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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 (00:31)
Welcome to the show, Larry.
Larry Grogin (00:33)
Thank you. Thanks for having me here.
Eric Von Frohlich (00:35)
So before we dive into Parkinson's specifically, I'd love for people to understand who you were before this all started. So why don't you give me a little background on how you spent the last bunch of years.
Larry Grogin (00:48)
I drooled less, I tremored a little less, my balance was a little better, but otherwise I was the same.
Eric Von Frohlich (00:57)
Can you take a moment for and explain whether sports were central to your childhood or was this something you came to later in life?
Larry Grogin (01:07)
I love playing baseball and I was a OK athlete, a hard working athlete. I'd certainly say my twin sons, that'll be 36 in June, have eclipsed their papa by a mile in their chosen sports of swimming and baseball. But I got interested, I guess in my mid-20s, started doing triathlons in earnest. I think you're a triathlete as well right here.
Eric Von Frohlich (01:31)
Yeah, I've spent a little time doing it and realized I wasn't particularly that good at it. But I did enjoy it quite a bit. I did a couple of half Ironman's and they were great experiences and really had a lot of fun and learned a lot.
Larry Grogin (01:45)
I was pretty competitive. Like I said, I was a hard worker. Little on gift and natural talent, but tenacity and determination I have. I said, much to the insult of some of the best triathletes that I count as dear friends, it's in some ways a sport of mediocrity. I mean that in the nicest way, in that if you're willing to work really, really hard, you can do well in that sport.
Eric Von Frohlich (02:10)
Yeah, it's it's you didn't have the excellence for one sport, but three sports put together, you had plenty of excellence for it.
Larry Grogin (02:17)
Well, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the training more than the competing. I still do. I'm not a stressor. You know, some people perform at their best. I have a sense that you under fire come out as your best version.
Eric Von Frohlich (02:31)
I have my moments, but sometimes I'm surprised when the challenge meets the mindset, it's amazing what you can do. And you're embarking on that now as well. It's ⁓
Larry Grogin (02:44)
Well, here's
a little twist. I've been known to say that as a Parkinson's patient, in some ways we have an advantage. There are the disadvantages and the challenges that we all face with the Parkinson's. But I think in some ways, for instance, I say that Parkinson's is teaching us a lesson of learning how to live with something, not learning how to beat it. And maybe that takes some of the pressure off of you because you're not going to beat it.
but you can live your best life and live a good life and do everything. As you know, you die with Parkinson's, not from it, that's for sure.
Eric Von Frohlich (03:21)
Right, it certainly teaches you resilience.
Larry Grogin (03:24)
Amen. On a funny note, I love quoting Golda Meir when she talks about humility because I complimented you and you very humbly responded. But what Golda Meir said was, don't be that humble, you're not that great.
Eric Von Frohlich (03:38)
⁓ Well said. always had a bit of wit to you, I guess. It's probably a product of serving people and helping people. So what brought you to chiropractic?
Larry Grogin (03:52)
Well, I had a motorcycle accident and a weightlifting accident back in college days. It was helped tremendously by a chiropractor. And I was subscribing to natural therapeutics already and believing that we truly are the primary catalyst in our healing. And I think the Parkinson's once again teaches us that if responsibility and own it, we can do more than just survive it. And I try to live by that credo and certainly.
with this run, I've had it on my mind that I don't want to let people down. I want to do my best and show up.
Eric Von Frohlich (04:26)
Well, it reminds me in part of what Joe Dispenza went through with his journey. You know, from a horrific accident to rebuilding his body and, basically using the mindset to harness the amazing chemistry that we have and the ability to heal ourselves is quite remarkable.
Larry Grogin (04:45)
Amen.
Eric Von Frohlich (04:46)
So how did you come about getting diagnosed? What was the process? Because you were this lifelong athlete and you must have been used to dealing with stress and challenges. And then something probably wasn't working, I take it. But why don't you tell the story about how that kind of revealed itself?
Larry Grogin (05:03)
Okay, it started with the tiniest of that pill rolling, you know, the finger kind of rolling over. And I knew that I had it. was in it at the time getting ready for another run for a women's shelter called Oasis in Northern New Jersey. I was getting ready to do a cross country run much as I'm doing now. And I noticed that the tremors and my kids were upset about it. I didn't want to get diagnosed and at the behest of my twin sons.
I went and got diagnosed and lo and within a couple of days of being diagnosed, suddenly the symptoms rushed in.
know, that old saying, don't look down because if you look down, you're going to Smoking.
Eric Von Frohlich (05:42)
Yeah, it is amazing.
I had experience as soon as I was diagnosed. I decided I was going to out exercise it, get back to work and came came down with a little bit of a back injury. And it stopped me from walking and being able to exercise. And quickly depression and apathy kind of rolled in and I couldn't move. And it was kind of completely locked down and was kind of trapped in my own mind.
on how I was going to unravel this puzzle without being able to exercise through it.
Larry Grogin (06:14)
Well it's such a wonderful thing that you are doing and I talk about it that it's a cruel punishment that where with Parkinson's the best thing in the universe you can do is exercise as you know and there's an aversion to doing even a normal amount of exercise because it takes so long to warm up and get out of the stiffness but that's been an interesting finding here that I'd love to share with you. Unexpectedly I spend a long time warming up.
Eric Von Frohlich (06:38)
Yeah, please.
Larry Grogin (06:43)
hours warming up on a treadmill every day. up 4.30, 5 a.m. on the treadmill for three hours doing the first of my, the beginning of my marathon. And people think that's determination and dedication. But what it really is, is I'm taking a long, slow, slow, slow warmup. And I think there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow when we study and understand this better, that those of us with Parkinson's warm up much slower. And for people that are not enthusiastic like you and I, and that are going to exercise
come hell or high water, the average Parkinson's patient that really benefits from the exercise has an aversion to it that's a cruel punishment because as you know, to get through that, that's that pot of gold where you feel good on the other side of the rainbow where you start to feel And so I think what's gonna come out of this is that they're gonna look closely at the way my body responded. I'll give you an example. Two days ago, I ran my 26th mile at the end of the day, it was about 2.30.
and it was two minutes faster than my fastest split the whole day. I did it the second day and the third day and today will be the fourth day. And the point is that as you know, there's little glimpses of normal and it holds the promise for people that are less enthusiastic, maybe less than us that are not fanatics and going to do it come hell or high water, that they do a very, very low, low intensity, super slow, something as simple as flapping the hands or clapping hands.
Eric Von Frohlich (07:45)
wow.
Larry Grogin (08:11)
maybe raising arms for a couple of hours. And you get through that warm-up session where you get to that place where you feel more like normal. you know, without being cynical, I watch a two-hour medical documentary on Parkinson's, and for one hour and 58 minutes, they talk about medication, surgical procedures, medication, medicine, doctoring, doctoring. And in the last two minutes of a two-hour segment,
They'll say, make sure you exercise. It's really good for you. Kind of comical.
Eric Von Frohlich (08:41)
Right. is a bit
it is kind of comical. And to your point about those that are fanatical, we we often say God has a sense of humor because he gave us the perfect excuse to have to exercise every day. but to those that don't like to exercise, the heaviest weight in the gym is the front door. And we constantly remind people that the first rep is the hardest rep, but it gets everything going. And so
Larry Grogin (08:55)
Right.
I like that.
Eric Von Frohlich (09:07)
whether it's clapping your hands or flapping your arms or arm circles or whatever it is that gets you going. You have to build into some momentum so that your success leads to more success. So action dispels the fear and kind of gets everything moving in the right direction.
Larry Grogin (09:18)
Here's to this.
Touche, here's one to add onto that, Eric. I say to people, if you're frowning because you're not enjoying exercise, do a headstand.
Eric Von Frohlich (09:26)
Yes.
going to borrow that one.
Larry Grogin (09:35)
You can keep it.
Eric Von Frohlich (09:37)
Excellent. you got into chiropractic and health and primarily from an injury and then you kind of took it to the next level and started working with patients. Did you notice anything that has changed in your practice and since over the years? Because I presume you've been doing this for quite a while.
Larry Grogin (09:56)
Well, there is a change and it's a change in my relationship with people. I'm quicker to give people the key, the pass key to be responsible for their health. Before I would like to think that I taught people to be responsible for their health and to be the primary catalyst, not choice, by necessity, I feel like I have less to be able to give as a Parkinson's patient. I have to take care of myself better.
And in that is a reward that I've handed off that passkey to the patients for them to be in charge of health, which is the way it should be, of course, in the long run anyway. So it's been a lesson for good. And I've learned to look inward and figure out how I can best be a model of taking good care of myself.
Eric Von Frohlich (10:24)
Right.
so many lessons to be learned from Parkinson's. I'm convinced that the law of compensation is at work and the more challenging it becomes, the more it's given me gifts in other ways. Meeting people like yourself, the gift of movement, different types of movement because I favored, I was added to Jiu Jitsu background, which is a little more challenging now that have Parkinson's, but.
You know, my my sporting background was athletics, and been a little challenging because I'm moving not the way I used to move, but a little slower. But I'm still moving. And so that that's been that's been beneficial. But definitely the more it takes from me or tries to take from me. It's given me other gifts of patience and fortitude and resilience and compassion and empathy. And it keeps keeps giving me.
So I'm kind of interested to see where this to. Have you found that to be the case in your own life?
Larry Grogin (11:40)
very well said. Yes, indeed. And I find that I'm a little more understanding of other people. Like I used to shoot for the stars and say, if I try hard enough, I can do anything. And I've relieved some of that pressure. And ironically, I think sometimes I have more tenacity and more get up and go and more stay power because I relieved the pressure of absolute rule. And it's come to just be participate.
Eric Von Frohlich (12:06)
Yeah, it's amazing. It certainly teaches you humility.
Larry Grogin (12:10)
Well, there's Golda Meir again saying, don't be so humble, you're not that great.
Eric Von Frohlich (12:17)
you learned on this journey? Because you've had a long life of philanthropy and helping other people athletics. brought you to the 100 by 100? How did that come up?
Larry Grogin (12:28)
Well, I figured that I would do it because I could. I wanted to be, stand as a model. Somebody working with me came up with the quote that Larry's running for people that think they cannot. And there's a lot of beauty in that statement. It's not saying they can't, it's saying they don't think they can and maybe they'll watch and be inspired. And happily, I can tell you, I've had cards and letters from people all around the world on a daily basis. People not so much cheering for me, but...
Eric Von Frohlich (12:42)
Right.
Larry Grogin (12:58)
My motive was not to say, isn't Larry strong and powerful for doing this, but more for people to say, well, golly, if Larry can do this, I guess I can do anything. And that's been the rewarding thing that I've had people say, thank you. I will try harder. I will give it a better effort. And people promise me on the road that they'll run a mile, that they'll walk a mile, that they'll get out of bed, that they'll hiccup twice just to do more. And I can tell you this there.
Eric Von Frohlich (13:24)
Right.
Larry Grogin (13:27)
I've seen a bright and sweet side of people. We have a saying, we have people chanting, run Larry, run across the country in the most obscure places. And people grin and smile and are happy to be supportive and happy to be cheering. And I'm seeing a bright and beautiful side of people that I, as much as I have done work, I've never been exposed to so much generosity and people joyous, people really joyous and smiling.
We've been through a number of states already, so I'd say we've established a trend.
Eric Von Frohlich (14:00)
I like to say that the best way to strengthen yourself is to lift other people up. And so, you know, it's an opportunity to to do that on a daily basis. What happens when the body says, no, not today, Larry, do you do you listen to it or do you just kind of push through and and do it anyway?
Larry Grogin (14:06)
Amen.
I shorten my stride.
I shorten my stride. people keep saying, you know, it's kind of a holiday day today. This is day 50 of 100. So we're at the top of the mountaintop. So happy to celebrate with you. But it's absolutely true. There's been so many times where I really do want to give up. And I think about the power that I'm getting from trying to do something to help other people and be focused on something more important. Paul Newman had a quote. said, try to focus on something bigger than you.
and certainly other people's welfare and other people, as you know, we're so lucky that we're not fighting for our life. We're fighting to live our best life. And there's a lot of worse places we could be.
Eric Von Frohlich (14:58)
Right.
Yeah, that's for sure. My diagnosis was actually a blessing in a way because it wasn't ALS and it wasn't something that was terminal. And it gave a name to the thing that I was working with. And it became more of a challenge that I was able to work with. And then it became limiting factor.
Larry Grogin (15:22)
Amen. I won't go so far. I wouldn't mind it being a misdiagnosis, but I'll take it.
Eric Von Frohlich (15:29)
Well, I'm missing it. Yeah,
I would probably give it up. I'd find other ways to to to build character. It's ⁓ rough seas make great sailors. But every now and then it's nice to have some calm enjoy.
Larry Grogin (15:43)
And I'm not the biggest medicine taker, but I'll take the Dramamine.
Eric Von Frohlich (15:47)
Right. So you're
50 days in. Now, these are not consecutive days. Is my correct or are they are consecutive days?
Larry Grogin (15:54)
all over the second second
we start on my seventy first birthday that was march twenty fourth and we haven't missed a day today is day fifty marathon fifty and will finish i think it's still i first might be july first july second but the consecutively there's been a couple of moments where i wondered if maybe if i maybe by accident i could fall off a cliff but so far
Eric Von Frohlich (16:17)
I think that's wishful thinking. It's not,
Larry Grogin (16:20)
you remind me of a funny story. Years ago, I did the Norseman Triathlon in Norway and the finish is a 10 kilometer climb to, I don't know how tall, very tall mountain top. And there are cars driving down the road and this is the end of the Ironman Triathlon. So you've done your swim in the Norwegian sea, did a bike through the mountains, cut into the mountain tops. It was so beautiful and ran, it just seemed like.
Eric Von Frohlich (16:26)
Okay?
Larry Grogin (16:46)
You know how you say when you go up, you come down. seemed like we went up and then we went up and then we went up. But the last 10 kilometers, the last five or six miles, we're walking up to the finish line. And I was saying there are cars driving down. If a car accidentally hits me and doesn't kill me, but just hurts me enough to get a car ride home, that would be a good finish. ⁓
Eric Von Frohlich (16:49)
Yep.
Right, if
it would push you along the way a little bit. It's kind of like a tailwind, but it's a steel and iron wind.
Larry Grogin (17:11)
⁓ I
was thinking I could get in the back of a car with my dignity intact and a hurt shoulder from getting hit by a car and go home. But I had no such luck. I the marathon, stayed for the finish.
Eric Von Frohlich (17:25)
Amazing.
Was that your favorite race or do you have a favorite race that you can tell us about?
Larry Grogin (17:31)
I can tell you about the world's toughest triathlon was in Lake Tahoe. It was at Camp Richardson, the southwest corner near the California-Nevada border. And we did that eight years running. I was living in Southern California at the time. And there would be a year of preparation for that race. And it was just such a wonderful experience. And it wasn't about the swimming and the biking and running. It was about just being a part of something that was so wonderful. And I credit that race with a.
A lot of the tools you asked about what happens when I'm on the run course. And I think about like that. There was a race, a 220 mile bike race that was called the longest day. was thinking about it this morning when I was running and it goes from Port Jervis, New York to the lowest tip of New Jersey, Cape May, New Jersey. And I think it was 222 miles. And there's about a hundred mile stretch in the Pine Barrens in Northern New Jersey, Southern New Jersey.
Eric Von Frohlich (18:03)
Yeah.
Larry Grogin (18:27)
And for hours and hours, you see the forest coming to a head in the center and you're just pedaling on this flat pine barren for mile after mile. And I was thinking while I was running on one of the trails I was running this morning, that was a little tool, a little screwdriver that I put in my toolbox to pull out. And it's this lifetime that I'm sure you can relate, a lifetime of experiencing with different types of challenges, remembering moments and remembering that
I think it was John McCain said that anything is tolerable if you can recognize that it won't last. And that's true. In the hardest moment, you can realize this isn't going to last forever. I've had blisters and calluses and cuts and tears and sunburns and all that comes and goes. And looking backwards over this first 50 days, it's just a blur of just wait a moment and it'll go away.
Eric Von Frohlich (19:03)
Right.
Yeah, it reminds me of the Victor Frankl quote of, know, everything's adorable if you have a purpose.
Larry Grogin (19:27)
You know what I was thinking before we got on the call, as you know, I got on a little early and had a delay and I was thinking I wanted to share a quote about about man's greatest gift. And here you wrote up Victor Frank. I said I'm going to share this quote if I can remember it, but I can't remember Victor's last name. So there it is. Victor Frank.
Eric Von Frohlich (19:45)
Well, I'm glad I
reminded you. Now you have to give me the quote.
Larry Grogin (19:48)
And thank you. I'm going to, I'm going to botch it up. And if Victor Frankl can come back from the dead, he's allowed to put a thorn in my backside. But it was something to the effect of that the human spirit is indomitable and that you can't kill that human spirit. You can't kill that spirit that has a burning passion that's alive, that flicker of light. And he was referring to those that kept the humanity in the, the concentration camps and still tended for one another and gave meaning to their life. And I, maybe it's a jump.
Eric Von Frohlich (19:54)
You
Larry Grogin (20:19)
But I feel like I'm so blessed and honored to be able to try to share something of a lesson to people. And we've been so well received and I'm so grateful for the number of people that have listened to the message and responded and said amen. So thank you for Victor Frankel.
Eric Von Frohlich (20:34)
Well,
going to remind you of some more as we embark on this conversation. so many amazing lessons that life teaches us along the way. If you're if you're open to to learning, quite remarkable. Is a quote that think fits what you're doing is poem called Ithaca by Constantine P. Cavafy.
And it talks about having a goal that you were striving for. In this case, it was going to Ithaca for pilgrimage. And he says in the process, the Poseidons, the Ligocerians and the Cyclops won't show up unless you set them forth in your mind. And, you know, you should begin your journey and realize along the way that it's not Ithaca you're trying to get to. It's the experiences that you're going to have along the way trying to get to Ithaca.
And if you get to Ithaca and she turns to be nothing that you expected, you still have to be thankful because she gave you a goal to reach for and give you a destination to work towards. a it's a really fantastic poem. I'll be sure to send it to you. And it kind of captures your spirit.
Larry Grogin (21:40)
Thank you.
Thank you. You reminded me of something that came out. I used to make up quotes when I was in my acupuncture and chiropractic office and it was that you might be able to relate to. I said, nobody ever failed at dying, so I'm going to just wing it and concentrate on living.
Eric Von Frohlich (22:00)
I love it. It's I don't know how we haven't met each other previously. I'm an East Coaster myself. I'm in Southern California now, but I was born and bred in Long Island and Manhattan and spent the last 50 some odd years there and then came out during COVID. We had a second home in California and we were on vacation and Covid blew up in one week became six weeks became six months became a year and
You know, my boys fell in love with the lifestyle of spearfishing and surfing and water polo and kind of we grew roots and transplanted, a result of COVID.
Larry Grogin (22:39)
I'm with you.
I'm with you 100%. I'm living in New Jersey, my heart, like Tony Bennett, I left my heart in the West Coast. I love the lifestyle. love the lifestyle. get sick of hearing me talk about it, but I love that open lifestyle and the active lifestyle. I say in California, you're healthy. In the East Coast, they describe you as a health nut.
Eric Von Frohlich (22:48)
Yeah.
It's very true. It's a marvel at my neighbors. I walked by their garages and you can see their obsessions, you know, whether they're treadmills or kettlebells or boats or motorcycles or bicycles. And everyone seems to be, you know, going to a workout and then somewhere along the day they fit work in and squeeze in a couple hours of work along the way.
Larry Grogin (23:24)
That is so true. I've oftentimes told, I talk about it with patients, said the same vocations operate differently in the West Coast. If you're a banker and you're a surfer and the surf is up, you surf.
Eric Von Frohlich (23:37)
Right.
Larry Grogin (23:39)
If you're a toll booth collector and there's a good day to go out and take a run, somehow you manage to find the way. I reflected in my practice too, because people would come in all times of the I practiced in California, when I practiced in New Jersey, they'd say, no, I can't come in between nine and five. That's when I work. And there's like a, there's like a police line, a police ticker tape, tape line.
Eric Von Frohlich (23:55)
Right?
Yeah, it's amazing. Are you still practicing by the way?
Larry Grogin (24:05)
I do, practice two days a week. I have philosophy that I would start at five in the morning, which I got started doing because I wanted to be done when my kids got done with kindergarten. But I got started starting early and it was great because I'd get up early, work and still have the train. And you said it earlier, I wanted to double back idea that with Parkinson's or without Parkinson's, you're better off just exercising all day and that's all there is to it.
when people tell me, well, here's another quote, Eric, if people don't think you're doing too much exercise, you're probably not doing enough.
Eric Von Frohlich (24:40)
Right. It's very true. My mother would always remind me that if I was capable of going to the gym, I should be able to clean the house or help remove some furniture. She felt it was a waste of good muscle if it wasn't put to some practical use.
Larry Grogin (24:55)
Here's an optimist. You have such a bright and beautiful optimistic perspective. You know that quote about, is the glass half full or half empty? I've reframed that. It's not whether the glass is half full or half empty. It's be grateful you have a glass.
Eric Von Frohlich (25:04)
Yes.
It's very true. I like the one that with all this shit that we're digging up, there's got to be a pony in here somewhere.
Larry Grogin (25:18)
Touché. Touché. So I have this vision of a retreat for Parkinson's patients where they really are immersed in exercise and learn to just not take a break, get up in the morning and exercise, work out in the afternoon, have dinner, and then work out after dinner.
Eric Von Frohlich (25:22)
It's
I love it. I think we should join forces and put this together at some point. ⁓
Larry Grogin (25:42)
I think so. Here's a
novel idea. We'll add rowing machines.
Eric Von Frohlich (25:46)
I love Did you ever get into rowing or ERG?
Larry Grogin (25:50)
I did, I did, and I have my one son who is, he's interesting, he's a dog whisperer, and he was a certified trainer, went to school for kinesiology, got his degree in kinesiology, so he combines, he grinds his love and gift working with dogs, as a dog whisperer with a trainer and teaches people how to their pets. It's pretty brilliant approach. He's in New Jersey.
Eric Von Frohlich (26:04)
great.
Fantastic. Where is he based out of?
Larry Grogin (26:18)
That's my son Eric, by the way, and he has a twin brother Blake. You don't have a twin brother Blake, do you? else I'll say it's his.
Eric Von Frohlich (26:24)
I do not,
but I have a dog that needs unfortunately got hit by a car and broke his leg. Fortunately, he wasn't more more damaged than that. And he's he's been mending. And I've been you know, I've lost my exercise partner in part while he's on the heal.
Larry Grogin (26:41)
to consult with my son and he's planning to do the last couple of days with me from somewhere in Arizona to the finish. So we'll pencil you in for an appointment, get him to get on your dog's backside and get you guys better again.
Eric Von Frohlich (26:55)
Fantastic. Now, tell me about the we're 50 days in on the journey. You've run halfway across the country.
Larry Grogin (27:02)
1300 miles, but who's counting?
Eric Von Frohlich (27:05)
Right. And you've you've imagined laid this route out so it's somewhat consecutive or have you been jumping in a car and driving to a location camp and stuff like that?
Larry Grogin (27:17)
We have, we're not picking up where we left off. We're going to where it's interesting or else it would be too doggone boring. So what we do, we, we, we did, I did a hell of a lot of planning and most of it went out the window. Now, as we're halfway point, we're inventing and reinventing herself. But basically the night before we'll figure out some interesting place. I've done a lot of rails to trails and a lot of beautiful parks, state parks, national parks. We visited Harry Truman's home in Independence, Missouri.
Eric Von Frohlich (27:24)
Right.
Larry Grogin (27:46)
We went to where the plane crashed in Pennsylvania on 9-11, and we've done some interesting things. So the answer to your question there is we pick interesting points, and I'm running a marathon every day, but not end to end, not point to point. I'm not declaring that I'm crossing. We're obviously crossing the country, getting in the car and driving 26 miles and pulling up stake and going again. So it's...
Eric Von Frohlich (28:11)
Fantastic.
Larry Grogin (28:13)
And I've learned how my body's working. I've really gotten to know. Actually, I'm glad that I thought of this. I recommend that for your listeners that are with Parkinson's, that they really get to know when their downtime is, their off time, and understand it. And I've stopped fighting. After 50 days, I stopped fighting it. I know that between 2.30 and 3.30, I'm walking like the wounded dead.
Eric Von Frohlich (28:28)
Yes.
Larry Grogin (28:39)
And if I just stop fighting it and stop trying to move forward, if I stop what lo and behold at 3:30 or four o'clock, I come back to life and I'm running beautifully. my suggestion is to figure out and calculate and it is predictable. Not without exception, but with exception, it is predictable to figure out when are those one, two or three real downtime points and respect it and stop fighting it and take that time to
reinvigorate yourself.
Eric Von Frohlich (29:09)
Now, have you been running a different time to the day?
Larry Grogin (29:12)
Well, as I say, I started 5 a.m. with a warm up on the treadmill the first, I run into downtime at about an hour and half.
Eric Von Frohlich (29:20)
So medication wise, if you had to change your medication from your normal life.
Larry Grogin (29:26)
I haven't figured out, I've been diagnosed seven years ago, May, so we're just coming up on the seven year anniversary, and I take doses of the carbidopa levodopa, the yellow happy faces, and I take it, oftentimes I forget and only take it, I'm a bad example. I, for the life of me, don't even know if it makes a difference, but I'll take it one, two, or three times a day, and I haven't.
Eric Von Frohlich (29:39)
Yeah.
Larry Grogin (29:51)
changed it. know that I was taking some hammer nutrition pretty religiously and it was upsetting my stomach combined with the Carbidopa Levodopa. So I experimented a little with that, but I'm a bad example. I'm a very, very bad example. like I, I, I averaged two, sometimes, sometimes three Carbidopa Levodopa a day. So I'm not taking much medicine.
Eric Von Frohlich (30:14)
I'm in the same camp.
I went from three doses down to two doses. And then I find that there's many days where I should be taking my second dose at two o'clock and I end up taking it at five o'clock just because I'm busy doing stuff kind of.
Larry Grogin (30:29)
Think great minds,
great minds think alike.
Eric Von Frohlich (30:32)
Well, I couldn't figure out whether I needed as much as I needed or if it was easier to strip it away. So it's been easier for me subtract the dosages than it was to try to add to a baseline that I didn't know whether it was too high or not.
Larry Grogin (30:49)
It's funny you say that because I set out for my round, I take it whenever I first wake up. That's the one that I remember to take. I stockpiled a pill box, a little prescription bottle with my supply and it's very close to the
Eric Von Frohlich (31:07)
Right. I kind of feel that for me, at least the exercises offset the need for the People tell me sometimes they feel like they need more medication because they're burning through it. But it seems to me exercise, if I'm doing it right, seems to extend my day and extend my of.
of whatever dose I'm on.
Larry Grogin (31:31)
Well, I agree with you 100%. So maybe we're both entirely wrong or we're right, but I happen to share that sentiment. I really do. I really, really do.
Eric Von Frohlich (31:40)
So what have you learned in this process of running for the 50 days straight putting your body through what you've been putting it through?
Larry Grogin (31:48)
Yeah, when I put on my socks each day, which takes longer than most people take to brush their teeth and take a go watch a movie. But what I notice is that my blisters have become calluses. My sunburn has become a sun tan and our bodies are built to adapt. In some ways I was counting on a training effect and I don't want to jinx myself, but having run so much for 50 days, I'm thinking my body has learned it said this nut is going to keep doing this.
So we better make him better prepared to do it. And it's like, you know, just going into the gym and lifting, bench pressing 100 pounds and getting a little stronger and then bench pressing 120 and 130 and so on and so forth.
Eric Von Frohlich (32:29)
Right.
sure you're sharing. You've been sharing this with some of your patients and clients through the years because you've figured this out long ago. Now you're just proving it in a day to day practice. But I'm sure that you knew most of this already from all the marathons you've done and all the triathlons you've done. It's just mind blowing to me
Larry Grogin (32:39)
here.
Eric Von Frohlich (32:55)
with Parkinson's can do the things that are a perfect example of doing. We had a gentleman who, for his 50th birthday, decided that he was going to row the Pacific Ocean. And so he got three of his buddies together, they rode from Monterey Peninsula to 50 days. And ⁓ that's how we celebrated his 50th birthday. And so you guys are redefining what's possible with Parkinson's.
Larry Grogin (33:11)
I love it. I love it.
let's make a plea on behalf of all Parkinson's patients. You know, the dopamine is what's lacking those nerve cells that died in our bodies that don't produce the dopamine. And what produces it is hugs and listening to music that we like, playing music that we like, doing things that we enjoy. So I want to make a plea to everybody in your audience, wide, far reaching audience, that if you see me, make sure you run over and give me a hug and sing a song and do something to make me smile.
We have an excuse to smile.
Eric Von Frohlich (33:48)
Fantastic.
are the next couple of days? are you in this journey location wise and where are you planning on going?
Larry Grogin (33:57)
We're right in the home of University of Kansas in Lawrence,
for the next six or seven days, maybe even a little bit longer, Kansas is a big long state. And I think, you know, we've got ahead of us, we've got Arizona, we have, see, we have Arizona, have of course.
Eric Von Frohlich (34:18)
You're gonna make your way into Utah in Colorado?
Larry Grogin (34:18)
and Colorado.
Colorado, catch the southern, we're farther south than a lot of people travel, but Colorado. So from into Colorado Las Vegas, not Las Vegas, to Nevada, to Arizona, a long way through Arizona and then to California. I think I got to tell you.
Eric Von Frohlich (34:40)
Where in California do
you plan on being?
Larry Grogin (34:43)
Well, we finish up at Calabasas High School in Southern California. I practice in Calabasas, the home of the Kardashians. brother lives in Calabasas, Hidden Hills actually, but the west end of the San Fernando Valley in LA. And I'm gonna sit down at the finish line and not get up for about a week.
Eric Von Frohlich (35:01)
Yeah, I would imagine that you're already planning your next trip.
Larry Grogin (35:06)
Well, of Mahwah New Jersey was so kind to give us a car, a Honda Odyssey, that they marked up for us. That's been our lifeblood support vehicle. We named it after my dear departed dad, Herbie.
Eric Von Frohlich (35:20)
fantastic.
beautiful honor because he, Dad, I'm sure you feel his support while you're running. And then to have that as your support vehicle seems very appropriate.
Larry Grogin (35:30)
you might think me a little bit nuts but every time i look up and see a bird i'm wondering who's who's helping out there in the birds of flock matter of fact today the raptors were circling and i'd passed a hiker and he said, is it my imagination or there a lot of raptors and they're circling and giving it the wind beneath our wings i know they are
Eric Von Frohlich (35:51)
That's fantastic. It's better than them waiting for you to slow down.
Larry Grogin (35:56)
Some of the the ravens look like they're looking towards the end of my day. look a little bit more like dinner
Eric Von Frohlich (36:02)
Yeah, if they had lips, they'd be licking them, I'm sure.
Larry Grogin (36:05)
Touche.
Eric Von Frohlich (36:09)
amazing. So Calabasas. I'm going to see if I can get myself over What's the timeline? Do you guys have a specific date that you're planning on being there?
Larry Grogin (36:17)
July 1st or 2nd, I've been saying the 1st, a few people are correcting me. It's either the 1st or the 2nd, but you'll surely know. And it'll be a worthy celebration, I'd love for you to be a part of it.
Eric Von Frohlich (36:31)
an amazing looking forward to it. So do you say to someone who's newly diagnosed with Parkinson's? Because we get into a lot of the new people following us. So what's your words of wisdom?
Larry Grogin (36:45)
The first one I said it earlier, but it bears repeating you die with it not from it and to become invested in living your best life You know you you said so many beautiful and salient points taking stock of your life and Making the best of it and it's never going to be perfect. That's for sure and Parkinson's is hardly a dream or a reward but but it's it's livable and
I encourage people to figure out what they want to do with their life. You're going to be dead forever. No need to hurry and practice. It's like that quote that I said earlier, but bears repeating, nobody ever failed at dying. So I'm just going to live my life and concentrate on living.
Eric Von Frohlich (37:21)
That's it.
Yeah, it seems like you have a stoic attitude my favorite quote from the stoics is Marcus Aurelius saying that which obstructs the way becomes the way that's which impedes action, advances action. And, you know, Parkinson's is obstructing the way and we're just finding a way to work through it and around it and with it the best we can to live the life that we want to live.
Larry Grogin (37:50)
You're going to get along very well with my stoic son Eric, Eric the second, because he is a stoic.
Eric Von Frohlich (37:56)
It's fantastic. It's
great name. So I got one of those myself. I have a 14 year old like a 32 year old in a 14 year old body.
Larry Grogin (38:07)
That's funny.
Eric Von Frohlich (38:09)
It keeps me on my toes. So he's becoming a bit of an avatar now because he's doing things in the gym that I haven't done in many years. And it's impressive to see him kind of come into his own and kind of see my own journey through his experience. It's been quite fascinating.
Larry Grogin (38:29)
Amen. I think one of the happiest days of my life was when I that in fact each of my sons in their own area had surpassed their dad. What a great day that was. Great day.
Eric Von Frohlich (38:40)
Yeah, it's a beautiful
sentiment because, you know, your dad's the only man in your life that's ever going to cheer for you to be better than him.
Larry Grogin (38:48)
Right. Although I do remember it was a very comical moment. I didn't mention my other son, that's Blake, their fraternal twin boys. And he was in this very, very big king-sized water bed as a little baby. I don't know how old he was, but he was an infant. And he was under the blanket in the center of the bed. And he looked over at me, his father, about a one-year-old or two-year-old, whatever he was. He looked over, he said, I'm the king of this bed.
Eric Von Frohlich (39:20)
They rule that way with an iron fist for quite a few years. My nine year old found himself sleeping in our bed last night and we kind of joked about it because it may very well be the last time. And you want to capture those moments and those memories so you don't want to chase them away because it's there's a was a meme going around for a while like the last time that you did something with your kids, whether it was carry them or feed them or.
Larry Grogin (39:36)
⁓
Eric Von Frohlich (39:46)
You know, can you truly live in the moment and appreciate all the things that you used to do that you no longer get the opportunity to do because everything changes as they mature and take on their own responsibilities?
Larry Grogin (40:00)
It's so true that is so true and remember my boys were twins and I remember when they got their driver's license and they got in a car together and drove away and I said my family just got in the car and left.
Eric Von Frohlich (40:12)
Right. And you said the 37, right?
Larry Grogin (40:14)
But
there'll be 36 June 19th, ⁓ just as we're right a week from the finish line. And it's been such a wonderful, wonderful thing to send them pictures and notes and notes and them enjoying it and appreciating it. So I'll give you a word of encouragement. There was a period of time there in the twenties where I thought forever they're lost and moved on to their world. And the beauty and the love of those sons.
Eric Von Frohlich (40:44)
Well, that's a beautiful thing, because every now and then you wonder, you know, whether the cantankerous 14 year old is going to come back and or is he going to blossom into his own person and come back and appreciate all that you've done for them? Not that we need gratitude, but I think that the frequency that we're around and we've built our lives around raising our family and being with our family.
⁓ They don't appreciate you as much until they have a little bit of their own experiences and then they come back around and, you know, appreciate you.
Larry Grogin (41:14)
And they will come back around
and they come back around and I think the message, you're so correct that it isn't that we want to have accolades and applause, but I wanted my sons to know how much I love and cherish them and know that they're that special. To know that, to come away with that gift knowing that they are in our hearts, everything.
Eric Von Frohlich (41:35)
Yeah, it's a beautiful thing to be able to do that. I'm very happy to be working out with my son on a regular basis now. And he's getting a taste of what I've done for a career for many, many years for many, many people. And I think there's a sense of gratitude and appreciation for that, whereas it used to be just kind of what dad does. Now there's a little more meaning and a little more experience. And I'm super proud of you to be able to show your boys even a
You're 70 now or 71? 71, you're still proving that you're capable and you're viable and that you're independent and yet you still rely on them for love and support. It's a beautiful place to be.
Larry Grogin (42:06)
71. 71. March 24th. That was okay.
I said this, appeared in one of the articles, think it might have been in People Magazine, when you asked earlier about a message that we'd love to come through. And I think for those, whether they have Parkinson's or not, or they're caretaking for someone that does, to dream big and to not limit yourself to what is practical and logical. know that we shoot for the extraordinary, we shoot for the stars, and anything is possible. if people get that from this run,
that my silly, harebrained idea that it would be fun way to capture people's attention and encourage them to exercise more and has blossomed into this adventure that's touched people around the world. Dream big. Dream big.
Let me let me leave you with one one point, which is counter to so much of the positive and the optimist that we said, but I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge and I hate for people watching this to say how did Larry and Eric do it? They're always so upbeat and so happy. I can tell you that I have my moments where I say what the hell is going on here? How am I going to go another step? And I hope that they're encouraged and not discouraged by hearing that, but encouraged to say.
Even that person that appears to be doing so well has their very down moments where they say, why me? Or how am going to do this? How am going to negotiate? Sometimes turning over in bed can be a rigamarole and a big ordeal. So I hope they see it. that they see the humanity in me, not see a superpower and say, wow, how does that guy do that? But instead say, if that Shmendrick can do what I can too.