2010 Running Season Complete

The closest thing I can liken this running season to is the athlete that misses nearly most of the season to injury and makes a cameo appearance in the last few and meaningless games, to see if he can make a go at a full-fledged return for next year. The Ashland half marathon was only one of two races I entered in 2010. The other race was the Lexington Blueberry 5k in late summer. Of the two races, the Blueberry was not only easier because it was shorter in length but it was mostly flat.

The true test for my 2 year long foot injury would definitely be a 13.1 mile trek through the streets of Ashland Ohio, with 3 significant hills anxiously waiting to put my foot through the harshest trials since I was sent to the sidelines. I completed the course at a very pedestrian time of 2:23. I was not the last runner in but I was in the running for the turtle award on this Saturday. I was trying to set a realistic goal of 2:10-2:15, which is about 25 minutes slower than my normal half marathon time. Even though I finished a minute per mile slower than I hoped, it felt good to cross the line and get my finisher's medal. It was a victory for me because my foot felt fine!

I had some trepidations about risking injury of pushing it in 23 degree weather up hills that I was told to avoid for a long period of my recovery. I did plenty of running in 2010 compared to 2009. Still I was far from being in peak form when I decided to enter the half just 7 days before the event. That's not the time such races should be circled on the running calendar. But I picked it not for competitive reasons, but instead for the sake of testing my will, desire and healed foot.

Finishing at the back of the pack was no surprise to me for many reasons. I decided to run a very conservative pace to begin with as I preached to myself to relax & run slow. I was entered into a race in a runners' town in December. Here were hardcore runners that I stood among at the starting line. The winning time was a staggering 1:10! I was obviously not well conditioned for the hills that were before me (especially at about 20 lbs above my ideal weight). I kept that all in my head when I headed onto the course and it kept my competitive juices at bay.

I'm writing this early on Monday, just two days removed from the event. I have racing bib #4980 and a finishers medal hanging in my office, along with some pictures and the course map with my splits written at each mile. But besides these things I have greater things to cherish. I have Kelly, who stood at the finish line in the cold empty stadium, patiently waiting to greet me with a hug, as she always has done at each race. I also have the satisfaction that I ran my greatest distance since 2008 and crossed the finish line of a half marathon once again.

I have plans to race the Chicago Marathon in 2011. I have a lot of work to do to get ready and this was a big step toward confidence that my first full marathon is not my last one.

Planning On The Run for 2011

With only 32 days left in the year I'm thinking about a full-fledged commitment to running in the coming year. The feet that have betrayed me since the fall of 2008 appear to have healed finally. In the 2nd half of 2010 I was able to elevate my running distances with minimal trouble. I am finally thinking about and setting a course toward my 2nd marathon.I have circled the month of October and will starting training for Chicago's marathon. Today I pulled up some marathon training guides and have determined that the schedule needs to start in earnest at the end of January.

The reasons that I am running another marathon are many but it's primary centered on the following:
1. I love the challenge of the discipline to work towards such a demanding goal
2. To prove to myself that I can come back from adversity
3. To stay fit physically, mentally, socially and spiritually
4. To maintain a healthy emotional outlet while my son deploys to Afghanistan for the whole year.

I want to experience taste the joy of pushing through, feeling the wind in my face, reaching milestones and goals, jostling through the crowd, feeling the energy of the big event, the satisfaction of doing what I once thought impossible.

I'm looking forward to the year ahead, though I will be distracted with thoughts of a son thousands of miles from home, in harms way. I will run with him in mind and dream of the day we can enter a marathon when he comes back again.

New Goals Set

Now that I am back to running again in my regular running mode I have some goals. Some are the expected ones but others have been awakened after prolonged time on the sidelines.

Goals that are typical:
1. Run the Akron Half Marathon on Saturday September 25th
2. Look for another marathon to run in 2011 - a flat course this time!
3. Reach the 2000 mile mark by the end of December which translates to about 100 miles a month.

Goals that are not as typical:
1. Totally enjoy a long slow run without any concern of time.
2. Run on a path while the leaves are falling off the trees.
3. Motivate 3 other people to take up running
4. Lead a group of runners & walkers who meet weekly and have fun
5. Talk with God a lot on a late night solo run
6. Pick out 3 cool landmark places to run by next summer (I did a run at Niagara, the Pacific coast, Virgina Beach boardwalk so far)

Old Track New Feelings

I went back to the place I called home for 13 years, Shoals Indiana. A couple of weeks ago I took my off day to see a member who had moved to Indianapolis and was in a hospital. I made spontaneous plans to have supper with my son who still lives in Shoals and so I had a couple of hours to kill when I completed the 5 and a half hour trip from Mansfield. I hadn't packed any running gear but had a deep desire to return to my old running route again.

After a couple of stops along the way I crossed the line into Martin County. It was a warm, humid afternoon when I was greeted by the "Welcome to Shoals" sign. After passing the Gypsum mines I hung a sharp left from US 50 at Shoals Community Schools. Into that familiar parking lot along side the school track, I parked anticipating my first run in over 2 years. There were two people on the track already and I didn't know them. As I got out of the car I went into the stretch routine I had done at least a hundred times and then descended down the hill to the entry gate where I once again place my feet on familiar ground. This was the place my running passion was ignited. It was the track I lapped endless early mornings and late nights.

It took no time to feel home with my running again. As I began my run the afternoon heat awakened my senses to sun beaten rubber beneath my feet.The rubber coated track was kind to my weary,slow mending feet. The air on the south end of the track was wonderfully familiar with the fragrance of honeysuckle. The whine of the crickets could be heard from the west end.

I gazed below at the lines and markings that guided me repeatedly around this place for years. I thought of the goals I set out to reach as I'd head to the track again and again. I thought of those cold winter days when I was so absorbed that I ignored snow covered lanes and defiant northerly gusts that could not squelch my passion. I remembered nights when I'd run when I was frustrated, restless or sad; when I could not distinguish between teardrops and sweat drops. I remember times when I ran just wishing I could go until I could not take another step. There were songs I'd run to that were so worn and ingrained as I took each stride (Coldplay, Journey, Goo Goo Dolls, Train, U2,etc)I mostly ran alone and mostly liked it that way. It all came back to me when I returned to that old track.

Much has taken place since those days when I started on that old track. It was part of my training to do what I once that far-fetched, to run and complete a marathon. I backed way off after that because of a foot injury and have just really made my way back over the past few months. I am not as fast and not as goal oriented these days. Part of me misses that too! But to go back to the SHS track and just run it for fun and to return to the place where I fought through many battles and reached many milestones was rewarding enough. You don't realize how much of yourself you've really poured out until you get the chance to go back to where it all began.

The question these days is: Where can I go to find that old feeling once again?

Another Son Heads For the Army

This morning it's Brad's turn. He is on a van heading for Evansville Indiana and then routes to Indianapolis to catch a flight to Atlanta before landing in Columbus Ga. and more specifically Ft Benning. Like his brother Andy, Brad is getting ready for intensive basic & AI training to become a soldier in the US Army. I sit here wondering, how did we become such a military family? I know that I had a grandfather who was a Navy Sea Bee and Kelly's father was also in the Navy but I never dreamed of having two sons who set their sites on becoming soldiers. I don't recall any GI Joes in their toy boxes. Kelly wasn't big on toy guns when they were little either, although I think they were inclined to use their imagine to fashion weapons out of sticks, broom handles, etc. I am very proud of them and also scared at the same time. What a dangerous time to volunteer with all the troubles in the Middle East. A year ago we were sending off Andy and feel extra proud of the man he is becoming. I know the discipline and structure have made a big difference. Next week he also heads to Benning for Army Ranger school, which is quite an honor to be recommended. I know that Brad has what it takes to become a great soldier. I may sound like a proud Papa when I say this but- the Army is very fortunate to be getting such a young man to serve and protect our country. In the end, while enlisting is not the first counsel we would offer to our sons when considering a life-path, I know it's what they strongly feel they must do. We proudly support them in this decision and yet it is tempered with much prayer for a hedge of protection about them and godly wisdom to make wise choices with each opportunity that comes their way. May God bless all of our troops who serve all around the world.

500 Hundred Long Miles Between

Today I cross another milestone, 1500 miles. It was September 2007 when I cross the 1000 barrier. I lived 300 miles from where I do today. The day was gorgeous, as I ran on a gravel road beside a train track where I had my moment of personal victory. I thought the next 500 would come easy but found the road turned into a steep incline over the next 33 months. Amid that stretch was an inconceivable marathon in Akron. Unfortunately my feet paid the price for that once unreachable goal as I developed an injury that refused to leave me for 20 months. I was convinced it would never go away. I am thankful to God that He healed me of it in His time. Those months I was forced off the roads were hard because it paralleled some monumental challenges in ministry I was facing at the time. It was hard not to take my frustrations to the streets as I had before my injury developed. The last 500 were adverse-filled miles but they also included some other changes in my life. I became a grandfather. I became a proud Army parent and this gives me new incentive to run as well. I got to see my last son graduate from high school. I have left many running friends in one state to find new ones in another. Though the last 500 miles were long and at times appeared unattainable, I am renewed with vision and passion to run far and accomplish more once again. My thoughts are already turning to my next goal of 2000 miles and the prospect of another marathon somewhere out there. I am grateful that God has freed me to run as I've longed to once again. While I hope the next 499.2 miles ahead aren't as steep as the last, I hope that they are full of great, unexpected surprises along the way.

Running These Days

I really thought the plantar thing was going to be a part of me for the rest of my life. While trying for my first marathon in 2008, I developed this problem, though not aware what it was initially. I thought if I just ran through some of foot pain, it would subside eventually. Training to go 26.2 is going to invoke some aches along the way.

When I started running in 2005 I made a decision to fight through pain and soreness and endure the elements knowing it would develop a mental stamina needed if I really wanted to break through self-imposed limitations. Little did I know that the plantar fasciitis problem was suppose to be an exception. Soon after the Akron marathon I was radically slowed and hobbled by that foot pain. It would not quit and I finally caved in to a friends suggestion to seek out medical treatment & therapy.

The next year was spent trying foot treatments, orthodics, therapies and night splints. There was intermittent running that year but not very much. In fact from the September 2008 marathon until March 2010 I was only able to squeeze out 117 miles in that 17 month span!

In the last 2 plus months things seem to be turning around finally. My runs have been almost pain-free and I am have switched from fighting to get going towards looking forward and enjoying it once again. I am far below my monthly running averages from my peak training but am happy to experience that good runner's feeling once again! In the last two weeks I enjoyed 2 runs of longer distance 6 miles and 7 miles! The legs & lungs are coming back and a little speed is returning too as I lose some weight.

I think I am well on my way once again to a normal running life. If you call a running life normal!