Minneapolis Duathlon

Trust your training.

   I have heard this a lot. "Trust your training". Being a disciplined athlete when it comes to training throughout the summer and winter I have never really thought too much of what this really means, until now.

   With just over a week left until the start of the 2014 Minneapolis Duathlon, a race I have been excited to do for over a year and since the start of my duathlon racing endeavors, I caught a pretty nasty cold. For the entire weekend before the race I had no ambition to train. I had been training all summer and decided the best thing to do was get some rest and take it easy until race day. Sunday night I came down with a nasty cough and what, to me looked like some swollen lymph nodes on the right side of my neck. I called the hospital for an appointment on Monday morning to get the swelling in my neck looked at. Within a half hour after calling I found myself sitting in the waiting room. The nurse called me in and did the standard weight, height, blood pressure, etc.. All of my vitals looked good except I had a slight fever of 100.5 degrees.

   I had felt a little head cold coming on when I woke up that morning, but nothing that seemed too bad or unbearable, but then again I'm a guy and tough it would get better as the days went on. After the nurse left I waited for the doctor to come in. A few short minutes she walked in and asked me some questions and was a little concerned about the lump in my neck. She poked around the lump in my neck and decided to double check with another doctor as to which antibiotic to prescribe me. A few minutes she came back in with the other doctor and he took a quick look at my neck and wanted to get a CT scan to see what exactly was in my neck, as it was too large to be my lymph nodes.

   By this time I was a little worried. I had never been to the hospital a lot, especially for potentially serious issues. Before the CT scan I was given an antibiotic shot in my hip which I think helped me feel a lot better towards the afternoon. I checked in and almost immediately was directed to the room for the scan. After I was done they told me they would call once they had looked at the images and let me know what to do from there. I returned to work and within a few hours I received a call from the doctor telling me I had a mass of some kind in my neck on my corroded artery and they were going to set me up to meet with a specialist on the issue and possibly surgery. I called them back immediately and they were in the process of getting a hold of the specialist.

   A few nerve wrenching hours later the specialist called me with some good news. He said as long as I did not have any pain, which I didn't, he wanted to meet on in a few days and prescribed me some antibiotics. I held off from training until I met with him on Wednesday and planned on basing my decision to race on Sunday on the meeting in a few days. Wednesday came and I still had somewhat of a cough, but I could tell it was slowly making progress to getting better. After meeting with the specialist he concluded I had a Branchial Cleft Cyst in my neck which is a lump that develops in the neck or just below the collarbone. It is a type of birth defect and would probably need to be removed surgically in the future once the swelling recedes. I was relieved to finally know what was going on and even though it was pushing on my corroded artery it would still be okay to race Sunday as long as I felt good.

Race Day
The real test

   I finally felt like a whole new person since the previous weekend, but was still a little concerned since I hadn't done any biking or running for a week an would really find out if trusting in my training would work. My girlfriend had been sick the night before at her parents and was planning on running the 5k on Sunday, but did not feel up to it in the morning and stayed home. Her parents and I packed up our bikes and headed off. As we were driving we could see some lightning off in the distance and thought, since it was quite warm already, it was just heat lighting. We arrived a few blocks from the starting area, parked the car and got our bikes ready. Just as we were pulling out of the parking ramp it started down pouring rain.

   After a few minutes it had stopped raining and we were on our way to the start. My girlfriends dad and I walked to the bike transition area. I was excited to still see a lot of good spots to pick from to put our bikes. After meeting back up with his wife we walked around the transition and start area and made our way towards the 5k and duathlon finish area which was just around the corner. We took a short 10 or 15 minute jog and headed back towards the start corral to stretch out a bit.

   We worked our way to the start and talked about where we were all going to meet after the race. The first wave started right on time and minute by minute each section was released onto the course. Before I knew it we were the next group to go. Standing in the front of the corral with a clear running path ahead of me I shot off the start feeling good and quickly found a good pace. Since this was my second duathlon I had a pretty good idea of what to expect, but hoping the heat later in the day would not get too unbearable. Springing though the first 5k course with a time of 22:41 I felt good going into the bike section.

The Bike
I can't feel my leg!

   A shortened 14.5 mile bike course due to some road construction on the normal 16 mile course was a bit rough. Only three miles into the bike ride riders were challenged with a huge hill to climb. After reaching the top I figured I had at least went about 5 miles by now. Nope, only 3. As I rode on I tried not to look at the miles as how much I had left or how much I had completed and to just take everything as it came in the moment. Towards the half way point the residential roads were a lot rougher than the rest of the course. Dodging pot holes and bumpy concrete I made it to the turn around to head back to the transition area.

   The other side of the road was no better, but seemed to fly by as much of it was down hill. With about a mile or two left to go on the bike I came to the last big down hill section, which proved to be a major problem and crash site for a few other racers. At the base of the hill a rider was being helped by race officials and paramedics as riders were adverted around him though a narrow riding lane. A lot of the section from then on was a no passing zone and other riders in front of me were alerting oncoming bikers of the accident at the bottom of the hill.

   Sweat was pouring off me toward the end of the bike and as I crept closer to the transition area to start the third and final leg of the race I could definitely feel the change in temperature rising. Coming up the last hill and around the corner to the last stretch on the bike the sun had finally made it's way out. From previous experience after getting off the bike and running again is a whole new ball game. Sluggish legs, exhaustion and other factors start to catch up and could result in a disastrous finish.

The Last Leg
Just keep running

   Coasting toward the dismount area after about a 47 minute ride I was hoping my legs were not in too bad of shape to finish strong. I got off my bike and to my surprise I felt pretty good, except for my left foot which was completely asleep. As I made my way to racking my bike I shook my leg to get some blood to flow into it and get rid of the tingling feeling. I no more than mounted my bike and took a quick drink of water before the circulation was back in my leg. The first half mile after the bike is where I like to gauge myself for the last run. After 17 or more miles and about an hour or more of pushing your body can take it's toll.

   Making my way out of the transition area once my legs were somewhat back to normal I did not feel like I was running through quick sand and decided to take the first couple miles easy. After about a mile I was slowly catching up and passing some of the other racers who had passed me on the bike, which helped give me a little boost and pick up the pace a little more since I was feeling surprisingly good at this point. I eventually came to the turn around which I knew there was only about a mile and a half left to go. I quickly drank some water and wiped the sweat off my face with towels the volunteers were handing out.

   From the beginning of the last leg my goal was to not stop running. I knew if I could keep that thought in the back of my head I would be able to finish strong. As I came up on the 3 mile mark I knew the finish was just around the corner. I could hear everyone cheering the runners on as they neared the finish. A slight smile and indescribable feeling of accomplishment came over me as I neared the finish. I knew then what trusting in your training meant, but more importantly I knew what trusting in yourself could do.

The ER 
Good news and a few hours later

   After finishing and walking around drinking as much water as I could and scarfing down some cookies and chips. I had been looking for my girlfriends dad who should have finished shortly after me, but that was not the case. I heard my name being called over the speakers to go to the medical tent. I made my way over and received the news he had crashed and was brought to the ER at a nearby hospital. My girlfriends mom was at the tent we we went to get my bike and made the short drive to the hospital. He was in good spirits when we arrived and with a few scratches to the face, a scraped up right leg, a deep, all the way to the bone hole in the other leg's shin and what we later found a HUGE bump on his hip/ butt. My girlfriends mother and I waited patiently for about 5 hours as the doctor fixed him up and make sure everything would be okay.

   A few hours after waiting in the hospital the police officer who had his bike called and told us we could pick it up. Surprisingly, hardly any damage was done from the crash. The handlebars were bent to the side a little, but nothing serious was broken or bent on the bike as far as I could see. We went back to the hospital and a while later he was cleared to leave. A few stitches and scratches are better than broken bones any day in my book. 

 
After thoughts and other fun stuff
 
  With this race being my second duathlon I have learned a lot from training, racing and the overall experience. My training for this race was not necessarily just for a duathlon like I previously did for my first. Throughout the summer I had focused a little more on running and mixed in biking on my days off or when I felt like I wanted to just ride. I found a lot of times when training on a schedule I would become a little stressed or focused on each workout that was scheduled. If I had a busy week or missed a day in previous training I would feel somewhat uneasy and stressed. This year, and from keeping a fairly consistent training schedule I have had better and what seems like stress-free training, which has kept the fun in what I like to do. I do not recommend newcomers to try this style of training as it was good to have a schedule and guide as to what it takes to build up my endurance and body for races like this. I have found doing what I feel like doing on a specific training day has worked for me and a lot more enjoyable.

   Now, a few weeks after the race my health problems that I was dealing with before the race, I have since had the cyst removed from my neck. Surgery went well and healing fine. With a week of recovery, no running and minimal exercise I feel this is a good time to reintroduce myself into enjoying running and exercising again after a busy and fun summer. It has been nice to just take it easy and enjoy the fall weather at a slower pace. Being trapped inside on a treadmill or shelling out money on a gym membership is not really my thing and I have some new and fun ways to keep myself outside and busy during the upcoming winter months, which I am excited for.

Tough Mudder 2014

As A Tough Mudder I Pledge That:
I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.
I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time.
I do not whine, kids whine.
I help my fellow mudders complete the course.
I overcome all fears.

   A cool, slight breezy morning. My start time was scheduled for 8:20am. I had no idea what to expect for the upcoming day, but I knew, no matter what happened I was going to make the most out of it. Around 6:30am my girlfriend and I arrived and waited for the check-in gates to open. We wondered around the outside fence, looking at some of the giant slides, walls and other obstacles I would be facing later in the day. With 15 minutes until the first wave was scheduled to start and the already large amount of mudders waiting to check-in outside the gates, I had a feeling there may be a slight delay to the exact start times.

  After getting my bib number and body markings I still had a while until I was scheduled to start. To kill some time my girlfriend and I checked out the souvenir tent and wondered around. We worked our way to the start or as the signs said, "The warm-up area". It was getting close to 8 and the 20 minute waiting area was filling up fast. I got in line after giving an unmuddy hug to my girlfriend and lined up. After a few minutes we were headed to the warm-up area and waited for the wave before us to start.

  The anticipation in the group was building as the first group took off and the only thing separating us from the start line was a giant wall to climb over. This is Tough Mudder remember. As the first handful of participants jousted themselves over the wall some were making their way to the side they felt more comfortable climbing over. On the left side was a somewhat less difficult wall to climb over-- Shorter with steps. On the right was a little more challenging. No wood steps, and the only way to get over was to jump and pull yourself up and over. I chose the right side and swiftly jumped over the wall.

   We stood in the start coral as mudder after mudder made their way over the wall. After a run though of some course directions and some motivational words from no other than Sean "Hoo-rah" Corvelle we were off.

Kiss of Mud
Eat dirt as you crawl commando-style under barbed wire set just high enough for you to squirm under. This obstacle is true to its name – you have to belly-crawl through mud in order to avoid getting snagged by the barbed wire above

Packed tight down the narrow path to the first obstacle everyone started spreading out and picking a spot to crawl under the barbed wire. The sandy and mud covered ground dug into my elbows as I caught my shirt on the low barbed wire. I luckily managed to escape without ripping my shirt and ran the short distance to the next obstacle.

Pole Dancer
This obstacle makes the Olympic parallel bars look about as difficult as a tea party with your grandma. Keep your arms straight and don’t put your legs on the bars. Mudders don’t cheat.

As I came up to this obstacle a lot of people were struggling, especially toward the top where the metal bars bent going down. I quickly brushed the remaining sand off my hands the best I could and with locked elbows I worked my way up the bars. I found it easier to swing my body with my hands and straight arms moving up and back down the bars to the end.

Mud Mile
Slosh through a series of waist-deep mud pits and try not to lose your shoes in the process. Balance and coordination are key if you want to make it through this mud-run obstacle without face-planting

Hill, puddle, hill, puddle, hill, puddle. If all the sand that was stuck to my hands and body was not washed away by now I'm sure it was replaced by mud from this obstacle. Spectators were able to see this obstacle first hand as everyone clawed their way up the slippery mud mountains and slid down into a somewhat of a deep mud puddle. Luckily I did not lose a shoe, but they were quickly filled with mud and water that became my toes' new best friend the rest of the day.

Arctic Enema
This obstacle arguably takes the most mental grit of them all. Some athletes use ice baths for recovery, but your muscles aren’t going to be relaxed after a swim in this freezing skip. Climb right into the floating iceberg abyss—don’t overthink it. When you’re submerged, find the mental and physical strength to swim through the ice, under a wooden plank and pull yourself out on the other end. You’ll come out feeling like shrink-wrapped leftovers straight out of the freezer. Emphasis on the shrink.

FREEZING COLD is the first thought that ran though my head as I jumped into the ice fed frigid water. This obstacle is definitely well known in the Tough Mudder community and was one I was a little worried about to see how my body would react to the extreme and fast change in temperature. It sure did not help as the volunteer dumped bag after bag of ice into the water and said the one I was at is the coldest. Holding my breath I jumped towards the board in the middle that forced me to go all the way under the water and try to catch my breath on the other side. I quickly popped up and struggled to catch my breath as I scampered to get out of the freezing cold water and on my way to the next obsticle.
 

Glory Blades
Try getting up 2.5 meter walls that are slanted towards you. It's quite a close shave, if you know what we mean (don't worry; you’ll figure it out). Obstacle Stat: 50% of Mudders require teamwork to get over Glory Blades.

I was a little unsure as to how I was going to get over the slanted walls. After hoisting some people over I decided if I could get one leg over and pull the rest of my body over I'd be able to do it, which worked out perfectly. A few other participants saw my strategy and began doing the same. I did have a slight bruise on the inside of my right bicep after climbing over one of the walls, but it wasn't anything too serious to worry about.

Quagmire
6-8 foot hills of mud with chest deep water and mud between each hill. Claw your way to the top of the first hill and  once you reach the top you'll see the fun has just begun.


Coming up on this huge hill of mud and water I could see it was going to be a little difficult getting up the slippery backside. After sliding into a deeper than expected mud bath between the mud mountains it took a few moments to get a grip on the muddy hill everyone had to climb up to get out. I managed to find some foot holes and slowly pull myself up and out.

Warrior Carry
Exactly what it sounds like. Carry your partner (or be carried) then switch half way to the end.

Luckily I was able to pair up with someone that was not twice my size for this obstacle. The what seemed light 150 pounder I had to carry was not too difficult. I was even able to slightly jog to the end after being carried for the first half of the distance.

Berlin Walls
Teamwork is key for this obstacle. Climb a set of 3 meter wooden walls that our Course Designers have strategically placed for when you’re at your weakest points during the event. Some Mudders℠ will be strong enough to make it over Berlin Walls alone, but most will need a boost from a fellow Mudder, whether it’s a teammate or someone else. There’s never been a better time to make friends with a stranger. Obstacle Stat: 80% of participants require teamwork to get over Berlin Walls.

This was the only obstacle I had trouble with. Luckily I had some help from a fellow mudder who helped me reach the top as I pulled myself up and over.

Devil's Beard
Crawl under a rope net. Except that the terrain is rough and that net loves to grab at things. Like your hair. And your bib. Which is held on by safetypins. Which open. And stab you in the back.

After almost losing my bib while crawling under the rope up hill I managed to make it through this without any rope burns and with my bib still intact!

Cage Crawl
This water-based obstacle will test your mental and physical strength as you swim under 20 meters of cage with only inches of breathing room above your head. Floating on your back may seem like a calm break, but the sense of being trapped will quickly begin to play with your mind.

The first half of pulling myself through the murky water under the cage was pretty easy, until I got closer to the end. The water slowly began to rise as my face crept closer and closer to the cage. I tried to look back, but that only caused me to get a face full of water so I just kept pushing on and finally reached the end.

Walk The Plank
Test your fear of heights with this 12 foot high jump into a deep muddy water pit. Don’t think too much before you leap – you’ll hold up others behind you, and the volunteers at the top of the platform don’t like to babysit Mudders. And don’t forget about the 40-foot swim on the other end.

Naturally I'm not scared of heights so this was not too tough for me. Climbing to the top I could hear volunteers coaxing other participants to jump with a short pep talk. When it was my turn to jump I waited for the previous jumpers to clear the water as I heard someone count down, "3...2...GO!". As I was in mid air the volunteer yelled, "Wait for the count!". Well, too late to go back now. I spun around in mid-air, looking back and yelling, "what?!" right before I hit the water. A short swim to the rope at the end and I was off to the next obstacle.

Prairie Dog 
Slide down a plastic tube into shallow mud and water

Not much to this one. Just slide down a black tube and into a sandy and muddy hole.

Balls To The Wall
Obviously we’re talking about your intense grit here. Balls to the Wall is no elementary school gym class rope climb – but it has the potential to be just as embarrassing. This monster of an obstacle will have you scaling a wall three and a half meters in the air using only a muddy rope and what’s left of your strength. Once you reach the top, work up the courage to descend the rope on the other side.


"Captain!" a participant yelled at me as he sat atop the wall. After a few seconds of looking confused I remembered I had on my awesome new Captain America Under Armour compression shirt on. Giving him a thumbs up I quickly climbed up the rope and over to the other side.

Hold Your Wood
Get your mind out of the gutter. We’re talking about actual logs here. Make like a lumberjack and carry a heavy wood log through a section of the Tough Mudder course. The length of the carry will be determined by the difficulty of the course terrain and the weight of the logs.


From doing previous obstacle course races I was familiar with this obstacle. I tried not to grab a small piece of wood as I was feeling pretty good at this point and was looking for a challenge. I picked up a medium size log and continued to lightly jog around the log carrying course. I quickly reached the end and threw my log onto the pile for the other mudders on the other side starting.

Hangin' Tough
This obstacle holds the title for the lowest completion percentage. You’ll need a strong grip and precise coordination to conquer it. Swing Tarzan-style across a series of hanging rings spaced 1.2 to 1.8 meters apart and suspended over a pool of muddy water. For those of you who talk a big game, this obstacle will show you just how tough you really are. Obstacle Stat: Only 30% of Mudders℠successfully complete Hangin’ Tough.


Being short is good for one thing; this obstacle. I stepped way back on the starting platform, swung out and grabbed the second ring, swung back again with my legs raised above the water and repeated until I reached the end. When I reached the end I looked back I saw a lot of people struggle with this obstacle as they would drop their legs into the water on their first swing to grab the ring, slowing their momentum before they could reach the next ring.

Funky Monkey
Sure, monkey bars were easy when you were 5 years old, but you’ll need an iron grip for Funky Monkey. These bars have been greased with our finest mud, and if you slip, you’ll fall into a pit of muddy water below. The bars are on a steep incline upward for the first half of the obstacle and they descend downward for the second part. Think you have what it takes to master this animal of an obstacle? Then try it backwards. Obstacle Stat: Only 40% of Mudders successfully complete Funky Monkey.



Coming to this obstacle early in the day before the bars were too slippery to grab. The first five or so bars were a little slick and required me to hang on a little tighter as I swung to each one. The first half of the obstacle, going up, was a little difficult, but I found using my body and some momentum helped. At the half way point, coming down, I was swinging to every other bar and moving fast. Swinging to the end, another tough obstacle was complete.

Everest
Conquering Everest takes major grit and teamwork. Sprint up this quarter-pipe obstacle and enlist the help of other Mudders℠ to pull you over the beastly summit. Everest is coated in mud and grease, a combo that might send you right back from where you came. Suck it up and keep climbing. The view from the top is worth it.


The one obstacle I was a little worried about whether I would complete was Everest. Before the race started I could see the giant half pipe wall and knew it would be waiting for me at the end. Up until this point I had completed every obstacle and my confidence was pretty high. I stood for a few seconds at the gates, looked at Everest and told myself, "you got this," and took off as fast as I could. Once I reached the base of the curve I took a few more steps, planted my foot and launched myself toward the top. I was well above the top and pulled myself up and felt a huge rush of excitement and accomplishment come over myself. At that moment, standing on the top, looking down at what I thought was going to be one of hardest obstacles I would face, I had proven again to myself I can do anything I put my mind to.

Electroshock Therapy
Run through a field of live wires that sure as hell don’t tickle. Watch out for hay bales and deep sinkholes, or you will face-plant into some electrifying mud. Some Mudders℠ try to stealthily wind their way through the wires, while others barrel forward to get through as quickly as possible. Just keep your eye on the prize: this is the last obstacle you face before you cross the finish line.

With the finish line in sight I had one more obstacle to complete. One, if not the most infamous obstacle of Tough Mudder, separated me from my first of many Tough Mudder orange headbands. I made up my mind and decided to get though the dangling yellow wires as fast as I could. I barreled through and did not feel any shock until just past half way. The first shock stopped me in my tracks, jolting my body as I was a little shocked at what was happening. I took another step, ZAP, my whole body stiff as I was just about to the end I leaped over a hay bail and in mid air felt the strongest shock through my entire right side as I just barley managed to keep my balance landing on my right foot. I had finally finished.

 
   I must say as a first time Tough Mudder, it was a blast. The only change I would make is to join a team next year, even though I met some people along the way it would be fun in a group. Nonetheless, Tough Mudder taught me a lot about myself and my abilities to overcome obstacles I doubted myself on before I even tried them. It was a little hard to take in everything and process it with all the obstacles and being my first Tough Mudder experience. If it scares the crap out of you and excites you at the same time, you should probably do it!

Circle Of Life Half Marathon

4:30am
(Rocky Theme)
Alarm off.

   There's no need to hit the snooze on my phone, especially on race day. As I lay in bed, rubbing my eyes sweat starts to bubble up on my skin. It's hot, even at this time of the morning. Having a lot of rain the past week and it's almost July, I know I can plan on somewhat of a humid day. I slowly start to process the day ahead of me as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. I roll over and stare at he moonlight shining faintly though a crack in the bedroom window. Slowly spacing out and slipping back into dream land I decide to get up and start to make my way to my gear I set out the night before. By 5am, as scheduled, everything's ready to go and my girlfriend and I are out the door. The one hour or so ride seems to fly by as I am ecstatic as normal before the race. My girlfriend on the other hand, not so much. Sipping on her coffee and questioning how in the world I am so awake at this time of day is nothing new to me.

   Being my second half marathon in almost a month I have a better idea of what lies ahead. I have a little extra motivation I decided to bring along this time though. In the early morning, while getting ready, I was thinking about how the first half marathon I did seemed to fly by along with a roller coaster of emotions throughout. I decided this time I wanted to take everything in and just enjoy the journey. I grab some tape and a marker and write "Enjoy the Journey" on it to help remind myself when I get wildly out of control sprinting up a hill or if one by one every runner in the race seems to be passing me to just relax and enjoy the journey and not get caught up in competition. I ask my girlfriend to write something on there too since she cannot be at every mind road block I encounter as well to help. And trust me, the simple "I (heart) you" got me through some tough times, even though she might not believe me.

   We pull up to the park where the race start line is and of course, I'm one of the first ones there. I check in and get my bib number and head back to the car to get everything situated and ready. About 15 minutes before the race, or so I thought, the announcer tells everyone the half will  start at 7:15 not 7 as there was a mix up in some time reports in the paper. Oh great! I think. More time to warm up and spend standing in the start line. I do a quick jog to get loosened up some more and find my way to the front of the start. The volunteer at the start notices we still have about 10 minutes until things get started so he rattles off some race trivia, which I had no idea to any of the answers, but it was better than standing in awkward silence the whole time. I space out and focus on the next 13.1 miles and before I know it we're seconds from taking off. With a loud ready, set GO (horn blow) we're off.

   I start out at a more comfortable pace than I did for my first half, but still pretty fast for me (about 6:45min/mile). I keep the two lead runners within sight for the first 3 miles as they start to pick up their pace around a few corners. Around the 4th mile I notice my shirt is absolutely drenched in sweat. Hooray humidity! I take in some water that I brought along and slightly slow down my pace as I am still in 3rd. The course goes along a golf course and up a few hills before the pavement turns to gravel. I look back and see a few runners creeping up behind me and as their footsteps become closer and louder I try to keep up with them as long as I can, but eventually let them pass as I still have quite a ways to go.

   I feel pretty good so far as I knock out a few miles at a relatively quick pace with no one in sight. Around mile 6 or so I hear, what sounds like an olympic sprinter running up behind me. He passes and I think, there's absolutely no way I'm going to keep up with that crazy (who ended up coming in first) and continue to run my own race as planned. A few rolling hills and still on gravel I come upon a gut wrenching smell from a farm right next to the road. Now, don't get me wrong, I love farms, but being from the city and running mostly on city roads I'm not sure if I should hold my breath (which would NOT be a good idea while running) or run faster. After a few seconds I either get used to the smell or it passes as I come close to the half way mark.

   At this point in the race I'm really starting to struggle as my mind starts to wonder off and I ask myself why the heck am I even doing this, when will I be done, only 7 more miles to go, or 8... or 7, ugh I need to walk. No just keep running. You've already ran this far just keep going only a few more miles to go. I look down at the writing on the tape one my wrist, "Enjoy the Journey" and what my girlfriend wrote on the bottom side,"I (heart) you". I quickly forget about all the daunting questions that could have slowed me down and gradually pick up my pace. As I come up to mile 9 I see a sign that says, "Mile 9 and you're still lookin' fine". I think, psh of course I am. Looking down at my shirt, covered in so much sweat it looks like I took a detour and jumped in a lake to cool off. Yea, I'm looking wonderful ha.

   A few more hills and past a family standing on their porch cheering on runners with their daughter, I smile and think that's just the extra push I needed. Glancing back a few times before I come up to the final hill and water stop I can see the runners behind me are still spread apart pretty well and the runners ahead of me are long gone, so I decide to keep my pace going as much as I can to the end.

   The last hill. Oh-my-god. As I ran up the hill that seemed like Mount Everest my legs felt like they were slowly sinking in quick sand. Before I reached the last water station I started unscrewing my water bottle to fill up for the last mile in case I hard core crashed or cramped before the end. I finally made it to the top and grabbed a few cups of water and met up with the runner that was behind me most of the race. "How about that hill?" he says. "Yea. That damn hill," I say as I feel my legs slowly starting to turn to Jello from stopping. I quickly fill up my water bottles and my new running partner Eric and I head off with only a mile to go and chat a bit. By this point both of us are really feeling the humidity and I think it would be a good to have someone to keep me company to the end.

   With about a half mile to go we step up our pace together and see what's left in the tank for one last push to the end. Off in the distance, as we come down the final hill, I can see the top of the finish line. Best. Sight. Ever. Just around the corner and we're done! We quickly jaunt down the hill and around the corner to the finish. As we near the finish I see my beautiful girlfriend standing a few yards away from the finish line and I take off, not realizing, or trying to outrun my new friend, but to just finish. I sprint across the finish line and walk aimlessly around the finish coral and pick up my medal. Eric comes across shortly after me, bent over and out of breath he says, "Good run," as we bump fists and head over to get some water and food.

   Once I meet up with my girlfriend, cool off, stuff my face with bananas and cookies I change clothes as we listen to awards for first place finishers in their age group for the 5k and 10k races that were also going on. After a while the results for the half were up and I could hardly believe my eyes. 6th place and 3rd in my age group!

  After a week of reflecting on this race and my training in general I feel I have realized something that is hard for some to comprehend and take somewhat of a different approach to my "training", or as I now like call it living. What sparked this thought and new found philosophy came from a quote in the current book I am reading called, "Born to Run".

“There are two goddesses in your heart,” he told them. “The Goddess of Wisdom and the Goddess of Wealth. Everyone thinks they need to get wealth first, and wisdom will come. So they concern themselves with chasing money. But they have it backwards. You have to give your heart to the Goddess of Wisdom, give her all your love and attention, and the Goddess of Wealth will become jealous, and follow you.” Ask nothing from your running, in other words, and you’ll get more than you ever imagined.”

   People have been conditioned to associate everything they do with materialistic items, time limits, false doubts that creep into their heads about ideas they have never even tried; ultimately losing sight of what they are really after resulting in a crash course to a life limiting themselves to less than their full potential. Not too often do we actually sit back and assess the moment we're in and come to the conclusion we are doing it for pure enjoyment. By doing what you love, no mater what it is, enjoy every minute of it as if there is no where else you would rather be. No matter what struggles may surface remember to enjoy the journey and you will get more than you ever imagined.

Standing at the finish before the race

Almost to the end with Eric

Bib and finisher medal