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Queue the Rock-y Music… My First Half-Marathon

Rock-n-Roll Half MarathonAs many of you know, I have early onset Parkinson’s Disease, having been diagnosed over 8 years ago at the age of 32. If you’ve read my other blog posts, you also know that 2010 was a year of transition for me. I had DBS implant (basically a pacemaker in your brain which ‘encourages’ your brain to make dopamine through the release of electrical impulses) surgery for my right side in May and the left in December. [see my blog post on this]

The settings are not yet perfect, but I have begun running this year. According to my NikePlus.com app on my iPhone [Read my blog review of the Nike+ App], I have run 6.43 miles this year and on Wednesday had my fastest average mile ever: 8 minutes and 16 seconds, which I am very proud of given where I was even four months ago. I have talked about some of my plans with some great blogger and fitness/running peers and friends and shared the fact that my goal for 2011 was to show that Parkinson’s Disease cannot defeat my will or my body by running a half-marathon by end of year.

However, I had not stated this goal openly and publicly… until today. Rock n’ Roll marathon series is in St. Louis on October 23 and Los Angeles on October 30 and I will run in one of them! Join me won’t you? I will be sharing my workouts, runs, and overall progress towards this goal.

Are you already registered?

Will you run with me? (in either location – yes I realize the ultimate insanity behind this request)

Join and friend me on NikePlus.com!

Follow my progress on Twitter (or Facebook if you know me). (See top of page for links)

Do you have a 5K race you suggest I run before then?

Training tips or encouragement? Post a comment and I’ll respond to every single one.

About Shawn

I try to live by the principle "Life. Activated." To me, this means attempting to live each moment to its fullest, with no regrets and without restricting myself based on what others tell me that I am not capable of doing. I am strive everyday to BEAT Parkinson's Disease, which I've been diagnosed with for eight years. I love my wife, animals, traveling, friends, travel and all things Disney. Professionally, I manage Social and Community Strategy for AT&T Customer Care, working to identify ways that we can continue to reach customers through social media.