Oh man, there should have been some kind of disclaimer before reading your post this morning...now you've got my eye's "sweating" as I call it here in the office. My heart breaks and sings at the same time reading this...it is sad obviously, but the way you are approaching it speaks volumes about you as a person. The gratitude for what you do have, the drive to get back and do what you love, the assurance that you will persevere no matter what and find something that will help you reach your goals. This coming from someone that professes to have been put down all through their life...just amazing. I will meet you ni person one day at a runDisney event and I will give you a big bro-hug
Swimming is about the only thing I do for upper body, and
thank you for calling me ripped! No one has ever said that before, it's usually people cally me skinny, which I hate. I am not 'skinny', I am lean or maybe trim...but not skinny. 8 years ago when my wife was pregnant with our son I was over 200lbs (on a 5'8" frame). I lived like that for a while but eventually decided I needed to change and began by making better eating decisions. A little while later my wife decided she wanted to do P90X and asked if I would do it with her. I went through the entire program and loved how it made me feel and in turn how I felt about myself. I started running shortly afterwards and then took up triathlon as well. I ended up losing over 50lbs and I have been able to keep it off. We all have our stories...I still feel like a fat guy every now and then on my bad days. Not sure I'll ever really get over that, but I'm trying my best
Mike, I appreciate it. I sometimes am worried to write to much on here because I am worried I am boring people. I was upset at first because I will miss some races but I thought more about it, as I normally do. I am kind of proud of this injury, as weird as it sounds. Why? Because I got it doing something most people will never attempt to do, run a marathon. I didn't get it twisting my ankle on a kid's toy getting off the couch, I got it bettering myself.
And if I am not ever able to run Boston I'll be disappointed for sure, but I have still run 2 marathons. Nothing compared to some people but a far cry from where I used to be.
I am grateful for so much now as we should all be. Everyone on this thread does something amazing. Whether we are hoping to run our first 5k or be like you and John doing these insane (no offense) triathlons. (didn't mean to leave anyone else out that also does them) At some point we all decided we wanted a better life and we made the decision to do this. I don't see how I can ever go back. And I know I am personally capable of way more. I am curious to see just how much I can accomplish. I also think some of us on here take for granted what we do.
Sometimes at work people will ask me if I am running that night. I'll say, "Yeah, it's just an easy run tonight." They once asked what I meant be an easy run. I responded, "I'll probably do 5 miles tonight." Their eyes opened wide and said, "That's an easy run, what's a hard run?" And yesterday when I was talking to the doctor asking if I can run until the surgery (which is scheduled for 7/26 btw) I said, "It's just a 10K". He chuckled, as he used to be a runner, and said, "You realize that's still SIX miles, right? My point is, what some of us think is easy or no big deal the majority of the world would never dream of. And it's no coincidence that everyone on here has a pretty successful career either. My parents were miserable people, they blamed everyone for their problems. That negativity held them back. There is something to be said about the saying, "You are who you associate yourself with". My life has drastically improved since finding the positivity and support that comes with this site! My friends think I am crazy for what I now find fun.
As for your skinniness. I see definition in your arms and shoulders. The last thing I see is skinny, as in unhealthy skinny. When I read your reports I think to myself, "This guy is a machine" to be able to do what you do and your so fast on top of it. I still see myself as a fat person too But, it just keeps us working hard, right?
@Waiting2goback so sorry that you have to go through this, but with the attitude you are exhibiting, I have no doubt that you will come back better and stronger than ever.
Thank you! I will try my hardest.
Good healing thoughts to you
@Waiting2goback !
Thank you!
Your support of other runners is very inspirational given your current situation.
Good karma points that will hopefully come back to you in the future.
Stay strong!
I know what it's like to doubt yourself. It's a terrible feeling. So if I can pay it forward, because many helped me when I first started, then it is a no-brainer!
Thank you so much for your kind words of support. I really appreciate them! The main reason I want the BFF to go is for accountability. It's way too easy for me to let my fears keep me at home on race day. I've missed a handful of races the past couple of years because I've undertrained and not wanted to face my shortcomings at the starting line. I think as long as I keep up with the training I will get out there whether I'm alone or not.
I hear you loud and clear. Being afraid is awful. I was there. But you know what scares me now that I broke through those walls, is going back to the way things used to be. There is nothing to be afraid of. It's a fun race and there are two possible outcomes. 1) you finish or 2) you don't. But you have NO CHANCE to finish if you don't show up to the start. If you need accountability you PM and I'll give you my cell phone number and you can text me til you start. I have done it for others so I'm happy to do it for you if you want.
QOTD: I wouldn't cancel my trip (if I had one coming up) because of the shootings. No way. I am more aggravated by Disney jacking the prices on everything lately and THAT is more of a reason I am holding off on going back until 2018 Dopey. I just heard the prices for all lunch and dinner buffets is going up to $60 per adult and $40 per child effective 10/2. That is why I am not going back right now. (The constant price increases that is)
The race is a 10k and 5k together and the split comes around the 2.8 mile mark. I was struggling the whole time with the heat. I think I wasn't properly hydrated to begin with and given the cool May and then my trip to Iceland, I don't think I've acclimated to Summer weather yet. I began to feel lightheaded and made a decision when I saw the split to change to the 5k. I probably could have just slowed down more (people were walking the 10k) but I was worried that if things didn't get better with slowing down, I'd be further from the start/finish and could run into problems. I was a little upset at myself at first but I checked my heart rate data from my fitbit and it was really high pretty much the whole time (avg hr 174). That made me realize I made the right decision. My official 5k time was 39:04 and my 5ks are usually in the 36-37 minute range.
