PORT ANGELES — Tom Wahl realizes that he is a lucky one.
But he is still a cancer survivor and he wants to help others going through it or something similar.
“I really have a heart for people with cancer or sickness,” Wahl said.
“I know everybody is at a different stage . . . and I was fortunate to just go in there and get it cut out and three months later do this.”
This being The Big Hurt, the four-stage test of endurance that the former Port Angeles High School football coach finished last Saturday in 5 hours, 3 minutes and 3 seconds.
Wahl, who still teaches at Port Angeles High School, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April and had surgery in early June.
At the time of his diagnosis, Wahl said, there was a “tiny indication” that the cancer had spread, but his tests and doctor visits since have shown him to be cancer-free.
“I had my three-month blood test a couple weeks ago, and they said there’s no indication of cancer at this point,” Wahl said.
Wahl is no stranger to feats of endurance, having completed 24 marathons during his lifetime. In fact, the date of his surgery was a few days before the North Olympic Discovery Marathon, so he received permission from organizers to run it a few weeks early.
He also participated in the previous Big Hurt, in 2004.
In late July or early August, he went to check out CrossFit ThunderRidge, and while there saw a flyer for the return of The Big Hurt.
Having enjoyed the event in the past, he decided that he wanted to help out this year. He even talked with one of the organizers, Lorrie Mittman, about assisting.
“Then I went home and slept on it and thought, you know, I can do this,” he said.
“I’m kind of coming off the cancer operation, and this will be an inspiration for me and other people if I can do this.”
Wahl’s activity level progressed after his June 3 operation, and at the point of that decision he had been doing a lot of walking.
Now, he was going to up his physical output considerably. He only had seven weeks to train for The Big Hurt, which consists of a 16-mile mountain bike ride, 3-mile kayak, 30-mile road bike ride and 10-kilometer run.
Not easy. But it gave him a goal.
“The Big Hurt was kind of my measuring stick: am I back into as good of shape as I was?” Wahl said.
“Being able to finish it and being able to be semi-competitive, I feel good about it.
“The surgery, that day, trying to get up and walk 10 feet was huge. You just got to kind of take one step at a time.
“I remember how good I felt, when I got home, to take one lap around the island counter [in the kitchen].
“So I went from that point to being able to do the Big Hurt.”
And, despite having a cold last week, Wahl exceeded his expectations for himself.
He wanted to finish in five-and-a-half hours. He beat that by 27 minutes.
He also placed fourth out of six individual male competitors. And, at 57, he was the oldest participant in the Iron Male division.
But Wahl’s reasons for doing The Big Hurt go beyond his finishing time and place of finish.
“It was about me, I guess, but also it was about people who have cancer or are struggling,” he said.
“I just wanted to go out there and give them some hope.
“I want to encourage them to get out and do as much as you can, and challenge yourself to do something.
“You don’t have to win, just go out there and participate. Do something that gets you going and gives you a goal to shoot for.”
As he did for the North Olympic Discovery Marathon, Wahl wore a white shirt with black lettering that said, “Running For Your Life, American Cancer Society,” during The Big Hurt.
Wahl’s own diagnosis and surgery and then recovery all happened so fast that he didn’t really have time to seek out inspirations for his fight with cancer.
But people from the community approached him, including many who were prostate cancer survivors, to offer advice and encouragement, or to tell him anything they could about dealing with cancer.
“I was really grateful,” Wahl said.
He wanted to himself provide an inspiration for others who might be sick, cancer or otherwise, or going through a difficult time through a rigorous day of running, biking and kayaking.
“That was my main goal, just to encourage people,” Wahl said.
“Everybody struggles at some point in time. And they need encouragement.
“I think it’s just part of life, trying to pick people up.”
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
