At the end of each year as I look back over the year and the goals that I set I ask myself,
1. Did I meet all my goals? If not why?
2. What are my goals for 2019?
3. Did I volunteer time in support of other runners?
4. What was the high point of my running year?
5. What was the low point?
The answer to no. 1 is no I did not meet all my goals. The reason why is listed below.
Two of the major races that I had been accepted into for 2018 was the Imogene Pass Run and the New York City Marathon.
Training had gone well for the Imogene Pass Run. I had done several high altitude runs to prepare for the altitude and the course. On the day of the race within a very short distance I began to develop cramps in my quad muscles. I knew this wasn't dehydration or an electrolyte imbalance so I continued on thinking the situation would improve. The course steepened, my quad cramps intensified and my pace slowed which caused me to stop about 5 miles into the race.
After waiting about a week for recovery I began my training for the New York City Marathon. Had scheduled a 17 mile run but at 13 miles my quads cramped to the point that I could not run any longer.
During the next 2 weeks I was able to do 15 mile runs but was shorter than the distance that was scheduled. At this point I knew that I would not be able to run the mileage that was needed for running a marathon so I notified New York Road Runners that I would not be running.
During the next several months I went through appointments with my medical doctor for all types of blood work, had x-rays and MRI done of spine and met with a spine specialist, met with my chiropractor, had sports massage done on my quads, and began using an inversion table.
The result of all of this? The cramping was a neurological issues and I am now making adjustments in how and how often I train to hopefully be back to 100% early in 2019.
The answer to no. 2 is that I have only set 2 goals at this point:
1. As I just mentioned I want to get back to 100% so that I can continue to run on a regular basis.
2. I plan to run the 50th Anniversary of the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta on July 4, 2019, which will be the 26th time I have run that race.
3. Depending on how well no. 1 goes will determine if I add more races to my schedule.
The answer to no. 3 is that as a coach I organized and coached a group of beginner/intermediate walkers and runners to prepare for the Bolder Boulder 10K on Memorial Day. This was a FREE program sponsored by the Boulder Road Runners.
I also worked as a Course Marshall on the day of the Bolder Boulder 10K.
The answer to no. 4 would have to be seeing the accomplishments of the walkers/runners that I coached for the Bolder Boulder, many setting new personal records and reaching time goals that they didn't think were possible when training started.
The answer to no. 5 would have to be my frustration of having a DNF (Did Not Finish) at the Imogene Pass run, only the 2nd DNF I have ever had in over 325 races.
Final Thoughts
I will finish the year with almost 21,000 miles of recorded running since 1990. I went to a film during the summer about a 3100 Mile race and there was a panel discussion afterwards. One of the speakers on the panel was Noah Droddy, who is an ultra-distance runner but qualified to compete in the Olympic Trials for Rio at the 10K distance. He competed at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon against some of the best in the US for a shot at the Olympic Team. He did not make the team so he was asked about the experience or any disappointment, he said "At least I was on the Big Stage."
What the future holds for my running remains to be seen, but with over 325 races run, over 21,000 miles run, some accolades and awards, seeing some beautiful places, meeting some extraordinary people, and enjoying good health, like Noah, "At least I was on the stage."
