San Antonio’s own “Rocky”
By Paul Baltutis
If you had to use one word to describe Ed Nagle’s life since 1993, you might choose the word: “Rocky.” On many levels Nagle has persevered to overcome some incredible obstacles. In 1993 he had a near-fatal 30-foot fall. In 2001 he was diagnosed with colon cancer. In 2006 the cancer spread to his lungs, and he required surgery to remove part of his upper right lobe. The good news now is that at age 61, Nagle is cancer-free, and he’s set his sights on the Pike’s Peak Ascent marathon on August 18. Why such an extreme event considering what he has been through?
It started when Nagle was in his early forties and living in Fort Worth. It was then that he began to develop an interest in physical fitness and running. A friend of his was running marathons and was a veteran of the Pike’s Peak Marathon (PPM), a 26.2 mile trail run that goes from 6,280 feet to 14,110 feet and returns.
Nagle’s interest in running and completing Pike’s Peak led him to train and complete the PPM in 1993. He was in the best shape of his life and was hoping to improve at his 4:30 marathon personal record. Two months after the Pike’s Peak race, however, tragedy occurred as Nagle suffered a work-related 30-foot fall when the rope that was supporting him broke. Nagle suffered a broken pelvis, cracked ribs and head injuries. The doctors believe his being in such good physical shape probably saved his life.
His recovery was slow, but something stuck in Nagle’s mind: the thought of getting back to running again. “I truly believed that running was good for me, and the hope of running a event like a marathon or Pike’s Peak again kept me going.”
While his mind was willing, his body was permanently affected by the fall. The accident caused his right foot to drag, and he goes through about a pair of shoes in a month. His running form is similar to a bicycle that has one brake shoe constantly rubbing. But nothing would stop Nagle from the task at hand.
Progress was being made year by year, and Nagle started training for the marathon distance in 2001. When Nagle was diagnosed with colon cancer, his goal was not deterred. “I asked my doctor if I can still train and run a marathon while on chemotherapy, and the doctor said it would be O.K.”says Nagle. With those words, Nagle trained and completed the Oklahoma City Marathon in April of 2002.
Since 2002 Nagle has completed 20 Marathons and nine half-marathons and three Pikes Peak Ascents (PPA) (2003, 2004 and 2006) He was accepted to run the PPA in 2005; however, because of painful foot sores from treatments, he was unable to participate.
All his marathons were run while he was on chemo, but the PPA in 2006 was one of his most formable challenges. He would have only six months to recover from major surgery, whose net effect, while necessary, would give him less lung capacity in the thin air of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Nonetheless, he completed the PPA last year in 7:23, the last and proudest finisher of the day.
“I hope to show people that adversity is not the end of the world. It’s going to happen to everyone sometime during his or her lifetime. It’s how you deal with it that’s important. You can give up or fight. If you believe in yourself and keep fighting, it can make you a better person,” says Nagle.
Nagle now looks to the 2007 Pike’s Peak Ascent as a chance for him to achieve another milestone. “I really want to make the 6:30 cut-off and make the official finishers list for the PPA,” he commented. I don’t know about you, but my money is on Rocky, the undisputed king of the mountain.
Paul Baltutis is the manager of Soler’s Sports in Alamo Heights. He is a certified marathon coach with Team in Training. He can be contacted at sage_run03@yahoo.com.
