and he had fun helping me out!
Saturday night myself, Jill, and Matthew were at the Pasta Dinner (one of the best ones you will find at a marathon!) I had to sit up at the head table. There was only room for one more person so Jill sat down in the audience and Matthew sit next to me, on his right was Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist, Frank Shorter, Frank has been a friend of mine for many years and took soome time to talk Matthew, I don't think Matthew fully understood who he was sitting by and was talking to!
Also at the head table were my good friends Bill Rodgers and Bart Yasso and his wife Laura, always good to see old friends whenever I can!
Sunday morning, we were up early for a nice breakfast and then on our way home back to Austin. Thanks Marcus for the great weekend we had, keep up the AWESOME work you do!
December 11, 2008
Shu's Idaho Running Company, Boise, Idaho
Shu and Leone
Dick speaking on crutches!
Matt Booth, PT at Therapeutic Associates checking Dick's knee
Dick with Nate, KBOI Radio HostMy trip while I was in Boise was AWESOME! The trip traveling to Boise was another story! I flew from Austin to Phoenix to Boise, normally, not a bad trip but I was still fighting the infection in my right knee and I was really hurting! The good news was that I got to board the plane first because of my crutches! My good friend Jenny Stinson took time off from working at her company, Stinson Brand Innovation picked me up at the airport and we headed over to Shu's Idaho Running Co, Mike aka Shu, the owner was there and he introduced me to his staff. I stayed a couple of hours selling and signing my book, chatting with folks, and being on live radio. After my store visit, I went back to Jenny's where I was staying. I've known Jenny and her husband Mark for a number of years now and we have become great friends, there at the door to meet me was Fremont, the Stinson's beautiful golden retriever, I had not seen Fremont in a couple of years but I think he remembered me!
That night Jenny hosted a little get together with some friends from their local running club, what a bunch of nice folks!
Tuesday morning I was up early and headed for Therapeutic Associates to do a meet and greet, It was wonderful, and the staff even worked on my knee for me! Jenny and I had a nice breakfast and then it was back over to Shu's Idaho Running Co., for another meet and greet. Boise is packed full of some of the nicest people you will ever meet! Shu's store was recently voted one of the top 50 specialty running stores in the country! After my afternoon meet and greet at Shu's, I was able to go back to Jenny's and get a little R&R my knee was really hurting and it was nice to get it up and elevated for awhile.
Tuesday evening was my main talk and it was held at The Pursuit, it's a local church in Boise and they were very kind to let me use their venue for my talk. We had a really good turnout and my talk went well. I like to move around the stage when I speak but with crutches I was pretty much stationed in one spot, but at least I didn't fall off the stage! After my talk I did a meet and greet, sold and signed books, and took pictures with anyone that wanted one.
Wednesday morning I met with some of Jenny's friends and then did one last meet & greet at Shu's, before it was off to the airport for my flight home to Austin.
I want to thank everyone for the wonderful time I had in Boise, it's a beautiful city and you should all be so very proud! A special thanks to Jenny Stinson, Shu's Idaho Running Co, Therapeutic Associates, The Pursuit, and the New Balance Shoe Company. Thanks to everyone for helping my trip to Boise so special, can't wait to come back!
That night Jenny hosted a little get together with some friends from their local running club, what a bunch of nice folks!
Tuesday morning I was up early and headed for Therapeutic Associates to do a meet and greet, It was wonderful, and the staff even worked on my knee for me! Jenny and I had a nice breakfast and then it was back over to Shu's Idaho Running Co., for another meet and greet. Boise is packed full of some of the nicest people you will ever meet! Shu's store was recently voted one of the top 50 specialty running stores in the country! After my afternoon meet and greet at Shu's, I was able to go back to Jenny's and get a little R&R my knee was really hurting and it was nice to get it up and elevated for awhile.
Tuesday evening was my main talk and it was held at The Pursuit, it's a local church in Boise and they were very kind to let me use their venue for my talk. We had a really good turnout and my talk went well. I like to move around the stage when I speak but with crutches I was pretty much stationed in one spot, but at least I didn't fall off the stage! After my talk I did a meet and greet, sold and signed books, and took pictures with anyone that wanted one.
Wednesday morning I met with some of Jenny's friends and then did one last meet & greet at Shu's, before it was off to the airport for my flight home to Austin.
I want to thank everyone for the wonderful time I had in Boise, it's a beautiful city and you should all be so very proud! A special thanks to Jenny Stinson, Shu's Idaho Running Co, Therapeutic Associates, The Pursuit, and the New Balance Shoe Company. Thanks to everyone for helping my trip to Boise so special, can't wait to come back!
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