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Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
I am sure that I speak for all of the regular posters to this thread when I say that it is great to hear that you have been inspired by these posts, as many of us have been. Happy to hear that you are back on the bike and riding so well.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
The biking season is now nearly over so I am reflecting back on the goals that I had set. As many of you are aware, I had an unfortunate accident a year ago that resulted in 4 broken vertebrae in my neck and fusion of C-1 through C-4. I also was diagnosed with a technical (asymptomatic) relapse in January that necessitated a more rigorous treatment protocol. Therefore setting biking goals was a work process. I was in a hard neck collar for 10 weeks and was not able to start riding outside until the 3rd week of March.
However, I am persistent, maybe even a bit stubborn, so I was determined to get back on the bike and see what I could do. After a few weeks I felt I could get back close to where I was before the accident and relapse. I look back now with satisfaction, Some of the accomplishments:
However, I am persistent, maybe even a bit stubborn, so I was determined to get back on the bike and see what I could do. After a few weeks I felt I could get back close to where I was before the accident and relapse. I look back now with satisfaction, Some of the accomplishments:
- Road with my English friend Ken Boyden in the countryside near Leicester in May.
- Biked in early June in the Davis mountains of West Texas, including 83 mile round trip from Alpine to Fort Davis up to the McDonalds Observatory. That included the steepest climb I have ever done: a CAT 2 climb then racing back down.
- Road the Hotter N Hell 100 in late August with fellow forum member Andrew Gordon (goldmine848), who came all the way from Harrisburg, PA to do that with me.
- In late September raced in the Texas Time Trials with my good friend Ron Singleton; we did a combined 159 miles and took second place.
- Finally, was able to complete 5,000 miles for the year this week despite some bad weather.
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Nice job Ron. You overcame quite a bit this year. I enjoyed our 100 miler in August.
Normally, I wait until December 31 to total my mileage, but due to bitterly cold weather in the east I will not be riding tomorrow. In fact, I have not been out since Tuesday, my longest stretch of not riding this year except for the week I spent on vacation in Arizona. I was fortunate to have missed only a few days with a minor concussion in September and otherwise to have been healthy enough to ride throughout the year.
My final total is 13,588 miles. This is a new record for me, beating last year's total by about 1200 miles. I am grateful that I have been able to enjoy this period of remission and hope that it continues.
I hope that all of you who read this will do whatever you can to stay active. I am convinced that exercise, however and to whatever extent you are able to engage in it, is a powerful force in fighting cancer.
Normally, I wait until December 31 to total my mileage, but due to bitterly cold weather in the east I will not be riding tomorrow. In fact, I have not been out since Tuesday, my longest stretch of not riding this year except for the week I spent on vacation in Arizona. I was fortunate to have missed only a few days with a minor concussion in September and otherwise to have been healthy enough to ride throughout the year.
My final total is 13,588 miles. This is a new record for me, beating last year's total by about 1200 miles. I am grateful that I have been able to enjoy this period of remission and hope that it continues.
I hope that all of you who read this will do whatever you can to stay active. I am convinced that exercise, however and to whatever extent you are able to engage in it, is a powerful force in fighting cancer.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Andrew,
That total is amazing, an average of over 261 miles a week! I was doing about 120 miles a week once I got back on the bike. I did more in the summer and less once the time changed due to lack of light. When I retire maybe I can bump up my total, but I doubt I will ever get to your level!
Keep it up!
That total is amazing, an average of over 261 miles a week! I was doing about 120 miles a week once I got back on the bike. I did more in the summer and less once the time changed due to lack of light. When I retire maybe I can bump up my total, but I doubt I will ever get to your level!
Keep it up!
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Happy New Year's, Ron, Andrew and all!
Congratulations on your biking distances, which I also think would be good for your health!
I find your thread to be inspiring Ron, and it is encouraging to get out and exercise. I am just walking and going to a gym, and I use a fitness tracker. I was pleased to note that in 2016 I walked 1700 km (1020 miles), and in 2017 walked 1950 km (1170 miles). This is not all what you might consider to be exercising, since it includes all steps each day. My goal for 2018 is to walk 2250 km (1350 miles), since that would be another 15% increase.
So that is one of my many NYR!
Congratulations on your biking distances, which I also think would be good for your health!
I find your thread to be inspiring Ron, and it is encouraging to get out and exercise. I am just walking and going to a gym, and I use a fitness tracker. I was pleased to note that in 2016 I walked 1700 km (1020 miles), and in 2017 walked 1950 km (1170 miles). This is not all what you might consider to be exercising, since it includes all steps each day. My goal for 2018 is to walk 2250 km (1350 miles), since that would be another 15% increase.
So that is one of my many NYR!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Nancy,
Nice effort. The thread is really about goal setting as much as bike riding. Glad you met your goals and have set some new ones for next year!!
Keep on truckin!
Nice effort. The thread is really about goal setting as much as bike riding. Glad you met your goals and have set some new ones for next year!!
Keep on truckin!
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
I just completed a 12 hour time trial near Houston called Bessie's Creek. It is a race I have done before but normally as part of a two-man team. My racing partner decided to go in a different direction this year and I was unsuccessful in finding a replacement. I had options. I could have done the 6 hour time trial solo but decided to try for 12. This is what is known as ultra cycling and some do it solo for 24 hours.
The course is on a 14.3 mile (23 km) loop and is generally flat but the wind is always a major factor. This Saturday just as the race started a cold front went through. The temp at the beginning was 62 F (17 C) with variable wind. By 9 the temp was in the low 50s F (close to 10 C) and by noon in the upper 40s with wind 20-25 mph (32-40 km/h) out of the north and gusts up to 40 mph (64 mph). I slogged through it and was able to get in 10 laps or 143 miles (230 km) when I pulled the plug at 6 pm. This was the longest I have ridden in one day since my neck fusion on Christmas Eve 2016.
Last year I did 5,000 miles (8050 km). This year want to get over 6,000 miles (9650 km). My cancer is stable (kappa chain and ratio are slightly elevated) as I continue on Velcade, Revlimid, and dexamethasone. We are milking that treatment for as long as possible (9 years and counting).
The course is on a 14.3 mile (23 km) loop and is generally flat but the wind is always a major factor. This Saturday just as the race started a cold front went through. The temp at the beginning was 62 F (17 C) with variable wind. By 9 the temp was in the low 50s F (close to 10 C) and by noon in the upper 40s with wind 20-25 mph (32-40 km/h) out of the north and gusts up to 40 mph (64 mph). I slogged through it and was able to get in 10 laps or 143 miles (230 km) when I pulled the plug at 6 pm. This was the longest I have ridden in one day since my neck fusion on Christmas Eve 2016.
Last year I did 5,000 miles (8050 km). This year want to get over 6,000 miles (9650 km). My cancer is stable (kappa chain and ratio are slightly elevated) as I continue on Velcade, Revlimid, and dexamethasone. We are milking that treatment for as long as possible (9 years and counting).
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Nice job Ron. Good luck on that goal.
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goldmine848 - Name: Andrew
- When were you/they diagnosed?: June 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Congratulations Ron! Sounds like you are on track to meet your resolutions. By the way, your description of 'cold' weather is what we celebrate as spring here. It was about 10 C (50 F) yesterday, and meltwater is flowing again down the streets and into the catchment basins. There are still piles of snow everywhere though and street cleaning has been delayed for a few more weeks. Have only seen a few hardy cyclists out on the pathways, but more will be out there soon!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Biking with multiple myeloma
Thanks for sharing, Ron. It is very motivating for a lot of us to hear these success stories. I too am a bike enthusiast and am at day 40 since my stem cell transplant. I am working to be on my bike this summer. Not targeting your mileage, but it certainly is great to hear of a myeloma patient's success and the possibilities long-term.
Hope this summer brings you success in your goals.
Hope this summer brings you success in your goals.
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Pat H - Name: Pat
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Sept 2017
- Age at diagnosis: 54