Senior Success Story at Fit For Life

"Most people service their car more regularly than their own bodies"
Meet George "Buzz" Hoge who will be 65 in May. Nothing can keep him from running, not even five major operations including, a heart valve replacement and kidney transplant. Getting the transplant wasn't as bad as being tied to a dialysis machine three days a week and losing the strength that helped him endure his marathon runs. Seven years ago in April, Buzz was happy to be counting floor tiles at Emory University Hospital. It was his third day after receiving his transplant. Dragging along the IV's on a stand with wheels, Hoge walked off 5,280 tiles - one mile. The next day, he walked two miles. He continued to walk every day, building up to running. Rose, his wife, worried but she knew nothing would slow him down. "He is so competitive and never gives up" she says. "He was so down while on the dialysis. It was good to see him doing something again". Six months later, he won third place in the high jump at a seniors track and field event, where he also competed in the long jump and several races. Two years later, he ran the Disney Marathon and in April 1996, he ran the Boston Marathon in 4 hours, 47 minutes. He has competed in the U.S. Transplant Games, Goodwill Games, and the 1997 World Transplant Games in Sydney, Australia. Locally, he often is the age group winner at road races despite his illnesses. Buzz took up running later in life, in the mid-1980's, and recently has taken up triathlons. He logs around 30 miles a week, with a long run of 10. Hoge also rides his bike 15-20 miles and swims another 600-800 yards. Buzz is a member of the Forerunners Track Club and the Mad Dogs (thought to be the world's largest triathlon club), both in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has organized a chapter of the Achilles Track Club, a national organization for people with disabilities. "I got my life back and was able to continue in athletics," said Hoge. "I feel a responsibility to get people into running , but particularly people who have had problems." All this does not come easy for Buzz. He must take daily medication, both to suppress his immune system and thin his blood. He can't afford to clog his heart valve, which he received in 1991, or have his body reject the kidney transplant. He has to be careful not to catch a cold or infection and reports washing his hands about 30 times a day. Hoge believes that if you don't take time to be healthy, you'll have to take time to be sick. He reports "most people service their car more regularly than their own bodies!"

"Most people service their car more regularly than their own bodies"

Meet George "Buzz" Hoge who will be 65 in May. Nothing can keep him from running, not even five major operations including, a heart valve replacement and kidney transplant. Getting the transplant wasn't as bad as being tied to a dialysis machine three days a week and losing the strength that helped him endure his marathon runs.

Seven years ago in April, Buzz was happy to be counting floor tiles at Emory University Hospital. It was his third day after receiving his transplant. Dragging along the IV's on a stand with wheels, Hoge walked off 5,280 tiles - one mile. The next day, he walked two miles. He continued to walk every day, building up to running. Rose, his wife, worried but she knew nothing would slow him down. "He is so competitive and never gives up" she says. "He was so down while on the dialysis. It was good to see him doing something again". Six months later, he won third place in the high jump at a seniors track and field event, where he also competed in the long jump and several races. Two years later, he ran the Disney Marathon and in April 1996, he ran the Boston Marathon in 4 hours, 47 minutes. He has competed in the U.S. Transplant Games, Goodwill Games, and the 1997 World Transplant Games in Sydney, Australia. Locally, he often is the age group winner at road races despite his illnesses.

Buzz took up running later in life, in the mid-1980's, and recently has taken up triathlons. He logs around 30 miles a week, with a long run of 10. Hoge also rides his bike 15-20 miles and swims another 600-800 yards. Buzz is a member of the Forerunners Track Club and the Mad Dogs (thought to be the world's largest triathlon club), both in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has organized a chapter of the Achilles Track Club, a national organization for people with disabilities. "I got my life back and was able to continue in athletics," said Hoge. "I feel a responsibility to get people into running , but particularly people who have had problems."

All this does not come easy for Buzz. He must take daily medication, both to suppress his immune system and thin his blood. He can't afford to clog his heart valve, which he received in 1991, or have his body reject the kidney transplant. He has to be careful not to catch a cold or infection and reports washing his hands about 30 times a day. Hoge believes that if you don't take time to be healthy, you'll have to take time to be sick. He reports "most people service their car more regularly than their own bodies!"