Runners run. That's what they do. We all run for different reasons and each reason is exactly the right one for that person at that time. It's therapy....it's training for a personal best...we run to things and we run away from things....sometimes we run to forget things. Running doesn't define us but it shapes us. It can keep you grounded, centered, focused. What happens when a runner doesn't run anymore? There's a feeling of being out of sync, life's rhythm is out of balance, you feel lost.
Though I've been running this year I am clearly out of rhythm. I've ran 10 races this year. I started with a 5k in January that had me jumping into Lake Washington, ran a 5 miler, a 187 mile relay, a triathlon relay, a 5k obstacle course, and many 'regular' 5k's mixed in. I started this year saying that I wanted it to be different and my races have reflected that. What I didn't know is that my whole life would change this year. Holy F***! I got more than I bargained for. I am upside down and inside out. I look in the mirror and see someone I don't recognize. I know that person is a good person inside but constant actions prove otherwise. I'm lost.
I continue to lose without gaining. If this were a weight loss program it'd be great, but its not, it's my life. It's been like trying to hold sand in your hands only to see it pour through your fingers. You squeeze your hands tighter to stop it only to see it flow out faster. What you have left in your hands are scattered grains of who you are, who you were. You quickly start to pick up the sand to put your life back together and the tide comes in and washes part of it away, never to come back. You see that what was washed away were those things you never wanted to lose. The tide won't wash away the pain you caused others, promises broken, trust shattered. Life makes you keep those things. Maybe as a reminder. Maybe as punishment, a weight you must carry for what you did. I have made poor choices and saw myself doing it. It was like watching someone else, wondering who that person is but unable to slow the string of stupidity.
I didn't sleep last night, not a single minute. I spent the night looking out my window into the backyard and out into the darkness. Trying to understand my self-destruction. How many chances should a guy get in life? The answer is one. That's all any of us should ever need to always do the right thing. I got two and yet found a way to destroy that. If you see a mushroom cloud in the distance, I was probably there. Number three will never come. I realized a lot throughout the night. Much I won't share even in this blog. One thing I did realize is that I am me when I do for others without thinking about what's in it for me and letting life embrace me, come to me. I got away from that only to find myself grasping at the sand slipping through my fingers.
Today will be day one. A day of good decisions and listening to the voice that I recognize, ignoring the one that has been lurking in the dark, whispering in my ear. Life is not about me but about those around me. I have a heavy heart for those I have wronged and treated badly. I don't expect their forgiveness nor do I believe I deserve it. All one can do is step forward because you can't change yesterday. I'll run again. My rhythm will come back. Michael will come back. Light snow is falling and it makes me smile. Time to go brush my teeth - I hope the mirror remembers me.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Pineapple Classic
I ran with a pineapple today. It may sound like I've burned through all my friends and I'm so hard up that I'm down to running with fruit. Some say I've not been myself lately so it could be possible that I'm down to fruit and vegetables. Whens the last time fruit told you that you looked sick....that you don't seem happy....that you need to put on some weight....that it wondered where the "real" you went...? Take it easy folks, I don't hear fruit talking to me, that'd be crazy. At least that's what the carrots told me. I have heard these statements from friends and I appreciate each and every comment and the care and love behind their meaning. They see me off my game and care enough to point it out. That's a friend. Anybody can tell you what you want to hear. If you simply want nothing but good news all the time start hanging out in the produce aisle...baby carrots are nothing if not generous.
The 5k today was quite an event. It was not just a 5k, it was an obstacle course. Most of the Tri team joined forces to tackle this course and it was so great to see everyone. I missed those who couldn't attend. You should have seen the get-ups we wore. There were grass skirts, hair in rollers, bathrobes, special shirts, funky sunglasses, faces painted, and when Steve sends some pictures I'll post them on my blog. I wore a bib of fake abs. A nice clean unblemished six pack of semi real looking flesh that turned heads. More than a couple women took a snapshot - ok, I goated them into it but who knows how many Facebook posts Mr Abs will show up on....I'll do my best to forget about the two guys who took pictures. I don't think they were thinking Facebook....
Our tribe took off at 11:00 and I guess in my mind we were all going to run together. Not so much. Pineapple fever took over and BAM! we were everywhere. Oh well, I still had my team and there wasn't an obstacle we couldn't overcome. Sharon started with the pineapple and if you ask me, was a bit too comfortable with it. She had it tucked under her arm like a fullback going in for a touchdown. I don't know why it was so funny to watch. A girl and her pineapple...Shane...Shane...come back Shane. No one will get that but me. Deborah and Kerrie were great. They ran side by side from start to finish - loved that!
We hit the first wall and by then mud had become the rule. Helping each other up and over the wall was a test of patience and mud tolerance. We all made it and soon I was carrying the pineapple. It was a compact little sucker. Next was a crawl on your belly under a net challenge. More mud. It was more of the same until we came to a section of the course where you had to jump over a ditch of mud (what else) or go around. We all jumped. Kerrie leaped, made it, then slide back in. Her foot got stuck. She pulled it out and her shoe was still there stuck in the mud. By now her sock was caked with mud. It was so funny and she was such a good sport.
Up ahead we saw the first pit stop. An aid station. Upon inspection we found it to be a beer vendor - free samples. Not wanting to be rude I had a small taste. Small taste. Now what happened next has nothing to do with the er, aid station. We hit a very muddy spot and as I was turning I lost my balance and when down. Smack down in the mud. Sure laugh. Done? How about now? Ok, it was funny. Except that my knee seemed to find the only rock out there. Tore my running 'tights' and cut my knee in two places. At the end of the race I did go to the medic tent so they could clean it out. They had to pick some dirt and crap out of it. Painful but I do have a low pain threshold. Had the 'nurses' been a bit on the hot side, I might have felt the need to lay down and rest a little. As that was not the case, I made my way out as quickly as possible - I didn't like the way they were eyeing my abs...
The end of the race had a 30 foot slip and slide. Oh sweet mother of pearl! As they dumped fresh water on it I dived belly first and coasted from one end to the other. How cool was that?! I loved it! Popped up and it was just a few yards to the finish. The rest of the gang was already there so we made our way to the free food and beer. The beer was good and the food ok. It didn't matter, we were done and had survived. As we snacked many a runner walked by in their costume. Four girls walked by, each with flashing red lights on their nipples (can you say nipples in a blog?). I admit I had to look at couple ten times. It's not something you see every day you know. My appreciation to everyone for holding a towel around me so I could strip naked and put on some fresh clothes. I know you all looked away...and tell me, why the snickers? Oooh! Never mind...
I had fun today. It wasn't what I expected and started a little rocky. Most of that on me. I could blame it on getting over a chest cold or my nearly healed rolled ankle but that wouldn't be the whole truth. Truth is I still struggle with decisions made and the impact it's had on others. I don't mean to be a bad person. In fact I think I'm quite the opposite. For some reason it doesn't show or it just comes out wrong. I could say what the fuck and just be myself but I made a commitment to swear less in my blog which I have been quite successful up to this sentence. So I will simply say that I will be myself. I will get there. Don't give up on me. Keep helping. Mikey will be back. Until then keep texting me, don't take life too serious, never cheat your fitness, Run...don't jog.
PS. I'm still wearing the abs....
The 5k today was quite an event. It was not just a 5k, it was an obstacle course. Most of the Tri team joined forces to tackle this course and it was so great to see everyone. I missed those who couldn't attend. You should have seen the get-ups we wore. There were grass skirts, hair in rollers, bathrobes, special shirts, funky sunglasses, faces painted, and when Steve sends some pictures I'll post them on my blog. I wore a bib of fake abs. A nice clean unblemished six pack of semi real looking flesh that turned heads. More than a couple women took a snapshot - ok, I goated them into it but who knows how many Facebook posts Mr Abs will show up on....I'll do my best to forget about the two guys who took pictures. I don't think they were thinking Facebook....
Our tribe took off at 11:00 and I guess in my mind we were all going to run together. Not so much. Pineapple fever took over and BAM! we were everywhere. Oh well, I still had my team and there wasn't an obstacle we couldn't overcome. Sharon started with the pineapple and if you ask me, was a bit too comfortable with it. She had it tucked under her arm like a fullback going in for a touchdown. I don't know why it was so funny to watch. A girl and her pineapple...Shane...Shane...come back Shane. No one will get that but me. Deborah and Kerrie were great. They ran side by side from start to finish - loved that!
We hit the first wall and by then mud had become the rule. Helping each other up and over the wall was a test of patience and mud tolerance. We all made it and soon I was carrying the pineapple. It was a compact little sucker. Next was a crawl on your belly under a net challenge. More mud. It was more of the same until we came to a section of the course where you had to jump over a ditch of mud (what else) or go around. We all jumped. Kerrie leaped, made it, then slide back in. Her foot got stuck. She pulled it out and her shoe was still there stuck in the mud. By now her sock was caked with mud. It was so funny and she was such a good sport.
Up ahead we saw the first pit stop. An aid station. Upon inspection we found it to be a beer vendor - free samples. Not wanting to be rude I had a small taste. Small taste. Now what happened next has nothing to do with the er, aid station. We hit a very muddy spot and as I was turning I lost my balance and when down. Smack down in the mud. Sure laugh. Done? How about now? Ok, it was funny. Except that my knee seemed to find the only rock out there. Tore my running 'tights' and cut my knee in two places. At the end of the race I did go to the medic tent so they could clean it out. They had to pick some dirt and crap out of it. Painful but I do have a low pain threshold. Had the 'nurses' been a bit on the hot side, I might have felt the need to lay down and rest a little. As that was not the case, I made my way out as quickly as possible - I didn't like the way they were eyeing my abs...
The end of the race had a 30 foot slip and slide. Oh sweet mother of pearl! As they dumped fresh water on it I dived belly first and coasted from one end to the other. How cool was that?! I loved it! Popped up and it was just a few yards to the finish. The rest of the gang was already there so we made our way to the free food and beer. The beer was good and the food ok. It didn't matter, we were done and had survived. As we snacked many a runner walked by in their costume. Four girls walked by, each with flashing red lights on their nipples (can you say nipples in a blog?). I admit I had to look at couple ten times. It's not something you see every day you know. My appreciation to everyone for holding a towel around me so I could strip naked and put on some fresh clothes. I know you all looked away...and tell me, why the snickers? Oooh! Never mind...
I had fun today. It wasn't what I expected and started a little rocky. Most of that on me. I could blame it on getting over a chest cold or my nearly healed rolled ankle but that wouldn't be the whole truth. Truth is I still struggle with decisions made and the impact it's had on others. I don't mean to be a bad person. In fact I think I'm quite the opposite. For some reason it doesn't show or it just comes out wrong. I could say what the fuck and just be myself but I made a commitment to swear less in my blog which I have been quite successful up to this sentence. So I will simply say that I will be myself. I will get there. Don't give up on me. Keep helping. Mikey will be back. Until then keep texting me, don't take life too serious, never cheat your fitness, Run...don't jog.
PS. I'm still wearing the abs....
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Trail Running
I'm in love. There you go, I said it. It's out there now. No more sneaking around. I can now embrace the forest with my head held high. I love trail running. Wow, that's a weight off my chest. Go figure. I knew I was in love before but today sealed the deal. Sharon, Jen, Robin, and I arrived at the Redmond Watershed around 9:00 and after a short warm up, disappeared into the forest. It was my longest trail run at 90 minutes but it certainly didn't feel like it. That's the magic of the trail.
I should back up and say that the drive to the trail was amazing. Trees are embracing Fall and Fall is doing her best to strut her stuff. I use "her" because a man would simply have no patience for changing colors. We'd cut to the chase, drop our leaves, and hunker down for the winter. Now we all appreciate Fall colors but Sharon...Sharon nearly slips into a trance with each and every tree. She sees the sheer beauty of each and appreciates them for what they each have to offer up, almost as if they had a personality of their own. The rest of us enjoy them as well however we found our job being more of a "hey the lights red"...."we should drive in only one lane at a time"....you get the picture.
The trail. We started out on a skinny trail covered with hundreds of beautiful leaves, piles of them. It was fun to run through them. I always think of those car commercials where the car drives though leaves and they fly up as the car rushes by. I looked behind me as I ran and saw very little movement....The down side to the leaves is that they cover up rocks, twigs, and the ever frightening pile of horse poop. Yes, you know you're in trouble when the leaf pile squashes down a little too far. That's why I don't drive to the trail - my car and 'squishy' don't do well together.
It was an incredible experience switching from one trail to the next, around corners, up and down, as the trail wound throughout. Everyone did great. Jen and Sharon pushed the pace from time to time as Jen is working on building her 5k speed. She did really well. Robin set a PR today, running for the longest time ever! She did great. Robin has a way of finding her pace and pushing forward. Determination is a mainstay on her face - love it! Jen ran a couple weeks ago and today was night and day - she rocked it. Sharon ran a zillion miles as she would run back and forth to make sure everyone was staying together and no one got lost. She had me pick up the pace with her for a short stretch and I was right there with her. For a minute anyway. Then she does whatever it is she does and with little apparent effort she was soon well ahead of me. Note how I like to phrase it that she is fast so I can avoid the nasty thought that I might be slow...I am not! Just not as fast as some...
After the run we headed to Starbucks for our post run treat and consumed our rewards on the drive back home. We laughed so hard that I nearly had a 180 degree, non-fat, no foam latte find it's way through and out of my nose. Robin and her "Mr Hankey and the Christmas Poo" started us off and it never stopped. It's clear that we are very funny people! I won't even start with the fake accents.....I had a great time on the run and great people make all the difference in the world. Today was definitely a good day and I look forward to many more. Right now though I need to find a shower and scrub the trail off my body, clean some very dirty clothes, and sooner or later spray off the bottom of my running shoes. Seems that I landed in more than one "squashy" pile of leaves today.
I should back up and say that the drive to the trail was amazing. Trees are embracing Fall and Fall is doing her best to strut her stuff. I use "her" because a man would simply have no patience for changing colors. We'd cut to the chase, drop our leaves, and hunker down for the winter. Now we all appreciate Fall colors but Sharon...Sharon nearly slips into a trance with each and every tree. She sees the sheer beauty of each and appreciates them for what they each have to offer up, almost as if they had a personality of their own. The rest of us enjoy them as well however we found our job being more of a "hey the lights red"...."we should drive in only one lane at a time"....you get the picture.
The trail. We started out on a skinny trail covered with hundreds of beautiful leaves, piles of them. It was fun to run through them. I always think of those car commercials where the car drives though leaves and they fly up as the car rushes by. I looked behind me as I ran and saw very little movement....The down side to the leaves is that they cover up rocks, twigs, and the ever frightening pile of horse poop. Yes, you know you're in trouble when the leaf pile squashes down a little too far. That's why I don't drive to the trail - my car and 'squishy' don't do well together.
It was an incredible experience switching from one trail to the next, around corners, up and down, as the trail wound throughout. Everyone did great. Jen and Sharon pushed the pace from time to time as Jen is working on building her 5k speed. She did really well. Robin set a PR today, running for the longest time ever! She did great. Robin has a way of finding her pace and pushing forward. Determination is a mainstay on her face - love it! Jen ran a couple weeks ago and today was night and day - she rocked it. Sharon ran a zillion miles as she would run back and forth to make sure everyone was staying together and no one got lost. She had me pick up the pace with her for a short stretch and I was right there with her. For a minute anyway. Then she does whatever it is she does and with little apparent effort she was soon well ahead of me. Note how I like to phrase it that she is fast so I can avoid the nasty thought that I might be slow...I am not! Just not as fast as some...
After the run we headed to Starbucks for our post run treat and consumed our rewards on the drive back home. We laughed so hard that I nearly had a 180 degree, non-fat, no foam latte find it's way through and out of my nose. Robin and her "Mr Hankey and the Christmas Poo" started us off and it never stopped. It's clear that we are very funny people! I won't even start with the fake accents.....I had a great time on the run and great people make all the difference in the world. Today was definitely a good day and I look forward to many more. Right now though I need to find a shower and scrub the trail off my body, clean some very dirty clothes, and sooner or later spray off the bottom of my running shoes. Seems that I landed in more than one "squashy" pile of leaves today.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Dawg Bite
It's Dawg Dash weekend! The 25th annual Dawg Dash that is. Super if you're a runner or a Huskie fan, not such a big deal if your loyalties fall with Washington State. I've never been one to even come close to understanding why alumni become so freakin passionate about their teams. I mean crap, most people never played a sport in college and they graduated decades ago, let it go....Maybe I don't "get it" because I didn't have the opportunity to live that college life. I spent years earning my degree by going to school at night. Working all day, school for 4 hours a day until 10:00pm, study, homework, wake up and do it again. That's a long haul...more years then I care to remember. All I know is that I had long hair when I started and couldn't find my hair by the time I finished. I'm glad I did it and I value the time spent and the knowledge earned.
My 5K weekend started Saturday night with Albert as we got together for some pizza and catching up. It had been too long (my fault) and it was good to kick back and shoot the shit. "Shoot the shit" - where did that phrase come from? I don't really want to know but farms and cow pies come to mind. Anyone reading this not familiar with a cow pie, just know it isn't something you can order at Sharie's or the French Bakery...
Our conversation flowed and the pizza was fantastic. We also had a couple suicide blondes. I know what you're thinking, a suicide blonde sounds a lot like a $20 hooker. Rest assured that while that may be true, in our case it was a type of beer. Not being a big drinker I quickly downed the first one and moved to the second. Yes, by now my second blonde was much more attractive than her younger and now forgotten sister. I was however a complete gentleman, sipped rather than gulped, made no promises, and might have even used my real name. I got home and maybe, just maybe stumbled across a bit of rum. How it got there I do not know. What I do know is that Sunday morning came quick...too quick. Thought I might need a bit of the "hair of the dog" - defined as a measure of drink intended to cure a hangover. Thankfully I didn't really have a hangover. My head hurt a bit but I have been spending an awful lot of time thinking these days - that can do it you know. My tummy was whispering to me in an outside voice but then again, now that I have a couple abs, maybe it was just wanting a little attention.
We had quite the racing crew. Albert running the 10K, Heather, Iain, Jen, Robin, Sharon, and myself tackling the 5K (note how everyone is in alphabetical order - very tidy). We noticed the moon which seemed to be full - I love a full moon, so cool and the Fall foliage was beautiful. Sharon commented that every Fall should be this beautiful. She's right, the colors were amazing. The weather on the other hand was terrible. Rain....rain....did I mention rain? Had a dash of wind pop through from time to time just to say hi. When race time approached we had to climb out of the car - had I mentioned that we were piled in the car trying to stay warm and dry? 9:00 comes as we decide to get out and warm up. No sooner did we step out and the big guy upstairs opened the heavens and down came the buckets of rain. It was so stupid it was funny.
Now by the time we hit the bathrooms to ah, let's just say it, pee and get warm (Ok, satisfied now?), the rain stopped. We all slid into our personal warm up routines to get ready for our race. Some do more than others. Sharon and Albert knock out what seems a mile or two. I simply jog around, do a couple strides (strictly to intimidate the competition), and save my juice for the race. It's limited and I hate to spend it early as the recovery time is a good 20 minutes.
The race itself was fairly uneventful. We all run at different paces so other than seeing Sharon disappear in front of me early on (same play, different race), I ran my race the best I could. The first half of the course is all incline and I do my best running downhill. A week ago I had tossed out there that I would finish in the top 10 in my age division. That's saying something for this race because with a couple thousand runners, it's pretty competitive. I don't do it to be cocky I do it to put competitive pressure on myself. For that extra push. I'm glad I did because I wasn't feeling 100% but knew that I better push past the side ache and queasiness. Turns out that I finished 5th in my age division and 76th out of 1205. You can read that again if you want.
Our rockstar today was Sharon. Though she lied about her age, er, I mean accidentally wrote the wrong number down - I too have always thought 3's and 4's looked a lot alike. I might have to have a talk with her parents about this as I've seen this before and we may need an intervention before a pattern develops. Regardless, she came in 1st in the age divisions 30-39 and 40-49 which are the two most competitive. She was 3rd overall for woman and finished 40th out of 1205 runners. Too bad she had to leave right after the race because there's a medal with her name on it.
Everyone had a great race. Albert came through the 10K finished 14 of 110 in his division and 83 of 1077! Iain and Heather - our husband and wife team - hit paces of 13:09 and 11:39 respectively. It was Iain's first 5K! It's so cool because he's been walking while the Tri group ran and has worked his way to a 5K. I hope he's hooked because it was so sweet to see the two of them celebrate and congratulate each other - lot's of love there. Jen smoked a 9:23 pace and finished 16th of 140 in her division - way to go Jen, you are getting faster!!! Maybe Devil Hill is your friend after all! Though Robin has completed several Tri's, this was her first standalone 5K. She kicked a 10:32 pace and was 48th in her division of 156. Coincidence that everyone did so well AND are members of the now world famous Tri team? I think not!
Race complete and freebies consumed, it was time to go. Sharon had already left as Little T was having his birthday party today. That kid is such a crackup, but I'll leave that for another blog. Which by the way I may do. I've been told that I should blog more often which means I'll have to share my thoughts on more than just a race experience. I like to write and if you can stomach them, I invite you to come around from time to time and give me a read. Oh, back to my original line of thinking. We were leaving...Yes, leaving. Well wouldn't you know it, the heavens opened up once again and it was a down pour. We got to the car soaked to the skin and cold. Funny thing is, I wouldn't have changed a thing. That's a lie. I would have changed a couple things - one being my time :)
You may have noticed that this blog is not as dark as a few of my most recent. While not every day is a great one, they are getting better. Friends can make such an amazing difference and they should never be taken for granted but instead embraced and thanked for what they give, who they are. Many of the Tri team are running the Pineapple Classic in a couple of weeks. I look forward to that and the training that will take place between now and then. Multi-Sports is around the corner and that excites me too. If it delivers half of what the Tri program did, it'll be a home run. Until the next time, do your best at whatever you do, forgive when you can, hug often, and know that hearts don't change, people do. If in doubt, Run...don't jog.
My 5K weekend started Saturday night with Albert as we got together for some pizza and catching up. It had been too long (my fault) and it was good to kick back and shoot the shit. "Shoot the shit" - where did that phrase come from? I don't really want to know but farms and cow pies come to mind. Anyone reading this not familiar with a cow pie, just know it isn't something you can order at Sharie's or the French Bakery...
Our conversation flowed and the pizza was fantastic. We also had a couple suicide blondes. I know what you're thinking, a suicide blonde sounds a lot like a $20 hooker. Rest assured that while that may be true, in our case it was a type of beer. Not being a big drinker I quickly downed the first one and moved to the second. Yes, by now my second blonde was much more attractive than her younger and now forgotten sister. I was however a complete gentleman, sipped rather than gulped, made no promises, and might have even used my real name. I got home and maybe, just maybe stumbled across a bit of rum. How it got there I do not know. What I do know is that Sunday morning came quick...too quick. Thought I might need a bit of the "hair of the dog" - defined as a measure of drink intended to cure a hangover. Thankfully I didn't really have a hangover. My head hurt a bit but I have been spending an awful lot of time thinking these days - that can do it you know. My tummy was whispering to me in an outside voice but then again, now that I have a couple abs, maybe it was just wanting a little attention.
We had quite the racing crew. Albert running the 10K, Heather, Iain, Jen, Robin, Sharon, and myself tackling the 5K (note how everyone is in alphabetical order - very tidy). We noticed the moon which seemed to be full - I love a full moon, so cool and the Fall foliage was beautiful. Sharon commented that every Fall should be this beautiful. She's right, the colors were amazing. The weather on the other hand was terrible. Rain....rain....did I mention rain? Had a dash of wind pop through from time to time just to say hi. When race time approached we had to climb out of the car - had I mentioned that we were piled in the car trying to stay warm and dry? 9:00 comes as we decide to get out and warm up. No sooner did we step out and the big guy upstairs opened the heavens and down came the buckets of rain. It was so stupid it was funny.
Now by the time we hit the bathrooms to ah, let's just say it, pee and get warm (Ok, satisfied now?), the rain stopped. We all slid into our personal warm up routines to get ready for our race. Some do more than others. Sharon and Albert knock out what seems a mile or two. I simply jog around, do a couple strides (strictly to intimidate the competition), and save my juice for the race. It's limited and I hate to spend it early as the recovery time is a good 20 minutes.
The race itself was fairly uneventful. We all run at different paces so other than seeing Sharon disappear in front of me early on (same play, different race), I ran my race the best I could. The first half of the course is all incline and I do my best running downhill. A week ago I had tossed out there that I would finish in the top 10 in my age division. That's saying something for this race because with a couple thousand runners, it's pretty competitive. I don't do it to be cocky I do it to put competitive pressure on myself. For that extra push. I'm glad I did because I wasn't feeling 100% but knew that I better push past the side ache and queasiness. Turns out that I finished 5th in my age division and 76th out of 1205. You can read that again if you want.
Our rockstar today was Sharon. Though she lied about her age, er, I mean accidentally wrote the wrong number down - I too have always thought 3's and 4's looked a lot alike. I might have to have a talk with her parents about this as I've seen this before and we may need an intervention before a pattern develops. Regardless, she came in 1st in the age divisions 30-39 and 40-49 which are the two most competitive. She was 3rd overall for woman and finished 40th out of 1205 runners. Too bad she had to leave right after the race because there's a medal with her name on it.
Everyone had a great race. Albert came through the 10K finished 14 of 110 in his division and 83 of 1077! Iain and Heather - our husband and wife team - hit paces of 13:09 and 11:39 respectively. It was Iain's first 5K! It's so cool because he's been walking while the Tri group ran and has worked his way to a 5K. I hope he's hooked because it was so sweet to see the two of them celebrate and congratulate each other - lot's of love there. Jen smoked a 9:23 pace and finished 16th of 140 in her division - way to go Jen, you are getting faster!!! Maybe Devil Hill is your friend after all! Though Robin has completed several Tri's, this was her first standalone 5K. She kicked a 10:32 pace and was 48th in her division of 156. Coincidence that everyone did so well AND are members of the now world famous Tri team? I think not!
Race complete and freebies consumed, it was time to go. Sharon had already left as Little T was having his birthday party today. That kid is such a crackup, but I'll leave that for another blog. Which by the way I may do. I've been told that I should blog more often which means I'll have to share my thoughts on more than just a race experience. I like to write and if you can stomach them, I invite you to come around from time to time and give me a read. Oh, back to my original line of thinking. We were leaving...Yes, leaving. Well wouldn't you know it, the heavens opened up once again and it was a down pour. We got to the car soaked to the skin and cold. Funny thing is, I wouldn't have changed a thing. That's a lie. I would have changed a couple things - one being my time :)
You may have noticed that this blog is not as dark as a few of my most recent. While not every day is a great one, they are getting better. Friends can make such an amazing difference and they should never be taken for granted but instead embraced and thanked for what they give, who they are. Many of the Tri team are running the Pineapple Classic in a couple of weeks. I look forward to that and the training that will take place between now and then. Multi-Sports is around the corner and that excites me too. If it delivers half of what the Tri program did, it'll be a home run. Until the next time, do your best at whatever you do, forgive when you can, hug often, and know that hearts don't change, people do. If in doubt, Run...don't jog.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Olive Branch
I admit it. The past two months have been shit. Decisions made created a new world for me. A roller coaster of emotion - feelings hit me from every angle and I didn't know how to react. Felt like I was in a boxing ring with my arms tied behind my back. I always try and live in my "happy place" where life is good and evil doesn't exist. So when things go bad I struggle to figure out how to dig out. Let's be clear before anyone feels sorry for me - the decisions made were mine. If you want to place blame - I'm your man. Some decisions were the right ones, others simply fucked the world up. Most created ripples, splashing onto the innocent. It would be easy to say I don't care, but I do. I burned trust and still can't find my way back. If you know me you know I'm already directionally challenged so this journey is like racing with a blindfold on - you want to go fast, fix it fast, but all you do is run off course.
What helps me is running. If you follow me on Facebook you'll see that I have been running a lot. It gives one time to think, to inflect some personal pain, to test yourself. Racing intensifies this. So I heard about a 5k and decided to race. I got lucky and Sharon decided to run too. Upside: she's a blast. Downside: I would place one spot further back in the standings. Her slow day is quicker than my fast day. Anyway, we arrived at the race and each dropped $40 for same day registration - $40....that's almost $13 a mile. It wasn't easy but I managed to hand over a couple twenties. "Sir...sir...you need to let go of the money now..."
Before we knew it we were at the start line. It wasn't a huge race but it seemed well organized - we were starting on time! Sharon was up near the start line, I was back a little. Just before the race started a couple women pulled forward up with Sharon, maybe a tad in front. I chuckled to myself knowing what they didn't know. Sharon's fast. More important though was that I knew she wouldn't appreciate their move. She didn't. The gun when off and in short order our speedster was out in front and the women were fading fast. I passed them with a smile. It was all I could manage because I was determined to keep Sharon in sight - that red/orange sports bra would be easy to spot. Right there next to me was this 12 year old kid that hung in front for about a quarter mile. He was flying but soon spent his gas and slowed.
I was fast out of the gate as well. My first mile was 6:54 and I felt pretty good. It was a wonky course. Lots of turns and it wasn't always clear where you should go. Sharon was well ahead of me and I saw her coming back from the turn. Sweet, half way done! Not so fast.....I kept running...and running....I knew something was wrong. Before I knew it Sharon was flying by me. F'd City. A volunteer sent her the wrong way and she had to rerun a section of the course. I saw her gaining ground on the guys that had been behind her. She was able to pass them as the race went on. Turns out that she was misdirected not once, not twice, but three times. I was nearly sent the wrong direction but the volunteer switched his arms at the last moment and sent me the right direction.
Even with the extra mileage Sharon ran, she had an amazing race. Her time was 20:43 -nice! If you factor in the extra mileage it's safe to subtract a minute, maybe a minute twenty. It's clear she was a 19 something 5k. Her best ever. Smokin boys, smokin. She still managed to win her division, was the overall women's first place finisher, and finished 3rd overall. She walked away with a nice trophy. Me? I got a ribbon...which they will mail to me....Ran a 22:30 which was 14 seconds off my best ever. Won my age division, 5th overall men, and finished 6th overall. All this cross training has been helping me. I'm back down to my racing weight and I know that helps too. I thought I saw an ab in the mirror yesterday....I was afraid to look again.....maybe next week.
As we were walking to the car, a guy drives by, slows down and tells Sharon how impressed he was with her attitude about being misdirected during the race. Class guy. He didn't have to do that but he did - he took the time to make a day better. It put a smile on our racer. I thought about what he said and he was right. She could have flipped but didn't. Good for him, good for her. People can surprise you. Not everyone likes surprises and I can understand that. Me? I would like to be surprised. Maybe I have been lately. An unexpected olive branch can change your day, your outlook. It doesn't have to come with promises or forgiveness. It doesn't have the power to build trust. But if given from the heart, it opens a door. From there, who knows. I know I've not been a good friend lately. I've been all about my world, fixing the fuck. I'm trying to change that and will change that. I'll keep running....racing....swimming. I'll be back, maybe a little different than I was before but at the center, I will be the guy you can count on. Keep the olive branches coming, give everyday the best you have, smile at a stranger, run naked. MYLACM.
What helps me is running. If you follow me on Facebook you'll see that I have been running a lot. It gives one time to think, to inflect some personal pain, to test yourself. Racing intensifies this. So I heard about a 5k and decided to race. I got lucky and Sharon decided to run too. Upside: she's a blast. Downside: I would place one spot further back in the standings. Her slow day is quicker than my fast day. Anyway, we arrived at the race and each dropped $40 for same day registration - $40....that's almost $13 a mile. It wasn't easy but I managed to hand over a couple twenties. "Sir...sir...you need to let go of the money now..."
Before we knew it we were at the start line. It wasn't a huge race but it seemed well organized - we were starting on time! Sharon was up near the start line, I was back a little. Just before the race started a couple women pulled forward up with Sharon, maybe a tad in front. I chuckled to myself knowing what they didn't know. Sharon's fast. More important though was that I knew she wouldn't appreciate their move. She didn't. The gun when off and in short order our speedster was out in front and the women were fading fast. I passed them with a smile. It was all I could manage because I was determined to keep Sharon in sight - that red/orange sports bra would be easy to spot. Right there next to me was this 12 year old kid that hung in front for about a quarter mile. He was flying but soon spent his gas and slowed.
I was fast out of the gate as well. My first mile was 6:54 and I felt pretty good. It was a wonky course. Lots of turns and it wasn't always clear where you should go. Sharon was well ahead of me and I saw her coming back from the turn. Sweet, half way done! Not so fast.....I kept running...and running....I knew something was wrong. Before I knew it Sharon was flying by me. F'd City. A volunteer sent her the wrong way and she had to rerun a section of the course. I saw her gaining ground on the guys that had been behind her. She was able to pass them as the race went on. Turns out that she was misdirected not once, not twice, but three times. I was nearly sent the wrong direction but the volunteer switched his arms at the last moment and sent me the right direction.
Even with the extra mileage Sharon ran, she had an amazing race. Her time was 20:43 -nice! If you factor in the extra mileage it's safe to subtract a minute, maybe a minute twenty. It's clear she was a 19 something 5k. Her best ever. Smokin boys, smokin. She still managed to win her division, was the overall women's first place finisher, and finished 3rd overall. She walked away with a nice trophy. Me? I got a ribbon...which they will mail to me....Ran a 22:30 which was 14 seconds off my best ever. Won my age division, 5th overall men, and finished 6th overall. All this cross training has been helping me. I'm back down to my racing weight and I know that helps too. I thought I saw an ab in the mirror yesterday....I was afraid to look again.....maybe next week.
As we were walking to the car, a guy drives by, slows down and tells Sharon how impressed he was with her attitude about being misdirected during the race. Class guy. He didn't have to do that but he did - he took the time to make a day better. It put a smile on our racer. I thought about what he said and he was right. She could have flipped but didn't. Good for him, good for her. People can surprise you. Not everyone likes surprises and I can understand that. Me? I would like to be surprised. Maybe I have been lately. An unexpected olive branch can change your day, your outlook. It doesn't have to come with promises or forgiveness. It doesn't have the power to build trust. But if given from the heart, it opens a door. From there, who knows. I know I've not been a good friend lately. I've been all about my world, fixing the fuck. I'm trying to change that and will change that. I'll keep running....racing....swimming. I'll be back, maybe a little different than I was before but at the center, I will be the guy you can count on. Keep the olive branches coming, give everyday the best you have, smile at a stranger, run naked. MYLACM.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Paths of Choice
What a beautiful day it was. After a very difficult Friday night, Saturday embraced me as a new day should. Like a deep fresh breath, relaxing, calming, and energizing all at the same time. Today was destined to be a better day, a good day, and yes, a race day. Sharon and Heather were running a 5K in Mukilteo and invited me along. How can a guy say no to that? Maybe it was the need to run that made me agree to go with them. Maybe it was the chance to hang with them. The friendship I've seen grow between them has been very special, they click, they don't judge, they just have fun together. Shouldn't all relationships be like that?
We took off early in the morning, lattes in hand and time on our side. I like to get where I'm going early. It reduces stress and allows me to relax and enjoy the moment. Early doesn't work for everyone and I appreciated the girls accommodating me. We saw the most beautiful sunrise. The clouds were billowing with fire and the mountains had this incredible silhouette against the rising sun - the beauty of it made everything else disappear. God knocked it out of the ballpark with that one, I could have stopped and watched it forever.
We did however have a race to run and it would be interesting on two counts. The first being that I needed to run. I didn't feel like I could run hard, I just needed to run. To get lost in myself. To disappear to that place that only a runner knows. The world is gone, noises exist but aren't heard. You feel your heart beating and you become aware of every motion your body takes. It's one stride at a time, focusing on one point on the course and just prior to reaching it, quickly looking and landing on the next point. Those points you use to pull yourself forward while at the same time pushing yourself harder when you already feel taxed, strained, uncomfortable. These moments speak to you. Your brain tells you to slow and rest so your heart won't explode. Your lungs beg for oxygen. It's at this moment you succeed or fail. I've failed more often than I like to admit. Success changes you. Once you realize you didn't actually meet your maker, it becomes easier to do it the next time. Never easy, but mentally it's easier.
The other reason was that today Sharon was going to pace Heather to a personal PR. A sub 34 minute 5K. Sharon shared her plan with me - she would lie to Heather along the course, telling her she was running her target pace when in fact she would be pacing her much faster. Fool the brain and the body will follow. Lock and load baby, this was going to be fun! Maybe not for Heather but when it worked, the PR would be met. Sharon has trained me for some time now and I have learned to shut up and listen. She knows what she's talking about - even when I have to pull out the dictionary to understand exactly what she's said. She's freakin smart and doesn't forget anything....so be careful what you say! Think Einstein meets Rain man.
Between chit chat, potty breaks, and more chit chat, the next thing we knew the race was about to begin. What!?!?! I hadn't warmed up. No jog, strides, sprints. I zipped to the start line and hung up toward the front. I could see the course stretched out in front of me, the first half mile or so. I stared at it knowing that at that very moment I wasn't going to take my time, run at a semi relaxed 8:30 pace and enjoy it. I was going to run hard. Ok, so this run wouldn't feel good, it was going to hurt some. Then bam, we were off. I was sub 8:00 and feeling ok. Pushed it and soon was passing the one mile mark. Hit the turnaround for the out and back and pushed harder. It was no longer a choice, it was necessary to run harder, I had to run harder. Mile 3 was flat to slight decline and I managed a 7:03 pace. The final stretch had another in my age group hanging with me. He'd been slightly ahead the whole time but there was no way he'd finish ahead of me. I got shoulder to shoulder with him and picked it up. Sprint time. Everything in the tank had to go and the tank was low. I moved forward and never looked back. Hey, there's nothing wrong with small victories - we should all have more of them. I finished in 22:36, not my best but within 20 seconds of a PR.
I grabbed some water and moved back to the watch runners come in the final stretch. Figured I had 3-4 minutes before Sharon and Heather would run by. I figured wrong, there they were. I could hear the announcer calling out the time. Heather is pushing it now and I can see by her face that she is in the pain zone, the anaerobic zone. That wonderful place where you feel like crap and continue to ask your body for a little more. The announcer is speaking the impossible....29 minutes and change. Heather comes across UNDER 30 minutes, shattering her PR by over five minutes - incredible! That girl has guts and she showed them today. She was sweat drenched, spent, and the smile on her face reflected her success and sacrifice.
Our coach had done it again, helped another person cross over to a new plane with new expectations and promises of chasing dreams that weren't possible just minutes before. With that we grabbed a few freebies and headed off to Starbucks for the usual. We all felt great. Heather locked in her fastest run ever, Sharon's plan worked out as perfectly as she had planned it, and I ran fast and mentally I was feeling better. We got to Starbucks and Sharon's phone rang. It was Shelby from Run26. Turns out that I took first place in my age division and he had picked up my medal for me. Frickin A, what a surprise that was. The latte would taste even better now.
Today had become a very good day. Racing aside, I had the choice to struggle and let life pull me down or use today as an opportunity to make it a better day. I chose the better day. Heather had a choice to run her normal race or find something inside her that she wasn't sure existed - she dug deep. Sharon chose to help a friend reach a dream - her heart is massive. Maybe all the choices we make aren't the right ones. Sometimes they hurt others. Sometimes they seem selfish. Some may question your choices. Sometimes they put you on a path you didn't expect. At the same time those choices may be exactly the right ones. Listen to your heart, trust in yourself. Surround yourself with friends that won't judge but will support you. I'm lucky. Lucky to have people in my life that I can turn too, that turn to me. There are things I wouldn't change, things that I can say from the bottom of my heart that I'm all in. Today is a good day. Tomorrow will bring another choice. Whether you race or not, make your decisions and move forward, don't press the pause button and hope something happens. Run...don't jog.
We took off early in the morning, lattes in hand and time on our side. I like to get where I'm going early. It reduces stress and allows me to relax and enjoy the moment. Early doesn't work for everyone and I appreciated the girls accommodating me. We saw the most beautiful sunrise. The clouds were billowing with fire and the mountains had this incredible silhouette against the rising sun - the beauty of it made everything else disappear. God knocked it out of the ballpark with that one, I could have stopped and watched it forever.
We did however have a race to run and it would be interesting on two counts. The first being that I needed to run. I didn't feel like I could run hard, I just needed to run. To get lost in myself. To disappear to that place that only a runner knows. The world is gone, noises exist but aren't heard. You feel your heart beating and you become aware of every motion your body takes. It's one stride at a time, focusing on one point on the course and just prior to reaching it, quickly looking and landing on the next point. Those points you use to pull yourself forward while at the same time pushing yourself harder when you already feel taxed, strained, uncomfortable. These moments speak to you. Your brain tells you to slow and rest so your heart won't explode. Your lungs beg for oxygen. It's at this moment you succeed or fail. I've failed more often than I like to admit. Success changes you. Once you realize you didn't actually meet your maker, it becomes easier to do it the next time. Never easy, but mentally it's easier.
The other reason was that today Sharon was going to pace Heather to a personal PR. A sub 34 minute 5K. Sharon shared her plan with me - she would lie to Heather along the course, telling her she was running her target pace when in fact she would be pacing her much faster. Fool the brain and the body will follow. Lock and load baby, this was going to be fun! Maybe not for Heather but when it worked, the PR would be met. Sharon has trained me for some time now and I have learned to shut up and listen. She knows what she's talking about - even when I have to pull out the dictionary to understand exactly what she's said. She's freakin smart and doesn't forget anything....so be careful what you say! Think Einstein meets Rain man.
Between chit chat, potty breaks, and more chit chat, the next thing we knew the race was about to begin. What!?!?! I hadn't warmed up. No jog, strides, sprints. I zipped to the start line and hung up toward the front. I could see the course stretched out in front of me, the first half mile or so. I stared at it knowing that at that very moment I wasn't going to take my time, run at a semi relaxed 8:30 pace and enjoy it. I was going to run hard. Ok, so this run wouldn't feel good, it was going to hurt some. Then bam, we were off. I was sub 8:00 and feeling ok. Pushed it and soon was passing the one mile mark. Hit the turnaround for the out and back and pushed harder. It was no longer a choice, it was necessary to run harder, I had to run harder. Mile 3 was flat to slight decline and I managed a 7:03 pace. The final stretch had another in my age group hanging with me. He'd been slightly ahead the whole time but there was no way he'd finish ahead of me. I got shoulder to shoulder with him and picked it up. Sprint time. Everything in the tank had to go and the tank was low. I moved forward and never looked back. Hey, there's nothing wrong with small victories - we should all have more of them. I finished in 22:36, not my best but within 20 seconds of a PR.
I grabbed some water and moved back to the watch runners come in the final stretch. Figured I had 3-4 minutes before Sharon and Heather would run by. I figured wrong, there they were. I could hear the announcer calling out the time. Heather is pushing it now and I can see by her face that she is in the pain zone, the anaerobic zone. That wonderful place where you feel like crap and continue to ask your body for a little more. The announcer is speaking the impossible....29 minutes and change. Heather comes across UNDER 30 minutes, shattering her PR by over five minutes - incredible! That girl has guts and she showed them today. She was sweat drenched, spent, and the smile on her face reflected her success and sacrifice.
Our coach had done it again, helped another person cross over to a new plane with new expectations and promises of chasing dreams that weren't possible just minutes before. With that we grabbed a few freebies and headed off to Starbucks for the usual. We all felt great. Heather locked in her fastest run ever, Sharon's plan worked out as perfectly as she had planned it, and I ran fast and mentally I was feeling better. We got to Starbucks and Sharon's phone rang. It was Shelby from Run26. Turns out that I took first place in my age division and he had picked up my medal for me. Frickin A, what a surprise that was. The latte would taste even better now.
Today had become a very good day. Racing aside, I had the choice to struggle and let life pull me down or use today as an opportunity to make it a better day. I chose the better day. Heather had a choice to run her normal race or find something inside her that she wasn't sure existed - she dug deep. Sharon chose to help a friend reach a dream - her heart is massive. Maybe all the choices we make aren't the right ones. Sometimes they hurt others. Sometimes they seem selfish. Some may question your choices. Sometimes they put you on a path you didn't expect. At the same time those choices may be exactly the right ones. Listen to your heart, trust in yourself. Surround yourself with friends that won't judge but will support you. I'm lucky. Lucky to have people in my life that I can turn too, that turn to me. There are things I wouldn't change, things that I can say from the bottom of my heart that I'm all in. Today is a good day. Tomorrow will bring another choice. Whether you race or not, make your decisions and move forward, don't press the pause button and hope something happens. Run...don't jog.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
The Vision, Journey, and the Triple Threat
Saturday's Triathlon marked the end of our journey. A journey that started with a vision, determination, and a passion for helping others. It started with what became the soul, the heart, and the personality of the program - Sharon. It ended 16 weeks later with strangers who became friends, individuals who not only became athletes but became triathletes, and heart, compassion, and support woven into each and every success and struggle.
Sharon was our maverick - as defined by Webster as "an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party". She was exactly what the doctor ordered. You've heard the phrase "thinking outside the box", well Sharon doesn't even know where the box is - and thank goodness for that! Her drive, enthusiasm, personality, and unfiltered view on life began to slowly break down barriers between a group of people, most who had never met before, and set the stage for us to become a team - each one looking out for the other, caring about one another.
The first week seems like yesterday. Albert and I helped coach the running portion of the program. There was a lot of walking - which was fine. Run...walk...jog...walk. I remember running at the track a few weeks later and seeing these same people run without stopping to walk or rest. I know it was hard for them - their breathing was rough and their form a little off. But the day was bigger than that. What I saw that day was the heart and guts that would define this team. They dug deep, hurt, but no one quit. It hit me so hard seeing them overcome that barrier that at that moment I decided to overcome one of my own. Water. Swimming. My success in the water came as a direct result of that day, those people, this program.
I began to change. Running wasn't just about going as fast I could any more. Slipping from one event to the next, one training plan after another. A sea of 400's, 800's, tempos, and long runs. It was about helping others. Realizing how great it felt to see the success of others. Watching them run a little further, shave a few seconds off their time, getting excited about a new pair of running shoes. At the same time I was learning from them. I believe I will be a stronger runner - stronger person because of them. How do you thank someone for that? I guess I'd start with Sharon and work my way through the entire team. There wasn't a single person who didn't have an impact on me. So to those who may read this, I thank you from the deepest part of my heart.
Flash forward 16 weeks to Saturday. 16 weeks of hard work, tears, sore bones and bodies. Workouts that sucked. Workouts that started so early no one has slept in on a weekend for four months. 16 weeks that shaped bodies, minds, and taught us that stretching and rest days were just as important as the workout itself. Some of us (me) still can't touch their toes but all of us can reach further than before. I think I'm limber but simply have been cursed with short arms.
Saturday morning we met at the Y where it all started. A chilly morning. Sleepy and nervous we almost didn't think about it being 5:00am. We approached Monroe and the site of the triathlon. There was a fog over the lake so thick you couldn't see more than 10-15 feet. Over time it dissipated though it did delay the start. Bikes were racked, transition areas set up, and the day old race tradition - having to use the bathroom a billion times begun. What is it about a race that causes your bladder to work overtime and your ah, other function to post an out of order sign on your butt? Think what you will but both end up impacting your race one way or the other. Many of the team simply peed in their wetsuit - you could always tell because of the peaceful calming look that came over them.
I was lucky to participate in this triathlon. While my swimming had greatly improved, the distance was too much for me at this point. The solution - a relay team. Steve had trained hard but ended up with a foot issue that prevented him from running. Kerrie having knocked off her first Tri the weekend prior wasn't ready to do another one. Triple Threat was born. Steve would swim, Kerrie on the bike, and I would run. Perfect. What was also cool about doing the relay was that I was able to watch most of the team swim and take off on their bike.
One by one out of the water they came. Smiling, tired, and focused on getting to the transition area. The mix of fatigue, numb fingers, and feet make for an interesting transition. Change clothes, put on socks and running shoes (try to tie shoes with numb fingers) and strap on the helmet. I didn't see to many transitions but I was able to witness Sharon. Somehow during her transition her timing chip shot off like a rubber band - no timing chip, no time. No time, you are DQ'd. I should mention she also had an infected thumb that had swelled to something from a horror movie. Maybe not that bad. Anyway, our unfiltered leader shot off some colorful words until it was located and then she was off. She did have the help of our cheerleader and her personal porter - Albert. Albert is well on track for the Portland marathon and cheered everyone on and today is running 20 miles....wow!
Steve came in from the swim and looked great. Handed off to Kerrie who grabbed her bike and tore out of there. It was a first for Steve and he did great! I loved the look on this face and hearing him talk about the swim. I look forward to doing a full Tri with him next year. Next thing I knew Kerrie was coming into the transition area and it was my turn. She was barreling in and yelled out a "MOVE!" to the person standing in her way. I loved it! We put the timing chip on my ankle and I was off. I'd struggled with a sore back and thought I'd go slow. But the BioFreeze I had applied numbed my back and half a mile down the road my trusty Garmin told me I was hitting a 7:35 pace. I felt good so kept it up. Finished my run in 22:36 (one of my fastest). We finished 7 of 12 relay teams. Not last but if we'd been last, so what. We had a blast. Thank you Triple Threat partners!
Three of the Tri team took home a medal! Sharon took 3rd in her division, 20th overall, and 5th of all women!! Wow! Paula took 2nd in her division, and David took 1st in his. It was so cool seeing each of them go up for their medal - we couldn't have clapped any harder. Through the celebration there was the reality that the end had arrived. 16 weeks in the blink of an eye. I have come to respect each of them and celebrate in their individual victories. 20 or so weeks ago Sharon approached me about helping with this then soon to be pilot program. I'm glad she asked - I'm glad I accepted. I received more than I gave. Have new friends I don't want to lose. Experiences I won't forget. Next on the docket is Sharon's next vision - Multisports. I'm sure she knows this by now but I'll say it again. I'm all in. Until that time I will continue to train and push myself hard. If Multisports delivers half of what the Tri program did, I will be a lucky man, a better man. This goes out to all of you and you know who you are - Thank you!
Sharon was our maverick - as defined by Webster as "an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party". She was exactly what the doctor ordered. You've heard the phrase "thinking outside the box", well Sharon doesn't even know where the box is - and thank goodness for that! Her drive, enthusiasm, personality, and unfiltered view on life began to slowly break down barriers between a group of people, most who had never met before, and set the stage for us to become a team - each one looking out for the other, caring about one another.
The first week seems like yesterday. Albert and I helped coach the running portion of the program. There was a lot of walking - which was fine. Run...walk...jog...walk. I remember running at the track a few weeks later and seeing these same people run without stopping to walk or rest. I know it was hard for them - their breathing was rough and their form a little off. But the day was bigger than that. What I saw that day was the heart and guts that would define this team. They dug deep, hurt, but no one quit. It hit me so hard seeing them overcome that barrier that at that moment I decided to overcome one of my own. Water. Swimming. My success in the water came as a direct result of that day, those people, this program.
I began to change. Running wasn't just about going as fast I could any more. Slipping from one event to the next, one training plan after another. A sea of 400's, 800's, tempos, and long runs. It was about helping others. Realizing how great it felt to see the success of others. Watching them run a little further, shave a few seconds off their time, getting excited about a new pair of running shoes. At the same time I was learning from them. I believe I will be a stronger runner - stronger person because of them. How do you thank someone for that? I guess I'd start with Sharon and work my way through the entire team. There wasn't a single person who didn't have an impact on me. So to those who may read this, I thank you from the deepest part of my heart.
Flash forward 16 weeks to Saturday. 16 weeks of hard work, tears, sore bones and bodies. Workouts that sucked. Workouts that started so early no one has slept in on a weekend for four months. 16 weeks that shaped bodies, minds, and taught us that stretching and rest days were just as important as the workout itself. Some of us (me) still can't touch their toes but all of us can reach further than before. I think I'm limber but simply have been cursed with short arms.
Saturday morning we met at the Y where it all started. A chilly morning. Sleepy and nervous we almost didn't think about it being 5:00am. We approached Monroe and the site of the triathlon. There was a fog over the lake so thick you couldn't see more than 10-15 feet. Over time it dissipated though it did delay the start. Bikes were racked, transition areas set up, and the day old race tradition - having to use the bathroom a billion times begun. What is it about a race that causes your bladder to work overtime and your ah, other function to post an out of order sign on your butt? Think what you will but both end up impacting your race one way or the other. Many of the team simply peed in their wetsuit - you could always tell because of the peaceful calming look that came over them.
I was lucky to participate in this triathlon. While my swimming had greatly improved, the distance was too much for me at this point. The solution - a relay team. Steve had trained hard but ended up with a foot issue that prevented him from running. Kerrie having knocked off her first Tri the weekend prior wasn't ready to do another one. Triple Threat was born. Steve would swim, Kerrie on the bike, and I would run. Perfect. What was also cool about doing the relay was that I was able to watch most of the team swim and take off on their bike.
One by one out of the water they came. Smiling, tired, and focused on getting to the transition area. The mix of fatigue, numb fingers, and feet make for an interesting transition. Change clothes, put on socks and running shoes (try to tie shoes with numb fingers) and strap on the helmet. I didn't see to many transitions but I was able to witness Sharon. Somehow during her transition her timing chip shot off like a rubber band - no timing chip, no time. No time, you are DQ'd. I should mention she also had an infected thumb that had swelled to something from a horror movie. Maybe not that bad. Anyway, our unfiltered leader shot off some colorful words until it was located and then she was off. She did have the help of our cheerleader and her personal porter - Albert. Albert is well on track for the Portland marathon and cheered everyone on and today is running 20 miles....wow!
Steve came in from the swim and looked great. Handed off to Kerrie who grabbed her bike and tore out of there. It was a first for Steve and he did great! I loved the look on this face and hearing him talk about the swim. I look forward to doing a full Tri with him next year. Next thing I knew Kerrie was coming into the transition area and it was my turn. She was barreling in and yelled out a "MOVE!" to the person standing in her way. I loved it! We put the timing chip on my ankle and I was off. I'd struggled with a sore back and thought I'd go slow. But the BioFreeze I had applied numbed my back and half a mile down the road my trusty Garmin told me I was hitting a 7:35 pace. I felt good so kept it up. Finished my run in 22:36 (one of my fastest). We finished 7 of 12 relay teams. Not last but if we'd been last, so what. We had a blast. Thank you Triple Threat partners!
Three of the Tri team took home a medal! Sharon took 3rd in her division, 20th overall, and 5th of all women!! Wow! Paula took 2nd in her division, and David took 1st in his. It was so cool seeing each of them go up for their medal - we couldn't have clapped any harder. Through the celebration there was the reality that the end had arrived. 16 weeks in the blink of an eye. I have come to respect each of them and celebrate in their individual victories. 20 or so weeks ago Sharon approached me about helping with this then soon to be pilot program. I'm glad she asked - I'm glad I accepted. I received more than I gave. Have new friends I don't want to lose. Experiences I won't forget. Next on the docket is Sharon's next vision - Multisports. I'm sure she knows this by now but I'll say it again. I'm all in. Until that time I will continue to train and push myself hard. If Multisports delivers half of what the Tri program did, I will be a lucky man, a better man. This goes out to all of you and you know who you are - Thank you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
