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Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey is for athletes navigating Parkinson’s, the coaches and clinicians who train them, and anyone who wants real-world strategies for performance and longevity. Hosted by Eric Von Frohlich and Todd Vogt, the show focuses on tactical takeaways: how to train, recover, manage symptoms, and stay consistent when the rules keep changing. Expect honest conversations, tested routines, and guest experts who go deeper on what works.
Eric Von Frohlich (00:00)
OK, so we're here with 19 time Greg Schaefer We're honored today to have him join us He's a Parkinson's fighter, a CEO and entrepreneur. He's defined by grit and resilience, and he's a podcast guest and keynote speaker.
So you're also a dad of two. You mentioned that earlier, 13 and 14, which has got to be a handful for you. And...
Greg Schaefer (00:15)
Sounds good.
Yes,
it's great years, but challenging some days.
Eric Von Frohlich (00:28)
Do the boys do triathlons as well?
Greg Schaefer (00:30)
They don't, they did many triathlons when they were younger. They did not grow up swimming, so the swim is a little intimidating for them, but they did it. And they did the kids dip and dash in Kona, which was a blast. one is a tennis player, my son, Jax, who's 13, and one is a soccer player, James, who's 14. So very, very, very into sports, very busy with sports.
Eric Von Frohlich (00:52)
it's...
It's great when they have their own interests as well, right?
Greg Schaefer (00:58)
Absolutely, it keeps them out of arguments. Who's better?
Eric Von Frohlich (01:03)
Exactly,
exactly. I have a 14 year old who's a water polo player it's kind of a lifestyle ou there. It's water polo, spear fishing, surfing, body surfing and all kinds of water men sports. So he's ⁓ fully immersed in that. And then I have a 21 year old and a nine year old on the bookends of this. So I'm in for the long haul. ⁓
Greg Schaefer (01:29)
God bless.
Eric Von Frohlich (01:30)
It's nothing better. But let's dive into you came to be diagnosed a special person in this special community.
Greg Schaefer (01:40)
Yeah, and I think it's a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that doing so many races, we know our well. We know when we need rest, we know when to recover, we know how to push the limits. And for me, was diagnosed, I knew there was a problem in 2022 for Kona the second time I raced. I had raced it in 2019, so I knew what to expect. And I had a PR in
which was amazing, I prepared really well. And the second time around, I was having some struggle in preparation and I kept mentioning to my wife, I just feel like I'm not gonna do as well this time. And we were planning on bringing my wife and the kids and she needed to get them back for school and take the red eye home. And I said, babe, I don't think you're gonna have time to make it to that flight and see me cross the finish line. So they decided not to come.
Eric Von Frohlich (02:19)
Yeah.
Wow.
Greg Schaefer (02:39)
And sure enough, I finished two and a half hours plus longer and in the pitch dark with a glow stick around my neck so they can see me on the run course. at the end of that race,
something was going on and something was wrong.
Eric Von Frohlich (02:56)
Did you have a sense it was neurological or did you think it was more muscular or systemic or?
Greg Schaefer (03:01)
Yeah, the first signs were a calf cramp in Coeur d'Alene where I qualified for it. And I had never gotten cramps, I'm pretty good with fueling. And then I noticed my hand tremor after the race in the hotel for the first time. And I called my wife and I said, something's going on. So I didn't really think neurological at the time.
You know, when you finish a race, you've obviously had 15 gels, a lot of caffeine towards the end of the race. And you know, you just gave out everything that you possibly could in your body in those elements. So clearly she said, like anyone would, go get some sleep, you're exhausted and you know, get some rest and you'll be fine in the morning.
Eric Von Frohlich (03:46)
Right.
Yeah, it's really easy to dismiss those early signals, right? Not that it's going to help you do anything other than get a handle on it, but it's very tricky when you are used to using your body and using it hard to come to that conclusion.
Greg Schaefer (04:06)
Yeah, for sure.
Eric Von Frohlich (04:07)
so did you notice this in your training as well or did it just kind of pop up in?
Greg Schaefer (04:12)
noticed that it would take me, my mornings were a struggle. So my morning workouts were suffering and I definitely was not getting the results that I did prior. So was clear something was going on. was, know, and again, you're getting older, so you just chalk it up as maybe I'm just too old for this crap and I need to take it easy and stop drinking so much coffee, get more sleep, reduce some stress.
Eric Von Frohlich (04:34)
Right?
Greg Schaefer (04:43)
you never think at 47, 48 years old that you're gonna be diagnosed with something like this.
Eric Von Frohlich (04:50)
Particularly when you've been an athlete your whole life and you've taken care of yourself and you eat well and you know your body as well as you do. It doesn't make any sense in a lot of ways.
Greg Schaefer (05:00)
Yeah, and then it makes you think back how many years prior those signs, right? Those pulled calf muscles and your forearm stiffness. And you wonder, gosh, maybe I had this for, since I was 46 and I just didn't know. So.
Eric Von Frohlich (05:06)
Yet.
Well, you certainly
have it for a couple of years because it has to build up in your system. ⁓ But it ⁓ is mind-numbing to realize it after the fact of how obvious it is.
Greg Schaefer (05:29)
Right, the signs are so clear when you understand it.
Eric Von Frohlich (05:33)
Yeah, so 2023, correct?
Greg Schaefer (05:38)
⁓ I was diagnosed in March 2023, correct.
Eric Von Frohlich (05:43)
I was diagnosed in 2021 and 59 now, or 60. So similar trajectory and noticed a lot of the similar type of symptoms that were affecting my performance, but didn't directly attribute them to being neurological. If anything, I thought much like yourself, it was a muscle strain, it was a cramp, it was nutritional.
Greg Schaefer (05:50)
Okay.
Eric Von Frohlich (06:09)
It was a lack of sleep, it was stress. And I would say if you're any of and listening to this podcast and you're hitting those, go find your neurologist quickly because it's most likely a very similar story.
Greg Schaefer (06:24)
Yeah, and the other sign was a frozen shoulder. That was a big sign I missed and ended up shoulder surgery. And looking back, we realized a common issue for young onset Parkinson's disease. orthopedic surgeon is not gonna
up on up and thinking, you know, they're looking at an MRI and an x-ray. So it was something that we discussed later that was Parkinson's related probably.
Eric Von Frohlich (06:57)
Yeah, ironically I tore both biceps and had my last bicep tear. We did the shoulder as well because of the MRI and ⁓ in large part I still have a lot of discomfort in that shoulder which is now I've attributed to the Parkinson's more than the mechanical issues that I was having.
Greg Schaefer (07:18)
Exactly same.
Eric Von Frohlich (07:19)
now, how many these ironman did you do prior to your diagnosis and what have you done since?
Greg Schaefer (07:26)
Since I've done Chattanooga 70.3 twice and Puerto Rico twice and Marbella Spain 70.3 World Championship. So I've yet to do a full since I've been diagnosed. And my goal this year is to end the season with a full Ironman and
check that box again and get a little redemption.
Eric Von Frohlich (07:55)
Well, good luck with that. I'm going to be rooting for you. It's a lofty goal, to say the least. We probably share a mutual friend. Are you familiar with Matt Long? Matt's an old friend of mine, and he has an amazing story for those that are interested, should look up the long run. But his comeback to do Iron Man was a remarkable story, and I wish you the same success and
Greg Schaefer (07:59)
Thank you.
Yes.
Eric Von Frohlich (08:22)
luck with yours as well. quite a challenge trying to keep the day filled with your training and your nutrition and your recovery and all the things you have to do in order to do these races. Has your structure been helpful in managing your diagnosis or has it been more of a frustration point because you're not doing what you were previously doing to the same extent?
Greg Schaefer (08:24)
Thank you.
No,
I've accepted that the race has changed for me and I don't worry time as much. There is no podium finishes anymore. There wasn't many before either, so let me be clear about that. But the outcome is not as important as trying to finish and
Eric Von Frohlich (08:53)
Right.
Buh.
Greg Schaefer (09:11)
I try and show up every day and give it So my training has definitely changed. The volume is not what it used to be. There are days that Parkinson's wins and I have to just check the box and say, it's just not today. Today's not my day. And I would say most days are okay, managed correctly with good workouts, medicine, enough sleep, but
I can definitely say there are days that I'm just really struggling to get through it. And I feel so much better when I do try and get something in. But again, there's certain days where you're just like, did I miss my medication? went from 10 to 15 hours a day, excuse me, 10 to 15 hours a week of training to seven to 10, I would say now.
Eric Von Frohlich (09:42)
Right.
and that's manageable for you.
Greg Schaefer (10:11)
It's manageable. You know, I get most of my workouts, the big ones on the weekends. So I do a long run and a long ride on the weekends and that's the bulk of my work.
Eric Von Frohlich (10:17)
Mm-hmm.
There's a wonderful poem by Constantine Coffey called Ithaca. And it talks about, you know, as much as you have a destination in your life to get to someplace, in this case Ithaca, it's really the adventure that happens on your way to Ithaca that makes it special. It's not landing there as much as it is the journey that we're on. And I kind of feel like Parkinson's has highlighted that for the athletes in experience.
Greg Schaefer (10:48)
yeah, it's funny because my first race back I missed the start line in 24 at Puerto Rico and I had gotten a new doctor that said, Greg, give me two weeks and I'm gonna make you feel normal again. And sure enough, cause I wasn't really taking much medication the first year. We were trying to get into a couple studies and
Eric Von Frohlich (11:03)
Wow.
Greg Schaefer (11:12)
My wife is a physician who is trying to help me navigate what we can do before we get on all the medication. And we didn't know much. We were worried about side effects and long-term, you know, since you're so young being diagnosed, you know, you realize I'm going to be on this medication a really long time. So I, this, this doctor was right in two weeks. I felt like a normal person again.
Eric Von Frohlich (11:33)
Thank you.
Greg Schaefer (11:39)
and went on all the medications I had to, and I signed up for Ironman Chattanooga, which was May 24. And that was to your point. I did the race and I never realized how beautiful the mountains were in Chattanooga, Tennessee. And I've done that race four times before. So ⁓ it was a different journey.
Eric Von Frohlich (11:57)
right
Greg Schaefer (12:04)
It was the worst race of my life from a time perspective, but the most rewarding race and to be there with my friends at the finish line. And I always joke, it's never good to have all your friends at the finish line waiting for you because it means you finished in last place. But that race will always be special to me because I was back. I was back in the race again.
Eric Von Frohlich (12:17)
the
It's...
That's fantastic. It's wonderful and inspiring to hear those stories. ⁓ It's amazing how much we take for granted in our normal life that, you know, really becomes highlighted because of Parkinson's. I think it's the one of the many blessings I found in being diagnosed is that there's an appreciation for time and for life and for relationships and for the health that we still have and the ability to the wherewithal, the mental
mindset to get up and still push ourselves and still expect a lot from ourselves. It's the blessing of Parkinson's and I don't know that you can become as good a sailor unless you go into rough waters. You
Greg Schaefer (13:41)
Yeah, the mantra I live by is, know, what you do during the calm is what makes you durable in the storm. And I think all these years of training has, you know, given me the vision of I'm having a bad day, but I've also, you know,
Eric Von Frohlich (13:42)
of...
Greg Schaefer (14:02)
raced an Ironman in Kona. So I compare it to mile 80 into the winds and the trade winds in, you know, lava fields. And I say, if I could have done that, I can handle a bad day today. it just gives me references all the time that no matter how bad it was able to persevere through really tough, tough times. And I just, I press my kids all the time. I'm hard on them to show up.
and give 100 % all the time. So I can't preach that and not do it myself. So tell people all the time, the biggest blessing that I find through this diagnosis is I'm fortunate enough at the age of 51 to know what my why is. And that's to be a better husband every day and be a great father for my kids and lead by example.
Eric Von Frohlich (14:35)
Right.
Yeah.
Greg Schaefer (14:55)
So it's definitely changed my perspective and make sure that they see I'll never quit and I don't
want them to ever quit on anything. So it's been a blessing to recognize that at a young age.
Eric Von Frohlich (15:10)
Yeah, it's amazing the impact it has on the We had a guest, Mike McCastle, who has broken several world records, David Goggins' pull-up record and...
Wim Hof's ice immersion record and he was raised by a dad who had Parkinson's and he said he would witness his dad go through hard things every day and it inspired him that he could do hard things himself and he takes that on voluntarily because his dad didn't have that choice.
Greg Schaefer (15:39)
Yeah, and it's funny, they don't treat me any different from the day I was diagnosed to today. They're still hard on me. But I know they're listening to everything. I know they're watching. They're very smart young men. And I am fortunate that they work hard and they're great kids. But I just want them to know, you know, there's challenges, life throws at you curve balls all the time.
whether it's a tough grade on a test, a team that you get cut from, or college recruiting, or even jobs. I mean, real life is hard. And I just want them to know that you just got to show up in stacked days and good things will happen.
Eric Von Frohlich (16:17)
Yeah, that's for sure. It's...
There's a great quote by Teddy Roosevelt that says, I never envied a man or a human being that's had an easy life. I've only envied men that have had hard lives that have been well lived. there's a lot to be said for that. You know, I pride myself on my grit and my tenacity and my ability to show up despite how I feel. I kind of, you know, kick Parkinson's ass every day and wake up and, you know, ready to go to work and go to battle.
And it's an honor to have such in front of you. Life was almost too easy in a lot of ways previously. So you wake up and you don't know whether it's going to be muscular or neuromuscular or if it's going to be a motor-based skill or it's going to be brain fog or it's always kind of whack-a-mole.
really surprises me what shows up because I'm expecting everything to kind of hit me and I'm up for the battle more days than not.
Greg Schaefer (17:25)
Yeah, I mean, you nailed it on the head with the Whack-A-Mole, you just don't know. you know, I look at it a couple different ways depending on how I'm feeling that day, but I'm fortunate and I'm blessed that it picked me because I feel like I can handle it. it's, know, Parkinson's is gonna win, but it picked the wrong guy for now.
Eric Von Frohlich (17:44)
Right.
Greg Schaefer (17:51)
and I'm just blessed that it didn't happen to somebody else in my family. And, you know, as bad as Parkinson's is, there's a lot worse. So I just, feel, I feel on one part really blessed that it's me and I can try and motivate people who don't feel as lucky to get up and keep fighting.
Eric Von Frohlich (17:56)
Yeah.
Now you've had this mindset all your life, is this pre Parkinson's that you've had this mindset of take control and do the best you can or has this been just rediscovered or amplified because of your diagnosis?
Greg Schaefer (18:27)
No, I think it's grown over time. My mentality came from, I was the youngest of four kids, so I was always trying to grab some extra attention. I was a basketball player early on. I wanted to succeed in basketball and I was never the biggest guy, I was never the strongest guy. And I had a lot of people tell me, you you're not.
Eric Von Frohlich (18:38)
Uh-huh.
Right?
Greg Schaefer (18:55)
you're just not good enough to play division one basketball. So that was the first real test that I wanted to prove people wrong. Then in business, my dad owned an insurance agency and I wanted to open my own. And unfortunately when he passed away, I decided a couple of years later that I was ready to go try my own. And that's when I started in 2010, I started my own business in New York city and
Eric Von Frohlich (19:03)
Mm-hmm.
Greg Schaefer (19:24)
I again, was just had the chip on my shoulder that I wanted to prove to everybody that I could do it. And then, you know, Ironman came and I was terrible. I was so bad at it. And I just was determined to get better. And before I knew it, I've done many races and here I am today, you know, talking to you diagnosed and
Eric Von Frohlich (19:36)
Ha ha.
Greg Schaefer (19:50)
I just feel like all those life lessons have prepared me this.
Eric Von Frohlich (19:56)
mindset to the fight. I had a buddy that was doing St. Croix with me. And he couldn't get his bike on for free, so he got frustrated and he went home and got his foldable bike. And he showed up at the race with his foldable bike and he put a cardboard disc around the back wheel and...
went out and raced and finished in four hours and like 40 minutes and just absolutely destroyed the field on his little fold up bike. And it made me realize, you know, as much as you can buy speed and triathlons, the guys that are the heroes are the ones that are showing up and just crushing it. No excuses.
Greg Schaefer (20:19)
Unbelievable.
That's unbelievable.
Eric Von Frohlich (20:34)
amazing event. It's something that I wish I would have done more of, but at that point in my life, the time for training was somewhat limited. And so I got a taste for it and it definitely left a good impression on me. Much like yourself appreciated running through the vineyards of ⁓ Martha's Vineyards and
Where is that? It's in Rosarita. having a Parkinson's moment. Haven't thought about this in about 20, 30 years. ⁓ But it was a beautiful, beautiful race. St. Croix on earth. It was hot, it was hilly, it was windy. And I, much like your sons, was the...
Greg Schaefer (21:01)
Mm-hmm.
⁓ I can't even imagine.
Eric Von Frohlich (21:21)
worst swimmer in the event and I made the mistake of swimming on the inside corner and got swam over by 150, 200 other people in my wave and saw the scuba diver down at the bottom waiting for me to join him. And it was the last person out of the water but caught a couple hundred people on the bike and then caught a couple hundred people on the run.
Greg Schaefer (21:27)
Yeah.
Eric Von Frohlich (21:44)
but it made me appreciate if I wasn't gonna figure out swimming that triathlons wasn't gonna be the sport for me.
Greg Schaefer (21:51)
Yeah, that's the only good thing about being terrible on the swim is you get a chance to feel like you're making a comeback and blowing by people.
Eric Von Frohlich (21:57)
Exactly.
Although, you know, when the run starts in St. Croix at least, the temperature is probably in the low 90s. The humidity is somewhere right around there. And there's usually a wind coming up that of makes you feel like you're walking into an oven. It was a special race for a lot of years. And I'm glad to hear that they don't have it anymore because it was inhumane.
Greg Schaefer (22:17)
Yeah.
Yeah, they exchanged it with Puerto Rico for sure. They had a spot a couple years ago that they would run out on the ocean and it was called the microwave and it was just brutal, but ⁓ very, very tough.
Eric Von Frohlich (22:27)
What?
Yeah. And that was in Rincón?
That was in Rincón Rico?
Greg Schaefer (22:41)
San Juan.
Eric Von Frohlich (22:43)
Oh, it was in San Juan, great.
Greg Schaefer (22:44)
Yes, yeah.
Eric Von Frohlich (22:46)
Yeah, the West Coast, used to surf there a lot. It's a little hilly here. My wife actually ruptured a calf muscle running the hills with me back in the day. And since then, she doesn't hill run anymore.
Greg Schaefer (22:58)
I don't blame her. that's why Florida is beautiful. We get to run on flat and...
Eric Von Frohlich (23:00)
Right? Exactly!
So tell me about what a day in your life looks like currently.
Greg Schaefer (23:09)
Well, unfortunately Parkinson's has crushed my sleep routine. I'm sure you relate.
Eric Von Frohlich (23:18)
I went for
a sleep test yesterday, so I'm in that same spot.
Greg Schaefer (23:22)
Yeah, I get a solid four, four and a half hours of sleep. I have no problem falling asleep. I just, wake up really early and it's usually whether or not I'm gonna fall back asleep on the couch with the dogs or I just grab the cup of coffee and I start doing some work emails. So my team usually wakes up to a bunch of emails from me from 4.30 in the morning and then.
Eric Von Frohlich (23:47)
Right.
Greg Schaefer (23:52)
We usually, we get the boys out of the house for school and then I will try and get a quick workout by about seven o'clock in the morning that box. And then I start to work and usually up the boys and they have sports.
and then I'll try and get something in while they're working out themselves or later in the evening. So I try and get two workouts in instead of like longer one early in the morning.
Eric Von Frohlich (24:17)
Thank
Alright, that seems to fill your day up quite a bit. Especially when you're waking up at 4.30.
Greg Schaefer (24:27)
Yeah.
Yeah, but it's, I'd rather keep moving, keeps the mind busy. And I think that's, than sitting around trying to feel sorry for myself.
Eric Von Frohlich (24:40)
And do you have a race on the calendar?
Greg Schaefer (24:42)
I am doing the Boston Marathon in a couple of weeks and this will be my second year in a row doing Boston. I am kind of limping into the race. I have a little bit of a calf injury now and doing the best I can to get miles in. And I've been fortunate enough to discover a lever movement, which is
Eric Von Frohlich (24:46)
Congrats.
Greg Schaefer (25:08)
product that goes on my treadmill that I wear neoprene shorts and it kind of suspends you and takes a lot of body weight off. it's enabled me to, it's amazing.
Eric Von Frohlich (25:18)
It's amazing.
So it's like the water treadmills that they used to have or they had one with another buoyancy compensator. I forget how it was developed, right?
Greg Schaefer (25:30)
Yeah,
there's very expensive options like the Alter G that you'll see in a physical therapy office, but lever movement has made a device that goes treadmill. It's easily foldable, so you can pack it up and take it with you when you go on the road. And I would not be able to get the miles in for the Boston Marathon that I need to be able to race. So I'm hoping.
Eric Von Frohlich (25:38)
Mm-hmm.
Greg Schaefer (25:57)
with a little bit of swimming and cycling mixed in to get the endurance level up that it's going to get me through. But in May, I'm doing Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga again. That's one of my sentimental races and I'll be with a lot of friends.
Eric Von Frohlich (26:04)
Thank you.
Right.
sounds great. Did you ever look into deep water running?
Greg Schaefer (26:17)
I haven't, I'd never wanna go to the pool anymore unless I'm doing a quick swim. Yeah, little bit of trauma.
Eric Von Frohlich (26:25)
A little PTSD ⁓ from training?
Well, the benefit of deep water running is your head is above water. So you're not immersed, but you wear a buoyancy belt that gives you enough flotation that basically your mouth is out of the water completely. And then you basically, your stride is essentially like a cross country type motion, opposite arm, opposite legs with more of a sweeping motion than a
Greg Schaefer (26:34)
Okay.
Okay, that sounds hard.
Eric Von Frohlich (26:53)
running motion and by leaning forward or leaning back you can change it to uphill running or downhill running and it's quite effective. was a gentleman I used to train with in New York City back in the late 90s who had a class, his name was Doug Stern, and he had a class filled with Olympians, collegiate D1 runners and 70 and 80 year olds and it was just this incredible eclectic group and
A friend of mine who was an avid marathoner at the time had shin fractures and she wasn't able to do her training. So she went into deep water running, did it for about six months, came out and broke all of her previous PRs on her first race. And it's something that always stuck into my mind. But unfortunately, when Doug passed away, the training and the efficacy of the program, he kind of went away with it. And it was kind of a moment in time that I felt fortunate to
Greg Schaefer (27:34)
Wow.
Eric Von Frohlich (27:49)
been exposed to it, but I always reference it because it was so impactful for
Greg Schaefer (27:53)
Yeah,
that sounds like I had an injury in college and they put me in the pool. had a stress fracture in my foot and the trainer told me to go swim a lap and I was absolutely exhausted. swam one length and he goes, no, no, no, you gotta go there and back. And I said, I'm already done. I can't believe these swimmers are swimming 6,000 yards a day. I was blown away.
Eric Von Frohlich (28:18)
Yeah, there's a handful of guys in the Iron Man world were in their 80s that were still doing Iron Man. Back in the day when I was doing it, I met one named Vyneman and he said he did the very first Iron Man in 76. And it was just him and a handful of friends in Kona. And he was a retired plumber and at 65, he decided he needed something to do with his spare time. So he took up Iron Man
and had done 21 races since then. So it must have been, you know, a handful of years. And I saw the last race and it actually allowed him to wear a pole buoy because of his age and history with Ironman. And he did Vine Man half with me. don't know where he finished, but he certainly finished. And to me, that was a remarkable event.
Greg Schaefer (29:06)
That is absolutely remarkable.
Eric Von Frohlich (29:09)
So you have a couple more years in you. You're not getting off that easy.
Greg Schaefer (29:11)
I hope so. No,
they're gonna have to drag me off
Eric Von Frohlich (29:18)
It's, ⁓ there's gotta be days where you feel like you're kicking Parkinson's ass and then days where it's kicking your ass and it kind of becomes like a, I use the analogy of a multi-round heavyweight fight. I may be winning in one round, but I don't get too confident because there's another round coming up. I'm sure you have the same approach and there are days where you don't even notice it and there's days where it's just completely.
dominates your existence. So how do you manage with that?
Greg Schaefer (29:49)
Yeah, I just, use the word resilience all the time. And if you, I try and show up every day and I don't wanna lie and say that every day is, I'm able to show up because there are days where I need to just say, today's not the day. And it's not always physical, as you know.
mental days where you just, feel like you're defeated. But for me, the blessing that happened to me was there was a video done in Iron Man 70.3 in Marbella, Spain that Iron Man took. And I was fortunate enough to that was posted on Instagram. And that started an Instagram page for me, G Schaefer Undefined.
And the amount of, the outpouring of love and messages of encouragement and thank you notes that it motivated other people has really a source of motivation for me. So I use that and I look at it every morning when I wake up and I usually have a note from somebody that has taken content that I've put together. So.
That really energizes me because I can't sit here and try and motivate other people and quit myself.
Eric Von Frohlich (31:13)
Right. Well, your content is amazing, by the way. I dove into it a little bit anticipating this conversation and it's inspiring. It's beautifully done and it's just quite remarkable what you managed to do on a daily basis. So I know you don't cover some of the low lights, but the highlights look amazing.
Greg Schaefer (31:14)
So that.
Thank you.
Yeah, and you know, that's a good point because think I need to be a little bit more vulnerable and show the low points that exist and not everything is roses. So I that's a great comment because I've reflected a little bit about posting a lot of the highlights and the good moments, but there are a lot of struggles that come along with it.
Eric Von Frohlich (32:02)
Yeah, the apathy was the thing that caught me off guard. you know, doubled down on my exercise when I first got diagnosed and was fully prepared mentally to tackle difficulty, but wasn't prepared for the apathy. And when the apathy kind of sent me sideways and then a back injury soon followed. And not only did I have apathy, but I had no capacity to walk or run.
because of the back pain, which I attribute to being psychosomatic. But the pain nonetheless was real and it limited the options of being able to exercise and distract myself with exercise. But that apathy led to depression and unfortunately sent me sideways for a couple of years. I was present, but I wasn't myself and I certainly wasn't a person that I was gonna be posting anything.
about kicking ass on Parkinson's. I was getting my ass kicked for a steady two and a half years. But I kind of feel like that's an under discussed point of the difficulty. I would take the pains and aches and motor-based stuff a lot quicker than I would take on the mental challenges of the apathy and the depression.
Greg Schaefer (33:13)
Yeah, mean, I struggle. I mean, I think we all struggle from the mental aspect because it's hard to express what you feel on the inside. frustrating for me when it affects people around me the most. during the evenings, I have a very short fuse. I'm tired, I'm exhausted, and my patience limited.
Knowing when to just kind of disappear and go get a few minutes by yourself important. And I don't always, I'm sure my kids will tell you I don't always do a great job of that. But trying to talk about it helps. And when you're in those moments is hard, but you have to try take a few minutes for yourself and go for a walk or go outside with the dogs and just kind of reset. Yeah.
Eric Von Frohlich (34:03)
⁓ that's what dogs are for.
Greg Schaefer (34:06)
Yeah, for sure.
Eric Von Frohlich (34:07)
I was on a podcast last week and in the middle of it, unfortunately, a solicitor came to the house, opened our front gate and my dog got out. And within minutes I got a phone call and he got hit by a car on the highway, his front paw. And this whole thing kind of went sideways and made me appreciate just how much he's fine now. But surgery and...
lots of hand holding, lots of antibiotics and the such. Lost a couple teeth as well. But it made me realize how much my day is with my dog's affection and attention and walking him in the community that I have from walking him in the other dog owners that we meet and friends and, you know, neighbors that just because I'm out of the house and I'm moving around more. ⁓
So my buddy is laid up and he's, you know, he feels like I do most days up to do an adventure, but, broken paw is kind of holding him back a little bit. And with me, it's the Parkinson's is kind of holding me back a little bit. But the sense and spirit for adventure is alive and well in both of us. the apathy doesn't last if you, you know, find purpose and meaning in life beyond yourself.
And I kind of feel like if you can force yourself to work out a little bit, even if it's the opening the door of the gym, a start. And those first reps are the hardest usually to get going. But once you get some momentum and then you feel the community around you and that's inspiration people seem to derive from us in our struggle, sucks to pale in comparison to when you're lone wolfing it and trying to do it all on your own.
Greg Schaefer (35:51)
Yeah, I mean, that's a good point. For me, need to have set schedule. the most, The biggest motivation for me is having someone join me. And for example, swimming, I have a friend and he's turned into a coach where I say, we'll meet tomorrow at seven. And I don't want to let him down. And if it was up to me,
Eric Von Frohlich (36:12)
Right?
Greg Schaefer (36:14)
you know, I'd wake up and go, ⁓ maybe I'll do it at 7:30. But when I know I got to meet somebody, holds me accountable. So I think that's probably one of the biggest advice I would give somebody is ask somebody, you know, you want to go for a walk tomorrow morning with the dogs at seven and you're going to get up 630, have your coffee and go do it. cycling, definitely with a buddy. I think it just, it gives you a little bit more motivation than
Eric Von Frohlich (36:19)
Right?
Greg Schaefer (36:42)
trying to just do everything on your own.
Eric Von Frohlich (36:45)
Yeah, it's the nature of the type of training that we do is it takes so much time. It's always hard to find someone to join you. But if you can get an occasional buddy to join in, it definitely makes it a lot more tolerable.
Greg Schaefer (37:01)
For sure.
Eric Von Frohlich (37:03)
So from this experience of Parkinson's for these past three
Greg Schaefer (37:08)
Well, we, my wife and I started Motion Fund and that's our next chapter. And I feel as though now my job is to help raise awareness. And I love to get messages from people who are recently diagnosed because I was lost for a year and
I try and help people and prepare them mentally, right? For that first year is a challenge because you're scared, you don't know what it means, your family doesn't know what it means. And we've taken that and we just, try and give, we wanna give back support research. amazing foundations out there that are doing
Eric Von Frohlich (37:37)
Yeah.
Greg Schaefer (37:57)
great things like Michael J. Fox. I mean, no one's done more for research than his foundation. So we are trying to help the family members of people that have diagnosed with Parkinson and
Eric Von Frohlich (38:12)
Right, because if you
have Parkinson's, your family has Parkinson's.
Greg Schaefer (38:16)
Yeah, it takes a team around you to help you get through it and it's hard on them. And I think they don't get enough support that they deserve because of all the attentions on us. But, you know, we're trying, we're gonna try our best to bring awareness donate money to the charities that we think.
are doing great things and we're excited about that chapter. I'm raising money for Ironman Foundation year and an advocate for them. They're doing a lot of work for kids and they're donating 1,500 bikes and 15,000 swim lessons this year. excited about that cause and then research, there's no cure as you know and
Eric Von Frohlich (38:58)
wow.
Greg Schaefer (39:08)
We have to be getting closer with AI, stem cell research. There's gotta be something close. So we're just trying to do our part.
Eric Von Frohlich (39:18)
that's wonderful. And it's obviously appreciated by the community because a lot of what we're doing won't benefit us directly, but it's going to benefit people down the line. so it's, you know, that old saying of, you plant people who plant trees or building shade for someone who they won't be around to witness. But it's, ⁓ you know, it's it's remarkable the platform that we're given and we're able to take all this experience that we've had.
Greg Schaefer (39:37)
Cheers.
Eric Von Frohlich (39:46)
channel it in maybe a way than just going faster in a race or just lifting a heavier weight or you know where we spend so much time and effort and performance and doing the things that we do. At the end of the day we have to ask how much of an impact does it actually have on the lives of those that are going through whatever challenge it is because as you know as much as it's focused on Parkinson's it's really everyone has an adversity that we know nothing about.
in your day-to-day life. And if we can approach people with a little more kindness and a little more patience, it's probably doing a lot for them because you don't understand their struggles just as they... If they saw the two of us sitting and having coffee, no one's thinking we have Parkinson's. But the reality is you walk away from that and it's... You have a whole new appreciation for the struggles that people have. And it's definitely a challenge for everyone because no one's getting out for free.
Greg Schaefer (40:41)
Yeah, you're absolutely right. the people that also support us, they need a release too. And there's a lot of stress and nervousness on their end. And they're constantly supporting us. you have to take some time to think about, my wife takes a huge, huge load off of my back and...
Eric Von Frohlich (41:08)
Is she your primary caregiver?
Greg Schaefer (41:08)
You know, sometimes
she's a dermatologist, but she's the smartest person I've ever met and she's well-read and she's learned a lot about Parkinson's and neurological disorders. she's my rock and I depend on her for the medical decisions. She's well thought out and couldn't have been where I am without her.
So I'm really fortunate and that's part of why we're trying to give back because there's a lot of people who are alone or older and scared and don't have the resources to get the care they need. So trying to be there.
Eric Von Frohlich (41:51)
That's a great point. It's something that I kind of feel like the caregivers don't get as much appreciation as they... They certainly get appreciation from us, but from the greater community that supports us, they don't get as much appreciation as they deserve. I've always struggled with allowing my wife to be a caregiver and still be my wife and trying to split that baby has been very, very difficult and challenging at times, but I've been...
I'm fortunate enough that where I'm at right now in my diagnosis that the majority of stuff I can handle enough emotional support I can get through pretty much most of it. So I've opted to keep her as my wife primarily and limit the or outsource as much of to other people. that can switch very quickly in life.
It's something you have to learn to appreciate the days and the moments that you have together and be thankful for what we can do instead of what we can't do. So you're more in control of how you respond as opposed to feeling like you're a victim of this thing.
Greg Schaefer (42:59)
Yeah, mean, Parkinson's Awareness Month, maybe we should dedicate a week to ⁓ the caregivers.
Eric Von Frohlich (43:05)
Exactly.
Well, it's been an amazing hour with you. We could do this all day and hopefully we'll have another conversation. ⁓
Greg Schaefer (43:15)
I would love that.
Eric Von Frohlich (43:16)
It's super inspiring what you've accomplished and what you continue to accomplish. it's obviously you defined by grit and resilience. You certainly embody that, but you're hell of a nice guy on top of it. And I attribute some of that to the Parkinson's and I attribute some of that to having good parents that raised you right. And you you're doing that for the next generation. So thank you for everything you've done and the inspiration you've given us and look forward to our next chat.
Greg Schaefer (43:29)
Thank you.
And thank you, I appreciate you having a platform to share with everybody. It's an unbelievable podcast and I think people are gonna continue to love it. So thank you, I appreciate you thinking of me.