We are still dealing with the lost opportunity that was the Virginia Beach Mudder. I know DC will be weighing in on this one as well. We missed the opportunity to complete 3 laps and test ourselves on the road to World's Toughest. I know Patrick is smiling because we were also unable to get 3 headbands ahead of him! An additional obstacle appeared as I updated the countdown clock on this site. Our next possible run is in Tri-State which is 114 days away. That seems like an eternity especially since two months have passed since we ran Mid-Atlantic. A new, diabolical training plan must be unleashed to not only keep us focused but also prepare us for the grueling end to 2013 which will include Tri-State, Mid-Atlantic, Charlotte, and World's Toughest within a two month span. A new clock is up and a new challenge awaits!
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Going Slow
As both Brian and Danny will attest, I have a problem going slow. It's not that I'm the fastest runner, it's just that I can't seem to slow my pace down. It feels awkward somehow. Maybe, because I don't really enjoy running, I was compensating my getting my runs over as fast as I could. Of course, going slow is my only option now. I can walk without crutches, but I still need the walking boot, and anytime I leave my house I use a crutch just to be on the safe side. The boot and the crutch really make it necessary to move at a slower pace than I normally would. My kids, both of whom I'm usually dragging along with me wherever we go, are now out in front and waiting on me.
I've envied folks who could meander down a sidewalk at a leisurely pace, slowly peaking into shop windows and pausing to reflect on whatever was happening around them. My practice was always to move as expeditiously as possible...get where I need to be with as few distractions as possible. Walking with a purpose was my norm. As frustrating as it has been to be slow, I've started to appreciate the pace at which life happens when you take a little longer to get where you need to be. The slower pace has helped me notice a whole lot of things that I normally miss in my haste. Some of these things are bad (such as, recognizing the state of the outside of my house), but some of them are beautiful. I actually see the bunny rabbits in our yard, and because I'm not moving fast, they're not always scared away at the mere idea of my approach. I get to see the interactions between my kids as they run off ahead, which I would miss if I were the one in the lead.
I have no doubt that the first Tough Mudder that I run after this injury will be done at a very slow pace. I'll be one of those guys that everyone has to pass to get where they're going. I'll have to learn how to deal with my problems with being passed, but I think that I'll also have a dramatically different experience on the course. I have no idea what those differences may be, I'm sure that they will include Brian and Danny having to wait for me at obstacles, but other differences are unknown and yet to be discovered. I think that's part of the beauty of being slow - things come to you.
Learning how to "not hurry" may be the best thing to come out of this injury, because it has definitely changed my perspective. There's a lesson in this for education. In my experience, we are in such a hurry to "do things" that nothing ever fully develops. If things don't succeed immediately, then they are discarded for whatever new educational technology or fad has come up behind them. Sometimes, this can lead to progress, but sometimes it leads to lost opportunities. If simply slowing down a bit can help with finding and exploiting those opportunities, then it should be done. The question is, how do we build it into the system? How do we change education so that "slow" becomes positive?
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| Image from Wikipedia |
I have no doubt that the first Tough Mudder that I run after this injury will be done at a very slow pace. I'll be one of those guys that everyone has to pass to get where they're going. I'll have to learn how to deal with my problems with being passed, but I think that I'll also have a dramatically different experience on the course. I have no idea what those differences may be, I'm sure that they will include Brian and Danny having to wait for me at obstacles, but other differences are unknown and yet to be discovered. I think that's part of the beauty of being slow - things come to you.
Learning how to "not hurry" may be the best thing to come out of this injury, because it has definitely changed my perspective. There's a lesson in this for education. In my experience, we are in such a hurry to "do things" that nothing ever fully develops. If things don't succeed immediately, then they are discarded for whatever new educational technology or fad has come up behind them. Sometimes, this can lead to progress, but sometimes it leads to lost opportunities. If simply slowing down a bit can help with finding and exploiting those opportunities, then it should be done. The question is, how do we build it into the system? How do we change education so that "slow" becomes positive?
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Conflicting Emotions
I've purposely kept from posting too much about the recovery process as I didn't think that was the purpose of this blog. After all, for me this blog was going to be a celebration of an intense year of camaraderie, challenge and mud. And, although I still have the challenge, the mud is pretty much gone for the time being. The camaraderie is still there, but it's been a bit more muted since my injury. There's a certain level of isolation that comes with being unable to fully participate with a team. Professional athletes who get hurt consistently say that one of the most difficult things to deal with is the disconnect from teammates as they go through the recovery process. I'd be lying if I said that I hadn't experienced that a bit over the past month.
This week has been particularly tough because it was the build up to the Virginia Beach Mudder. We were going to be doing what I like to call our "Blackjack" run - two on Saturday and one on Sunday (or 21, thus Blackjack), but that got shot out of the water for me with the injury. I was looking forward to hearing the stories of running and survival from Brian and Danny (and John - never forget John), but I'd also be lying if I didn't admit to being more than a little bit envious. I want to be there, I want to be rolling around in the mud, climbing over stuff, trying to avoid being electrocuted, and hanging out with my friends. I want to be healthy enough to do all those things...but I'm not and I've come to accept that. I was jealous of them for being able to do the Blackjack, but I was also excited for them. I wanted to hear about their triumphs. I wanted to hear about the other people they met. I wanted to hear about the jokes that they cracked along the way. If I wasn't able to be part of it, I wanted to live vicariously through them.
Of course, then Andrea blew threw and dumped a whole bunch of water on the site. I woke up this morning expecting to write a post about wanting to be out running with them (I'd even planned on posting it right at 9, when they were supposed to be leaving the starting line). Instead I got word that the Saturday runs were cancelled and no one was going to be out there. I'm not even there, but I can imagine the frustration and annoyance with the whole situation. Needless to say, there are a lot of conflicting emotions happening here. I'm upset for my comrades, I'm disappointing with the situation, I'm still angry about my injury, I'm frustrated with my recovery, but I'd also be lying if I didn't say that I'm a little bit relieved that I'm not missing out. I hope that doesn't make me sound petty, but this isn't about any kind of wish that Danny and Brian not be able to succeed without me. Rather, it's about a desire to be there to share their successes with them. I miss everything about participating in the Mudders (ok, maybe not being electrocuted), hanging out and having fun with Danny and Brian most of all.
Of course, then Andrea blew threw and dumped a whole bunch of water on the site. I woke up this morning expecting to write a post about wanting to be out running with them (I'd even planned on posting it right at 9, when they were supposed to be leaving the starting line). Instead I got word that the Saturday runs were cancelled and no one was going to be out there. I'm not even there, but I can imagine the frustration and annoyance with the whole situation. Needless to say, there are a lot of conflicting emotions happening here. I'm upset for my comrades, I'm disappointing with the situation, I'm still angry about my injury, I'm frustrated with my recovery, but I'd also be lying if I didn't say that I'm a little bit relieved that I'm not missing out. I hope that doesn't make me sound petty, but this isn't about any kind of wish that Danny and Brian not be able to succeed without me. Rather, it's about a desire to be there to share their successes with them. I miss everything about participating in the Mudders (ok, maybe not being electrocuted), hanging out and having fun with Danny and Brian most of all.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Grappling with a Missing Gazelle: T-Minus 3 Days
3. How will not having Patrick on the course impact our quest to complete 3 laps?
We typically countdown a list of questions that we intend to answer prior to each event. This countdown is getting a very late start for a variety of reasons. We begin three days out and we are going to be a man down. Patrick has documented his injury and will no doubt document the recovery in future posts. I'm pretty sure their will be an Eye of the Tiger/Rocky type video of Patrick's recovery!
This leads us to the Virginia Beach Mudder where DC and I will run without Patrick for the first time ever. Patrick is the one that started this journey initially by getting us to run Wintergreen. He also is our pace setter on the course. We are typically trailing him yet close enough to see the flowing locks and gazelle like quickness. We will not have a pace setter on this trip which will be different. DC and I will have to push each other to get around the course. We are attempting to complete two laps on Saturday and one lap on Sunday. I know DC and I are up for the challenge but something just seems like it will be missing if we are not chasing the gazelle!
We typically countdown a list of questions that we intend to answer prior to each event. This countdown is getting a very late start for a variety of reasons. We begin three days out and we are going to be a man down. Patrick has documented his injury and will no doubt document the recovery in future posts. I'm pretty sure their will be an Eye of the Tiger/Rocky type video of Patrick's recovery!
This leads us to the Virginia Beach Mudder where DC and I will run without Patrick for the first time ever. Patrick is the one that started this journey initially by getting us to run Wintergreen. He also is our pace setter on the course. We are typically trailing him yet close enough to see the flowing locks and gazelle like quickness. We will not have a pace setter on this trip which will be different. DC and I will have to push each other to get around the course. We are attempting to complete two laps on Saturday and one lap on Sunday. I know DC and I are up for the challenge but something just seems like it will be missing if we are not chasing the gazelle!
