Monday, July 19, 2010

Like Ali In The Jungle

It's, not, how you start, it's how you finish,

One-and-two-and-three-and, I grunted out my core exercises and thought about my low point. It wasn't when I actually got the news I had another stress fracture; it was hours later, sitting in my hot parked car, in my hot garage, choking back hot tears hearing all the things I didn't want to hear from Vince about Chicago.. and any other high-mileage plans pretty much for the rest of my natural, running life. One stress fracture, you move on. Two, things have to change.

And it's, not, where you're from, it's where you're at,

It didn't seem to matter I'd done everything right. I've been there. Practically an expert on stress fractures, what to do, what not to do. It's almost embarrassing I did it again. But, I guess it doesn't matter. Here I am now. Tibial stress fracture. In the exact. Same. Spot.

Everybody gets knocked down,
Everybody gets knocked down,
How quick are you gonna' get up?
How quick are you gonna' get up?

Well, sometimes it doesn't seem like everybody. There's no normalizing boxing glove to make sure everyone gets a sucker punch every once in a while. But, that's not the point. What am I going to do about it? Recovery is no big deal, I know the drill. I want this to mean something. Ultimately, my stress fracture in 2008 ended up being such a positive experience, I wouldn't take it back. Even if I could.

Like Ali in the jungle,
Like Nelson in jail,
Like Simpson on the mountain,
With odds like that, they were bound to fail

I actually wanted to spend some time feeling sorry for myself. I waited until evening to have a good cry; I earned it. But it never came. I've had worse odds against me.

Like Hannah in the darkness,
Like Adam's in the dark,
Like Ludwig Van, how I loved that man, well the guy went deaf and didn't give a d---, no...

Twenty-three and, twenty-four and, twenty-five and, yes. I have something to prove. This can be ordinary, or I can try to do something highly improbable. Or anything in between. But, it excites me to think.. maybe I can do something extraordinary here. Maybe this.. could be an example of how to get through a serious injury, without laying down and giving up.

It's, not, where you are, It's where you're going,
Where are you going?

Sensible people would take the time off, come back in a few months and consider a 2011 marathon. Or maybe no more marathon training at all. And, no, I haven't run in fifteen days--don't think I'm doing anything stupid here. Chicago is a mere eleven weeks away. But, I have hit a "maintain fitness" routine that is as challenging--or more so--than my running was going. And I am determined--as if lit by fire--to give this my all: Come out across the finish line in Chicago with a PR, a New York qualifying time, and a healed tibia. My own hat trick through sheer determination.

And it's, not, about the things you've done, it's what you're doing, now,
What are you doing, now?

It's a very, very long shot. Mission impossible, really. But what if I can do it?

12 comments:

  1. I wish I could offer some of the great strength and smarts you gave me when stress fractures had me. You know better than anyone what's ahead. Water is good. Your wisdom is good. Time is good. I'm sending you healing thoughts.

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  2. You absolutely can. You know as well as anyone that nothing is guaranteed, even with hard work. But with good cardio, a strong core, and mental determination, you can still do great things physically.

    I liken it to our local situation with one of our major highways being shut down. The destination does not change. You just have to find the best alternate route to get there.

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  3. keep going for ur dreams .. n take care too yah .. :)


    ~jacky~

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  4. That is horrible news! I am so sorry. I can't believe the bone fractured in the same spot. I always heard that the point of fracture heals stronger and that your chance of re-fracturing the same location is so rare. I truly believe you can do whatever it is you want to do. You'll get there with your hat trick.

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  5. Lorraine, Thanks so much for the visit and the kind words and healing thoughts! I do know what's ahead--its not the mystery it was last time. I am hopeful I'm half way through already. --Alex

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  6. Rick, Funny, I was thinking the same thing about the routes yesterday. The obvious one has been closed, but I am going to make another one work. Nothing, of course, is guaranteed. But if it were, it wouldn't be challenging and interesting. --Alex

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  7. Jacky, Thanks for the visit! How is your training going? --Alex

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  8. Sneakersister, I couldn't believe it either for the very same reason. I guess it's good I don't have ANOTHER weak spot somewhere else. I think we had SF's at the same time in 2008. I've enjoyed keeping up with your training and the new formats! --Alex

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  9. Chin up, and stay positive. The big picture, yada yada. Most of all, good luck and good health with your training, whether for Chicago this year or something else!

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  10. Vava, Thanks for the kind words! A little frustrated tonight, my bike broke down. Ugh! Need to workout somehow!! --Alex

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  11. I was stuck in a plateau recently. No, its more correct to say I was felling into a canyon.

    I rested my body a short while to let it recover. As I just started running so much in 2009, I guess my body was trying to adapt to it.

    Training has resumed. Next major race for me is a 50km trail run organised by North Face.

    I am planning to go to US next March. Already signed up for 2 races over 2 consecutive weekends. Georgia Marathon and Suntrust National Marathon.

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  12. Jacky, Thanks for the visit! You have an ambitious racing schedule! Hope the trip to the US goes well. I'm trying to tell myself the rest might be good.. its just the timing for Chicago is a bit unfortunate. Looking forward to my first run back on Monday, Yay! --Alex

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