Setbacks Can Equal Success When We
Learn and Return Stronger
Most of us have heard the song, “What
Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson. The truth is we endure things everyday that
hurt and often we contemplate quitting...
Each year I race something called the
Goofy Race and a Half Challenge. The race requires
participants to run a half marathon on Saturday followed by a full marathon on
Sunday. Nearly everyone of my friends
think this is insanity...I assure them it is not!
Seven or eight years ago, back before my first marathon I had this thought, "I'd like to be able to wake up any given day and be able to run a marathon...NO MATTER WHAT!" I had no idea when I signed up for this Marathon but this "race" would test my ability to do this...
10 days before the challenge I was
injured. The injury was significant,
very painful but not debilitating.
Truthfully I had no idea whether I’d be able to complete the runs or
not. Due to this pulled or strained hamstring I couldn’t even walk well three
days before the half marathon so I had my doubts. I just continued to (pay the price) Pray, Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate the leg. As the leg physically healed so did my confidence and I began thinking more positive about completing these runs.
Fast forward to the day of the half
marathon. Sarah and I started out on our
half marathon journey together not knowing what the day would have in store…I felt great! We ran the entire race and I experienced
little to no pain.
The next day I lined up at the start line for the full
marathon with high expectations of running a decent race. I’d know the truth soon enough that my leg
wasn’t nearly 100%...50% would have been a better estimate. In fact ¼ mile into the race I felt some
sharp pains and decided that I should slow the pace immediately. Within two miles I was ready to call it a day
in the name of healing. I saw my wife
and had a brief but deep and life perspective changing conversation.
Me, “I don’t know what to do…”
Sarah, “Does it hurt?”
Me, “Well not really bad, but yes. (It hurt pretty bad)”
Sarah, “Just keep running…go ahead
go…just go until you have to stop.”
Me (In my HEAD) “That is the worst idea
I have ever and I mean EVER heard!”
I was expecting her to say, “Don’t
worry, there are other races to run” or “It’s ok just quit…you’ve run nine other
marathons, one race isn’t a big deal.”
So here I am at mile FOUR…with ONLY 22.2 miles left to run. Wanting to quit, and in all
honesty it may have been the best thing to do...BUT
Miles FIVE - TEN: were slow…They were slower then any of the miles I ran
this year before the injury. I had
grabbed my phone from Sarah at mile four so I was stopping for pictures at each
and every character (still zero lines for photo opportunities) and even took many
of the mile markers. I was also texting
with Sarah throughout these miles and she was very encouraging. I know, I know YOU SHOULDN’T TEXT AND RUN! But it really did keep me moving forward.
Once I hit mile TEN I committed to Sarah’s plan and my new race strategy…just run
until you can’t run anymore and then pull off at the medical tent and remove
your race bib.
Miles
10 -18:
I all honesty this was probably the most enjoyable eight miles of any
marathon I have run. I ran slow and took
pictures and my hamstring began burning.
By mile 18 I stopped for some Tylenol…I was afraid of masking the pain
and making the injury worse so up to this point I hadn’t taken anything for
pain management…but lets be honest at mile 18 of a marathon your going to be
feeling some pain so I just decided at this point it was time to dull the pain
as much as possible. This was also the
dead spots between Animal Kingdom and Wide World of Sports. I facetime a few loved one during this spot
of the race and showed them what I experienced when I normally would be
racing…this helped.
Miles
19-26.2: I
think I walked more then I ever have during a race in these miles. My pace didn’t really decrease…I’d run and
the hamstring would tell me to slow down, so I’d walk for a minute or two and
then begin jogging again…I did this for the rest of the race. I came across another runner that was having
the same experience I was and I was able to run with him for about 3 miles. The conversation was great and we both
stopped for pictures. Reflecting on this
part of the race reminds me of the pain I was feeling…it hurt! It wasn’t pleasant at all…I think I had
forgotten how much it hurt but for some reason I just remember that the
conversation with this guy helped masked the pain, but when I would start to
run it was like fire going through my left hamstring. Mile 19 was where I grabbed a handful of
biofreeze (Think Icy Hot) and rubbed it all over the back of my leg. The small bit that ended up somehow on my
tongue (yes, really) was actually kind of humorous and certainly took my mind off the pain in my leg...
The finish was awesome.
I don’t think any of my other nine marathons can compare. I knew that I battled through this one. I stopped at the finish line for a picture
with Minnie Mouse.
Disney World Marathon 2016
Finish Time: 4:34
Average pace per mile: 10:27
Race Verse: May
you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father,
who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in
light.
