Hey everyone!
Well what began one cold painful February morning as a random idea, has now become reality. The first post has been made to the website www.theolympicyear.com. It is not even myself opining about runners or running, it is a straightforward interview with America's Deena Kastor, one of only two American women to win Olympic Marathon hardware. Come check it out and enjoy, and pass the word along!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Just Like That
Sammy Wanjiru is dead.
Just like that. Suddenly, without warning. Kenya's first ever gold medal marathoner has passed away. There will be no more races, no more medals, no more victorious homecomings. He will not defend his podium in London in a little over a year.
Does everyone remember last October in Chicago? That incredibly hot day, where Wanjiru, outlasted, and finally uncorked an unforgiving kick in the last 600 m to win the Chicago Marathon, and his second consecutive World Marathon Major title? That grit, and that determination were awe inspiring. He seemed down after ever surge put in by Tsegaye Kebede in the final miles, but in the end he was victorious.
That same determination compelled him and drove him in the stifling heat of Beijing in 2008 to the fastest time ever recorded by an Olympic marathoner, and the first Golden hardware ever worn by someone from Kenya in the marathon. He was merciless and relentless in the pace he set, and he suffered no companions. He did it on his own, and left the field behind.
How can this great champion no longer be with us?
Obviously the last 6 months of his life are wrought with strange goings on and a seemingly day time drama plot line. From the alleged attempted murder of his wife, who ended up dropping all charges, the bizarre car wreck he was in, and now an apparent suicide, all seem to show that something in his life was not lining up.
We still await word for what truly happened to Sammy. It appears he fell off, or jumped off the balcony of his home in Kenya. How high up that balcony is, or why he did it, or what happened in the moments before, none of us know, but I can tell you one thing, I hope it is all a giant mistake, I want Sammy Wanjiru to still be with us.
Don't you?
He made history, and he did it with an unassuming smile when the races were over, but an assassin's glare in the heat of competition. People barely knew who he was in Beijing, other than another up and coming Kenyan star, but he vaulted far beyond that in the years following. He became the odds on favorite to break Haile Gebrselassie's world record in the marathon. He seemed invincible. Now, he is gone.
He was Kenya's Prefontaine.
He was young. He was charismatic. He knew how to win, and how to do it with flare.
He was not ill. He had not been suffering from a disease. Twelve hours ago he was a living, walking, and running human being. This day was not supposed to end with the death of a rising legend. Neither was the night that Steve Prefontaine left this earth.
As we digest this tragic news, and the news and events become clearer, no matter whether or not it paints Sammy in a positive or negative light, lets remember him for what he would do out on the roads. Let us be inspired by his uncompromising will to win. Those phenomenal paces he set. The day that he tore through the streets of Beijing while others suffered the toils of a Chinese summer. The morning he finished off a 26.2 mile marathon in the last .2 miles by pulling away. Remember his smile and his charisma. Remember that he, and runners like him are a gift to us all who aspire to ask our bodies to consistently go to their limit.
Remember Sammy Wanjiru, the champion.
Just like that. Suddenly, without warning. Kenya's first ever gold medal marathoner has passed away. There will be no more races, no more medals, no more victorious homecomings. He will not defend his podium in London in a little over a year.
Does everyone remember last October in Chicago? That incredibly hot day, where Wanjiru, outlasted, and finally uncorked an unforgiving kick in the last 600 m to win the Chicago Marathon, and his second consecutive World Marathon Major title? That grit, and that determination were awe inspiring. He seemed down after ever surge put in by Tsegaye Kebede in the final miles, but in the end he was victorious.
That same determination compelled him and drove him in the stifling heat of Beijing in 2008 to the fastest time ever recorded by an Olympic marathoner, and the first Golden hardware ever worn by someone from Kenya in the marathon. He was merciless and relentless in the pace he set, and he suffered no companions. He did it on his own, and left the field behind.
How can this great champion no longer be with us?
Obviously the last 6 months of his life are wrought with strange goings on and a seemingly day time drama plot line. From the alleged attempted murder of his wife, who ended up dropping all charges, the bizarre car wreck he was in, and now an apparent suicide, all seem to show that something in his life was not lining up.
We still await word for what truly happened to Sammy. It appears he fell off, or jumped off the balcony of his home in Kenya. How high up that balcony is, or why he did it, or what happened in the moments before, none of us know, but I can tell you one thing, I hope it is all a giant mistake, I want Sammy Wanjiru to still be with us.
Don't you?
He made history, and he did it with an unassuming smile when the races were over, but an assassin's glare in the heat of competition. People barely knew who he was in Beijing, other than another up and coming Kenyan star, but he vaulted far beyond that in the years following. He became the odds on favorite to break Haile Gebrselassie's world record in the marathon. He seemed invincible. Now, he is gone.
He was Kenya's Prefontaine.
He was young. He was charismatic. He knew how to win, and how to do it with flare.
He was not ill. He had not been suffering from a disease. Twelve hours ago he was a living, walking, and running human being. This day was not supposed to end with the death of a rising legend. Neither was the night that Steve Prefontaine left this earth.
As we digest this tragic news, and the news and events become clearer, no matter whether or not it paints Sammy in a positive or negative light, lets remember him for what he would do out on the roads. Let us be inspired by his uncompromising will to win. Those phenomenal paces he set. The day that he tore through the streets of Beijing while others suffered the toils of a Chinese summer. The morning he finished off a 26.2 mile marathon in the last .2 miles by pulling away. Remember his smile and his charisma. Remember that he, and runners like him are a gift to us all who aspire to ask our bodies to consistently go to their limit.
Remember Sammy Wanjiru, the champion.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
How Will You Celebrate?
So how will you commemorate Paul Revere's great heroics tomorrow? Will you dress in period costume, ride a horse, and go down the streets of your neighborhood declaring that the British are coming?(if anyone actually does plan on doing this, please send pictures). Will you put an American Flag on your mailbox?
Chances are, unless you actually live in the state of Massachusetts, you have no idea that tomorrow is Patriot's Day, or the day set aside to celebrate Paul Revere's ride.
There is only one way to truly celebrate Patriot's day, and tomorrow, 26,000 people in Hopkington, Mass will gather, scantly clad to celebrate this event together over 26.2 miles. There jubilation will reach a crescendo when they are arrive on Boylston Ave in downtown Boston as they cross the finish line, and can officially call themselves Boston Marathon finishers.
There is a special aura that surrounds Boston, as the only way into this storied event is to train and run a previous marathon in a certain time. No questions asked. No exceptions. Run your time, and you are in. Well that is of course if you are one of the first online to actually register. You have to earn this one. You cannot sign up race morning, or just decide to do it on a whim. To run Boston, is at minimum, for the average Joe-a year in the making.
First you have to train and run your first marathon. Assuming you have been running for sometime, and have some ability, you have the capacity to gear up for a fast one as your first. There are three months of focused training time there. So you run your marathon. Congrats, you hit your BQ (Boston Qualifier). Now you rest a month or so, enjoy some turkey, start building back up in December, and then in January, you are hard at it again, for that race at the end of April. Okay, so 10 months, you get my drift.
115 years old tomorrow, it is the longest standing human foot race in America. Elites covet the crown in Boston. It is most definitely not because it is a course suited to fast times, the first time a runner went under 2:07 was just last year. It is not because it is in anyway an easy course. Fifteen miles of quad obliterating downhills followed by a very rolly remaining 11 miles is far from an easy day at the office. It is the prestige. It is the girls of Wellessly College. It is literally the race that has the actual Heartbreak Hill. The Red Sox fans cheering on the runners before an early afternoon game. It is a World Marathon Major. Elites come to win, and wear laurel wreaths at the end of the day. Next to an Olympic Medal, this is sometimes considered the pinnacle of running. It is a must on every elite marathon runners checklist.
Tomorrow will be a great day. Most of us will watch from home as the elites battle it out for the crown. Perhaps we will see Americans return to Boston glory, as a phenomenal field has been assembled there. As much as we enjoy watching them battle it out, there will be thousands more behind them making their dream come true. Pushing themselves, and reminding themselves during the pain, of all that it took to get to this point. The year, or years of trying. The long, dark, and cold months of training for a marathon in the winter will give them strength to handle the fabled Newton Hills that so eagerly look to squash the will of all who ascend. It will not be easy, but they will persevere and wear with pride the finisher's medal they so richly deserve.
Most importantly though, these runners have to run as fast as they can. After all, they want to come back next year.
Chances are, unless you actually live in the state of Massachusetts, you have no idea that tomorrow is Patriot's Day, or the day set aside to celebrate Paul Revere's ride.
There is only one way to truly celebrate Patriot's day, and tomorrow, 26,000 people in Hopkington, Mass will gather, scantly clad to celebrate this event together over 26.2 miles. There jubilation will reach a crescendo when they are arrive on Boylston Ave in downtown Boston as they cross the finish line, and can officially call themselves Boston Marathon finishers.
There is a special aura that surrounds Boston, as the only way into this storied event is to train and run a previous marathon in a certain time. No questions asked. No exceptions. Run your time, and you are in. Well that is of course if you are one of the first online to actually register. You have to earn this one. You cannot sign up race morning, or just decide to do it on a whim. To run Boston, is at minimum, for the average Joe-a year in the making.
First you have to train and run your first marathon. Assuming you have been running for sometime, and have some ability, you have the capacity to gear up for a fast one as your first. There are three months of focused training time there. So you run your marathon. Congrats, you hit your BQ (Boston Qualifier). Now you rest a month or so, enjoy some turkey, start building back up in December, and then in January, you are hard at it again, for that race at the end of April. Okay, so 10 months, you get my drift.
115 years old tomorrow, it is the longest standing human foot race in America. Elites covet the crown in Boston. It is most definitely not because it is a course suited to fast times, the first time a runner went under 2:07 was just last year. It is not because it is in anyway an easy course. Fifteen miles of quad obliterating downhills followed by a very rolly remaining 11 miles is far from an easy day at the office. It is the prestige. It is the girls of Wellessly College. It is literally the race that has the actual Heartbreak Hill. The Red Sox fans cheering on the runners before an early afternoon game. It is a World Marathon Major. Elites come to win, and wear laurel wreaths at the end of the day. Next to an Olympic Medal, this is sometimes considered the pinnacle of running. It is a must on every elite marathon runners checklist.
Tomorrow will be a great day. Most of us will watch from home as the elites battle it out for the crown. Perhaps we will see Americans return to Boston glory, as a phenomenal field has been assembled there. As much as we enjoy watching them battle it out, there will be thousands more behind them making their dream come true. Pushing themselves, and reminding themselves during the pain, of all that it took to get to this point. The year, or years of trying. The long, dark, and cold months of training for a marathon in the winter will give them strength to handle the fabled Newton Hills that so eagerly look to squash the will of all who ascend. It will not be easy, but they will persevere and wear with pride the finisher's medal they so richly deserve.
Most importantly though, these runners have to run as fast as they can. After all, they want to come back next year.
Monday, April 11, 2011
High Hopes
I would agree, and so would most, that I have been fairly realistic with my expectations for being able to run again. I felt July 1, almost 7 months since the accident, was a very conservative and realistic goal to be back logging the “miles of trials”. That has remained fairly consistent until recently. Now I think my eyes are getting bigger than my ability to heal quickly.
Over the past few weeks I have become very brave with my attempts at walking without my crutch, and I must say, things are going very well. I had a surgery two weeks ago to remove a screw from right below the knee, and I can make running motions with practically no pain. The unfortunate thing is that I can tell my lower right leg is very weak.
Tomorrow I will go back to the doctor, mainly for a follow up after surgery, but I am really hoping that he will at least give me the go ahead to give up the crutch officially. However, lets be honest, I want him to say, "Looks great, you can start running as long as you can handle the pain and do not over do it." I will say if that is not what he says, I may get a little upset for the first time in this whole process.
The weather is turning, spring marathons are being run, I should be out there pounding the pavement. To say the least, the fire has not died. When I watch Boston next Monday, my cup may runneth over, and I may just go for a run. Do not try and stop me. I mean if almost 50 year old Joan Benoit can be out there gunning for another trials appearance, surely I can run half a mile on my bum leg sometime this week, right?
Crazy hopes and dreams aside, The Olympic Year, is going very well. Do not forget to bookmark the page, www.theolympicyear.com. I have press credentials for the Country Music Marathon. I should be hearing back from Amby Burfoot very soon about an interview, which is the most exciting thing to date. Still having issues contacting most athletes and their agents, but these things take time, and as I show up at events, my name will be out there and connections will be made much easier.
All of this to say, I am healing, and about to go out of my mind if I cannot run in the near future.
Over the past few weeks I have become very brave with my attempts at walking without my crutch, and I must say, things are going very well. I had a surgery two weeks ago to remove a screw from right below the knee, and I can make running motions with practically no pain. The unfortunate thing is that I can tell my lower right leg is very weak.
Tomorrow I will go back to the doctor, mainly for a follow up after surgery, but I am really hoping that he will at least give me the go ahead to give up the crutch officially. However, lets be honest, I want him to say, "Looks great, you can start running as long as you can handle the pain and do not over do it." I will say if that is not what he says, I may get a little upset for the first time in this whole process.
The weather is turning, spring marathons are being run, I should be out there pounding the pavement. To say the least, the fire has not died. When I watch Boston next Monday, my cup may runneth over, and I may just go for a run. Do not try and stop me. I mean if almost 50 year old Joan Benoit can be out there gunning for another trials appearance, surely I can run half a mile on my bum leg sometime this week, right?
Crazy hopes and dreams aside, The Olympic Year, is going very well. Do not forget to bookmark the page, www.theolympicyear.com. I have press credentials for the Country Music Marathon. I should be hearing back from Amby Burfoot very soon about an interview, which is the most exciting thing to date. Still having issues contacting most athletes and their agents, but these things take time, and as I show up at events, my name will be out there and connections will be made much easier.
All of this to say, I am healing, and about to go out of my mind if I cannot run in the near future.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Thankful and Hungry
This past Sunday was yet another new experience for me. It seems the last four months or so has been full of those. Its not that new things and new experiences are bad, though I must say an easier road would have been welcomed.
Sunday morning was the running of the Germantown Half Marathon and Mayor's Cup 5k. This half served as one of my training races as I prepped for my first marathon in 2008. I struggled to stumble across the line in 1:29:38, and hurt for several days after. My dad did, however, point out to me, I had only been seriously running again for about 4 months at that point, so it was nothing to shrug at. That is a great memory, and now thanks to this race, I will have many more.
It was a perfect storm of a morning. My in laws had volunteered to watch the boys on Saturday night, which freed me up to serve water at an aide station along the route, I had to be there at 6:45, which ment a 5:30 wake up call. Monica was able to get a well deserved morning ignoring the alarm, and I was able to give a little back. What exactly was I giving back to though...?
We must go back to about a month after the wreck when Jonathan Justley approached me and the pastor of my church about raising money for our family by taking donations for running the Germantown Half. I said it sounded great, but was humbled beyond belief. What do you say to people who are willing to ask money of others so that you might benefit? Not only that, but they are willing to punish themselves over 13.1 miles in order to do so.It still blows my mind to even consider their thoughtfulness.
When I learned of the amounts of money that were being raised, I was even more shocked. I have done nothing to deserve this. Seriously, nothing. I was just on a sidewalk, just going for a run,and yet God chose to bless my family and I through tragedy, and gave others a chance to serve. The Sunday before the race, I was scurrying trying to think of a way to thank everyone. Obviously, thank you notes were in order, but I wanted to do something more. To save all the long story of how I failed miserably at that, I found a new route. It turns out Fleet Feet, one of our local running stores, needed help at their aide station, positioned at roughly mile 1, and then 11 on the way back. I was in! I wanted to help, and I wanted to serve those that were doing so much for me.
One of those people was my father. This would be his second half marathon, and truthfully something he feared going into it. My dad is in his upper 50's, and for most people in general, the endurance events stop being run way before that. He is trying to get in to the New York City Marathon to do something similar, but this race was a sure thing. He committed to upping his effort in order to be ready to go come race day. It meant so much to me to see him working his tail off to get ready for this, and it still does as he continues to try and get ready for New York in November.
The morning was great. The temperature, for those of us not running, was perfect. At the Fleet Feet tent, coffee, mimosas, and bloody mary's were what we were NOT giving the runners, but they were still present. It was a great time with other runners and enthusiasts of the sport. Not to mention, these are the people, who every time I walk through the door to their store want to make sure I am doing okay, and always ask how recovery is going. Incredible people. Go buy shoes today from them!
I watched the faces of many nameless runners go by, and high fived and whooped and hollered for my friends as they passed (granted they were in the middle of about a mile long climb, so they needed all the encouragement they could get). As everyone went by at mile 11, I waited for my dad, and then hauled my tail across the street to get into my car, fight race traffic, and scurry, with my boot and one crutch, about a quarter of a mile to catch my dad finish. He crossed in right around 2:25:00 or so, right where he wanted to be. I was so proud, he had worked hard, and he had done it for me, what else could a son want?
At the end of the day, my emotions are still a little scattered. I am so thankful to the willingness of everyone who literally taxed themselves physically on my behalf. These were not age group award winners. Not one of them will ever go under 3 hours for the marathon. Most did not even run in High School, yet there they were, out there, pounding it for me. I am going to carry this with me as I continue to move forward. If people who came out and hurt for me, and ran 13.1, and it was not even something they do regularly, then there is not reason why I cannot obliterate my training when I get back, and be an inspiration for others as they have been for me. I am not going to make any bold or crazy statements, but I have things circling in my mind. I will not deny that I have been inspired by each and every one of them, and I will carry their efforts with me at each race I run, on every hard tempo, and along with me as I chase my many goals that I still plan on achieving.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Sunday morning was the running of the Germantown Half Marathon and Mayor's Cup 5k. This half served as one of my training races as I prepped for my first marathon in 2008. I struggled to stumble across the line in 1:29:38, and hurt for several days after. My dad did, however, point out to me, I had only been seriously running again for about 4 months at that point, so it was nothing to shrug at. That is a great memory, and now thanks to this race, I will have many more.
It was a perfect storm of a morning. My in laws had volunteered to watch the boys on Saturday night, which freed me up to serve water at an aide station along the route, I had to be there at 6:45, which ment a 5:30 wake up call. Monica was able to get a well deserved morning ignoring the alarm, and I was able to give a little back. What exactly was I giving back to though...?
We must go back to about a month after the wreck when Jonathan Justley approached me and the pastor of my church about raising money for our family by taking donations for running the Germantown Half. I said it sounded great, but was humbled beyond belief. What do you say to people who are willing to ask money of others so that you might benefit? Not only that, but they are willing to punish themselves over 13.1 miles in order to do so.It still blows my mind to even consider their thoughtfulness.
When I learned of the amounts of money that were being raised, I was even more shocked. I have done nothing to deserve this. Seriously, nothing. I was just on a sidewalk, just going for a run,and yet God chose to bless my family and I through tragedy, and gave others a chance to serve. The Sunday before the race, I was scurrying trying to think of a way to thank everyone. Obviously, thank you notes were in order, but I wanted to do something more. To save all the long story of how I failed miserably at that, I found a new route. It turns out Fleet Feet, one of our local running stores, needed help at their aide station, positioned at roughly mile 1, and then 11 on the way back. I was in! I wanted to help, and I wanted to serve those that were doing so much for me.
One of those people was my father. This would be his second half marathon, and truthfully something he feared going into it. My dad is in his upper 50's, and for most people in general, the endurance events stop being run way before that. He is trying to get in to the New York City Marathon to do something similar, but this race was a sure thing. He committed to upping his effort in order to be ready to go come race day. It meant so much to me to see him working his tail off to get ready for this, and it still does as he continues to try and get ready for New York in November.
The morning was great. The temperature, for those of us not running, was perfect. At the Fleet Feet tent, coffee, mimosas, and bloody mary's were what we were NOT giving the runners, but they were still present. It was a great time with other runners and enthusiasts of the sport. Not to mention, these are the people, who every time I walk through the door to their store want to make sure I am doing okay, and always ask how recovery is going. Incredible people. Go buy shoes today from them!
I watched the faces of many nameless runners go by, and high fived and whooped and hollered for my friends as they passed (granted they were in the middle of about a mile long climb, so they needed all the encouragement they could get). As everyone went by at mile 11, I waited for my dad, and then hauled my tail across the street to get into my car, fight race traffic, and scurry, with my boot and one crutch, about a quarter of a mile to catch my dad finish. He crossed in right around 2:25:00 or so, right where he wanted to be. I was so proud, he had worked hard, and he had done it for me, what else could a son want?
At the end of the day, my emotions are still a little scattered. I am so thankful to the willingness of everyone who literally taxed themselves physically on my behalf. These were not age group award winners. Not one of them will ever go under 3 hours for the marathon. Most did not even run in High School, yet there they were, out there, pounding it for me. I am going to carry this with me as I continue to move forward. If people who came out and hurt for me, and ran 13.1, and it was not even something they do regularly, then there is not reason why I cannot obliterate my training when I get back, and be an inspiration for others as they have been for me. I am not going to make any bold or crazy statements, but I have things circling in my mind. I will not deny that I have been inspired by each and every one of them, and I will carry their efforts with me at each race I run, on every hard tempo, and along with me as I chase my many goals that I still plan on achieving.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
The Olympic Year
This is one of my more exciting posts, and it has nothing to do with my recovery. Yesterday afternoon I purchased www.theolympicyear.com .
This is a brain child that is going to be a lot of work, but has the potential to be fantastic. I am seeking to get the word out about American and International distance running in the coming Olympic year. There will be exclusive interviews and insightful commentary from running's current and past giants.
This blog will still house my personal running stories and the documentation of my recovery, but there will no longer be commentary about the running world at large. Perhaps the random musing that has nothing to do with the Olympics, but for the most part, my energies will focus on Olympic preparation.
Thank you for following me here, and I hope you continue to do so. I also hope you move on to www.theolympicyear.com and become a subscriber (free) to its great content. Thanks again, and enjoy.
This is a brain child that is going to be a lot of work, but has the potential to be fantastic. I am seeking to get the word out about American and International distance running in the coming Olympic year. There will be exclusive interviews and insightful commentary from running's current and past giants.
This blog will still house my personal running stories and the documentation of my recovery, but there will no longer be commentary about the running world at large. Perhaps the random musing that has nothing to do with the Olympics, but for the most part, my energies will focus on Olympic preparation.
Thank you for following me here, and I hope you continue to do so. I also hope you move on to www.theolympicyear.com and become a subscriber (free) to its great content. Thanks again, and enjoy.
Friday, March 11, 2011
An Announcement!
So...got this email today. It read like this-
Congratulations AUSTIN SELBY!
You're eligible for guaranteed entry to the race everyone wants to run—the ING New York City Marathon on November 6, 2011. You must claim your guaranteed entry by 11:59 p.m. on April 19.
Let's not kid ourselves. I knew full well that I qualified automatically for this year's race the moment I crossed the line last November. I had already agreed with my wife, who so patiently endures all of my training, that I would not tax our budget by going to NYC or somewhere else crazy to run a race this next year. You see, that was all well and good, and then I went for a run on December 9th.
Getting hit by the car has managed to change numerous things in my life, and it would appear that this is going to be one of them. As soon as I received the email, I called my wife and told her what a bummer it was. There is no way that I will be marathon ready come this November, and really, who would want to go run 4:30 or slower, when you just a year before ran almost two hours faster? I should not even be walking yet, much less planning a fall marathon for this year (though, I am walking now:) God Be Praised! I mentioned that I would love a deferment, and my wife, to my surprise said, "Of course, you have to. Yes. Yes. Yes."
Well I then proceeded to read the email that I was sent, prepared to fire back an impassioned response, and more or less beg to be let into the 2012 race. However, the New York Road Runners Club, brilliant people that they are, had an option for such people like me. You can register, pay, cancel, and defer to the next year. Ah Ha! Brilliant to quote the Guiness guys.
So, without further ado. My next marathon, my return to marathoning, will once again be in the great 5 borough race. The ING New York City Marathon.
Working on my racing and training schedule as soon as I get off here. Will post it in the coming days.
Congratulations AUSTIN SELBY!
You're eligible for guaranteed entry to the race everyone wants to run—the ING New York City Marathon on November 6, 2011. You must claim your guaranteed entry by 11:59 p.m. on April 19.
Let's not kid ourselves. I knew full well that I qualified automatically for this year's race the moment I crossed the line last November. I had already agreed with my wife, who so patiently endures all of my training, that I would not tax our budget by going to NYC or somewhere else crazy to run a race this next year. You see, that was all well and good, and then I went for a run on December 9th.
Getting hit by the car has managed to change numerous things in my life, and it would appear that this is going to be one of them. As soon as I received the email, I called my wife and told her what a bummer it was. There is no way that I will be marathon ready come this November, and really, who would want to go run 4:30 or slower, when you just a year before ran almost two hours faster? I should not even be walking yet, much less planning a fall marathon for this year (though, I am walking now:) God Be Praised! I mentioned that I would love a deferment, and my wife, to my surprise said, "Of course, you have to. Yes. Yes. Yes."
Well I then proceeded to read the email that I was sent, prepared to fire back an impassioned response, and more or less beg to be let into the 2012 race. However, the New York Road Runners Club, brilliant people that they are, had an option for such people like me. You can register, pay, cancel, and defer to the next year. Ah Ha! Brilliant to quote the Guiness guys.
So, without further ado. My next marathon, my return to marathoning, will once again be in the great 5 borough race. The ING New York City Marathon.
Working on my racing and training schedule as soon as I get off here. Will post it in the coming days.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Mortality and Its Ugly Head
In the past when I would read the story of a runner or cyclist who was struck by a car and either killed or injured, I would double take and more or less be grateful it was not me. Even Matt Long's incredible story, was not much more than a blip on my radar. Then one December day, it was me. But for the grace of God, and not having my ipod on, I was able to avoid being run over and instead had the bumper fly me over the car. It hurt, and still does, and I will carry scars, but at least I get to carry those scars for a few more years with the ones I love.
Sally Meyerhoff, one of the fastest female marathoners in the United States was tragically killed while she was out on her bike yesterday. Sally was an outsider for a trip to London, and had recently won the PF Chang's Marathon in Arizona. She has been referred to as vibrant and the life of any crowd, and it appears that respect for her in the running community was, and still is rampant.
From my standpoint however, there is a whole new level of sadness and empathy with Sally, who is no longer with us. She was out doing what she loved and was gifted by God to do. She was going to be running in the United States Woman's Olympic Trails next January. In fact, she was 27 years old, my age. The more I write this the more eerie it becomes, and the less I am even able to form my thoughts. However, there is one truth that I am realizing about us endurance athletes, and it springs from this incident. We are not invincible.
Somewhere out there in our hundreds of thousands of miles of running, and pain searing training sessions, we forget that we are stoppable. There are forces out there that are greater than our own will to control pain and endure. Even when we are faced with injuries that sideline us for a short time, we see it as a bump in the road and move on. Generally though, it is a multi-ton vehicle that gets the job done. Or for Aaron Rolston it was a large boulder in a Canyon. Yet seemingly for many runners and cyclists, its those multi ton vehicles (Steve Prefontaine, Sally Meyerhoff, myself). This is not the time nor place to debate motorist v peds and cyclists. Sometimes it is a life threatening or simply debilitating illness, such as the case with Bart Yasso.
It is as if God wants to remind us that we are not the greatest things to grace the planet. That there is so much our human bodies are bound to. That is a humbling thought. Athletes like us, and those that are far greater, have limits, we and they, are not invincible. That is what makes tragedies like these even harder to wrap our minds around. We want to think our heroes will live on forever, and become living legends. That, however, is not how God has ordered our universe though, and far too often we lose those that inspire us to greatness.
Perhaps non endurance athletes have to grapple with their mortalness more than those of us who are gluttons for punishment. Maybe it is something they tinker with in the back of their minds more than those of us who are looking to constantly figure out how adjust to whatever road blocks come our way physically. It is as if we see a solution to every problem that does not involve ending our never ceasing chase for athletic perfection. Then suddenly, like the wall at mile 20, it hits us. We see those in their prime get cut down and themselves, or their abilities leave us far soon. Often times, it is our own bodies that give us these nasty reminders.
Sally Meyerhoff will be greatly missed. All the legends of old still are, and while she was not a record setting runner, she was still a bright spot in the lives of the running world. She had the infectious smile that spoke of being carefree and almost limitless. Everyone in those situations always seems to have something that speaks to that desire to be limitless. Pre's stare that could freeze the water's of the Bahamas spoke to his fear of no thing or no man. The real fact is that we all meet an end, and some of us are lucky enough to realize early on by near brushes that an end is out there somewhere. That we are held within certain boundaries. However, may we never be without those who constantly seek to find the location of those boundaries, and who will continue to test the bounds of the physical. May that part of us, tempered as it may be by these circumstances, always remain slightly lit. Because no matter how often we are reminded of this reality, every human has within them a dare to hope for the impossible.
Sally Meyerhoff, one of the fastest female marathoners in the United States was tragically killed while she was out on her bike yesterday. Sally was an outsider for a trip to London, and had recently won the PF Chang's Marathon in Arizona. She has been referred to as vibrant and the life of any crowd, and it appears that respect for her in the running community was, and still is rampant.
From my standpoint however, there is a whole new level of sadness and empathy with Sally, who is no longer with us. She was out doing what she loved and was gifted by God to do. She was going to be running in the United States Woman's Olympic Trails next January. In fact, she was 27 years old, my age. The more I write this the more eerie it becomes, and the less I am even able to form my thoughts. However, there is one truth that I am realizing about us endurance athletes, and it springs from this incident. We are not invincible.
Somewhere out there in our hundreds of thousands of miles of running, and pain searing training sessions, we forget that we are stoppable. There are forces out there that are greater than our own will to control pain and endure. Even when we are faced with injuries that sideline us for a short time, we see it as a bump in the road and move on. Generally though, it is a multi-ton vehicle that gets the job done. Or for Aaron Rolston it was a large boulder in a Canyon. Yet seemingly for many runners and cyclists, its those multi ton vehicles (Steve Prefontaine, Sally Meyerhoff, myself). This is not the time nor place to debate motorist v peds and cyclists. Sometimes it is a life threatening or simply debilitating illness, such as the case with Bart Yasso.
It is as if God wants to remind us that we are not the greatest things to grace the planet. That there is so much our human bodies are bound to. That is a humbling thought. Athletes like us, and those that are far greater, have limits, we and they, are not invincible. That is what makes tragedies like these even harder to wrap our minds around. We want to think our heroes will live on forever, and become living legends. That, however, is not how God has ordered our universe though, and far too often we lose those that inspire us to greatness.
Perhaps non endurance athletes have to grapple with their mortalness more than those of us who are gluttons for punishment. Maybe it is something they tinker with in the back of their minds more than those of us who are looking to constantly figure out how adjust to whatever road blocks come our way physically. It is as if we see a solution to every problem that does not involve ending our never ceasing chase for athletic perfection. Then suddenly, like the wall at mile 20, it hits us. We see those in their prime get cut down and themselves, or their abilities leave us far soon. Often times, it is our own bodies that give us these nasty reminders.
Sally Meyerhoff will be greatly missed. All the legends of old still are, and while she was not a record setting runner, she was still a bright spot in the lives of the running world. She had the infectious smile that spoke of being carefree and almost limitless. Everyone in those situations always seems to have something that speaks to that desire to be limitless. Pre's stare that could freeze the water's of the Bahamas spoke to his fear of no thing or no man. The real fact is that we all meet an end, and some of us are lucky enough to realize early on by near brushes that an end is out there somewhere. That we are held within certain boundaries. However, may we never be without those who constantly seek to find the location of those boundaries, and who will continue to test the bounds of the physical. May that part of us, tempered as it may be by these circumstances, always remain slightly lit. Because no matter how often we are reminded of this reality, every human has within them a dare to hope for the impossible.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Back on Two Feet (and some crutches)!
I have had March 8th circled on my calendar for what seems like an eternity. Not because it is International Women's day (in Russia and former USSR), or because it is the long awaited day of the Memphis School Consolidation vote, but because it was my three month appointment with my orthopedic doctor.
Ever since I was lying in the hospital bed swollen and sore, every doctor kept telling me that three months was the earliest I could even have a chance to do anything, walk, use my arm, you name it. I could not walk if my leg was not healed enough, and I also could not use crutches or a walker if the shoulder could not support the new strain.
I have been doing everything possible to make all of those things happen today. Chugging milk at home. Religiously using my bone stimulator. Killing it at physical therapy three times a week. I have ridden almost 100 miles on a recumbent bike over the past couple of weeks or so to get that much needed blood flowing to my ailing leg. You name it, I have been doing it in the name of healing as quickly as possible.
There was some nervous anticipation this morning as obviously you never really know what is going on under your skin, but I had within me a quiet confidence that only a runner can have before a race when they feel really good, but do not want to say anything for fear of jinxing it. The doctor came in and was incredibly upbeat. He informed me that everything was almost done healing. Almost done! I was hoping for on the way to being done, but this was far better. He said the arm looked great and same for the leg! We looked at XRays and was very excited by what he was able to show me.
There were several other neat portions to the appointment. He described the break in my arm and told me that they cannot even accurately recreate in cadavers the kind of break I had and where I had it. I simply had just absorbed an incredible amount of force to a part of the body that can actually handle an incredible amount of stress. Lets also not forget my leg was broken in four places, and now, it appears that I will have a complete and full union. The doctor said the only way that I could have healed faster is if I had been 17 or 18 years old. So I take that as, I am as healthy as a teenager, I will take that as I creep up on 30.
My wife's grin was stretching from ear to ear, and we were incredible ecstatic as the doctor told me that I could start bearing 50% of my entire body weight on that left leg, and I had the go ahead to start walking with the aide of crutches, and to start strength training on the right arm. Prayers answered! and sooner than expected!
Physical Therapy was like a dream come true. I was walking around, and doing all kinds of new exercises that I had only been dreaming about for months. I feel like I should go out and about for the heck of it.
So in my mind, July still looks like a reasonable time to start running again. Just so you all know, half a mile a day, tops for a week or so, and we will see how we progress. I am not exactly planning my next races or anything, but there are a few I have my eyes on. Right now I will enjoy not being so dependent on everyone else, and begin paying everyone back by helping them as much as I can. We are still fighting with insurance so that they will continue to cover my Physical Therapy, so here's hoping that goes well.
Thank you again everyone for your support. Things are getting really exciting and normalcy seems to be on the horizon!
Ever since I was lying in the hospital bed swollen and sore, every doctor kept telling me that three months was the earliest I could even have a chance to do anything, walk, use my arm, you name it. I could not walk if my leg was not healed enough, and I also could not use crutches or a walker if the shoulder could not support the new strain.
I have been doing everything possible to make all of those things happen today. Chugging milk at home. Religiously using my bone stimulator. Killing it at physical therapy three times a week. I have ridden almost 100 miles on a recumbent bike over the past couple of weeks or so to get that much needed blood flowing to my ailing leg. You name it, I have been doing it in the name of healing as quickly as possible.
There was some nervous anticipation this morning as obviously you never really know what is going on under your skin, but I had within me a quiet confidence that only a runner can have before a race when they feel really good, but do not want to say anything for fear of jinxing it. The doctor came in and was incredibly upbeat. He informed me that everything was almost done healing. Almost done! I was hoping for on the way to being done, but this was far better. He said the arm looked great and same for the leg! We looked at XRays and was very excited by what he was able to show me.
There were several other neat portions to the appointment. He described the break in my arm and told me that they cannot even accurately recreate in cadavers the kind of break I had and where I had it. I simply had just absorbed an incredible amount of force to a part of the body that can actually handle an incredible amount of stress. Lets also not forget my leg was broken in four places, and now, it appears that I will have a complete and full union. The doctor said the only way that I could have healed faster is if I had been 17 or 18 years old. So I take that as, I am as healthy as a teenager, I will take that as I creep up on 30.
My wife's grin was stretching from ear to ear, and we were incredible ecstatic as the doctor told me that I could start bearing 50% of my entire body weight on that left leg, and I had the go ahead to start walking with the aide of crutches, and to start strength training on the right arm. Prayers answered! and sooner than expected!
Physical Therapy was like a dream come true. I was walking around, and doing all kinds of new exercises that I had only been dreaming about for months. I feel like I should go out and about for the heck of it.
So in my mind, July still looks like a reasonable time to start running again. Just so you all know, half a mile a day, tops for a week or so, and we will see how we progress. I am not exactly planning my next races or anything, but there are a few I have my eyes on. Right now I will enjoy not being so dependent on everyone else, and begin paying everyone back by helping them as much as I can. We are still fighting with insurance so that they will continue to cover my Physical Therapy, so here's hoping that goes well.
Thank you again everyone for your support. Things are getting really exciting and normalcy seems to be on the horizon!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Something Special
There is something special about the calendar years that contain either World Championships or Olympic competition. For three solid years,World Championships are held every other year, we are treated to amazing races, and athletes pushing beyond the bounds of what we conceive as human limitations. What is nothing but drudgery, is that year in between.
The reason why that year in between is so painful, is that it is not filled with racing, it is filled with world record attempts. In other words, many high paid pros go to races that offer rabbits, and it is essentially a time trial for the runner. As exciting as it is when someone drops seconds off a previously established record, the racing can tend to be dull. While Haile Gebrassaliasse going sub 2:04 was amazing, there was no drama at the finish. No one nipping at his heels, or forcing him to maybe even shave more time off of that amazing record.
Rewind back to Sydney 2000, where track and field fans were treated to what many still call the greatest race ever to be held on that 400 m oval. Kenyan Paul Tergat desperately wanted to win gold in the 10k, after finishing 2nd behind Geb in Atlanta. In fact, Tergat had been finishing second to Geb for quite some time. It was obvious that they were going to duel it out on the last lap, and with that, there would be no records. Tergat completely changed the way he raced and unleashed a brutal, well time kick that should have netted him the gold. Sadly for him, the Emperor's will would not be broken. In the last 3 meters, Geb leaned and barely edged out his fellow African companion for the win. I watch this race on youtube maybe every other week and still get chills from it.
World records are great. There is no denying, but the fact is that world records also fall when there is a great race. When whether or not you are going to make it to the Olympics or not is what is on your mind, you get great racing. When a large prize purse and international prestige are driving you, world records still fall.
That is what is so great about these three glorious years. Races become battles of will and wit. When to surge, when to hold back, when to escape the pack. Do you stick it to your competitor early in the race, or nail him with a lethal kick in the final 300m? When records fall while watching these things transpire, they are even sweeter. The combination of smarts, and ability are on full display at this point.
So this summer, and the next, and well the one after that, enjoy the fast times. Revel when records fall, but remember, these are races, and should be celebrated as such. These are events that put the sheer will of one person against that of a fellow competitor. It will be nice to not watch time trials all year long, but to watch guys gut it out through the finish line, and then collapse in utter triumph, or defeat.
Chances to watch these great races-
USATF National Outdoor Championships Eugene, Oregon June 23rd-26th
IAAF World Track and Field Championships- Dageau, South Korea August 27th-Sept 4th
USATF Olympic Marathon Trials- Houston, Texas January 16th 2012
USATF Track and Field Olympic Trials- TBD 2012
2012 London Olympics- August 4th- August 13th 2012
The reason why that year in between is so painful, is that it is not filled with racing, it is filled with world record attempts. In other words, many high paid pros go to races that offer rabbits, and it is essentially a time trial for the runner. As exciting as it is when someone drops seconds off a previously established record, the racing can tend to be dull. While Haile Gebrassaliasse going sub 2:04 was amazing, there was no drama at the finish. No one nipping at his heels, or forcing him to maybe even shave more time off of that amazing record.
Rewind back to Sydney 2000, where track and field fans were treated to what many still call the greatest race ever to be held on that 400 m oval. Kenyan Paul Tergat desperately wanted to win gold in the 10k, after finishing 2nd behind Geb in Atlanta. In fact, Tergat had been finishing second to Geb for quite some time. It was obvious that they were going to duel it out on the last lap, and with that, there would be no records. Tergat completely changed the way he raced and unleashed a brutal, well time kick that should have netted him the gold. Sadly for him, the Emperor's will would not be broken. In the last 3 meters, Geb leaned and barely edged out his fellow African companion for the win. I watch this race on youtube maybe every other week and still get chills from it.
World records are great. There is no denying, but the fact is that world records also fall when there is a great race. When whether or not you are going to make it to the Olympics or not is what is on your mind, you get great racing. When a large prize purse and international prestige are driving you, world records still fall.
That is what is so great about these three glorious years. Races become battles of will and wit. When to surge, when to hold back, when to escape the pack. Do you stick it to your competitor early in the race, or nail him with a lethal kick in the final 300m? When records fall while watching these things transpire, they are even sweeter. The combination of smarts, and ability are on full display at this point.
So this summer, and the next, and well the one after that, enjoy the fast times. Revel when records fall, but remember, these are races, and should be celebrated as such. These are events that put the sheer will of one person against that of a fellow competitor. It will be nice to not watch time trials all year long, but to watch guys gut it out through the finish line, and then collapse in utter triumph, or defeat.
Chances to watch these great races-
USATF National Outdoor Championships Eugene, Oregon June 23rd-26th
IAAF World Track and Field Championships- Dageau, South Korea August 27th-Sept 4th
USATF Olympic Marathon Trials- Houston, Texas January 16th 2012
USATF Track and Field Olympic Trials- TBD 2012
2012 London Olympics- August 4th- August 13th 2012
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Moving Forward
"The reality is that I am not going to qualify for the trails. The time simply does not exist, and my responsibilities are far too great. That being said, my passion for running is unparalleled compared to any point in my life at the moment, so I will continue to run, and continue to pursue even faster times."
This quote is the first thing I wrote when recapping my New York City marathon experience this past fall. How true it still is, in every aspect. I do not think I could qualify for the trails on a bike right now, much less on my own two feet. My responsibilities may end up being slightly less with the current trajectory of life, but that remains to be seen. I still cannot say that I will not try for 2016 (dropped 35 minutes in two years and 4 marathons), but the odds are pretty slim. Still, my passion for running is exploding out my ears. I have not run at all in two months, and yet, its as if I just ran New York yesterday.
I have read several books about and on running since being in the bed. I have finally gotten around to purchasing Prefontaine, and have watched it twice. I am all over running forums, and am streaming every live running event I possibly can. I am even beginning to write a workout book for myself, and whoever may eventually be interested in it. Fact is, I think God has made me a runner, and he has instilled a passion for it in me that will not go away. To that end I will continue to drive harder, and run faster, that is when I can walk again.
Now-to an actual physical update. I wish I could say I was walking, but sadly I am not. Still looks like March will be the date for that. The good news is that we are beginning to see the healing take place on my tibia. The fractures are what are called non union, which are the hardest to heal, but none the less, my body is fighting. I can now bear 20 lbs of weight on it, which is a start, if only I weighed 20 pounds total. My knee is doing fine, with the exception of one thing. Just below it, on the inside of my leg, there is a screw that is just sticking outside of the bone-not fun. The doctor is assuring me that it will be taken out as soon as the broken bone heals. Please heal soon! The best part about the progress of my leg is that I can ride a recumbent bike now, to start building my cardio back. The only time I have a chance to do that right now is at PT, as we just cant seem to pull the trigger to buy one for our own house. When you have no source of income, dropping 300 bucks is pretty tough to do.
The arm is doing amazing. Last Tuesday, I was given the go ahead to use my arm on my own. I still cannot really bear any weight on it, like use a walker or crutches, but I can actually use it now. I was measured in PT last week and could only raise my arm up 28 degrees forward. I did it again yesterday, and I have already improved to 84 degrees, with full range of motion being 180 degrees. Granted, it is still the most painful thing at the moment to workout, but I am really pushing it and we are beginning to see results, I am ready to do the same thing with running, just as soon as I am allowed.
I go back to the doctor on March 8th, and I am really thinking that I will be able to start walking then. With the bone stimulator, the loads and loads of milk I am drinking now, and the fact that I can put some weight on my leg, means that healing should really begin in earnest. I will say I wake up some mornings feeling like I am having growing pains on steroids in my lower leg, perhaps that is the beginning of the coming back together of the bone.
Thank you everyone for your wishes, and I hope you all continue to follow my recovery. Take care, and happy running.
This quote is the first thing I wrote when recapping my New York City marathon experience this past fall. How true it still is, in every aspect. I do not think I could qualify for the trails on a bike right now, much less on my own two feet. My responsibilities may end up being slightly less with the current trajectory of life, but that remains to be seen. I still cannot say that I will not try for 2016 (dropped 35 minutes in two years and 4 marathons), but the odds are pretty slim. Still, my passion for running is exploding out my ears. I have not run at all in two months, and yet, its as if I just ran New York yesterday.
I have read several books about and on running since being in the bed. I have finally gotten around to purchasing Prefontaine, and have watched it twice. I am all over running forums, and am streaming every live running event I possibly can. I am even beginning to write a workout book for myself, and whoever may eventually be interested in it. Fact is, I think God has made me a runner, and he has instilled a passion for it in me that will not go away. To that end I will continue to drive harder, and run faster, that is when I can walk again.
Now-to an actual physical update. I wish I could say I was walking, but sadly I am not. Still looks like March will be the date for that. The good news is that we are beginning to see the healing take place on my tibia. The fractures are what are called non union, which are the hardest to heal, but none the less, my body is fighting. I can now bear 20 lbs of weight on it, which is a start, if only I weighed 20 pounds total. My knee is doing fine, with the exception of one thing. Just below it, on the inside of my leg, there is a screw that is just sticking outside of the bone-not fun. The doctor is assuring me that it will be taken out as soon as the broken bone heals. Please heal soon! The best part about the progress of my leg is that I can ride a recumbent bike now, to start building my cardio back. The only time I have a chance to do that right now is at PT, as we just cant seem to pull the trigger to buy one for our own house. When you have no source of income, dropping 300 bucks is pretty tough to do.
The arm is doing amazing. Last Tuesday, I was given the go ahead to use my arm on my own. I still cannot really bear any weight on it, like use a walker or crutches, but I can actually use it now. I was measured in PT last week and could only raise my arm up 28 degrees forward. I did it again yesterday, and I have already improved to 84 degrees, with full range of motion being 180 degrees. Granted, it is still the most painful thing at the moment to workout, but I am really pushing it and we are beginning to see results, I am ready to do the same thing with running, just as soon as I am allowed.
I go back to the doctor on March 8th, and I am really thinking that I will be able to start walking then. With the bone stimulator, the loads and loads of milk I am drinking now, and the fact that I can put some weight on my leg, means that healing should really begin in earnest. I will say I wake up some mornings feeling like I am having growing pains on steroids in my lower leg, perhaps that is the beginning of the coming back together of the bone.
Thank you everyone for your wishes, and I hope you all continue to follow my recovery. Take care, and happy running.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Stars at Night....Deep in the Heart of Houston!
No one would generally expect the last week of January to hold so many insights and clues into the development of the 2012 American Olympic Marathon team, but this week has, and will as the weekend winds up. The Aramco Houston Marathon and Half Marathon will showcase some of the best distance talent in the United States this weekend. While no one who is expected to contend for a spot in London is running the full marathon, the full tilt will still boast some great international talent. Last year's winner is making another appearance, and he won crossing the tape in under 2:08, which for races in America not located in the windy city, is pretty descent.
Ryan Hall, who for the remainder of this article we will call the beard, will be making his return to racing. His last performance was at the Philadelphia Distance Run, where he finished 13th and days later withdrew from the Chicago Marathon. He sacked his coach in pursuit of his own training ideas (something that I consider as noble in this day of dependence on coaches, I do not think the Kenyans have coaches these days, maybe the ones training in Japan, but this is quite the run on parenthetical, so I will stop). Honestly I am going to go ahead and state that Hall is going to win, in fact I think Hall will win going away, he may even set an American record, especially if he is being pushed by others. (FYI-Ryan Hall has never raced with a beard before :))
(This is an edit. I was under the impression that Gotcher was running just the half. It is apparent he is running the full marathon. While I feel this is a mistake as he should run the half, and then run Boston or London in the spring to really face the giants of marathoning, it is a chance for an American to win a big race. I am giong to leave the rest of my thoughts on Gotcher as follows, as I feel that it is how it would play out if Gotcher was running the half)That main other, I believe will be Bret Gotcher. Gotcher American running circles last year by almost breaking 2:10 in his marathon debut in the same city. Gotcher has laid low since and has not made much noise. This I believe is wise. As we in the distance running community are rejoicing at our international resurgence, some of the guys we are lifting up are beginning to wilt. I am afraid of this with Dathan Ritzenhien who just yesterday withdrew from the London Marathon citing yet ANOTHER injury. Gotcher, I believe will nip the heels of the Beard for a good ways, and maybe even force Hall to jump his pace a little soon, but the Beard will pull away as I stated earlier, and win.
That, I am pretty sure, will be the one two punch. Third place, well not sure on that one. There are several guys who have done great things, but we still just do not know what they are fully capable of.
Jorge Torres
Abdi Abdirahman
Jason Lehmkuhle
All three of these guys have had top 10 marathon finishes in the past year or so. Abdirahman represented the US in Beijing in the 10k. All three though, with this past year being a non championship year, and a non Olympic year, simply did not make any splashes. Look for one of these three men to take the third spot.
Because of the deep competition, I do not look for any unknown stealing the spotlight, of course this is what racing is always about. Who is good on what day?
In order to follow the Houston Marathon, your best bet is to follow Runner's World Amby Burfoot as he follows the each race live on www.runnersworld.com.
Enjoy the race, and watch, the Beard wins, and bests his own Half Marathon record.
Ryan Hall, who for the remainder of this article we will call the beard, will be making his return to racing. His last performance was at the Philadelphia Distance Run, where he finished 13th and days later withdrew from the Chicago Marathon. He sacked his coach in pursuit of his own training ideas (something that I consider as noble in this day of dependence on coaches, I do not think the Kenyans have coaches these days, maybe the ones training in Japan, but this is quite the run on parenthetical, so I will stop). Honestly I am going to go ahead and state that Hall is going to win, in fact I think Hall will win going away, he may even set an American record, especially if he is being pushed by others. (FYI-Ryan Hall has never raced with a beard before :))
(This is an edit. I was under the impression that Gotcher was running just the half. It is apparent he is running the full marathon. While I feel this is a mistake as he should run the half, and then run Boston or London in the spring to really face the giants of marathoning, it is a chance for an American to win a big race. I am giong to leave the rest of my thoughts on Gotcher as follows, as I feel that it is how it would play out if Gotcher was running the half)That main other, I believe will be Bret Gotcher. Gotcher American running circles last year by almost breaking 2:10 in his marathon debut in the same city. Gotcher has laid low since and has not made much noise. This I believe is wise. As we in the distance running community are rejoicing at our international resurgence, some of the guys we are lifting up are beginning to wilt. I am afraid of this with Dathan Ritzenhien who just yesterday withdrew from the London Marathon citing yet ANOTHER injury. Gotcher, I believe will nip the heels of the Beard for a good ways, and maybe even force Hall to jump his pace a little soon, but the Beard will pull away as I stated earlier, and win.
That, I am pretty sure, will be the one two punch. Third place, well not sure on that one. There are several guys who have done great things, but we still just do not know what they are fully capable of.
Jorge Torres
Abdi Abdirahman
Jason Lehmkuhle
All three of these guys have had top 10 marathon finishes in the past year or so. Abdirahman represented the US in Beijing in the 10k. All three though, with this past year being a non championship year, and a non Olympic year, simply did not make any splashes. Look for one of these three men to take the third spot.
Because of the deep competition, I do not look for any unknown stealing the spotlight, of course this is what racing is always about. Who is good on what day?
In order to follow the Houston Marathon, your best bet is to follow Runner's World Amby Burfoot as he follows the each race live on www.runnersworld.com.
Enjoy the race, and watch, the Beard wins, and bests his own Half Marathon record.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Cross Country Dreaming
Perhaps one of the greatest disappointments since being hit by a the car, is having to sit out the Winter Cross Country Series. Truly, a great disappointment. Every year, The Memphis Runners Track Club puts on a four race Cross Country series spanning January and February. The distances are varied, 3k, 5k, 8k, and 10k, but the results are always the same-everyone crosses the finish line with a smile and looking very muddy. In the past I had generally just run the 8k, or the 10k, and both times placed in the top 5. This was to be the year where I ran them all, and tried to win the overall series. So, instead of actually getting to run those races, I am going to opine over the great and pure sport that is Cross Country.
Thank goodness for the game Hares and Hounds played in 19th century England. It was the birth of cross country running. The game was simple, the first group, the hares, would set out and leave a trail of paper behind them, to be followed by the chasers, or hounds. Eventually, people simply decided it would be fun to race over hill and dale. Because of the game that it grew from, the runners became known as Harriers. That name has more or less stuck, at least to those who love the sport as I do.
Think about it. The largest cross country race, generally large invitational meets hosted by high schools, often have 300+ runners participating. When the gun sounds, they have go from that wide and sprawling starting line to a space about the width of a large hallway in roughly half a mile or sometimes less. If you fall in that start, thats it. Your mother will be in tears, the medics will find you quickly, and your day will end in an ER. I have seen it, and actually caused it, and its not pretty. Cross country runners are not generally wearing normal running shoes, but shoes that are light, and equipped with painfully sharp spikes to better grip the terrain. The last thing you need is 100 sets of those churning over your crumpled body.
However, its the terrain that separates this from all other running genres, except maybe trail ultra marathons. There is no smooth, well measured, and orderly asphalt track to compete on. Cross country is just that, cross country. Courses are often laden with lung busting hills that come at the worst times, and often do not have a downhill on the other side to recover on. There are even sandpits, logs, and ditches to be hurdled and cleared. At times, the grass is far thicker than you want it to be, and at the other end of the spectrum, the ground can be as dry and hard as concrete. When this happens and there are 300 people charging over the course, a throat choking dust bowl develops. Lest we forget the weather. Unless Zeus himself is throwing bolts of lightning down, the race is always run. In fact, my first overall victory on a cross country course came in a blinding rain. The cross country season, for high schoolers and collegiate athletes begins in the blazing heat of late summer, and often ends in the bone chilling cold. It does not ever matter though, the race is almost always run.
It is sad that Cross Country kind of fades away after runners leave college. There are several cross country races on the international stage that are run during the months of January and February, but often times, the worlds fastest are resting up and preparing for another track season. It is disheartening, but speed sells. The fact is that world records will not ever fall on a cross country course, and for that reason, athletes cannot earn their salaries while getting muddy and charging through snow storms. There is a debate about allowing cross country into the Olympics, but at this point that does not seem likely.
Cross Country is so pure. Its runners vs other runners vs nature. Sure a trail may be have been carved out for them to compete on, but generally the terrain is still quite rugged. There are not officials all over the course to make sure you do not raise your spikes a little high to graze the knee of the guy following a little too closely. They are not out there to keep you from giving the guy that just will not let you pass, though you are faster, a little bit of a shove. It will never be raining too hard, snowing too much, or be to hot or cold. Its raw human talent and mother nature often times unleashed. How could one not possibly want to be a part of this. It is this form of racing and running that I feel is the most pure, and requires even the heartiest and fastest of runners to really check themselves. Sure the marathon is a 26.2 mile grind, and ultra marathons test the ultimate bounds of human ability. But cross country forces you to maintain a 5 minute mile or faster over a quarter mile long muddy hill. Cross country is running as it was ment to be.
Thank goodness for the game Hares and Hounds played in 19th century England. It was the birth of cross country running. The game was simple, the first group, the hares, would set out and leave a trail of paper behind them, to be followed by the chasers, or hounds. Eventually, people simply decided it would be fun to race over hill and dale. Because of the game that it grew from, the runners became known as Harriers. That name has more or less stuck, at least to those who love the sport as I do.
Think about it. The largest cross country race, generally large invitational meets hosted by high schools, often have 300+ runners participating. When the gun sounds, they have go from that wide and sprawling starting line to a space about the width of a large hallway in roughly half a mile or sometimes less. If you fall in that start, thats it. Your mother will be in tears, the medics will find you quickly, and your day will end in an ER. I have seen it, and actually caused it, and its not pretty. Cross country runners are not generally wearing normal running shoes, but shoes that are light, and equipped with painfully sharp spikes to better grip the terrain. The last thing you need is 100 sets of those churning over your crumpled body.
However, its the terrain that separates this from all other running genres, except maybe trail ultra marathons. There is no smooth, well measured, and orderly asphalt track to compete on. Cross country is just that, cross country. Courses are often laden with lung busting hills that come at the worst times, and often do not have a downhill on the other side to recover on. There are even sandpits, logs, and ditches to be hurdled and cleared. At times, the grass is far thicker than you want it to be, and at the other end of the spectrum, the ground can be as dry and hard as concrete. When this happens and there are 300 people charging over the course, a throat choking dust bowl develops. Lest we forget the weather. Unless Zeus himself is throwing bolts of lightning down, the race is always run. In fact, my first overall victory on a cross country course came in a blinding rain. The cross country season, for high schoolers and collegiate athletes begins in the blazing heat of late summer, and often ends in the bone chilling cold. It does not ever matter though, the race is almost always run.
It is sad that Cross Country kind of fades away after runners leave college. There are several cross country races on the international stage that are run during the months of January and February, but often times, the worlds fastest are resting up and preparing for another track season. It is disheartening, but speed sells. The fact is that world records will not ever fall on a cross country course, and for that reason, athletes cannot earn their salaries while getting muddy and charging through snow storms. There is a debate about allowing cross country into the Olympics, but at this point that does not seem likely.
Cross Country is so pure. Its runners vs other runners vs nature. Sure a trail may be have been carved out for them to compete on, but generally the terrain is still quite rugged. There are not officials all over the course to make sure you do not raise your spikes a little high to graze the knee of the guy following a little too closely. They are not out there to keep you from giving the guy that just will not let you pass, though you are faster, a little bit of a shove. It will never be raining too hard, snowing too much, or be to hot or cold. Its raw human talent and mother nature often times unleashed. How could one not possibly want to be a part of this. It is this form of racing and running that I feel is the most pure, and requires even the heartiest and fastest of runners to really check themselves. Sure the marathon is a 26.2 mile grind, and ultra marathons test the ultimate bounds of human ability. But cross country forces you to maintain a 5 minute mile or faster over a quarter mile long muddy hill. Cross country is running as it was ment to be.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The Real Bidders
Well, its obvious my dream of making the 2012 Olympic Trials is out. I had more or less made that decision following NYC, even though I was very pleased with my results. I had decided that 2016 could be realistic goal, then some punk got stoned and went for a drive one afternoon. We will see how that develops.
In lieu of me going to Houston prepared to compete, I think it is time, just a couple days less than a year until the gun goes off, for us to look at who may actually get one of those three coveted spots at the trials. Will it be the usual suspects? Will an upstart, or an unknown training secluded in the woods and racing rarely show up and dominate. The chances of the later are slim, but its worth thinking about.
Over the next week, I will highlight the top 9 men who could vie for those three spots to head to London. The first three are all the guys that most would think are shoe ins. The next three will be the men who have begun to show flashes of brilliance, and could have a chance to sneak in. The final three will be three guys who may not be on anyone's radar. Guys who have been great in the past, or guys whose talent has not yet reached its full potential. Next week, we will look at the women in the same progression.
The Easy Bets: Meb Keflezighi, Ryan Hall, Dathan Riztenhien, in that order.
Some may ask, why Meb ahead of Hall? The answer is simple. Meb has been winning. In NYC in 2009, he shocked the world by not only dominating the ING New York City Marathon, but doing so by forcing a crushing pace on runner up, Robert Cheriuyot of Kenya, that he simply could not match. It was an amazing moment of triumph for Eritrian ex-pat that some had thought had his best days behind him at the conclusion of the 2008 Trials held in Central Park where he also suffered the loss his close friend Ryan Shay who past away at mile 5 of the race. Meb has consistently ran well, and healthily since that result. Finishing top ten in Boston following his New York Victory, and sixth in this past year's installment. He has an Olympic medal under his belt, and seems the most poised to break the tape in Houston.
Ryan Hall is on a journey of sorts right now. He is trying to find a training regimen that best suites him and his beliefs. According to all social media outlets, he appears to be enjoying it. It shocked the running world when Hall finished a disappointing 13th at the Philadelphia Distance Run this past fall. It shocked everyone even more when he decided to withdraw from the Chicago Marathon a few days later where Hall had planned on setting a new American mark at the distance.
Hall has run fast in the past, and there is no one who doubts his ability. He won impressively in 2008 at the trials, and has found himself on the podium in Boston also in 2009. That unfortunately was the last time we saw a flash of brilliance from Hall. He missed out on third in Boston in 2010 because he was goofing down Boylston, and has done nothing else since. His plan was to hit the track this past summer to regain some speed he thought he may have lost, but that never panned out. No one is really going to know where he is at until he gets out on the road and competes. Currently his plan is to return at the 2011 Boston Marathon, as he currently has no plans of prepping anywhere else.
Dathan Ritzenhein is barely hanging on to this third spot, and is going to find himself in deep trouble if any of the next three guys we explore have career days in Houston. Finishing second in 2008 at the Trials, many thought this young man was just blooming and would do great things. He preformed well in Beijing, even finishing one spot ahead of Hall on an oppressive day in Beijing. Since then, he simply has yet to have a breakthrough performance on the roads. He is doing amazing things on the track, and even briefly held the American 5k record in the summer of 2009. However, his only other success on the roads came at the World Half Marathon Championships where he placed third. At the marathon distance, his only success, and the only marathon since the Olympics was the London Marathon in 2009 where he ran a 2:10, after a long campaign declaring this was the time he would dip under 2:10. It was the first marathon after leaving his longtime coach to switch to American marathon legend Alberto Salazar. It simply did not happen. His performance this past November in New York was a disappointment as much was made about his unorthodox training with Salazar. He had been fighting injury for a long time leading into the race, and they tried various methods to keep him healthy, even changing his stride. He finished 8th with American Meb Keflezighi ahead of him. It was his first marathon since spring 2009, and we will see again this spring in London if he is beginning to be the marathoner we all thought he would be back when finished second at the trials and 9th at the subsequent Olympics.
Next installment-we will look at Brett Gotcher, Jorge Torres, and Jason Lehmkuhle.
In lieu of me going to Houston prepared to compete, I think it is time, just a couple days less than a year until the gun goes off, for us to look at who may actually get one of those three coveted spots at the trials. Will it be the usual suspects? Will an upstart, or an unknown training secluded in the woods and racing rarely show up and dominate. The chances of the later are slim, but its worth thinking about.
Over the next week, I will highlight the top 9 men who could vie for those three spots to head to London. The first three are all the guys that most would think are shoe ins. The next three will be the men who have begun to show flashes of brilliance, and could have a chance to sneak in. The final three will be three guys who may not be on anyone's radar. Guys who have been great in the past, or guys whose talent has not yet reached its full potential. Next week, we will look at the women in the same progression.
The Easy Bets: Meb Keflezighi, Ryan Hall, Dathan Riztenhien, in that order.
Some may ask, why Meb ahead of Hall? The answer is simple. Meb has been winning. In NYC in 2009, he shocked the world by not only dominating the ING New York City Marathon, but doing so by forcing a crushing pace on runner up, Robert Cheriuyot of Kenya, that he simply could not match. It was an amazing moment of triumph for Eritrian ex-pat that some had thought had his best days behind him at the conclusion of the 2008 Trials held in Central Park where he also suffered the loss his close friend Ryan Shay who past away at mile 5 of the race. Meb has consistently ran well, and healthily since that result. Finishing top ten in Boston following his New York Victory, and sixth in this past year's installment. He has an Olympic medal under his belt, and seems the most poised to break the tape in Houston.
Ryan Hall is on a journey of sorts right now. He is trying to find a training regimen that best suites him and his beliefs. According to all social media outlets, he appears to be enjoying it. It shocked the running world when Hall finished a disappointing 13th at the Philadelphia Distance Run this past fall. It shocked everyone even more when he decided to withdraw from the Chicago Marathon a few days later where Hall had planned on setting a new American mark at the distance.
Hall has run fast in the past, and there is no one who doubts his ability. He won impressively in 2008 at the trials, and has found himself on the podium in Boston also in 2009. That unfortunately was the last time we saw a flash of brilliance from Hall. He missed out on third in Boston in 2010 because he was goofing down Boylston, and has done nothing else since. His plan was to hit the track this past summer to regain some speed he thought he may have lost, but that never panned out. No one is really going to know where he is at until he gets out on the road and competes. Currently his plan is to return at the 2011 Boston Marathon, as he currently has no plans of prepping anywhere else.
Dathan Ritzenhein is barely hanging on to this third spot, and is going to find himself in deep trouble if any of the next three guys we explore have career days in Houston. Finishing second in 2008 at the Trials, many thought this young man was just blooming and would do great things. He preformed well in Beijing, even finishing one spot ahead of Hall on an oppressive day in Beijing. Since then, he simply has yet to have a breakthrough performance on the roads. He is doing amazing things on the track, and even briefly held the American 5k record in the summer of 2009. However, his only other success on the roads came at the World Half Marathon Championships where he placed third. At the marathon distance, his only success, and the only marathon since the Olympics was the London Marathon in 2009 where he ran a 2:10, after a long campaign declaring this was the time he would dip under 2:10. It was the first marathon after leaving his longtime coach to switch to American marathon legend Alberto Salazar. It simply did not happen. His performance this past November in New York was a disappointment as much was made about his unorthodox training with Salazar. He had been fighting injury for a long time leading into the race, and they tried various methods to keep him healthy, even changing his stride. He finished 8th with American Meb Keflezighi ahead of him. It was his first marathon since spring 2009, and we will see again this spring in London if he is beginning to be the marathoner we all thought he would be back when finished second at the trials and 9th at the subsequent Olympics.
Next installment-we will look at Brett Gotcher, Jorge Torres, and Jason Lehmkuhle.
Monday, January 10, 2011
We Band of Brothers
(Kind of stealing from Running with the Buffaloes, and Shakespeare, but stay with me)
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
From Henry V, Act IV, Scene III
I am currently reading Chris Lear's fascinating documentary about the 1998 University of Colorado men's cross country season. It provides a detailed look into the minds of the coaches, athletes, and observer's over the course of that fall that produced a national championship for the team. This famous bit of monologue was just mentioned in the book, and something the team used to fire themselves up throughout the season. It got me thinking, and some of the events of the past few days, as it relates to the accident and it has the wheels in my brain turning.
Have you ever watched the number 4 and 5 runner on a cross country team run side by side in a race willing each other on to keep passing guys so that they can raise the other team's score and lower theirs? They are not going to win the race as an individual, and achieve glory for themselves alone, but everything they are working for will bring glory to their brothers in arms.
Surely you have also heard the stories, of runners slowing their own pace, setting aside their own goals, to help fallen runners in races, or while out on the trails. They are willing to give up their desires to aide another who suddenly needed the aide of someone who cared while on the course.
How many of us have gone out on those initial runs with friends, who are much slower, and just starting their running journey, but simply did not want to start alone? Of course, the pace lacks, and it gets a little testy when our friends are new to the running world, its lingo, its intricacies, and etiquette, but none the less we do it, because we have all been there before.
We runners, all of us, truly are like a band of brothers and sisters. That goes for the age group warrior all the way to the one and done marathoner. Now that we own a new computer, and I have been able to start posting to the Runner's World forums again, my eyes have been opened as to how we as runners share in each others suffering.
After posting in three groups, I have had no less than 40 or so comments over only a couple of days time, encouraging me. People I do not even know are sending condolences, prayers, and good thoughts my way. I have even tweeted Chris Solinsky about my situation, and he, the current American 10k record holder, responded wishing me well. All because we share a passion for this one great act of the human body, running. It has touched me deeply and has created an even deeper love for this great act.
There is even a group that is now forming to run a local half marathon and 5k in March, to benefit me and my family. How amazing is this? It includes numerous members from ours and several local churches, but they are also runners at heart, and more from the community are even interested in joining alongside. It goes beyond my ability to express gratitude or to be able to put into words what this does for myself and my family emotionally.
We all sweat and pound out the same running routines. We suffer through oppressive summers to nail that fall marathon. We freeze all winter to take our stab at something in the spring. We suffer the painful oxygen debt of the summer 5 and 10k's. These and so many other things we share as a group. There are very few foreign concepts between runners, and that helps bond us. May the running community forever share together in its triumphs and defeats. May we all soar to the peaks of glory together, and provide a shoulder to limp on in the pits of misery. May we always be as a band of brothers, willing and able to carry the flame and togetherness of our sport.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
From Henry V, Act IV, Scene III
I am currently reading Chris Lear's fascinating documentary about the 1998 University of Colorado men's cross country season. It provides a detailed look into the minds of the coaches, athletes, and observer's over the course of that fall that produced a national championship for the team. This famous bit of monologue was just mentioned in the book, and something the team used to fire themselves up throughout the season. It got me thinking, and some of the events of the past few days, as it relates to the accident and it has the wheels in my brain turning.
Have you ever watched the number 4 and 5 runner on a cross country team run side by side in a race willing each other on to keep passing guys so that they can raise the other team's score and lower theirs? They are not going to win the race as an individual, and achieve glory for themselves alone, but everything they are working for will bring glory to their brothers in arms.
Surely you have also heard the stories, of runners slowing their own pace, setting aside their own goals, to help fallen runners in races, or while out on the trails. They are willing to give up their desires to aide another who suddenly needed the aide of someone who cared while on the course.
How many of us have gone out on those initial runs with friends, who are much slower, and just starting their running journey, but simply did not want to start alone? Of course, the pace lacks, and it gets a little testy when our friends are new to the running world, its lingo, its intricacies, and etiquette, but none the less we do it, because we have all been there before.
We runners, all of us, truly are like a band of brothers and sisters. That goes for the age group warrior all the way to the one and done marathoner. Now that we own a new computer, and I have been able to start posting to the Runner's World forums again, my eyes have been opened as to how we as runners share in each others suffering.
After posting in three groups, I have had no less than 40 or so comments over only a couple of days time, encouraging me. People I do not even know are sending condolences, prayers, and good thoughts my way. I have even tweeted Chris Solinsky about my situation, and he, the current American 10k record holder, responded wishing me well. All because we share a passion for this one great act of the human body, running. It has touched me deeply and has created an even deeper love for this great act.
There is even a group that is now forming to run a local half marathon and 5k in March, to benefit me and my family. How amazing is this? It includes numerous members from ours and several local churches, but they are also runners at heart, and more from the community are even interested in joining alongside. It goes beyond my ability to express gratitude or to be able to put into words what this does for myself and my family emotionally.
We all sweat and pound out the same running routines. We suffer through oppressive summers to nail that fall marathon. We freeze all winter to take our stab at something in the spring. We suffer the painful oxygen debt of the summer 5 and 10k's. These and so many other things we share as a group. There are very few foreign concepts between runners, and that helps bond us. May the running community forever share together in its triumphs and defeats. May we all soar to the peaks of glory together, and provide a shoulder to limp on in the pits of misery. May we always be as a band of brothers, willing and able to carry the flame and togetherness of our sport.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
First Trip to the Ortho
Over the past few years as a runner, I have learned that one of our greatest allies, also happens to be one of our greatest enemies. When we roll our ankle on the trails or when we feel that horrific stinging pain of a stress fracture, our first trip is to vist the most trusted orthopedic doctor we can find. While this is the best thing we could ever do for our bones, it is by far the worst thing we could do to our phsyche. I was reminded of this yesterday.
I was actually filled with a fair level of excitement heading in. I have had several trips to different doctors since the accident but this was the first of any significance. I was actually going ton see how my bones were healing and get to ask questions of the man who was one day going to give me the okay to run again.
Once the X-Rays were done, my wife, brother, and I waited patiently for the doctor to arrive. Now before I go any further let ,me clear the air by saying that I am not crazy. I have a few screws loose, yes, but I am not nuts. I understand full well that I have a long road to recovery ahead of me, and that the days of winning 5k's and always qualifying for Boston may be behind me, but I am going to run again, just watch.
Well the doc walked in, and introduced himself, and seemed like a pretty nice guy. This was the doctor who had actually performed my shoulder surgery, so that was fairly comforting. What ensued next was nothing short of demoralizing. We found out that there was no way that we would be able to tell how I was healing yet. Then came the news that I may even have to have a surgery if one of the bones in my leg fails to set properly, but it was too soon to tell. Also, that it would be three months before any weight at all could be put on my leg. That, and we were looking at 6 months before I could return to my job. Then he decided to drop the atomic running A-bomb.
"Not to be grim reaper," he said, "but you may need to find some other form of endorphin achieving sport such as cycling or swimming, to meet those needs. It is going to be hard, running may never feel the same to you, and it is no secret that ortho doctors fell that running long distances is the worst thing one can do to their body."
What!?!?! So let me get this straight. I live in one of the least cycling friendly cities in America, and he wants me riding a bike, that can achieve much faster speeds than running, and the slowest most simple fall can crack my collar bone. Swimming? Swimming? I feel like Jim Mora, playoffs, playoffs? The doctor had just told me that I would most likely never have full range of motion in my shoulder again, so why on earth would I want to do that?
He ended the conversation with telling me that though getting back to running was not impossible, it may take more than I was willing to give, and it may not produce the same results, oh and orthopedic doctors think running is one of the worst things you can do to your body. He was encouraging and told me he would help me achieve what ever goals I had and that we would become close friends, and that if I returned to running he would be there, but still, his obligatory you may never this or that again had done their trick.
After that, my 40 or so stitches and 25 staples were removed, which emded up being much more tedious due to the fact that I had scabbed over almost all of the stitches, but I got through it.
I will say my mental resolve was still pretty strong,but there was still a fair amount of worry I was dealing with, and then a good friend, and local elite ultra runner shared some very encouraging words to me
After telling him what the doc said, he responded, "whatever, human spirit is much stronger than any 'tangible' componet medicine can measure. You're gonna be just fine. You can count on that. X rays don't show what's in the heart."
Amen to that brother, amen to that.
I was actually filled with a fair level of excitement heading in. I have had several trips to different doctors since the accident but this was the first of any significance. I was actually going ton see how my bones were healing and get to ask questions of the man who was one day going to give me the okay to run again.
Once the X-Rays were done, my wife, brother, and I waited patiently for the doctor to arrive. Now before I go any further let ,me clear the air by saying that I am not crazy. I have a few screws loose, yes, but I am not nuts. I understand full well that I have a long road to recovery ahead of me, and that the days of winning 5k's and always qualifying for Boston may be behind me, but I am going to run again, just watch.
Well the doc walked in, and introduced himself, and seemed like a pretty nice guy. This was the doctor who had actually performed my shoulder surgery, so that was fairly comforting. What ensued next was nothing short of demoralizing. We found out that there was no way that we would be able to tell how I was healing yet. Then came the news that I may even have to have a surgery if one of the bones in my leg fails to set properly, but it was too soon to tell. Also, that it would be three months before any weight at all could be put on my leg. That, and we were looking at 6 months before I could return to my job. Then he decided to drop the atomic running A-bomb.
"Not to be grim reaper," he said, "but you may need to find some other form of endorphin achieving sport such as cycling or swimming, to meet those needs. It is going to be hard, running may never feel the same to you, and it is no secret that ortho doctors fell that running long distances is the worst thing one can do to their body."
What!?!?! So let me get this straight. I live in one of the least cycling friendly cities in America, and he wants me riding a bike, that can achieve much faster speeds than running, and the slowest most simple fall can crack my collar bone. Swimming? Swimming? I feel like Jim Mora, playoffs, playoffs? The doctor had just told me that I would most likely never have full range of motion in my shoulder again, so why on earth would I want to do that?
He ended the conversation with telling me that though getting back to running was not impossible, it may take more than I was willing to give, and it may not produce the same results, oh and orthopedic doctors think running is one of the worst things you can do to your body. He was encouraging and told me he would help me achieve what ever goals I had and that we would become close friends, and that if I returned to running he would be there, but still, his obligatory you may never this or that again had done their trick.
After that, my 40 or so stitches and 25 staples were removed, which emded up being much more tedious due to the fact that I had scabbed over almost all of the stitches, but I got through it.
I will say my mental resolve was still pretty strong,but there was still a fair amount of worry I was dealing with, and then a good friend, and local elite ultra runner shared some very encouraging words to me
After telling him what the doc said, he responded, "whatever, human spirit is much stronger than any 'tangible' componet medicine can measure. You're gonna be just fine. You can count on that. X rays don't show what's in the heart."
Amen to that brother, amen to that.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The Dream Lives
Many of us will ring in the new year in the same manner. We will watch endless football games and dream and wish that we were the ones wearing the pads and making the plays. In October many will watch the fall classic and remember the days when we called our shots in the backyard during hotly contested games of whiffle ball.
Who would not want that chance to share the same field as many sports legends and heroes of our time? What little girl would not give anything to lace up her skates and compete for an Olympic medal. What little boy would not want to exchange high fives with his favorite sports legend after they competed together for a victory? Chances are, for more than 99% percent of our society, those chances will never come.
Those of us who run however, get the chance to live out those dreams.
Other than elite track events, world championships, and the Olympics, casual runners, local elites, and the first timer, can toe the line with gold medalists and world record holders. They get the chance to say they were competing against the world's best. In fact, even this past year, 40,000 New York City competitors, can say they defeated the world record holder Haile Gebrasellise as he dropped out at mile 16.
There will never be a time when a football enthusiast will get the chance to play a single down with any pro or even college football team just because they wanted to.
Running is truly the people's sport. The 11 minute miler will get to raise his arms in celebration over the same finish line as the winner who pockets a six figure purse and averaged 4:50 per mile. In what other sport can a competitor have 2.5 million people cheering for them in person? Granted not every race is like that, but many are.
In the end we get to share our journey with those that we will never actually get to compete against. Runners can keep their childhood dreams and live them out as fully as possible. At the same time we are maintaining a healthy lifestyle and bettering our own future. Men and women who dedicate whole weekends to drinking beer and playing softball to the point of fights breaking out could learn a lesson. Runners really do compete against the pros, and we do it in front of thousands of spectators and it pays dividends tonour bodies that will last for years to come. So run on, dream the dreams, and remember us runners have many more glory days to come.
Who would not want that chance to share the same field as many sports legends and heroes of our time? What little girl would not give anything to lace up her skates and compete for an Olympic medal. What little boy would not want to exchange high fives with his favorite sports legend after they competed together for a victory? Chances are, for more than 99% percent of our society, those chances will never come.
Those of us who run however, get the chance to live out those dreams.
Other than elite track events, world championships, and the Olympics, casual runners, local elites, and the first timer, can toe the line with gold medalists and world record holders. They get the chance to say they were competing against the world's best. In fact, even this past year, 40,000 New York City competitors, can say they defeated the world record holder Haile Gebrasellise as he dropped out at mile 16.
There will never be a time when a football enthusiast will get the chance to play a single down with any pro or even college football team just because they wanted to.
Running is truly the people's sport. The 11 minute miler will get to raise his arms in celebration over the same finish line as the winner who pockets a six figure purse and averaged 4:50 per mile. In what other sport can a competitor have 2.5 million people cheering for them in person? Granted not every race is like that, but many are.
In the end we get to share our journey with those that we will never actually get to compete against. Runners can keep their childhood dreams and live them out as fully as possible. At the same time we are maintaining a healthy lifestyle and bettering our own future. Men and women who dedicate whole weekends to drinking beer and playing softball to the point of fights breaking out could learn a lesson. Runners really do compete against the pros, and we do it in front of thousands of spectators and it pays dividends tonour bodies that will last for years to come. So run on, dream the dreams, and remember us runners have many more glory days to come.
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