Clayton Hill:  

Coast Guard Marathon I did it! I did it! I went da distance, proved I warn't just anotha' BUM from da Streets! The 2024 Coast Guard Marathon is in da BOOKS, so to speak. A little worn, a little sore, a little ragged, but I finally had the chance today to complete the 3rd Annual Coast Guard Marathon. The weather was accommodating, though the wind kicked in a few times. Otherwise is was a good day. . Some of you may know I've done CGMs 1 and 2, which ties me for the most CGM completions. All have been done virtually. I now have completed 47 marathons. I am ranked #1 nationally for most Marine Corps Marathon finishes for a Federal Service Academy Graduate (34 "Live", 3 Virtual). I am also ranked #1 nationally for most Coast Guard Marathons (3 virtual), most Coast Guard Half-Marathons (4 virtual), and (as of this writing) most US Space Force T-10 Ten Milers (2). For those keeping up on my health issues, it was one month ago to the day that I underwent ablation surgery. Post from October 1, 2023 I LOVE the smell of Marathons in the Morning HELLO SPORTSFANS!!! This one just might be another for the record books - first to finish the Marine Corps Marathon this month (October). The "Live Event" is scheduled for 29 October, as long as the Government remains open - a requirement for the MCM Office as they need to coordinate with several local, state and national agencies. Those participating "Virtually" can do the event ANY day in October, at a location of their choice. I picked today in order to get it done early. I got off to an early start, and paced through the local course which I had laid out during training. See pic - which is a representation of that layout. My tracking device recorded the results, which have been forwarded to the Marine Corps Marathon office. It took just under 9 hours to finish., but I'll wager a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts I finished before anyone else. Official results were just posted, picture updated. Semper Fi! 2019 Marine Corps Marathon Update - Follow-Up It's A-Fib (No Lie - LOL) All, First of all, I'm doing great. Thanks to EVERYONE for all the great, kind, and supporting comments. I mentioned in the earlier write-up that I was scheduled for surgery for a hernia. The pre-op EKG earlier this month showed atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), so that surgery has been put on hold. This was not expected, as an EKG earlier this year was normal. I just saw our cardiologist today, and a more complete EKG was performed. It showed intermediate-level AFib ( present all the time, not intermittent). This is treatable, and the cause is likely genetic, as other siblings and cousins have been diagnosed with this condition. I am scheduled for an echocardiogram (ECG) to confirm if we can do conversion on the arrhythmia, which is likely the case. This will restore the heart to a normal rhythm. Before conversion is done, we'll probably operate on the hernia. Then we're looking to do the most effective/enduring treatment procedure - ablation. Both the hernia surgery and ablation are out patient procedures. In the meantime, I've been instructed to take it easy. It turns out A-Fib is not uncommon in marathoners of my age, and one theory put forth is the last race may have triggered it for me. Well, I checked out some of the photos, and don't necessarily buy that explanation. Does THAT runner in this picture look like someone with A-Fib? LOL!! I completed the 41st running of the Marine Corps Marathon on 30 October 2016. It was my 31st MCM finish. The following day I retired after ~46 years of combined active duty military/DOD service. Underwent minor foot surgery on 1 February, Completed 6,000 straight days of exercising as of 20 March 2016. 30th Marine Corps Marathon completion is the books, as of 25 October 2015. 29th Marine Corps Marathon completed on 26 October 2014. 28th Marine Corps Marathon - Finished on 27 October 2013. My 27th MCM finish was due, in no small part, to my wife Cathy’s efforts in seeing me through this year’s emergency neck surgery, my recovery, and my training. She helped me get through each day, kept my spirits up, and was my biggest cheerleader. She, my sister Cate, and brother in law Robin were there at today’s race. So was Charlotte the Boxer-Lab, and Billy the Beagle Mix. They met me at miles 22 and 24. All of them had a good time, and this made a huge difference for me. This was also due to Retired Marine Colonel Michael Cathay, who came up with this year’s marathon theme back in May/June, “From Brace to Race”. It got me motivated and helped to keep me focused on the goal of finishing, even through the unexpected challenges along the way – the late start in training, the flare up of tendonitis requiring physical therapy, and the fall I took a few weeks ago. Each time something happened, I just repeated the theme. Alden, my son, had one of his friend’s put the phrase put on a customized shirt. It read: FROM BRACE TO RACE NECK SURGERY 17 May 2012 MARINE CORPS MARATHON 28 October 2012 It was HUGELY popular. I received HUNDREDS of comments, if not more, from other runners. At least 20 people said something each mile. That kept me going, as I ended up battling tendonitis most of the way. The encouragement from Teams Cathy and Cathay helped get me to the start line. The theme on the Tee shirt helped get me to the finish. The Long Overdue 2012 Update: For those who have not already heard via Facebook or emails, I underwent emergency neck surgery on May 17th at Mary Washington Hospital. The procedure was necessitated because two cervical disks had degenerated to the point that osteoarthritic growth formed and impeded the flow of spinal fluid. The operation wa highly successful. The vertebrae were stabilized with two pins, two plates, and four surgical screws. I was released from the hospital the following day, and returned home to convalesce for 6 weeks. I was in a soft neck brace 24/7. The recent X-rays showed the vertebrae were fusing as expected. I no longer have to wear the brace, and have now returned to work. I am on limited duty, only able to lift 30 pounds, and my range of motion is at about 50%, but eventually be at 90-95%. The surgeon says that I should be able to run the Marine Corps Marathon this year on October 28. He will likely allow me to start running again in mid-August, after the 12 week check-up. One of my alumni friends summed ...Expand for more