THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 27, 1994 TAG: 9411240217
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
THAT SUMMER DAY in 1986 when Richard Holmes was out running as usual, he experienced unusual stomach pain.
It was nearly five years later that he learned what caused the problem.
In the 20th year of a Navy career, Holmes underwent a bone marrow biopsy in Jacksonville, Fla. He had non-Hodgkin's disease.
The following month, he was transferred to the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth and began six months of chemotherapy.
When his spleen enlarged, doctors recommended that it be removed.
The 43-year-old Holmes decided he wanted a second opinion and, at his own expense, went to Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York. They agreed with the diagnosis.
During that trip, Holmes viewed the New York City Marathon with its thousands of runners and vowed one day he would compete in it.
In October 1992, Holmes had his spleen removed.
The next year, the senior chief petty officer was given a medical discharge.
``That wasn't my choice,'' said Holmes. ``My goal was to serve 30 years in the Navy.''
But he felt the removal of his spleen improved his health and, except for his regular checkups, has been able to put thoughts of a disease that is often fatal and has no known cure behind him.
And all along Holmes has continued to run.
``I competed in the Elizabeth River Run in 1991 while I was taking chemotherapy. And I really got sick,'' he recalled. ``But the funny thing is that one of my doctors was running in the race, too. He asked me what I was doing there and I told him I loved to run. He said, `great, go for it.' ''
Three weeks ago, Holmes returned to New York City - to run in the marathon.
``I had a bad day,'' he said. ``My time (for the 26.2 miles) was 3 hours, 34 minutes.''
But he was the 4,400th finisher in a field of nearly 30,000.
``Next year I'm going back and next year I will do better,'' he said.
Holmes fared much better in the Richmond Half-Marathon, a 13.1-mile competition. He was fourth in his age group (40-44) and had a time of 1 hour, 30 minutes. The leader in his division finished just four minutes ahead of him.
A native of Crown Point, N.Y., Holmes met his wife, Suzanne, when both were stationed aboard the USS Yosemite in 1988. ``Actually, we met in Naples, Italy,'' he said. ``We took two Mediterranean cruises together. And we were married in 1991.''
Suzanne is still in the Navy, a general duty corpsman at the Naval Medical Center. Chicago was her home.
The Holmeses now call Suffolk home. Richard is finishing up studies at Tidewater Community College in environmental protection and will graduate in May.
Six days each week he runs, often with his two dogs, Chesapeake and Schooner, over a route near Dismal Swamp. ``It's not unusual for my dogs to run nine or 10 miles with me,'' he said. Holmes runs 40 to 50 miles every week.
``Actually, I got into running because I was so out of shape and afraid of exceeding the weight standard in the Navy,'' said the six-footer. ``I weighed about 220. Running brought me down to 165 and that's what I weigh right now.''
Holmes figures his next running competition will be the Shamrock in March. ``I hope to qualify for the Boston Marathon,'' he said. ``I can do that. The 100th running of the Boston Marathon is coming up in 1996 and I really want to be in it.''
And he will tell you that his illness has been a blessing in disguise.
``When I was young, I used to smoke and drink beer. I was a hell raiser. This forced me to change my ways.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Richard Holmes has put thoughts of cancer behind him as he continues
to run in races.
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB