Carter Holmes Faces New Challenge

Carter Holmes, a Universitry of Minnesota and Washburn High grad, is facing a new challenge. On February 13 while working out at the University of Minnesota field house, Holmes(shown in this photo taken at the US Masters Championships in Eugene, Oregon by fellow Masters runner, Thom Weddle) had a heart attack.

Holmes was discovered collapsed on the floor of the lobby of the University of Minnesota Field House by triple jumpers Shani Marks and Amanda Thieschafer, who immediately called 911. "Carter was lucky that it happened where it did," said his brother, Tom Holmes. "If he'd been doing a run to or around the Lakes, like he's probably done thousands of times before, who knows how long it would have taken for somebody to find him."

According to Tom Holmes, Carter had told others at the track that he wasn't feeling good. Some recall Carter sitting down next to the track. The next anyone knew, he had collapsed in the lobby. As Marks recalled, Carter was on his back, eyes wide open, and face turned purple. The ambulance arrived within minutes of the 911 call, Tom Holmes was told, and Marks recalls that the medical personnel that loaded Carter into the ambulance had been able to detect a "faint pulse." Carter was transported to the University of Minnesota Hospital and treated with drugs and ice to lower his body temperature, Tom Holmes said.

In a coma for four and a half days, Carter can now talk and has some movement, but is facing a potentially lengthy rehab. When he's ready, Carter will be transfered to nearby Fairview Hospital or another rehab facility, said Tom Holmes. Tom said that doctors told him that one of the blood vessels to Carter's heart was 100 percent blocked. Another had undergone angiogenesis, which is the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. Apparently Carter's body was attempting to compensate for the blockage, but couldn't do it.

Mike Moser, a lifelong friend and training partner of Carter's, said that about a year and a half ago Carter had a medical check up that revealed high cholesterol. He was advised to make lifestyle changes, but since he was already exercising more than average with his training and job as a sports referee, that left modifications in diet and/or medication. The high price of the medication and the fact that the doctors told him once he started taking it, he would be taking it for the rest of his life, seemed to sour Carter on the idea, said Moser.

Heart disease also was a family trait, as his father had had two heart attacks, one when he was about Carter's age(58) and the second that ended his life after he had turned 80, said Tom Holmes. Other family members had also died from heart disease, Tom Holmes said. What works in Carter's favor is the fact that he has been very active, is otherwise healthy, and has the discipline and determination of a successful athlete. Though the slurred speech, short term memory loss, and lack of full use of his limbs do indicate that the recovery process will be challenging.

Carter is used to challenges, Moser says. For several years Carter has wanted to run in France. He developed a love affair of sorts with the country, has a model of the Eiffel Tower in his home, and taught himself French. "He would drive other people crazy by talking to them in French," said Moser. "He was practicing, but we couldn't understand a word he said. When I visited him in the hospital, his speech was slurred, so I had some trouble understanding, but I swear he was talking to me in French."

After trying for several years to arrange a trip to France, Carter had booked his flight for March to compete in the indoor pentathlon at the Masters World Indoor Championships in Paris. "He felt he'd done what he could in the hurdles, long jump, shot put, and high jump," said Moser. "The event he thought he could improve on was the 1,000 meter run. That's what he was training for, to improve his chances in the 1,000."

As he booked his tickets with frequent flyer miles, Moser said, Carter couldn't choose his travel dates, he had to work with what was available. So a short trip became a planned several week visit to France. Carter, Moser said, was at his best finding historical spots, scouting the country, finding things others would miss. "He probably knew the city of Paris as well as he knew Minneapolis, if not better," said Moser.

Carter, as Moser's comments illustrate, is a man of many passions, a unique character. Another illustration of this being what can be found in the front yard of his house in South Minneapolis, the steeplechase water jump barrier from the Bierman Field track at the University of Minnesota. "He just happened to be there when they were ripping apart the old track," said Moser. "He asked if he could take it(the steeple barrier), and they let him have it."

Wood work is another passion of Carter's, as described by Jay Morgan in a 2003 article in Minnesota Running & Track. Though he lost part of his middle finger in his right hand in a lumbar yard accident, he turned his back yard into something of a display case for his own unique art. Carvings of baseball teams, cartoon characters, and a homage to his parents are all there to be enjoyed by neighborhood kids, family, and visitors.

All this despite the damaged finger and having a 75 per cent hearing loss since childhood. Carter, it is evident, has handled many challenges. Now he has another one.