My Facebook question was simple, poignant, and nationally collective; “Where were you?” The day was 9/11, and Ed Henley’s answer was just as simple and poignant. “Benton County Detox.”

Until then, this guy was just Ed… who really liked to run… a lot. I met him on a hike up Mt. Cashmere in 2015. He was pleasant to listen to and a wealth of knowledge, and shoes and running were his forte. At that time, he was training for his first marathon and shared his training plan, nutrition and philosophies with the rest of us seemingly without struggling for breath while we trudged up, up, up the mountain.

After that hike we friended each other on Facebook and waved while we passed each other on Run Wenatchee Thursdays. I’m not saying I became a groupie or anything like that, but it is fun to watch Ed’s fitness, mile progression and racing accomplishments unfold on social media before me. Ok, maybe I am a little bit of a groupie…

Anyway, his answer to the Facebook question piqued my interest. I wanted to know his story. He accepted my request for an interview and we sat down at South in Pybus Market while his beautiful fiancé, Megan, and my friend Heather, waited graciously for us. His story is nothing less than inspirational. I already respected him because of his passion for health, fitness and running, but it skyrocketed when I realized all he’s overcome in life as well.

Ed was a troubled, bipolar meth addict and in September of 2001 he found himself in a dismal state. The best definition of an addict I’ve ever heard is: “When you can quit you don’t want to, and when you want to, you can’t.” That’s where Ed was. He finally wanted to quit, but was incapable of resisting, so he set his mind on completely ruining his life. He determined to go full bore down the path of meth abuse and let anything that mattered go. Then, miraculously things changed on an unusually still, silent morning.

He readily gave credit for his turn around to Divine intervention, but prefaced that part of the interview with a cautious look my way and the warning that what he was about to say was going to sound a little weird. Being the God fearing woman I am, I got a little excited and encouraged him to continue. He said he remembers the moment with acute clarity to this day. He had an old, green cordless phone in his hand, ready to call someone he couldn’t get a hold of. He felt a distinct presence behind him but there was nothing there, and he knew it. Nothing there but a box of forgotten books, one of which was an old King James version of the Bible, remnants left from a stint in jail. It was the Word of God itself that Ed felt behind him. Unable to resist, he picked up the Bible and it flopped open to Psalm 25 and he knew it was his chance to get clean.

On September 9th 2001 Ed practically begged his girlfriend at the time to take him to none other than, Benton County Detox. He’d heard it was a great place to get clean and told her to get there fast because an addict like him would change his mind if too much time lapsed. She did, and when the planes crashed into the Twin Towers, Pentagon and Shanksville field, Ed was watching in shock with fellow patients and the doctors and medical staff at the detox center.

From there life changed but not necessarily for the better at first. For the most part Ed was able to stay clean but his bipolar symptoms reared their ugly head and left his life in shambles from the consequences. His marriage was ruined and ultimately dissolved, his son was collateral damage, his life was in limbo.

And then he started running.

At first it was all about revenge. He had a girlfriend who ran and when she broke up with him, Ed decided to run too and become the best and fastest and win all the local races and show her just who she’d passed up. It took a while and plenty of research, reading and trial and error but, eventually, Ed became a regular at local trail runs and races, but the ex-girlfriend was nowhere to be found. It didn’t matter, by then Ed was hooked and was running for himself.

Ed enjoyed all aspects of running immensely; from the research to the training, to the shoe fitting and connecting with other long distance runners like his good buddy, Chad. Running became a passion and in the wake of his new lifestyle Ed found a surprising fringe benefit; the excessive running curbed many of his bipolar symptoms. He explained the science and theory behind it to me; the jist of it is that the tremendous amount running causes his body to produce and release chemicals in such a way that it actually inhibits the undesirable symptoms of bipolar without the nasty side-effects experienced with medications.

And so because of his passion for it and the health benefits of it, running is Ed’s lifestyle and he doesn’t see himself slowing his pace anytime soon. In fact, just two weekends ago Ed finished his race of the Cuyamaca 100K, a grueling 63.2 mile ultra run through the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and includes a summit of the park’s highest peak, which stands at 6500’.

As impressive as a 100K sounds, Ed’s shooting for an even loftier goal of one hundred miles, and yet, he didn’t get from revenge to one hundred miles in his sights over night. He started small with a simple training schedule called the C to 5K. This training plan is designed to get a non-runner from the Couch to a 5K (3.1 miles) run over a span of weeks. From there, Ed gorged on Ted Talks and running books, a few favorites were, “Running Your First Ultra” by Krissy Moehl, and “Once a Runner” by John L. Parker. He started following more intensive training plans, researching on the internet and following local and world-renowned ultra runners. He ran a few 5Ks before moving up to half marathons, which were a killer for him. And then in the fall of 2015 he made his first marathon debut. He couldn’t remember his time when we were talking but remembered that he finished the Oktoberfest marathon of 2015 in terrible shape, but his desire for the next bigger and better race got a hold of him. Despite constant runner’s pain like plantar fascitis and minor knee injuries he completed two more marathons in 2016 before jumping into ultras. This year, he’s completed not only the Cuyamaca 100K but also the Gorge Waterfalls 100K last April. He’s aiming at qualifying and winning his spot into the Western States 100, a one hundred mile ultra-run with a lottery-style entry system.

In the mean time, Ed trains faithfully. He favors early morning runs but can also be found on the Apple Capital Loop trail on Thursdays running with fellow Run Wenatchee trail-mates and ultra runners. Recently Ed’s worked yoga into his routine and is a regular at Beyoutiful Yoga’s hot yoga sessions and enjoys the benefits the practice adds to his physical and mental health. Ed sees many more races and goals in his future, it seems the only thing he doesn’t see is an end to his running lifestyle. It will be fun to follow his progression and cheer him on as he grows as an ultra runner and reaches for ever more lifetime health and fitness goals. You can follow him too on Instagram at: edhenleyii

Everything seemed normal then, overnight, twenty-three year old Erik Rodriguez found himself in a fight for his life. The day his world changed he felt a little off; he was tired, his heart was beating fast but he couldn’t quite put his finger on exactly what was wrong. Like any fit, hard-working young man would, he tried to shake it off with a nap, with work, with a bite to eat and of course, with a work-out. Nothing helped but after the work-out his heart was racing uncontrollably and he was beyond exhausted. He decided to go home to his five dogs and sleep it off and hope he would feel better in the morning...

Morning came two weeks later. Erik woke up to nearly twenty tubes coming out of his chest and torso and a loud, cumbersome artificial heart keeping him alive.

What Erik didn’t know was that his heart had inexplicably enlarged to nearly twice the normal size and he would have likely died had his mother, Alejandra, not known something was severely wrong. She insisted on taking him to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee instead of sleeping it off. He was put into a medically induced coma and after a short overnight stay was taken, by helicopter, to Harbor View in Seattle, Washington for specialized care.

On Thursday, November 17th 2016, Erik underwent his first surgery to receive an artificial heart that would keep him alive until a suitable heart could be found for him. One of the scariest things in his life was waking up, without a heart, without recollection of the passing of days, and without a clue what would happen next. Though the artificial heart kept him alive, it wasn’t even close to an ideal situation. Erik was exhausted and couldn’t walk or stand without assistance. The first time medical staff had him on his feet, he fainted. The pain was unbelievable and the young man who once fished on commercial boats, and ran up fourteen foot warped walls could do nothing but lay down and languish and pray for a new heart.

The wait would take months and in that time Erik went from a fit, thin framed one hundred sixty-five pounds to a shell of himself at one hundred twenty-five pounds. He couldn’t eat or drink; any attempt on his part was met with an inability to process the food. His medical staff told him, had he not been in such good shape, because of his size and the severity of his situation he likely wouldn’t have survived.

While Erik fought for his life, with his mother faithfully by his side, his community fought for him the only way they knew how. His home gym, CrosSport, hosted a silent auction in December to raise funds to help with his medical expenses. The effort, spearheaded by Erik’s friends, Missy Scott, Denise Ferguson and David Parades, was able to raise over $4,000. Gym and community members like Jim Heinlein and Chris Mann reached out and were able to bring in some high ticket items like a signed Seahawks football. Later, in January, Erik’s brother, Ivan Rodriguez, organized a fundraiser through Dutch Bros. Owners Jimmy and Danielle Crocker donated a portion of the day’s proceeds and in one incredible day, the community came out in droves to buy their coffee and support Erik’s surgery and raised over $15,000. The estimated costs of his heart transplant are well over what’s already come in and the family still has an online donation site opened for friends and supporters to donate to Erik’s medical expenses. https://www.youcaring.com/alejandrarodriguez-691136

Despite the support the odds were stacked against Erik. Only one in three hearts donated are eligible for transplant. In 2015 alone, ninety-four people in Washington died while waiting for a heart. But no one gave up. Prayers ascended to God from family (Erik says his mom prayed every day), friends and even the medical staff. He decided to be part of a clinical trial to receive a donated “heart in a box” which keeps the heart warm and beating during transport instead of iced in a cooler. Without the four hour restriction associated with hearts in coolers, the chances of getting a heart from further away were better.

The prayers were finally answered and on January 27th Erik got word there was a heart available. He was once again prepped for surgery but this time when he woke up a week later everything was different. With the new heart came a new energy level, Erik was up and walking, under medical supervision right away. Because the heart was slightly large for him he had to have his chest open for about eight days and have his ribs cracked to fit it in but he says there’s no comparison to the artificial heart. A real heart offered freedom and restoration; the loud noise and burden of carrying the artificial heart around is gone, the tubes that had been protruding from his chest and abdomen came out, one by one, and the breathing and feeding tubes were removed. He only has one drain tube leftover from the artificial heart and that should come out in due time as well.

Now Erik appreciates the life and heart he was given more than ever and is working on a new normal. He is staying in a “transplant house” near the hospital since his discharge on February 17th but hopes to be home in four more months. He’s really looking forward to coming back to the valley and most of all to his dogs who he Facetimes with regularly. Though a full recovery is anticipated within a year, at this time Erik is working on gaining back the weight he lost and appreciating the little things in life, like taking showers and getting outside in the fresh air. The regimen of forty-nine pills he currently takes will taper with time but Erik will always have to be on the anti-rejection drugs and avoid certain foods that can counter them. Despite the changes, doctors have told Erik he’ll be able to do all of the activities he once enjoyed including hiking, fishing and working out. After a year he can decide if he wants to make contact with the family of the person who donated the heart through a registry system. He isn’t sure about that yet, but the new, gifted heart has given Erik a sense of responsibility to the person who donated it and to himself to be more conscious of how he takes care of his body.

Every day is a gift and everyone, especially his mom, who has supported and stood by him has been a blessing in his life. Erik want’s to extend his utmost gratefulness to God above and to everyone who has prayed, visited and supported him through this. Luckily for Erik, life will go on and he won’t take it for granted but with gratitude for the second chance he’s been given.

There are a couple ways you can help with Erik’s medical expenses:

Donate directly at Erik's You Caring Site

Purchase Catching Tatum and a portion of all proceeds will be donated to Erik’s medical expenses.

For as long as I’ve hiked with my regular crew from the gym, Run Wenatchee and Leavenworth, I’ve watched one particular woman in awe. Her name is Ana … and she is a powerhouse! Strong, fit, smart, articulate and capable of hiking ridiculous miles hours faster than I would ever dream of. Imagine my surprise when Ana said she’d be willing to share her Before & After story.

How could Ana have a Before & After story? How could my inspiration, this beastie beauty, ever have been anything but the epitome of what a fit chick is? How could I say no to an interview like that? We set the date and I went, questions in hand to meet her for dinner at her place.

I was not prepared for the delicious spread she set before us but knew in an instant, nutrition was as much a part of her healthy lifestyle as fitness was. The spinach salad with accents of fresh mouth watering little bits was as good to look at as it was to taste but her potato & broccoli soup with its Latin flare was one of the most delicious soups I’ve ever tasted and stole the show. It was hard to focus on the interview with the flavors bursting in my mouth, but I managed and what I learned gave me so much more respect for a woman who already hung the moon for me. I’m sure you too will be awed, inspired and encouraged by her story.

Ana grew up in a Hispanic family where good food, not health or nutrition was celebrated and she really never knew a different way of life. She grew to be a woman who appreciated the flavor of food more than fitness and considered the walk from the parking lot to the office quite enough exercise for any day of the week. She married a chef and together they enjoyed decadent food and she spent most of her twenties over weight but mostly happy.

At her heaviest Ana was about one hundred eighty pounds and hovered around one hundred seventy. Despite the weight Ana says she always felt like she had a level of self confidence that kept her from caring too much about how heavy she was, but in retrospect she suspects it was more of a defense mechanism than the true self confidence she knows more about now. If she could, she would tell her younger, unhealthy self that she had much growing up to do. And the growing for Ana began with a heartbreaking revelation and tragic divorce. In a state of shock and depression she lost fifteen pounds in two weeks and in a matter of months the grief had reduced her to a shocking one hundred twenty pounds.

Ana was literally a shell of her former self. The sorrow of the loss invaded every aspect of her life. She’s grateful for the understanding people at work who empathized and were patient with her through the trauma. Finally in 2012 Ana knew something had to give, either she needed to make some life changes or her life wasn’t going to be good for much of anything. She started going to Gold’s Gym in Wenatchee. Like all rookies, it was a daunting, foreign, unknown venture. But true to the iron spirit inside her, she didn’t quit, bend or break under the intimidation. She learned, she evolved and she came to be a woman who loves her body.

“It has done so much for me, the least I can do is love it and take care of it!” she told me with a twinkle in her eye only a fitness enthusiast can express. Before long Ana was comfortable in her gym and now regularly works out every morning for about an hour enjoying a mix of cardio and weight lifting. She hates to miss even a day and has added evening WODs (Work Out of the Day) at CrosSport to supplement her morning routine a couple times a week. Admittedly she hates to miss working out but neither the weights at Gold’s or the WODs at CrosSport can make her body, mind and soul sing the way the mountains can.

Unbeknownst to me in 2015 Ana started hiking with the same crew of avid and novice hikers as I did. Because of her prowess and ability on the trail I assumed she was an old pro at hiking but apparently the hike up Mt. Cashmere that was transformative in my life, was also her longest and most arduous hike up to that point. And in the summer of 2016 she was out nearly every weekend hiking some trail or peak, challenging, training, using and loving all her body could do.
Hiking has certainly been the most exhilarating part of Ana’s transformation but the most surprising part happened in the kitchen. Ana realized she loved to prep and cook food and figure out how to incorporate good health into what she made. Having a chef for a husband had given her the impression the she “couldn’t” cook but after the divorce as she started cooking for herself and learned that, not only could she cook, but she thoroughly enjoys it. She’s given up processed muffins, high sugar drinks like mochas and soda and restaurant food for five or six clean, healthy meals a day and figures her meals are whole and clean 70-80% of the time. One of the hardest things in the transformation has been to find the balance in her nutritional plan especially when it comes to social events and activities where unhealthy options are rampant.

As she looks forward to the future Ana doesn’t see her healthy lifestyle changing. It is a lifestyle she enjoys and encourages others to participate in as well. Before the change she was sluggish and struggled to have the motivation to get up and get active, now she loves to move and care for her body. Her best advice to everyone including herself is to remember how far you’ve come on your journey. She tends to look too far ahead and gets stuck in physical perfectionism and forgets to celebrate all her accomplishments. Do it for the right reasons. Love yourself and take care of your body out of that love and maybe you too will become one of my health and fitness heroes or heroines!