Brothers,
Join me in supporting a true Brother and dear Friend.
He didn't ask for this and certainly doesn't expect it, but even with insurance the expense of an ambulance ride, potentially lifesaving ER treatment, CT scans, nuclear heart scan, countless bloodwork, two nights in the hospital and unanticipated airfare add up. Let's help ease the burden of one by coming together as a whole. Any funds collected that exceed the financial burden will be returned proportionately.
www.paypal.com : [email protected]
Turncoat is one of the highest quality people there are. If you're lucky enough to know him, you like him. If you don't know him, you should. Doesn't matter where in the region you are, he seems to know everyone and greets them by name, which is even more impressive given that he doesn't celebrate his one year F3 anniversary until next week. He is selfless, caring and kind, and we are all better for having him in The Nation.
This past Sunday, May 21, Turncoat and five fellow LKN PAX set out to put their months of pre-dawn training to the test in the Pocono Mountains of PA. The goal: qualify for Boston. For three of the six, including Turncoat, this was their first full marathon attempt. Runners had logged anywhere from 50-70 miles a week and training had gone off without a hitch with Turncoat generally pushing the pace.
The day he left LKN for PA, Turncoat shared this quote with the group: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
Cool conditions at the Pocono Summit start were ideal for crushing the miles that lay ahead. Turncoat effortlessly laid down a 1:32 half marathon PR (7:00 min/mile) on the downhill first half and continued running strong and below pace into the more difficult second half. With challenging climbs at miles 18, 20 and 22 and temperatures steadily rising fatigue set in and by mile 23 the damage was done.
http://www.vipstudiosinc.com/p329117010/h8B320D77#h8b320d77 (Turncoat at 13.1)
In true CSAUP fashion and redefining the phrase "leaving it all out there," Turncoat's marathon Strava entry literally ends in the ER. Turncoat ran strong, steady and on pace to qualify for Boston until his body shut down 24.5 miles into the 26.2 mile race. He collapsed off the side of the course where he was immediately attended to by police and rushed to the hospital, unconscious, via ambulance with severe dehydration, heat stroke and acute kidney failure. The emergency staff acted quickly to apply ice packs and lower his core body temp to prevent organ damage and pumped him with IV fluids to ease the strain on his kidneys. His heart was also strained during the episode and he was monitored and tested for potential damage.
Turncoat was released from the Pocono hospital after two days and is now back with his family. Thanks to the grace of God, the actions of the first responders, emergency room personnel and his preceding physical fitness, he appears to have no lasting effects from the scare and his prognosis is for a fast and full recovery. That said, be prepared for a return of Turncoat to the gloom near you.
Turncoat, I am honored and humbled to call you my Brother, my Friend. YOU were in the arena. YOU strived valiantly and dared greatly. Hold your head high knowing that this is the start of something great.
YHC- Smokey