Heart patient Wayne Hanson: Don’t stop. Keep exercising!
In November 2007, M75 long sprinter Wayne “Doc” Hanson of Louisiana had a medical scare. Worse, actually. He barely survived an aneurysm emergency. But a year later, he was slowly resuming his training. Now Wayne is in even better shape, according to a note he sent his Texas sprinter friend Wayne Bennett. “I just had my 2½-year checkup yesterday and was pronounced fit,” Doc wrote Wayne this week. “I have been doing some on the treadmill and stationary bike all along. I think the doctor was surprised when I told him what I had been doing since ‘I am not supposed to be here.’ ”
Wayne Hanson, now in his early 80s, also reports:
Up until this visit I have been walking, jogging 3 miles and thus far have done two 5K runs. Well, not runs, walking and jogging. Did both in 39 minutes. So, now that I have been pronounced hale and hearty, I’m going to pick up the workouts some, as well as the pace.
I know it will not be where it was 20 years ago, but what the heck. At least I’m still out and able to do it. As far as I know, there is only one fellow left my age in our area who is still coming out for a run now and then. And he mostly walks, but that is better than nothing.
A few days after my surgery, the doctor came in to check up on me and I asked him if , when he had my heart out playing with it, was it enlarged since I had been running for over 60 years. He got a strange look and told me it was not enlarged but it was in very good physical condition as was my body and that was what saved me.
He told me that about 95% of the people who had what I did never made it to the hospital. Of the few who did, many didn’t make it through the surgery (as I almost didn’t) and those who survived the surgery developed some kind of problem. I think that is why they are so surprised that I am able to do what I am doing.
So pass this kind of information on to all those who are running. Don’t stop. Don’t have to compete but keep exercising. I have seen several here who quit and they are no longer around. I hope I’ll be able to make it to the meet later this year. May not be fast but, hopefully, I’ll be there. Best of luck to you.
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- ‘No pain, no gain’? Better yet: ‘Hear a pop, you’d better stop’
- Be like Trish and Wayne: Press your pride in masters track
- Have a heart for kidney patient: Backing Brianna in Charlotte
2 Responses
Roger that, Doc. You say it like it is. Never stop doing what we do is the key. My 63rd year of competition begins this May. I’ll tack on another 25 for sure. Doc, thank you for using the word ‘who’ for people. Most use the word ‘that’. ‘Who’ is for people and ‘that’ is for everything else. Jerry
Wayne,
I have read your story on this Masters’ website and
it got me to thinking about my own scare.Five years
ago, I had two strokes/one a brain stem.I made it
through just fine but I also think that my physical
condition really helped me.I have also been a runner
for forty years/a triathlete/and also a track and
field competitor.I am totally amazed that I can do
any and everything I’d done before.The hardest part
of the whole deal though is the “mental” aspect.It
has taken me five years to finally realize that I
think I’m going to make it ok.Even though I never
stopped doing anything I was a little apprehensive
at times. Now at 76 years of age,I;m really looking
forward to this years’ meets like the Senior games
and Masters’.
Phyllis Provost
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