So I may have mentioned previously, I have a “Life List”… I use that name because it sounds a little more positive than “Bucket List” or “Death List” or any number of other names that people refer to their set of things they want to accomplish during their lifetime. My list usually refers to physical challenges or achievements I use to challenge myself. I generally do not give a timeframe for them, but often the activity requires a certain age level, preparation or sequence of events to complete the task. Without a doubt, there are few moments I cherish as much as when I get to take that spreadsheet out and place a little checkmark and date next to an entry. two weekends ago I had the opportunity to make such a check – so alongside the black belts in martial arts, completion of the Bix 7 mile race and learning to Snowboard (to name a few) I now get to add the following:
I started running sometime back in order to complete the Bix 7 entry. I’ve been pretty much running ever since with the sole purpose of being ready compete in every Bix since then. In the meantime I would catch the various 5Ks and would catch the Peoria SteamBoat 4 Mile (IL’s Fastest 4 Mile) in preparation for the treacherous 7 Miles of hills at the Davenport IA Bix. At the halfway point of the Steamboat 4M, I would make the turn and head back to the start while all of the 15Kers started their trek up into the hills. For some reason, I convinced myself on the way back that I needed to complete the 15K so I could prove to myself that I could do it (I am sure the fact that it was called IL’s Toughest 15K and the sense that the runners continuing on were smirking at me had something to do with that decision 8^).
Unfortunately, every time the run came around, I was experiencing some kind of injury or training conflict and had to revert back down to the 4M. This year was the best opportunity to go for it. I had worked up to 7 miles pretty early in the running season and it looked good for the rest of the training cycle. Every other day, I would head out on my runs with at least 2 of those sessions a week at the 9-10 mile level – I always train further than the actual race. Week after week, I got up early in the morning or trekked out late in the evening focused on the task at hand. Then the week of the race came and I had to make a decision about playing softball (my other passion). I have a tendency to get freak injuries in that sport so I generally never play the week before a big race…. but the team was down players and I keep my commitments so I played. You guessed it, I damaged my shins sometime during the game. Heartbroken, I could barely stand and pretty scared on what the impact that would have. I obviously couldn’t make my taper down runs that week and my nights were spent rehabbing the sides of the shins to help get some healing before the race day. I eventually got most of the swelling out headed out on race day with my fingers crossed.
There I was standing at the start thinking about the task at hand with a slight bit of excitement knowing that this was going to be a checkmark day… as long as I finished, which meant there was bound to be some pain – mind over body is my creed… and then the gun went off. 1st mile – everything staying together trying to hold pace back, 2nd mile started feeling some strain, but thinking everything was holding…and then the left hamstring went. Deflated, I assessed the situation and decided there was 7 miles to go to get the checkmark and countless hours in prep at jeopardy. Mind clicks in, body told to go. The hills start in at Mile 3 and continue through two loops to Mile 7. Pain at rising levels, but the end is nearing – Mile 8 passes leaving Mile 9 to the goal – serious fatigue, and gate changing to lessen the sharp jabs in the legs. The end in sight, the time checked, a quick burst and the clock is stopped at 1:21:19 – 2 minutes under my planned time assuming two good legs. CHECKMARK
…but some things come at a cost. As it turns out, my wife and I had planned to head out on vacation after the race. The adrenaline was pumping so I didn’t feel that bad, but after an extended period of time in the car, I soon stiffened up and eventually experienced a tremendous amount of pain putting any weight on my left leg. This carried on for two days, and eventually settled down enough to allow standard walking with no toe flexing up or down. Thinking this was just my body recovering from a tough run I didn’t think much about it until it had not healed by the end of the week. I finally gave in and went to the doctor to get the bad news. Apparently I ripped one of my two muscles that form the larger portion of the calf and it had sprung back into the calf (feels like a painful knot). No surgery required yet in the hopes the other muscle will pick up the slack along with another muscle that apparently lays underneath it. 3-4 weeks of recovery which really just translates to the elimination of much of the pain – the diagnosis puts my Bix 7 run at jeopardy and puts a serious dent in my training.
The question that crops ups each time I think about it is “was it worth it?” It’s easy to focus on the bad points, but I tend to look past those to the row on the spreadsheet… the row that used to be empty but now has a small, but significant check mark by it. Yes, it was worth it – I’ll heal and I just might have to do it again to show those people who passed me what I am capable of.
But you didn’t come here to read about my personal issues, you would rather read about my observations wouldn’t you? Well I have two quick ones
1) The last thing I expected to see after struggling past the finish line was a group of 4 Milers standing around in a group smoking cigarettes. I do not get it… apparently they are concerned enough to do a healthy activity and clearly did some training or they wouldn’t have been able to even complete that distance. I also know they can at least read because they had fill out a form to enter the race. I can only attribute it to complete stupidity at this point – any other opinions or comments on this would be welcome (but don’t claim an addiction because I am not buying the mind can’t overcome the body given sufficient will)
2) There is nothing more refreshing and rewarding to have an individual on the side of the road clapping for you when you pass by. I didn’t know them, they didn’t know me, yet they took the time to stand out there and instead of just cheering for their acquaintances, had in their heart to give some pep to other people struggling through the course. Suddenly the pain subsides, the head lifts, the chest arches out and the smile replaces the grimace. I’ll probably never forget the elderly lady standing in her housedress in her front yard clapping her hands rapidly together say “I am proud of all of you” as each of us passed by. She may have been relieving a past memory, she may have been tipsy or she may have been a few marbles short… I don’t know for sure, all I know is that I spent mile 8 thinking about that scene and not about the pounding my leg was taking and the sweat starting to dry up on my face. Whoever she is… Thank You!
This was supposed to be a quick post… 6 innings later into the College World Series and I am just now finishing up. Forget the setbacks; focus on the successes – time for my rehab
