On April 4th, four years ago, I had congestive heart failure. It wasn't as scary as you might think. I wasn't there seeing my life go before me, I was thinking about the pain in my chest ending. I am a faith guy, so I don't really get concerned about going home; not even when.

That day I didn't really care how it turned out.

I was in ICU for a week. I had already lost about 20 pounds when I when I arrived there. The cardiologist said it was a really good thing that I had been exercising for a few months, or it might have been lights out. Two days before I arrived in heart surgery, I had completed my first 5K walk/run on the treadmill (C25K). It took about 49 minutes.

I thought long and hard about my health that day. In my mind's eye I was still thin and 30.

I was convinced that I had lived my best years of my life. I didn't have any health goals, and for now, I should just trust the doctors to treat my symptoms and wait for it all to be over.

My poor health and fitness habits had bankrupt me. They were about to do the same to my personal finances. I was out of work for eight months while I struggled to get moving again. I saw a variety of specialists including a cardiologist, a sleep therapist, an immunologist, a dietician and I had my GP and two nurses monitoring my progress. I had to weigh in twice a day and I was on 6 heart medications.

My fitness sucked!

That's when I found MFP. Actually, I found it earlier and had a hundred excuses for why I didn't need to log my food. I restarted Couch to 5K with a 30 minute nap on the couch. I was not allowed to have my heart reach levels which are required for cardiovascular health. (above 120) I wore a heart rate monitor all the time.

Eventually the cardiologist raised the heart rate limit from 120 to 130 and then to 160. I could run!

And I did. I have completed 52 races including 4 full (26.2 mile) marathons. The Boston Marathon is in 2 weeks, San Diego Marathon in Memorial Day weekend, and I am signed up for NYC and Philadelphia in the fall.

Why am I doing all this? I have cancer. It's being treated and monitored, but for now, it's still there. I am not going to lay on another operating room thinking I missed the best years of my life.