Broken Barriers & Victory in Friendship
The summer was a real killer for me. Humidity kept me from training on par, my mileage was not what I wanted, and forget about the speed. I would run from Sea Isle to the Avalon Wawa and had to stop for a drink. I could only manage running a half mile, then a mix of walking and running. In my mind, I was on a downward slide.
The Grand Prix went well. I was running faster than the previous year but the course was taking a toll on my knee and hips. With the series behind me I went to a every other day schedule and I would take two off after a long run day. I googled hip flexor stretches and knee pain and found relief on YouTube in the form of some stretches and exercises for both. I made a post on FB about my issues and in true RVC fashion the PMs started popping with advice and well wishes. It was great hearing other people’s issues and what they did to overcome them; and it was the advice I received from them that helped the most.
The weather cooled and I was running better and in less pain. I finally got in six miles in under an hour, but after I was convinced that I could easily do seven in an hour, I thirsted for that. I finally got to that milestone and I was beginning to feel more confident.
Some days it was like a job to get myself on the road. Depression and anxiety all worked against me. I knew the cure was on the road, and when I hit it the world will bloom like an azalea in East Vineland at Easter. I ran a 10-mile PR on a 2.5 criterium style course around my neighborhood and I felt rejuvenated. ‘GOOD JOB BUDDY,’ I would read on Strava. Kudos from everyone made me feel good and made me want to see how everyone was doing.
The day of the Crystal Lake Distance Challenge arrived, and I was excited to test myself for two hours. I started out good getting my wind and stride, feeling the sand and gravel and watching everyone pass me. I fell as I entered the blender and scraped my upper thigh. Low foot tipped a root and BAM. I got up the hill, put my head down and reminded myself I had to concentrate more. I tipped my visor down to block out the view of anyone ahead of me and focused on cadence and control. The end of 2 hours arrived, and I ran 14 miles. Yes, I was in shape, Yes, I have a decent base. But the difference was my mind.
The next week I ran the Cow Run Ten Miler as a warmup for Valley Forge Half. My goal: ten miles of total concentration. I went out at a pace I thought I could withstand and then I told myself, “shut the brain off and grind”. Grind I did. My best mental race to date. As people passed me, I didn’t look nor did I look back. Focusing on yourself is sometimes one of the toughest things you can do.
The Valley Forge Half Marathon is special because it was the first trip as a group for RVC and we had a blast last year. The 2020 version was spectacular. New people running their farthest runs ever and some regulars running faster than ever. Coming off my success at the Cow Run, I knew the cadence (remember cadence not speed), tempo, and concentration I needed. When we (as a group) launched ourselves through the starting portal my legs remembered the cadence and with no hair to weigh them down I was flying.
I was ahead of everyone and I knew they would soon pass me, but I knew how I needed to attack this course to be successful. I felt great energy flowing as I settled in and started to grind. Soon Eric passed me, and then Andy and Linds. I was all smiles running behind them. The pace we kept, the weather, the trail, and more importantly experiencing this level of high with others only magnifies the experience.
The gap widened but as we approached the turn around only Eric was ahead of me. Eric gave me the fist pump as he turned first, then Andy looked more excited than me for my pace as we high fived. I felt great but I knew I had to focus; so back to the grind. Head down I started back to the finish. Soon Steve was blowing by me like I was standing still. I laughed because I was awaiting this moment all morning. An exceptional husband, father and runner he is. I always say when I grow up, I want to be like Steve. Next I saw the rest of our pack excitedly cheering as all I could muster was a thumbs up. Their cheers and energy propelled me the next two miles and knowing they were making memories that would last forever propelled me even further.
With four miles left, and after doing the math in my head, I knew I would PR. When I know I am ahead of pace I usually start thinking about ways I can fail, about what will go wrong and how I don’t deserve to be better. Those thoughts sometimes shut the adrenaline down and leave me to focus on something other than running. Not this day. I thought of all the people that gave me advice, all the people that helped me; I thought about how awesome everyone will feel running their first half and how those running with them would feel even better watching them. I saw the marathoner that could barely walk and thought that he would probably be out there for six hours. I thought about how I never achieved my potential in high school and how I let myself down thinking I knew everything. It is possible to cry and run, but I don’t recommend it.
The last few miles of any race are the toughest. Those miles landed me at 1:42:06. Over four minutes faster than last year. On this day I smashed a barrier, and I look forward to testing myself on the road again. Today I achieved my goal.
Thanks go to my RVC family, especially those that went into battle with me. The past years with Run Vineland Crew have been nothing short of extraordinary. Meeting new people and then watching them grow as athletes and forming a support system.
Thank you Andy, Lindsay, Toni, Steve, Erica, Sean, Riane and Eric.
Tim G