13 month TKR update

Hello everyone! As you can see I'm not the best blogger but figured I would update ya'll about my new left knee. It has now been 13 months since I had my new knee put in and it's doing great! I did have a little mishap back in early July but thank goodness it was not my new knee itself! My family and I were on a fishing vacation back in my hometown of Detroit Lakes, MN, I was out on a 10 mile run about 7 miles into the run I felt this sharp pain in my new left knee. I had to stop, I could not run another step! I had to limp back to the hotel. I thought for sure I had broken something in the new knee! As soon as I got back to Austin I got right into my orthopedic surgeon. They took x-rays and the knee itself was fine, but I partially tore my quad tendon that attaches to the top of the knee! So for the next 6 weeks I was in a brace and could not bend my knee. It worked! The last 8 weeks I've been back training hard for the 2012 Boston Marathon and my knee feels better then ever! I'm back running 70-80 miles/week and really enjoying the training to get ready for next April 16 in Boston! It's hard to believe it will be the 30th anniversary of what is now known as the "Duel in the Sun" the race Alberto Salazar and I had against one another in Boston. I can hardly wait! I will try to keep this blog a little more up to date and let you know how my training is progressing. Take care everyone and have a great day!

Dick :-)

6 month Total Knee Replacement (TKR) Update

It's been 6 months today since I had a TKR on my left knee, it's doing super! My new right knee is now 2 years old and I don't even think about it anymore, my left one is almost to that point! I'm back training hard and running about 70 miles/week. I still have a long way to go to get where I'd like to be but it's coming! I've had incredible support from my wife Jill, friends, and Dr. Matt Heinrich! I know I may be pushing the envelope a bit but I'm listening to my body and back it off a bit when I need to. My hope God willing is to be ready to run Boston in 2012, it will be the 30th Anniversary of "Duel in the Sun" which excites me to no end!

14 years of sobriety

Febuary 12 is a very special day for me and my family as I've been blessed with another year (14 years) of sobriety! It has not always been easy and the past couple of years with 2 knee replacements and 2 back surgeries I've been tested! But the good Lord has given me this incredible faith, my wife Jilly has been there every step of the way to make sure I didn't go backwards, my family and friends who have supported me from day one, the doctors who helped me through these past couple of years, to all of you and your prayers and well wishes, it really helps! The disease of addiction is like nothing else a person can go through. There are times when you wonder if you will ever get better, there are times when you think it would be better to go back to your old ways. This is the disease talking, it's always right there to jump on your back in the slightest moment of weakness. This is where your faith, your support system, your attitude, you remembering the hell you went through can really help! But know this, taking it " one day at a time" or even one minute at a time, you can get your life back and it can be better then ever before! Will it be easy? Are you kidding! It will be the hardest thing you ever do, but it's worth every ounce of energy you put into it! Thanks to all of you who support the Dick Beardsley Foundation, it is greatly appreciated! Take care and have a GREAT day!

Dick :-)