(Excerpt from Health Monitor. See Full Health Monitor Article: Health Monitor Living Peripheral Artery Disease (healthmonitornetwork.com))\

Chances are you won’t be able to keep up with Kevin Thomas Morgan. Back in 2009, the veterinary pathologist and scientist from Carrboro, NC, ran in the Boston Marathon at the age of 66, followed by six Ironman races, and today can still be found training for either a marathon or triathlon—at the age of 80-years-young. In fact, he recently flew to Finland to take part in the 2023 World Half Ironman Championships.

“I enjoyed a chilly 1.2-mile open water swim, followed by a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run,” he says excitedly.

Yet it may be surprising to learn that this lifelong athlete has been living with PAD for nearly nine years. His health journey began in 2014 when he began experiencing foot pain during his marathon training runs. Since, of course, pain comes with the territory when running 20+ miles, at first he wasn’t too concerned and ran through the discomfort.

“But I knew there was something more going on when my Eagleman Half Ironman Race was ruined by foot numbness and right leg calf pain,” he recalls.

“My muscles were not getting enough blood”

Soon after, Kevin had a routine checkup with the “remarkable vascular surgeon Mark A. Farber, MD, whose team saved my life many times” for a previously diagnosed blood vessel condition. He underwent an ankle-brachial index test (which compares the blood pressure at the ankle with the blood pressure at the arm). And this is when the doctor shared the startling news.  

“He informed me that I’d developed significant PAD, or peripheral arterial disease, in my right popliteal artery,” states Kevin. PAD occurs when blood vessels in the extremities—in most cases, as with Kevin, in the legs—become narrow or blocked, inhibiting their ability to carry blood to and from the heart.

“The severe calf pain I’d been experiencing, called claudication, was due to the muscles not getting enough blood,” continues Kevin. “My doctor also said with a hint of doom that this disease is progressive.”

Although Kevin was a bit dismayed by the diagnosis, it didn’t come as a shock, either. “I’ve known since my early 30s that I have genetically high fat levels in my blood, also known as dyslipidemia. This is a common cause of atherosclerosis.” Atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries, also happens to be a top cause of PAD.

“I was the last runner to cross the finish line”

The promising news was that treatment options for PAD have evolved over the years. Non-surgical methods, such as lifestyle changes, exercise routines and prescription meds (including a blood thinner that can help reduce the risk of further complications in adults diagnosed with PAD) have been shown to manage symptoms and improve artery health.

Kevin was advised to start a walking program comprised of three 30-minute walks per week to encourage the growth of collateral circulation (otherwise known as back-up blood vessels) around his blocked arteries.

“I had another marathon scheduled three weeks later, so I remember thinking, I’ll be doing a bit more than three walks a week!” Kevin participated in the marathon as planned—and was the last runner to cross the finish line. “They were closing the course! And this was the moment I realized I had a lot of work to do to fight PAD.”

“I want to help others regain control of their lives”

After dusting himself off from the marathon, Kevin dug into PAD research and developed a plan for thriving in spite of it. To start, he tested various movement modifications he could make during his runs and other activities to improve blood flow to his feet and ease pain—everything from stretching more and avoiding socks that compress the ankles to choosing sneakers with a wider toe box.

“Using Yoga Toes® toe stretchers dramatically delays the onset of muscle pain when I run and has eliminated foot numbness when I walk,” adds Kevin, who also follows a low-fat, vegetarian lifestyle.

Needless to say, he has not stopped moving forward. In 2022, he ran the North Carolina Half Ironman Race and finished first in his age group, which qualified him for the 2023 World Half Ironman Championship in Finland. He also wrote the book How to Fight The Crippling Pain of Peripheral Arterial Disease (available on Amazon) and won the “PAD Warrior Award For Excellence” from The Way To My Heart, the only non-profit providing free education, high-touch advocacy and real-time support for PAD patients.

His number one goal now? To provide hope to fellow PAD friends by helping them to regain control over their lives. “As you can imagine, I’d like to stay on my feet for as long as possible—and I’d like to help you stay on yours. PAD is serious, so we must be equally serious in our work to manage it. Now let’s get started!”

Kevin’s top tips for staying active

Here, Kevin shares more of the techniques that have been helping him cross every finish line!

Consult a vascular specialist. Vascular specialists may include vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, interventional radiologists or vascular medicine physicians who specialize in PAD. During the doctor’s appointment in 2015 when Kevin received the diagnosis, he asked his physician about possible surgical interventions (such as an angioplasty, a balloon to open the arteries, or inserting a stent into the arteries). “He said, ‘Kevin, I could do that, but you need to know that you may lose your leg in the process,’ ” he remembers. “In fact, such cases have been reported recently, which is why I’m so glad Dr. Farber provided the right advice with non-surgical treatments.”

Put one foot in front of the other. Kevin emphasizes the importance of finding ways to stay active and points out that being a marathon runner is not necessary. “It would be best if you employ physical activities that you enjoy, and I strongly recommend a walking program,” he says. “By the way, my PAD has little to no impact on my swimming or cycling, except during steep hill climbs on the bike when I get a little calf tightness.” 

Change your mindset. Kevin, who is also a blogger on the site AthleteWithStent.com, admits there are times he feels like giving up (and giving in) to PAD. “The calf pain when I run can be horrible, and I’ll think, ‘Why don’t you just accept your age, have a glass of wine and chill out.’ ” Then he is reminded of a quote from Thai rapper Lalisa Manoba—“Never give up on your dreams, no matter how painful and difficult your journey is”—and explains that the real challenge of living with PAD starts from within. “It’s a journey, not a destination,” he concludes. “I have the joy of running with my two feet and ten toes. Is there pain? Yes, but the good pain—the pain of fighting back. So hang in there and fight back!”