It would be most prudent, in the consideration of others, to not post this today. Because I know people read it, comment on it, and ultimately judge it.
Please don’t misunderstand me; I let not others opinions effect my being or my efforts, many know this.
Nevertheless, I went for a run today in a park.
It was scheduled to be 15 minutes out, and 15 minutes back.
It was over 13 miles.
I got terribly lost in a monsoon, and ran home on a highway. I ran on pavement, water, mud, everything.
My recovering leg held up, through God’s blessing and wisdom. Through this, I am endowed forever.
I have noted, that ice-baths are miraculous things. I took one last night, and plan on taking another this evening. And I am so happy that I got my run in today.
Sometimes, it scares me how attached I become to this.
I want Disney.

I’m so happy. I got in a good pool workout before the sun came up this morning. I hadn’t swum in many days, so I went slow and comfy, about 1,200m.
I followed this up with 30 minutes of pool running with some plyos mixed in. Might try this again tomorrow morning back home.
One day at a time…

Day One of Complete Rest

Went very well, watched what I ate, studied and worked hard in class, read up on human anatomy, and stayed in touch with fellow Triatheltes.
I have apprehended my malfunction.

I want to be honest: I still feel my leg now and then. And I also want to be open: I want to heal entirely. I don’t want the splinter of the mind to continue.
I will tell you, that one of the boldest challenges of my endurance career is bubbling to the surface. Two-Four consecutive days of rest. Let me articulate: Sleeping, eating, and being lazy. I must come to the fact, that to let this heal, I must refrain from taxing it. I may gain a pound or two, my maximal oxygen uptake may drop a few points, my blood PH may return to a base, and lose its acidity. I need to expect these things, as I expect a triathlon start to frighten me to the point of shaking involuntarily; As I expect a marathon to hurt after mile 20; As I expect to develop liters of lactic acid in my legs after a hard hill climb.
All these are physiological complications. But I also know, that the mind governs the body. And when the mind isn’t content, the body is clinically depressed. So be forewarned, I may in fact post in the next few days with a venomous tone. Forgive me.
The only test I may encounter, would be a leg extension strength test, to validate the claim of a personal trainer, that it is indeed a strain, not a tear, and perhaps a therpeuitc aqua session early Friday morning.
So here goes nothing: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 @ 7:03pm.

-INEXPLICABLE-


For a long time, there has been a mantra I have run by - When the conditions are seemingly unsurpassable, imperfect, or entirely intimidating.
Winston Churchill said at the conclusion of the evacuation of British troops from the Island of Dunkirk, that his countrymen “must be careful not to award this action the attributes of a victory.” He went on to demonstrably claim “Wars are not won by evacuations.”
I’ve repeated this to myself many, many times. It may seem impertinent or illogical in running, but for me it has always enabled me to muster a current of confidence, that has been able to sweep down the mightiest walls of adversity and challenge.
I really can’t remember all of what happened today; I raced in the New England Conference Championships (NE10s), the culmination of a seasons’ work, all reduced to a single autumn morning. What I can tell you is that as of 8:00am this morning, I was not intent on running it. Then something happened.
I had run a warm up on pavement in the pre-dawn hours, and got lost in a foreign city, running longer than I planned to, on a surface I ought not to have been on.
I stayed up too late the preceding night, mainly running discussions with team members.
Then I got to the field, and ran a warm up with a good friend who was in a degree of pain which dwarfed mine.
I then returned and put on the bib number I had previously discarded in the trash bin, thinking I wouldn’t use it- Straightened it out, hastily pinned it on, and walked to the starting box.
The rest really isn’t that clear. I know I was in arguably the greatest cardio-respiratory pain I have ever been in. I ran the course fully, and lived it intensely.
Perhaps most unclear about this experience, was the end. The finish line seemed so far – As far as Boylston Street on Marathon Monday. When I crossed it, I had nothing in me. I felt lifeless, yet I managed to stay upright. Then a friend came and embraced me with water, and several other fellows did the same. Then I just broke down, couldn’t think, couldn’t speak, just needed to walk, and flush myself out physically and emotionally.
I can unequivocally say, that Cross Country is the most taxing of all sports. It requires only the apex of virtues: courage. Courage, (as Churchill stated) is the only virtue that assures all the others. Courage can surmount pain. It can send fourth the ripple of hope into the most ignominious and dark of endeavors, which builds that current that DOES build a current of confidence, that has been able to sweep down the mightiest walls of challenge and odds.
If I learned one thing from today, it was that I continue TO LEARN. Because if you asked me why I went against every preconception, every ounce of conventional wisdom, and every iota of logic in my being, I still could not tell you.
This is the truth of believing in cross country.

Running and its after-effects have largely been absent from my life for several weeks. In he Absence Thereof, my heart has grown fonder.
For the first in many weeks, I arose this morning to go for a run.
I wasn’t that stiff, there was no pain, and I ran the trails for seven miles. I am using this knew muscular support sleeve, called “Bio-Skin” www.bioskin.com I endorse it firmly.
But that’s not what this is about. Its about getting back to what I know is a part of me. The feeling after a crisp morning run, knowing that your legs are still recovering as you walk about your daily duties- That no matter how hectic, improbable, or utterly horrifying the next 23 hours will be, one hour will be earned.
In the one- hour club, membership dues are collected daily, and its time to pay up.

How To Save A Life

Today, a long run in my happy place.
Eleven miles, at a pleasant 7:02 pace.
The leaves fell, the sun peaked through the trees, and the lake shimmered as if it were cinematic.
I love this so; Everytime I return, I am reminded of much I missed it.
It is the only element of my life, which guarantees the pleasures of the others.
I just wanted to make it last - forever. If you’re one of us, you understand;
You believe in cross-country.

I have returned-
I feel so reserved, yet so anxious. I love to run more than anything, and today, in the midst of a fall day, it was a phenomela feeling. Armed with ambition and courage, I ran for 6.2 miles, and worked on my "leg snaps" <---(little things I call to aide in turnover).
I have learned one, invaluable lesson. Joe Friel, Jeff Galloway, and Chris Carmichael are all geniuses: Rest is what makes us better. It makes it more fun, more enjoyable, and more fit.
From today fourth, I intend to run every 48 hours to expedite the healing and rehab.
Don't stop moving.

The elements are a comical product of nature. On certain days, they seemingly propel the body with the utmost of assistance, cordially answering one’s every demand.On other days, they are the cruel and empowering tyrant, oppressive in both intensity and duration.
Today was an instance of the later, the tyrant.
I had to do another long ride, to match my endurance training for XC, and also for my next long term goal, the Disney.
I checked the weather last night, and it appeared that today it would be raining throughout. As a pleasant surprise, I awoke to find nothing but cloudy skies, and an unseasonably high humidity level.
So I got my stuff ready, and started out. Literally 90 seconds later I felt my first raindrop…of many.
This was a ride that tries a man’s soul. It is the kind where you almost don’t want to look at your hands, because you are acutely aware that purple is not the normal palette of human tissue
Fortunately, the majority of the course was well paved, with some exceptions. The legs would turn to twisted knots upon climbing even the most modest of incline.
I still am not fully hydrated, and am beginning to regain feeling in my feet once again. The garments will not be dried for a while, nor will the innermost parts of the bike.
Ideally, one week from today, I can say I ran for endurance.