In late December, masters coach Ross Dunton of Tennessee sent a disclaimer with one of his email newsletters: “Yes, I screwed-up — yesterday’s newsletter had the incorrect title. It should have been titled ‘Coaching and Training Information.’ I have no excuse for using the incorrect title, but I do have a reason. My memory is not what it used to be. At the annual session with my neurologist last July, I told him about some of the memory problems that I was having. As I had suspected, he said that they were the early signs of Alzheimer’s. He put me on Aricept and my memory has improved significantly.” Today, however, the news is worse. Under the headline “Training for Alzheimer’s Disease,” Ross writes: “I have Alzheimer’s Disease.”

This is very sad and distressing, since Ross has been a mainstay of his USATF association and a lifeline of solid technique and training information for years — as well as a competitive 800 runner. He’s now in the M75 age group. He also coaches athletes by email and has put his heart into every aspect of the sport.
I hope he can manage his Alzheimer’s with the same savvy and focus that he brings to his coaching and news gathering. Please join me in wishing him well in his fight with this terrible affliction.
He also deserves our admiration for his courage in confronting this illness publicly. His experience might very well be the key to helping others identify and deal with similar issues.
Here’s how Coach Dunton announced his status today:

By Ross Dunton
Chapter 1 of ?
My high school and college track coaches were not educated or trained to be track coaches so I was not trained the best that I potentially could have been to race in the 880. About 30 years later when I ran my first 800 in a masters meet, at 500m into the race I discovered that I was not properly trained. I was running in a pack of five when we came around the curve and started up the backstretch. Suddenly, the other four took off and left me behind. That was when I decided to be a “self coached runner” and learn as much about the event/sport as I could. In 1997 I started sharing what I had learned with other T&F athletes so that they could properly prepare themselves for their competitive event.
I have Alzheimer’s Disease. As in my experience in running, I have not been properly trained to compete against Alzheimer’s. If I had been, I might have recognized the early symptoms sooner and been prepared for the competition. Yes, it is a competitive race and I do not plan to allow it to easily take control of the race. Again, I am “self coached” and I will share what I know with others.
I don’t remember exactly when, but about four or five years ago I had an increase in my short term memory loss. I would be sitting where I am sitting now, get up and walk about 30 feet to our kitchen and could not remember why I decided to go there. Obviously, that was not unusual because the happens to everyone when they are 70 years old. Last July after reviewing my symptoms with my neurologist we concluded that I may have Alzheimer’s and started me on Aricept. I don’t like some of the side effects, but now I don’t forget that I went there to refill my coffee mug. About three months ago, I started taking Namenda.
Last March I was driving through Nashville on Interstate 40 as I had done a number of times before. Suddenly, I discovered that I was no longer on 40 and couldn’t figure out why I was going the wrong way. I had a similar problem on a short trip in July. Several time when driving the five miles from here to Pigeon Forge I couldn’t remember having seen anything along the way there. I went the right route, but didn’t remember anything that had happened since I left home. Those are the symptoms that I reviewed with my neurologist.
Previously, most of what I knew about the effect that Alzheimer’s has on the mind and body was what I had read in the local paper about some of the local’s who had Alzheimer’s. This would be in the paper shortly after the local Memory Walk. The information came from those in the Memory Walk and it was usually about how much trouble it is to live with someone who has Alzheimer’s. And, there was President Reagan. From his wife’s refusal to tell us anything about his condition and his battle, I had to assume that it must be pretty bad.
I don’t remember when I started having a problem maintaining my balance but it was not recently. A few days ago I Googled Alzheimer’s and balance. I was surprised to find out that recently published information from a six year long study demonstrated that problems with walking and balance may be the first indicator of Alzheimer’s or dementia.
I am training myself to wage a very strong race against Alzheimer’s. I am not going to give up at 500m, because I know that when properly trained the race is not over until you get to the finish line.
Periodically—daily, weekly, monthly, I don’t know—I will share with you what I am doing and learning about the race. I don’t feel sorry for anyone that I beat in a race so do not feel sorry for me because I am determined not to lose this race. Let me know if you have any questions.