Robert Chasen
DOB: 9/2/1954
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(Apr, 2021) I noticed you last had my lifetime miles updated in 2014 (when it was published). My lifetime mileage is now 152,000. Modern Cardiology found out that my heart issue was a congenital defect (Bicuspid Aortic Valve Syndrome). In December 2017, I had my valve replaced with a Bovine tissue one and my Aorta was grafted with Dacron. I still log about 2,000 miles per year.
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At age 6, doctors told my parents that I would never be able to do strenous activity due to severe rheumatic heart disease. I missed the second half of 1st grade due to heart related hospitalizations. I bucked the trend at age 14 when I started running. I needed a new doctors note to let me on the track team because I actually failed the pre-sport physcial. 45 years and 138,000 miles later, I proved the original experts wrong. At least half those years were at a steady 80-90 miles per week. As I now get close to 60, my mileage has dropped to the 40-50 mile per week range. My accomplishments are a 30:26 10K, 3 time New England age group mountain racing champion, and various good masters performances on the roads and in cross-country. However, my favorite accomplishment is all the friends I made during all those miles and years and the rich experiences they created for me.