My name is Stephen Gaudet. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and have had severe persistent asthma since birth. I have survived much longer than anyone ever thought I would.

My walking story, and the concept for this blog, begins in Sept of 2004, when my disease finally impacted my ability to continue working full time and make a decent living. At the ripe old age of 49, I was forced to retire from my 27 year career as a Respiratory Therapist ( seems I was spending more time as a patient in the hospital, than as an employee in one.)

Despite being constantly short of breath, out of shape and unable to work, I didn’t want to lay around the house ,feeling sorry for myself just waiting to die.
I decided instead, to put into practice what I had preached to other chronic lungers over the years…. to get out and exercise! I started working on a self-directed physical re-conditioning (pulmonary rehab) program, to see if I could maintain what little lung function I had left; shed some of the weight I had gained from years of steroid use (abuse), and perhaps, even beat the odds by living longer and happier than I was supposed to.

At first I tried a little swimming and running, but they left me instantly winded. By default, I took up fitness walking. Little did I know what a profound effect this sport would have on my life. When I first started , I was in such bad shape I could barely walk a few blocks without suffocating; and on many days I was too short of breath to walk at all. Despite the concerns and doubts of some, I kept pushing myself to go a little farther each time.

A year later on 7-31-2005, I walked 13.1 miles in just over 3 hours, successfully completing my first half marathon. Then a little over a year later on 10-1-2006 , I did what others said was not possible….. I walked 26.2 miles and finished the Portland Marathon !  Since then, I’ve gone on to finish a dozen other races, including the Rome marathon in Italy(twice), and on April 20th 2009, I walked my way into the record books by becoming the first person with documented severe refractory asthma , ever to finish the Boston marathon!

Though I may look totally healthy on the outside, on a good day my lung function is only about 35% of normal, which equates to a lung age of 140 years, making even the simplest of physical tasks tough. I’ll be the first to admit, that walking a marathon is incredibly difficult and potentially dangerous for someone like me, but I’m living proof that it can be done. My doctors still can’t figure out how the heck I can physically do it, or for that matter, why the heck I want to in the first place. The simple fact is, I refuse to give in to this stinking disease , and when I set my mind on accomplishing something, even something very physical…I’m committed to the end. I also train very hard and I never ever give up!

My goal now, is to keep breaking barriers for as long as my body will allow, and to demonstrate to others, that even people with severe lung problems can do some pretty amazing things if they have the will and the passion. 

Speaking of Passion, Did I mention that I’m also a……

Music & Passion Junkie? Yup, I’m a guy and big time “Fanilow” ( Barry Manilow Freak). I never miss a concert. In my opinion, he’s one of the best composer/singer/performers in the world! Ranking up there with the great ones. Elvis, the Beatles and Michael Jackson.

I love listening to all kinds of stuff on my MP3 player when I walk. I sometimes get lost in the music . It helps me forget about my breathing problems. If you use an audio device while walking or running to drown out the world, just be careful and remember to always pay attention on your surrounding. Don’t wanna get run over by a car, when you’re trying to stay healthy;-)

And on that topic, the Portland Marathon is the most mp3 friendly race in the country !

Wanna even know more about my crazy life? Contact me!