Published on September 30, 2011

Running Heart Patient Reaches Milestone

It’s not often that an open-heart surgery patient transforms his lifestyle enough to achieve an All American qualifying time in long distance running.

That’s just what Dave Craddick of Davenport did this summer at the Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure, when he earned Masters All American Standard status for his age group in the 5K. And he’s still running. He ran the Quad Cities Half Marathon last Sunday, achieving his third best time ever.

First featured in Genesis Today in 2010, Craddick made his running comeback at the Genesis Firecracker Run after five-vessel coronary artery bypass surgery performed by Genesis heart surgeon Nicholas Augelli, M.D. Several weeks later, at age 54, he ran the Quad City Times Bix 7 with the signatures of 43 of his Genesis Heart Institute caregivers on his race shirt.

More than a year and many races later, the heart patient recently sent another update to his surgeon: “I achieved one of my postheart surgery goals on June 11 at the Race for the Cure 5K race when I met the U.S. Track & Field Masters All American standard, bettering the standard by 20 seconds,” Craddick wrote Dr. Augelli. “Thanks once again for doing your job extremely well and allowing me the opportunity to strive for and achieve lofty goals.”

At last weekend’s Marathon events, Craddick heard many recovery stories from people who have overcome physical challenges “that make mine pale in comparison,” he says. “The common theme between us, however, is that running was responsible for our remarkable transformation and for keeping us moving forward everyday.”

Craddick plans on meeting every Masters All American Standard for long distance running up to the half marathon. With the completion of one more race in October, he will qualify for the 2011 Masters U.S. Track & Field Gold Phidippides Award for “outstanding performance and endurance in long distance running.” It will have taken him 12 total races to get there, including five half marathons.

“The awards are just pieces of paper, but they provide me the motivation I need to keep challenging myself to achieve bigger goals and to fight my cardiovascular disease so I can enjoy every day to the fullest,” Craddick says.

His heart has come a long way in two years. While training for the Bix in 2009, Craddick realized his muscle energy and lung capacity wasn’t up to speed. An angiogram uncovered that he had five blocked arteries.

Running saved his life, he says, and now it has become an even bigger part of his life. As a result, his HDL has risen from 35 to 68 mg/dl. He has lost 20 pounds and runs with youthful intensity. “Diet, exercise and medication helped me get there,” Craddick concludes.