Month: January 2025

I had a HeartSaver CT scan on December 20th to check for any calcification of my coronary arteries. The results came in today. I scored a zero across the board. There’s no presence of atherosclerotic plaque in any of the scanned coronary arteries.

I’ve run every day since December 20th because it’s just what I do. I enjoy it more than anything, and I’m training to pace the Austin Marathon on February 16th so I can help others achieve their goals. There hasn’t been a day that’s gone by in these past 14 that I haven’t thought that this might be the last run. Something could get lodged or dislodged and that could be the proverbial widowmaker.

I opened the envelope that contained my test results as I walked the quarter mile back from the mailbox. I read as fast as I could and took in as much as I could until I got to the series of zeros in my Agatston score. My throat closed and my eyes just filled with tears. I don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s because I fear death. I don’t think I do. But I do contemplate my mortality as I get older. I wonder if it’s because I think this is just going to be a part of life now; getting scans and tests for things that I need to get scanned and tested so I can know what’s going to slow me down and kill me if I’m proactive about it. But that’s all doom and gloom.

I think the reason that my eyes welled up is because a piece of paper reminded me that I’m alive today. And today is all that I have.

Maly sent us this video from her last day of skiing in Aspen. Elise and I have watched it more times that we can count. It’s heartwarming and funny, and while each time I watch it I find myself laughing just as much I did the first time I watched it, I’ve also found motivation and inspiration from it.

1. Stop being intimidated or scared. Put yourself out there. Try new things. Do hard things.
2. Be confident, comfortable, and willing to laugh at yourself. Life is too short and too serious to not laugh often and bring smiles and laughter to others.
3. No matter how many times I get knocked down, keep getting back up.

Every year, beginning in mid-December, Strava generates these cool year in review wrap-up graphics for subscribers who use its service. It’s kind of cool to see a snapshot of what all I’ve done in sport (mostly running) in the past 12 months.