As with all my post, this post has taken on many twisted and complicated forms over the last few weeks. Just like my life, its been a roller coaster of ideas and thoughts. It originally started as a celebration and reflection, that quickly turned sour. This post is a brief ride on the roller coaster ride of my life, where I have learned that I might be Just the Right Crazy.
When momentum swings one way in life we always expect it to stay like that right? I mean an object in motion is supposed to stay in motion right? Or so I was taught in school. Well, if you haven't personally learned this yet, life is that force that acts on the outside jet and momentum. Blue Shoes was supposed to be just a small stepping stone for the year, yet it has turned out to be my best performance thus far. Looking back on the past several months strictly at training and racing schedule it would seem inexplicable how since early April that I haven't replicated or bettered that performance. The performance that was supposed to be an early season test. I mean I ran over 90 miles that week and was gearing up for upcoming steeplechase races. Not really how you properly prepare for a mile. Momentum can be just as quickly lost as it is gained. Over the next several races I lost all that good momentum and found myself out of opportunities and out of USA Nationals. But, luckily for me the Bring Back the Mile series has come to the rescue and given me the opportunities to continue to compete on the big stage for big prizes. They have helped reignite that fire. All of these races are giving me a chance to paint my story and hopefully give me the opportunity to inspire more people.
Looking back on this season I wouldn't think that my best race could be traced back to April. That's not what any championship minded athlete wants. Going into the Blue Shoes Mile on April 12th (held yearly at Furman University since 2007) this year I was naturally ready to prove that I was capable of competing on the Elite stage. I had to fight tooth and nail to even be allowed into fast section. Since I haven't posted a fast time in over 2 years, the meet director played hard ball. After a lots emails and several favors called in I was finally allowed in the fast section finally and ready to prove I belonged. It turned out to be a beautiful night and a fun race in front of friends and family. I executed well and was able to run a Mile PR of 4:01.7. While this was slightly bitter sweet that I missed the sub 4 min barrier, I knew I was on the right path, it was my first real PR in 2 years and I was excited for the coming months.... so I thought.
When momentum swings one way in life we always expect it to stay like that right? I mean an object in motion is supposed to stay in motion right? Or so I was taught in school. Well, if you haven't personally learned this yet, life is that force that acts on the outside jet and momentum. Blue Shoes was supposed to be just a small stepping stone for the year, yet it has turned out to be my best performance thus far. Looking back on the past several months strictly at training and racing schedule it would seem inexplicable how since early April that I haven't replicated or bettered that performance. The performance that was supposed to be an early season test. I mean I ran over 90 miles that week and was gearing up for upcoming steeplechase races. Not really how you properly prepare for a mile. Momentum can be just as quickly lost as it is gained. Over the next several races I lost all that good momentum and found myself out of opportunities and out of USA Nationals. But, luckily for me the Bring Back the Mile series has come to the rescue and given me the opportunities to continue to compete on the big stage for big prizes. They have helped reignite that fire. All of these races are giving me a chance to paint my story and hopefully give me the opportunity to inspire more people.
As I've mentioned here before, I have been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks since last July. In fact, my biggest challenge this year has not been physical like the last 2 years with my Wegener's relapses. Physical is the easy part. Always has been. I am innately gifted at pushing my body to it's physical limits. Most good runners are. We teach our body's on a daily basis to ignore it's basic pain response. This year though has been a challenge to turn off my brain and relax. Now, for a control freak this becomes a viscous cycle. I know I need to give my body and mind rest and relaxation, yet I know what I need to be doing training wise as an athlete. So, when I don't run it makes it worse, and when I do run during these spells it's shitty and not near my capabilities.
The months of May, June, July, and August have been a roller coaster both physically and emotionally. I have had some of the best workouts of my life and I have also slipped into deep depression and crippling anxiety with my current life situation. In the past month alone (in the middle of all the traveling, racing, training, and working) I have moved into the nastiest apartment that I have ever lived in (and I've lived in some dumps as many of you have visited), flipped my 4Runner for the final time (the Falcon is gone for good), and worked more hours this month than I have all summer. Not necessarily ideal training and racing conditions. It's these times that I have to remember to find my center in all the chaos. The lesson from all of this is that it doesn't matter how hard or good you are at pushing your body to it's limits, it's learning when to take a step back and know when to relax and stop forcing it. I found out my breaking point this week. I ran the worst race I have run all year, at the Michigan Mile in Flint, Michigan. It's the first time I remember finishing last in a race in years. My body reached that tipping point with stress. Trying to find a new car, a new apartment, and a better way to manage my work schedule with my training schedule all while still working, training, and racing proved too much. As my therapist warned me several weeks ago when this started... "You are on the fast track to finding your breaking point and ending up in the loony bin." So friends, family, colleagues, and strangers be weary of your breaking point. You never know how close you are to the edge until you cross it, especially in life on the Crazy Train..... To quote a few lines from the great Ozzy Osbourne..... All Aboard!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA
Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
Yeah
.
.
.
Mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
Grandma's Mile hear comes the Crazy Train to town!!
All Hope is Gone
BHudg
The months of May, June, July, and August have been a roller coaster both physically and emotionally. I have had some of the best workouts of my life and I have also slipped into deep depression and crippling anxiety with my current life situation. In the past month alone (in the middle of all the traveling, racing, training, and working) I have moved into the nastiest apartment that I have ever lived in (and I've lived in some dumps as many of you have visited), flipped my 4Runner for the final time (the Falcon is gone for good), and worked more hours this month than I have all summer. Not necessarily ideal training and racing conditions. It's these times that I have to remember to find my center in all the chaos. The lesson from all of this is that it doesn't matter how hard or good you are at pushing your body to it's limits, it's learning when to take a step back and know when to relax and stop forcing it. I found out my breaking point this week. I ran the worst race I have run all year, at the Michigan Mile in Flint, Michigan. It's the first time I remember finishing last in a race in years. My body reached that tipping point with stress. Trying to find a new car, a new apartment, and a better way to manage my work schedule with my training schedule all while still working, training, and racing proved too much. As my therapist warned me several weeks ago when this started... "You are on the fast track to finding your breaking point and ending up in the loony bin." So friends, family, colleagues, and strangers be weary of your breaking point. You never know how close you are to the edge until you cross it, especially in life on the Crazy Train..... To quote a few lines from the great Ozzy Osbourne..... All Aboard!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA
Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
Yeah
.
.
.
Mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
Grandma's Mile hear comes the Crazy Train to town!!
All Hope is Gone
BHudg
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