​Freeman has a wireless monitor on his bedside table. It allows Leanna and I to hear when he is having a seizure. Freeman’s seizures are horrific for a parent to experience, let alone from a monitor 50 feet away. They begin with a sudden gasp. Freeman then begins to choke. He makes loud noises as the convulsions prevent him from getting a full breath of air. It always wakes us up! I then start my all-to-common race to save my child...

The twentieth mile doesn’t sneak up on you. Every runner knows what lies ahead. The best way to prevent the wall from stopping you in your tracks is to acknowledge that it exists. I begin to prepare early in the race. Your body needs to have a steady stream of nutrients and fluids to replenish those being robbed by every mile. Gel, goo, water and Gatorade are your best bets to lower the challenge of the wall. The only other recommendation to help is to get acquainted with the wall before the race. Long runs are important for establishing endurance and pace for the race. However, runs longer than 20 miles are excellent for preparing you mentally to overcome the wall. I am confident in saying that running is 90% mental. These long runs help your mind experience the fatigue and disillusion that hit you at that point of a marathon. Again, preparation is the key to most successful races. The wall is just a brutal reality check on how well you have prepared!

Freeman’s room is 40 strides and 25 stair steps away from my pillow. I am well conditioned on this path. As I near his room I can hear Leanna comforting Freeman over the 2-way radio “Daddy’s on his way. You are going to be ok!” Freeman’s seizures fortunately never last longer than 30 seconds. Yet that half-minute seems like a lifetime. All that I want is for my son to stop his convulsions and begin breathing again. I have found stimulation helps him regain control from the evil seizure bastard. I scratch his scalp and rub his hands while telling him he will be ok. It is grounding to have a 24-hour day boil down to a 30 second episode. Similar to the marathon, Freeman has always pushed through. After his convulsions, Free is not aware of his environment. Lately he has had a 2nd violent seizure that grabs control of his arms and legs. He thrashes against his bed to make the evil seizure bastard stop. At this point he is becoming alert and he starts to whimper. Let me tell you, a parent should never hear their child whimper and cry as often as Leanna and I have heard Freeman. After every episode, before I leave Freeman to go back to our room, he always says “Thank you Daddy.”

The Wall is a scary moment that everyone needs to prepare for in their Marathon. However, proper nutrition, hydration and training can reduce the impact the wall will have over the last 6 miles of the marathon. Epilepsy provides it’s own version of the Wall. So much preparation and experience boils down to one moment, the seizure. Freeman is the toughest kid in the world, having pushed through his wall more often than-not. I hate the evil seizure bastard and one day we will rid him from the world. Until then Freeman and I run against the Wall. I will always smile when I reach my Wall at 20 miles. It is a joke compared to the wall Freeman faces. I will run strong, never allowing my body to rebel. I will always think of Freeman and know I have the strength to push through.

​Freeman has been surrounded by a supportive family from the first day we discovered he had epilepsy.  His grandparents have been at our door or on the phone to lend a helping hand or offer words of encouragement.  Cindy, Leanna’s mom, has visited us during several hospital stays to help with Freeman and his sisters.  She jumped on the next plane out of Montana on a moments notice, and that helped Leanna and me gain the strength to be at Freeman’s side.  My parents, Pat and Bob, also came to Arizona several times to help when times were tough.  They were wonderful with our daughters, helping them while we were busy caring for Freeman.  Without family, Leanna and I would have struggled handling the challenges that Epilepsy has dealt us.

Running has always had a big connection to family for me.  I started running when I was in elementary school so that I could spend time with my Dad.  He had joined the jogging craze of the 70’s and 80’s, and I loved chasing him around the fields at Bret Harte Middle School during his regular laps.  When I started running in High School and college, I felt a sense of pride checking in “Dando” at the starters tent.  My parents always watched me race or called to check-in on how my training was going.  It is easier to push yourself when you know your family is so interested in your success.  My brother helped make my running even more of a family affair.  Todd joined me on my teams at BOTH Bellarmine and Purdue!  I loved being able to practice the sport I loved with my brother.  Hard interval workouts and long distance runs were easier to tackle having my little brother around.  Todd has shown me what dedication and determination can achieve.  He uses the phrase “nails” to describe the toughness it takes to achieve your goals in running.  I often think of this when I am pushing myself through a long run or difficult race.

Nothing is more important than the support and love you receive from your spouse and children.  Training for a marathon takes lots of time that could otherwise be spent doing family activities.  Leanna, Hannah, Freeman and Julia have allowed me to pursue my love for running.  I work hard to handle my training at times that minimize the interference with our family time.  However, it is impossible to not have some impact.  When I race, there is no bigger boost than the energy I get when I see my family along the course.  They cheer me on and I run hard to make them proud of me.

Freeman’s epilepsy has challenged our family.  We have never allowed the pain and confusion of epilepsy to pull us apart.  Freeman has received his strongest medicine from the love and attention of his sisters.  Hannah and Julia understand that epilepsy makes life difficult for their brother.  They comfort him when he has a seizure and look after him if he is experiencing side-effects from his medication.  They are special sisters.  Leanna and I work to provide Freeman the strongest foundation for him to battle against epilepsy.  Without us working together epilepsy would break our family apart.  It is not always easy to deal with the unknown future that epilepsy presents our family.  However, every step of Freeman’s journey, we have been there together to make sure he is never alone.
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Family.  It is the key to the fortitude we have along these long journeys.

At times, running 5 times a week can seem excessive.  I have already discussed how rolling out of bed early can be difficult.  However, I have always found that I race better when my training has advanced to 5 days a week.  This allows my training program to add more base miles, which help me mentally prepare for the longer distance races.  However, I have seen to many people get injured or burned out by rushing a 5th day into their training.  Be sure to listen to your body.  It should be tired, but not sore.  Aches and pains should be limited to tender muscles and creaky joints.  I suggest delaying the 5th day until your body is ready to receive it!  Using the 2 rest days is equally important once you are running 5 days.  Depending on the energy spent on your Tuesday and Thursday workouts, you may want to have Wednesday or Friday off.

It is never easy for Freeman to take his medication 5 times a day.  There are so many factors that make this difficult.  Much more so then deciding when your body is able to run 5 days a week!  The first issue is setting a schedule that works with your day.  Freeman has school, sports and homework to contend with.  We need to coordinate with nurses at school, and work around baseball practice and games.  The doses are important to keep Freeman’s seizure control medicines at the therapeutic levels.  Skipping or delaying a pill can affect Freeman and increase the chances of seizures at bedtime.  The second issue is understanding the side effects of the different pills.  We have delayed a Vimpat pill until after a morning classroom quiz or baseball tryout.  The Vimpat impacts Freeman’s vision and does not allow him to read quickly or track a baseball.  However, without an important morning activity, he can cope with the impaired vision.  Another factor is handling unplanned missed doses.  It is difficult to never forget if Freeman has had his pills.  We are human, and have gotten busy racing between family activities.  Our regular schedule gets upset and at times Freeman misses some pills.  We feel terrible, but always recover and remind ourselves to be more diligent.  The final difficult factor is the simple fact that this routine is required for our young son.  Freeman is amazing at taking his pills.  He has become an expert at swallowing pills, capsules and formulas. 
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All told, Freeman needs to take 9 pills of 3 medications, 5 times every day.  He has never complained.  As he grows older, de has gotten a better feel for his body.  He understands that this crazy routine he does 5 times a day helps him control his Epilepsy.  It is nowhere near the importance or complexity, but running 5 days a week can give you better control of your training miles for a marathon.  Hitting the road 5 days a week will definitely help you along your marathon journey.

Everyone deals with stress in their day-to-day lives.  Imagine if that stress caused you to have a seizure! That is a reality for many people we know that battle epilepsy.  We have noticed Freeman can have an increase in his seizures during stressful times.  School homework and tests, new social groups, and sports competitions have made Freeman nervous and stressed.  The stress usually assures that Freeman will have a seizure when he falls asleep.  However, in extreme situations Freeman has told us that he has had seizure-like events during the day.  We now plan beforehand to make sure Freeman is in the best situation possible.  The school administration has approved 504 plans to improve his participation in all class activities.  The primary accommodation allows Freeman additional time to take tests.  Freeman has excelled in the classroom, but we believe this simple stress relief has helped him from having avoidable seizures. 

Who doesn’t like to stay up late with their friends watching movies and/or having a sleep over?  Typically, a late night with Freeman leads to a seizure once he falls asleep.  We noted that Hospitals use this cause-and-effect to schedule their complex imaging procedures.  However, think about how that impacts a young boy.  Freeman has had few sleep overs.  We educate the parents of Freemans close friends so that their kids understand a few things about Epilepsy and make sure they know that Freeman is safe and will be ok.  Unfortunately, Freeman has had seizures during his sleep overs.  It is nice to see his close friends support him and not get scared.  Beyond sleep overs, we make sure to keep Freeman on a good sleep schedule.  It is difficult with a growing young man, but we make sure he understands that sleep is important to reduce his chances of having seizures.  He knows this is the case, and “normally” listens to us and tries to go to bed at a regular time.  I am sure this will become more of an issue as homework increases and there are more evening activities with friends.

Hydration is one of the biggest concerns of a distance runner.  I have shared examples where my lack of proper hydration has caused me to struggle to keep running.  Preparing to run a marathon requires weeks of long training runs.  I have found a couple things that help a runner beat the challenge of staying hydrated.  They also help you practice your hydration plan for your race.  The first suggestion is to join a running group for your long runs on the weekends.  Find a group that provides hydration stations along their long running courses.  I have benefited from running my 16 to 23-mile-long runs with hydration fluids every 4 miles.  The stations typically have Gatorade and water coolers to allow me to practice the same routine I follow during a race.  I mentioned before that after 15 minutes of the race, I begin alternating water and Gatorade every station to keep my body hydrated.  It is important to include a sports drink, like Gatorade, to replace the Sodium that your body is sweating out.  Most races are sponsored by Gatorade, but other drinks are becoming more involved.  It may be helpful to identify what drink will be provided at the marathon stations, and begin using that during your runs.  The other suggestion is to carry a water belt for some of your other runs.  I like to have water for any of my runs that last longer than 60 minutes.  That is when I find my body begins to suffer from not replenishing fluids.  I have used Gatorade or Nuun sports drink mixes with equal success.  Usually 16 to 32 ounces can satisfy any run under 2 hours.

Electrolytes are easily replenished using the sports drinks, but I have also relied on using Gels and Goos.  The Gel/Goo contain the Sodium and Potassium that your body needs to replenish.  However, they also are made to provide more sources of quick energy.  Caffeine, Chocolate, Fruit flavoring allow you to get additional boosts while getting a strong dose of sodium and potassium.  When I ran Boston in 2015, I did not do a good job taking my gel/goo.  By mile 21 my legs began to cramp.  I believe that I failed to have enough Gel/Goo as the warm weather caused me to sweat more than I had anticipated.  It is always better to begin taking a Gel/Goo no later than the halfway mark, even if you only take part of the packet.  Your body will appreciate the quick burst of flavor, and you will begin replacing the electrolytes your body will need soon enough!

We covered some of the major factors that affect marathon runners and people with epilepsy.  It is important to be keenly aware that sleep and stress affect people that experience seizures.  Help them improve their situation by developing good sleep schedules and removing stressful situations.  Similarly, a marathon runner must have a solid plan for handling their hydration and electrolytes.  Join a running group to easily practice hydrating during long weekend runs.  Consider these factors and you will be better prepared to handle your long marathon and or epilepsy.

Long distance running is as much a mental challenge as it is physical.  The trick is to give yourself a mental break during the long duration of the marathon.  There are so many monotonous parts to the marathon that can make it more laborious.  Stride, arm and breath cadence can begin to wear on the mind of a runner.  You need to practice distracting yourself from focusing on any of these autonomous tasks.  They will take care of themselves, but they can drive you crazy if you begin to notice them early on in a race.  Similarly, simple exercises can help relax your body and eliminate undue stress.  Relaxing your shoulders, your hands and even a simple smile can help eliminate strain later in the marathon.   The crowd in a race can be a double-edged sword.  Take time to enjoy the people cheering along the course, but don’t allow their energy to increase your anxiety and/or determine your pace!  These steps can help a runner settle into their race, and enjoy a few easy miles before they need to prepare for the 2nd half.

Epilepsy is present in your life 24-7.  Just like a marathon, the trick is to find ways to give yourself a break and enjoy some worry-free times.  Epilepsy introduces endless visits to the labs to get blood tests updated.  The tests are necessary to verify healthy blood levels, functioning organs and proper levels of prescribed medications.  These are followed by regular doctor check-ups to review any recent changes in the seizures or side effects to the medication.  The doctor helps keep a good record of your journey, but also requires that you rehash the challenges and struggles of the past.  Finally, there is the shocking reality of the seizure episodes themselves.  Freeman typically has 3 to 4 seizures a week, they occur 15 minutes after he falls asleep at night and last for 30 seconds.  All of these events force our family to find special moments to help us relax and minimize their impact.

 It amazes me that I enjoy long distance running so much.  Since I was a young boy I would enjoy running further than most kids and the calm that it provided me.  Most people tell me that they struggle running for more than 20 minutes.  I always respond that maybe I can enjoy running because I can distract myself from the monotony of it all.  The same applies with how we have been able to cope with Freeman’s Epilepsy.  I take the same approach in trying to not get overwhelmed by the numerous negatives that impact our lives.  I believe that we have learned to settle because we focus on the positive moments we have together as a family.  We have confidence that Freeman has the best medical advisors and a strong seizure prevention plan.  Freeman is the most amazing young boy.  His great attitude and personality bring us strength.  A strength that allows us to settle at times during such a long and difficult Marathon with Epilepsy.

​Sleep has always factored into Freeman’s epilepsy.  Late evenings and the ensuing fatigue trigger stronger seizures once Freeman goes to sleep.  Many people with epilepsy struggle with this form of Nocturnal Seizures.  Hospitals leverage this predictable behavior to help perform advanced imaging of the Brain and seizure activity.  An Ictal SPECT is one such procedure that Freeman has had at both Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic.  Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) is Nuclear medicine.  Yes, radioactive compounds are used to create images of the blood flow in the brain.  Ictal means that the imaging is done DURING a seizure.  The images can then be used to identify areas of the brain that have increased blood flow during seizures.  Seems simple enough?  However, SPECT equipment is rare, expensive and requires specially trained technicians to operate.  Not to mention the act of injecting a radioactive compound into the patient.  All of this requires hospital to work on ways to schedule these procedures.  Which is where sleep deprivation comes into our story!  

​The Ictal SPECT procedure typically requires the patient to stay awake 24-hours.  The patient is allowed to sleep once the equipment, technicians and nurses are ready to capture the valuable activity of the seizure.  Freeman enjoyed the times he has gotten to stay up way past his bedtime!  Endless movies, video games, puzzles, music and puzzles with his parents.  Once the nurses gave us the go-ahead, we allowed Freeman to close his eyes and go to sleep.  Then BAMM!  Within 5-10 minutes he has a seizure.  Immediately, the Nurse injects the radioactive isotope into his IV.  

At that point, the entire room is whisked away to the bowels of the hospital to the impressive imaging equipment.  Because we sacrificed 24-hours of sleep deprivation, a medical miracle was able to be completed.  Doctors are given better visibility into understanding where and why Freeman is having seizures.  So now, when I have a late night or early morning I realize my current fatigue is relative.

Morning runs are the best was to get your required training in for a marathon.  Every sunrise is a beautiful greeting to push you along your quest to get in extra miles or needed speed work.  However, morning runs are not all made the same.  Weather and terrain vary greatly depending on where you are training.  My experiences in San Jose, West Lafayette, Phoenix and Austin could not be more different.  I have traded the Snow and Ice in Indiana for the Cacti and scorched rocks of Arizona.  I have compared the Coastal fog and brisk mornings of California to the Humidity and Storm clouds in Texas.  They all presented challenges to me getting out before the day got away from me.  Having 3 kids with after school programs and weekend activities eliminates the possibility for many afternoon runs.  Getting a full work out before they begin their day allows me to not miss the precious moments of their childhoods.  Plus, it helps to not leave Leanna alone to handle the kids while I go out and handle some things for myself.  Completing a tempo run or fartlek before work always gives me a sense of accomplishment, giving me a spark to tackle similar challenges with my job.  Occasionally, I may even think about work while I am running.  Allowing me to prioritize tasks or contemplate how to better handle certain situations. 
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At Purdue, Coach Poehlein introduced the team to inspirational messages taken from Og Mandino’s book “The Greatest Salesman in the World”.  There is one part that remains with me today.

There is a cemetery near the Purdue campus on N. Salisbury Street.  Coach challenged each of us to run by the cemetery and determine which of those souls would not quickly switch places with us, to take on our burdens and sorrows.  He taught us this strong lesson to follow the words of Og Mandino and seize every day.

Whether it is a morning run past an old cemetery or a sleep deprivation test for Freeman… I am always reminded to receive my gift of another day.  I lace up my shoes and head out the door for a few more miles and memories.

Next up: Mile 8.  Settling in to this Marathon

Camps provide time away from the normal stresses of our day-to-day lives.  That increases our ability to learn new things from a friend, counselor or coach.  Freeman loves learning new things at Camp Brainstorm.  After the mandatory “Safety Outdoors” discussions, Freeman is free to roam the camp grounds getting reacquainted with his summer friends.  He and his friends spend a lot of time getting better at ping-pong, fishing, relay competitions and water fights.  However, a hidden lesson is that he realizes he is not alone in his struggles with Epilepsy.  Freeman can relax, knowing that the other kids understand seizures and are there for support if anyone has one.  Camp Brainstorm is also an opportunity for Freeman to learn to be responsible for making good healthy choices on his own.  The camp provides an endless supply of Egg Rolls and Fruit Punch… a tough combination if a kid chooses to over-indulge!  Camp is a safe environment for Freeman to learn to restrict the amount of sugar he consumes to reduce his chances of having seizures.  Running camp provided a similar escape for me to learn to be a better runner.  The camp included the expected track and trail workouts.  However, I learned new ways to improve from the best: Pat Tyson (Mead High School & Gonzaga University), Coach Mike Poehlein (Purdue University).  My sophomore year I was shocked after Pat Tyson took us on a blistering morning run, only to remind us to be ready for the real workout in the afternoon.  A lesson that Double Days can quickly increase your mileage and endurance, but the runner needs to know his current limits.  Coach Poehlein spent a full day at camp teaching us the importance of leg turnover.  To this day I still envision stepping over imaginary broomsticks from my ankles to improve my stride frequency.  These camps help individuals focus on making themselves better.  Freeman is growing to be an independent young man, just as I learned to become a more complete runner.

Getting motivated at a camp is easy.  It all begins with a fun atmosphere set up by the organizers of the camp.  Camp Brainstorm works to remove barriers normally faced by their campers so that they can have fun.  The simple ability for a child with epilepsy to attend a sleep over is NOT taken for granted.  Freeman has had a few sleepovers, but is usually not comfortable because he has nocturnal seizures.  Freeman loves having a week away from home, spending late evenings in the bunk house telling stories and playing games with new friends.   Freeman’s favorite activity is the Painted Marshmallow Throw.  All the kids run around the field with marshmallows of various colors, leaving their mark on their new friends’ white clothes.  This activity gets the kids smiling and working as a group, ready for the week ahead of them.   Freeman noted that one of the reasons that Camp Brainstorm is so amazing is that you get to “Be yourself”.  He leaves the camp with a strong sense of self-worth.  Nobody at the camp would be surprised, sympathetic or concerned that you have epilepsy.  Rather, relationships are built on who you are and what you enjoy.  Freeman spends time at Archery, Fishing, Zip-lining, Swimming, talent shows, kayaking and dancing with kids who want to know what defines him beyond having Epilepsy.  Running camps were always the spring board towards a successful season.  The counselors and coaches were great sources of motivation and encouragement.  Oregon provided special guests to talk about achieving goals.  Joaquim Cruz amazed the group as he spoke to us about his 1984 Summer Olympics Gold medal performance in the 800.  Likewise, everyone enjoyed the run to Bill Dellinger’s house to watch his 10K Olympic race and set eyes on his Bronze medal.  The most surprising source for motivation was from the other campers.  I had the opportunity to camp with all-time high-school greats Coley Candaele (Carpenteria) and Greg Kuntz (Mead).  Running tempo runs behind Greg or being “Steamrolled” by Coley taught me that kids, just like me, were achieving these unfathomable accomplishments. 

Everyone should attend camps like these.  Camp Brainstorm provides the best opportunity for our son Freeman.  The Epilepsy Foundation of Central and South Texas covers the cost of the camp for all the kids.  They coordinate year-round fundraisers and accept donations to insure as many children as possible can attend this wonderful week of learning and motivation.  I know that Freeman will grow up a stronger young man having spent his summers at Camp Brainstorm learning lessons and staying motivated. 

Next up:  Mile 7.  Sleep Deprivation and Early Mornings

After several extended hospital stays a family should be aware of the location of the nearest Ronald McDonald’s House.  The Ronald McDonald House is a wonderful organization for the families of children enduring long hospital treatments.  The Ronald McDonald House provides families a temporary escape from their non-stop watching and worrying of their child.  The house is normally located very close to the hospital and offers comfort and amenities not found at a hotel.  Home cooked meals, laundry and a compassionate staff can lift a broken and tired spirit.  We were fortunate to get a room at the Ronald McDonald House during Freeman’s week stay at the Cleveland Clinic.  It was nice staying in a safe environment surrounded by families experiencing similar struggles.  We loved the delicious meals and conversations we had with the local volunteers while eating.  Leanna and I could recharge so that we could give Freeman the love and support he needed.  At the end of our stay, Leanna and I have made it a priority to volunteer our family at the Ronald McDonalds houses in Phoenix and Austin.

Garth Brooks’ popular song “Friends in Low Places” includes the lyrics “…And the beer chases my blues away, And I’ll be okay”.  The Garth Brooks “Teammates for Kids” foundation has a similar purpose of providing an escape for children while they are at the hospital.  They have built centers in hospitals that have video games, music, craft activities and celebrity visits.  The Phoenix Children’s Hospital has an amazing room that Freeman loved to visit during some of his toughest hospital stays.  Leanna and I appreciated that a celebrity prioritized building a place where kids can escape their current struggles.  The center was fully staffed and had activities coordinated throughout the week.  All the children we met during our visit seemed to enjoy spending time with their families outside of their hospital room.

Speaking of friends, training and running a marathon can be a positive experience when you surround yourself with friends.  Friends can help you stay positive during the long months of your training program.  I have made many new friends while joining Gilbert’s Gazelles running group over the last 3 years.  Familiar faces and positive conversations make Saturday long runs seem shorter (sorta!)  One of these new friends, Trey Morris, helped make me more relaxed during the first 5 miles of the 2016 Boston Marathon.  Trey helped make the start of the Marathon seem more like a training run.  We had run every Saturday together, so having him close by helped me relax into my normal routine.

There is one source of help that may be overlooked while a marathon runner or epilepsy patient is on their long journey.  Volunteers.  A marathon requires so many volunteers to make the 26.2 mile event a success.  The hydration stations are no easy feat.  Providing endless cups of water and Gatorade to runners as they run by.  Who would want to do that?  People give their time and energy to make sure that the runners stay hydrated along the course.  There are many other areas in the race that require volunteers.  I try to thank the volunteers lining the course, because I know their contribution can make or break my experience at a race. 

​Likewise, our family has been touched by the different acts of kindness shown by hospital volunteers during our journey battling Epilepsy.  Our family is left to pull things together once the doctors and nurses leave the hospital rooms.  It has often been a visit from a volunteer that has given us a much-needed boost to push through to the next day.  At the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, they coordinate canine visits to allow patients and families to enjoy a furry friend for a while.  The owners travel to the hospital to offer a positive experience for patients who need it most.  Their donated time has always been a favorite moment for our family.  The ultimate example of a Volunteer making a huge difference happened while we were at the Cleveland Clinic.  A young lady entered Freeman’s hospital room a few times when Freeman was unable to have visitors.  She continued to drop in to make sure that she could volunteer some time with our son.  After a long day of tests and little sleep, Freeman was finally able to have a visitor.  The young lady returned and brought with her an acoustic guitar.  She asked Freeman for a few of his favorite songs, which he said Daughtry was his favorite!  With a pure heart, the young lady sang “Home” to our small audience.  The beginning of the song goes:
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The Super Fartlek is my favorite workout to prepare for a marathon.  The main goal of the workout is to play with your pace throughout a run, which fits the Swedish definition “play with speed”.  The hardest thing in a race is to change your pace at a given mile, marker or surge.  A Fartlek breaks down your resistance to this change because your body becomes comfortable moving between a relaxed pace and race pace.  After a mile warm up the workout includes 5 sets of running 4-minutes fast followed by a 2-minute recovery.  The “Super” comes from finishing the workout with 8 sprints for 1 minute on and off.  After a Super Fartlek, you are sure to know how the Swedes could keep pace with Nurmi, the greatest distance runner of all time.
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Carbamezepine has become the go-to medication for Freeman’s epilepsy control.  The main goal of Tegretol is to prevent the repetitive firing of Brain cells (aka voltage-gated sodium channels).  Freeman has tested several different medications, but Tegretol has always provided the best control of his seizures.  The side effects of taking the drug need to be closely monitored.  Freeman has noticed the drug can decrease his fine motor skills or occasionally make his eyes cross.  The most important part of the monitoring is to schedule periodic complete blood cell (CBC) tests.  The results will track the interaction of the medication with important blood levels and the health of the liver.  With Freeman’s success with Tegretol, it is easy to see why it is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.

Marathon training programs obviously cannot consist of a single workout, and seizure control is rarely controlled by a single drug.  Marathon training must also include long runs, tempo runs and interval workouts.  Freeman has found that seizure medications, like Tegretol, are often complemented by adding a secondary drug, like Vimpat.  The key is to balance adding the different workouts or medicines.  The table below shows how I like to add workouts to a typical 5-month marathon training plan.  It allows your body to slowly adapt to the increased mileage, while providing enough challenging workouts to push your body to get faster. 

The Tempo workout requires running incrementally longer distances below race pace.  This works to have your body eventually relaxed while running at your Marathon Goal Pace (MGP).  Long runs are the bread and butter of improving your Marathon preparedness.  Nothing better prepares the body for the length and time of the marathon than increasing what your body has run.  Vimpat has similar benefits in the treatment of epilepsy.  The doctors stress that epileptic medications are developed to take advantage of different delivery mechanisms in the body.  Vimpat works in different ways to control other aspects of Freeman’s epilepsy.  Removing one of Freeman’s medications creates different side effects.  Balancing them has provided Freeman with a solid seizure prevention plan.

How do you know if you are improving?  How do you know if your seizure medicines are appropriate?  The body needs a regular check-in to answer these questions.  An interval track workout or occasional hospital stay can respectively provide some much needed feedback.  Running on the track is the best way to test your body over a controlled distance.  Use the interval workouts to test your awareness on how your race pace feels.  You can easily adjust your stride, breathing and effort to maintain the pace you want to run on race day.  It is also a great way to build confidence by pushing yourself over a shorter distance to determine how much your body is improving.  The hospital is a safe-haven for reevaluating the effectiveness of your prescribed medicines.  Freeman has been admitted to a children’s hospital almost every 18 months.  The benefit of his time in the hospital is that the doctors are better able to adjust the levels of his medication.  Like the track interval, Freeman can test different medications in order to maintain his seizure control with the least amount of side effects.  We have been able to eliminate medications and reduce the amount of pills by taking advantage of the controlled environment and care provided at the hospital.

Training programs and prescribed medications help us improve toward our goals of running a marathon and being seizure free.  No two runners or patients are the same.  It takes time to determine what combination of workouts or medications work best for each individual.  However, there are several tried and true methods we can all agree have helped improve our chances for success!

​Next up:  Mile 4.  Diets (Carbo loading… Ketogenic)