Hardrock &/or Western States

I'm fortunate enough to have the 'problem' of having to decide which of the two most sought after 100's I should run this coming summer.

Borrowed from HR website

Many people are thinking, what problem?  Just run both.  Others might say, "States is the oldest, most competitive 100, how could you pass that up?"  Others, "Hardrock is the hardest to get into, you could try to win your way into States again via a Montrail Cup race."

States Start - Borrowed from Scott Dunlap's blog

A lot of people quickly point out that many people have done WS and HR back to back.  Nick Clark even got 3rd at each event back to back.  I kept thinking, yeah, but he had more time to recover between the two races, there are only 13 days between the two races this year.  No one has done them that close together...  Then I chat with AJW who corrected me, and talked about his running of both in '09 when only 13 days separated them.  And of course he did very well and it wasn't that big of a deal (for him).

I'm leaning towards 'running' Hardrock, and only Hardrock.  Sure, part of me REALLY wants to run my ass off at States, see if I can crack top ten.  Running with that caliber of athletes is very inspiring, and the buzz of the event is something I long to experience.  BUT, Hardrock is more my type of race.  I love rugged mountains.  I grew up in the Sierra Nevada's of Northern California.  Racing in them at States would be special, but after visiting the San Juan's of Colorado at Hardrock last summer I haven't been able to stop thinking about the race and the giant scale of everything out there.

I would hate to run States, then show up at Hardrock, only to DNF.  Sure,  I might slowly slog my way to the finish line.  I don't want to risk dropping out of Hardrock.  Right now, a solid effort at HR is more important that a solid effort at WS.  It wouldn't feel right to not give that race 100%.

Furthermore, I have other, more important things going on in my life.  One of my best friends is getting married the weekend between the two races and I am honored to be one of his groomsmen.  I am contemplating going back to school to earn a Master's in the Science of Nursing.  Doing both races could easily put a strain on more important things in my life.  I love running in the mountains, but it is a hobby.  Maybe a hobby that gets a little out of control at times, but it's just a hobby and means to keeping me in decent shape.

CALL FOR COMMENTS:

What do you think I should do?
     
      - Race Western States 100 only.
      - Race Hardrock 100 only.
      - Race Both!
   
After being selected for both races via lottery, I did go out and buy a lottery ticket.  If I do win millions of dollars, I think I'll do both races.  I could buy an altitude tent, seriously focus on recovering.  Flights to and from races wouldn't be an issue for me, family and friends.  Other wise, I think I'll just stick to the race with the saw-tooth profile below:

I Had A Tumor

I am in nurse in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.  I finished the Angeles Crest 100 mile race early in the morning on July 22nd.  Three days later I was at work, caring for a child who was severely injured and required an MRI of his brain and spine.  While the MRI was in progress a technician mentioned to me that our hospital recently purchased a new MRI machine, and that they were asking staff to volunteer to test it out.  They had to run some volunteers through it to fine tune some things before sending patients through it.  Free MRI?  Sounded great.

I came back on my lunch break and had the MRI done.  When I came out the technician had a worrisome look on his face and he pointed to the screen.  An image of my brain, with a huge lump of something where it didn't belong.

Do you see it?

How about now?

Yikes.  I knew this wasn't good.  Up on the top of my brain, looked like a tumor, or maybe an old bleed I thought optimistically, considering the fair amount of times I've banged my head while playing sports over the years.

Through the help of Dr. Powell, a family friend and brilliant physician, I was seen at City of Hope by Dr. Badie who ended up being my neurosurgeon.  He and his team, including Roger, NP and Rosalind, PA, were and continue to be amazing.  My surgery couldn't have gone smoother.  It only took the team an hour and a half to knock me out, remove the tumor - which was attached to a huge vein, and put me back together.

Dr. Badie I presume, holding my tumor.  Skull cut open, brain tissue looking good.

Going into the surgery I was under the assumption that my tumor was most likely a meningioma, which are very common and not cancerous 90% of the time.  Upon awaking after surgery and coming to, I was informed that they were surprised upon digging it out to find that it was not a meningioma, but instead a chondroma or possibly a chondrosarcoma, both of which are very rarely found in the brain.  How rare?  They make up 0.16% of brain tumors.

In the ICU with my good luck charm 'Little Frank.'  Thanks Megan =)

After surgery I was wheeled into my ICU room, where I was cared for by an amazing nurse, Bonnie, then Shay, my stellar night nurse.  The next night I was moved to the regular floor.  The following morning I was preparing to be discharged home when Dr. Badie entered my room with the news that the preliminary diagnosis of my tumor was in, and that it was in fact a cancerous tumor, and a fairly aggressive one at that.  Yikes.

Fortunately, he and Dr. Powell advised that I obtain a second opinion on the pathology of the tumor, from a facility with specialists who are familiar with these extremely rare tumors.  About a month passed between me hearing that my tumor was cancerous and my consultation with the doctor at another facility, UCLA.  Within this month I was preparing for radiation, telling friends and family the news - I had had cancer, I need radiation.

My imagination would occasionally run wild when I thought about my future.  When Elissa and I sat down with the doctor at UCLA and heard him tell us that they were quite certain that the tumor was not cancerous I was very surprised.  I didn't know what to think.  It took me awhile to realize that this was the best news I could have heard.  A week later, the 3rd "tie breaker" opinion came in from the Mayo Clinic, also considering my tumor to be a non-cancerous chondroma.  What a relief.  I no longer need radiation, in fact it could potentially turn any left over non-cancerous tumor cells into cancerous cells.  Glad I got a second opinion!

It took me a long time to write this.  So much has happened since I first saw that lump in my brain on the computer screen that I found it nearly impossible to write a semi-short blog about it.  There are thousands of details that I had to sort through.  Writing this brief synopsis of my journey over the last three months was difficult.  In order to make the story short and sweet I omitted thousands of important facts.  Stories of my wife, Elissa, my parents (it doesn't hurt to have a mother with decades of nursing experience when you're sick),  my in-laws, my brother and his girlfriend Vanessa, all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, co-workers, friends, cancer survivors, and others spending countless hours of there time and energy helping me out in my time of need.

Brain Tumor Fundraiser Walk last Sunday

Last Sunday my wife and co-workers surprised me by making team shirts with "Team Ultrarunner RN" shirts and completing the Brain Tumor walk with me.  I really have the best co-workers, managers included, in the whole world.  I am so proud to be an RN in the PICU at CHLA.

To all of those who have checked in with me, taken me out to eat, sent me cards, etc.  Thank you.  I have been overwhelmed with support, making it a little difficult to show my appreciation to everyone who has been there for me.  Just in case I have not been able to get back to you, or meet up with you yet does not mean that I don't appreciate you kindness.  Thanks for everything.