Wow, I can’t believe that the 2016 season is already over. Seems like just a few weeks ago I was writing my 2015 recap and looking forward to the 2016 Olympic season. So what all has changed since September of 2015? Well just like last year, everything and not much at all. 2016, just like 2015, was my most successful to date. Here are a few highlights of the racing season: PR’s at 3,000m and 1500m, Top 5 finish at USATF Road Mile Championship, 2nd place finish at Penn Relays, Top 25 time in the USA at 1500m, Olympic Trials Qualifier at 1500m, and a Olympic Trials Semi-Finalist. More important than all of these meaningless marks, was the formation of #TeamBrandon and the #VictoryOverVasculitis campaign with the Vasculitis Foundation.This year, like so many in the past, has been a ferocious roller coaster. While writing this piece I stumbled on an analogy to describe my past few years. 2014 and 2015 riding a roller coaster I had never seen before. I was basically a kid on a coaster that I was barely old enough to ride, so my head was banging around in the restraints. In 2016 I strapped myself in for another ride, but this time I'm a little taller, a little more prepared for the sharp turns, fast descents and learned to hang on to the straps in those tough loop de loops. The year wasn't void of struggles, I was just better prepared to handle the intensity of the year. It may have seemed from the outside that the season was a giant success, and it was, but the fall from accomplishing one huge goal and missing another hurts.
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| Championship 1500m races are as unpredictable as life |
Getting involved with the VF has given my running and my career a lot more purpose. As I have said many times, when I was first Diagnosed with Granulomatosis with Polyangitis back in 2008, I did my best to hide it from people. It was something that I hated talking about. Like so many people that suffer silently from Vasculitis, it was something that I just couldn’t explain to people, why I was sick, but looked fine. They didn’t get it, so I just didn’t talk about it at all. Even when I was in remission, I did my best to not ever talk about the subject, and even a few times when I couldn’t avoid the conversation, I just told people I had cancer. I’m not proud of that now, but it’s an unfortunate process that most Vasculitis patients have to go through. But something changed in my mentality a few years ago. I was tired of hiding it. I realized that by me explaining to people what I had been through, that I wasn’t making an excuse, but telling people a story of perseverance that I had survived. There was nothing to be ashamed of anymore and I needed to use my platform as an athlete to inspire others. This #VictoryOverVascuilits campaign has given me more opportunities to share my story and for others to share in the journey. The campaign is about building a community for people that suffer from Vasculitis. That includes the family members and loved ones of Vasculitis patients.
Before I leave you all, I would like to thank a few people. To start, my wonderful Mom and Dad who have shown more love than I knew was possible for their children. As you can see below, they are the glue that holds this family together.
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| Don't mess with us! - The Hudgins |
So what's next? Well I'm still currently sponsor-less and jobless, but more determined than ever to find a way to make a living in the sport I love. The rest of 2016 will be relatively quiet on the racing front, but stay tuned. I've managed to wedge my foot in the door of professional track and field, so now it's time to kick the #!%^*$& open! Time to rest up and get ready for an even bigger 2017!
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| Honoring our brother Cameron Magnum Bean the best way we know how! #CamLives |
Till next time,
BHudg
#runtoinspire
#livewithfire
#TeamBrandon
#VictoryOverVasculitis
#AllHopeIsGone
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