What has being a runner taught you?

Post it. I would like to read your prose. Anybody with class won't make negative remarks about it. \

Our philosophy of running has merit, just as much as the miles in our log book, the medals on our shelves, and the times we ran in races. It is the "feeling" of running that gives it meaning, I think.

At times we have felt alone on our journey, but now, upon reflection, we remember the people who ran at our sides. There is more to running than moving feet fast over ground. Why else would we read letsrun.com? We share experiences with others who have felt the same pains and glories. Letsrun.com gives a means of verifying that someone else out there knows who we are: a runner.

Ok, here goes...

For the past three years, I have routinely laced up my running shoes after school. However, one year ago, a stress fracture in my left leg left me unable to compete in the fall cross-country season and sent my usual routine to a screeching halt. As the women?s team?s top runner and captain, the injury was absolutely devastating. After the onset of pain, I was discouraged to discover a major race was approaching as my condition was rapidly deteriorating. I found myself trapped in a personal dilemma.

The day of the race, my mind vacillated between hastening my recovery by not racing, or running the race, thereby sacrificing weeks of recovery to help my team to a top finish in a crucial race. Personally, I felt I could not disappoint the team by weakening its chances of presenting itself as a strong competitor for the season. As captain of the team, I felt it was my obligation to set an example by ?taking one for the team?. I chose to run the race. After limping across the finish line with pain so intense it felt as if my bone was on the brink of snapping, I managed to finish 15th, and helped the team to a 2nd place finish. After the three-mile course, however, the pain had become so forceful, mere walking brought excruciating pain. At that time, I did not know that I would spend the next 11 weeks on crutches, in physical therapy, and away from running in order to recover.

On the bus ride home, as I cavorted and joked with the rest of the team in the bus, I realized my willingness to sacrifice for the sake of the team opened my eyes to a layer of my personality which I never knew existed. I now understand the importance of being a leader within the team and that I have a deeply ingrained tendency to follow what I feel is right. I was extremely cautious in my decision to run the race, but in retrospect, I am glad I did. Without this experience, I would not have realized how lucky I am for everything in my life ? an excellent education, family, friends, and a genuine feeling of belonging. My stress fracture completely altered my view on life. Life is not merely for impressing others and the pursuit of wealth; rather, it is to make oneself happy while exploring and questioning the world we live in.

If provided the opportunity to go back in time, I would not have changed my decision to compete in that race - my experience was life changing. I not only matured in the process, but realized that I have untapped aspects to my personality still to be discovered and a strong compassion for my peers. I have now realized my passion and calling in life is the study of medicine, and that I have the character and determination required to excel in this field.

8 runner:

Thank you for sharing your prose. I felt pride in knowing you, however brief, as I read about your choice to help others. Emerson said that real success of life is to contribute, to make a difference. Please find his poem on the internet entitled "What is Success."

I will suggest that your compassion does not have to be used in the field of medicine. Honestly, this comes from a radiology tech who works with doctors all the time. Nine out of ten doctors are jerks to everybody except other doctors. I have all the education and intelligence to be a doctor myself, but I stay only in the medical community to pay the bills in the short term. I have been in the field for 10 years and I can assure you that the only caring, worthwhile doctors are pediatricians and a handful of oncologists. If your goal is to be a doctor because you want to have power and wealth, then go for it. (You won't have time for a spouse and children, so keep that in mind). If your goal is to express genuine compassion for others and help them, then consider other occupations that are selfless in nature. Perhaps teaching is a start. There are much better jobs for being loving, compassionate, and helpful than ones found in the medical world. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Again, thank you very much for sharing your prose. I think it is really good. Take care!

Sincerely,

tinman

Hmm, what I've learned through running...

Delayed gratification can be a wonderful thing.

Double layer Wright socks are worth their weight in gold.

How to effectively blow my nose without a tissue and not get a drop on me.

Hard work pays dividends, but working too hard costs you.

I am a statisitical outlier compared to typical Americans.

Temporary discomfort can be a good thing.

That people feel comfortable telling you that you are too skinny, but wont tell you that you are a fat ass (i have been both, thankfully I am skinny now).

Running at night, despite the dangers is exhilerating, especially on a cold clear night in the winter.(cold being relative, I am in Richmond VA).

It is more painful to miss a run due to pain or injury than to run with or through pain/injury, we've all been there and done that.

BTW, a great post.

you will not remember the pain you run through, but you will remember if you drop out because of it. later wondering if you could have tried harder really sucks. time management, pain management, and new uses for vaseline for chafing in the most uncomfortable of places.

That you will never see so many dorks in one place as you will at a road race. Take a look around, you'll laugh your ass off, but you know there are a lot of fit dorks. And I am glad to call myself one.

The age old adage...

"You can accomplish anything, through a shit load of hard work and the right mind set."

It carries over from running into my entire life -- work, school, marriage, etc. Would've never fully understood the depth and breadth of this adage, were I not a runner.

Hoovis

That steam comes off a dump in the woods on a cold morning.

That there is an art to the one-fingered nostril blast.

That most people don't like to drive as far as I run.

That drivers will always ask me for directions.

That raisin bran, grapes, or watermelon after a long run is not a good idea.

That apples before a long run is not a good idea.

That newspaper is better than leaves but anything is better than nothing.

That not all dogs are as friendly as they look.

That some dogs are faster than they look.

That just when you find the perfect shoe, the shoe company stops making it.

That being able to run without injury is more important than being able to hold a particular pace or cover a particular distance.

Amen brother to the injury part of your post. I will be slipping over the abyss that is forty here in 21 days, and staying uninjured has become a goal unto itself.

That Forest Gump must be the most watched movie of all time.....because every piece of shit on God's green earth will yell, "Run Forest, Run!", at a runner at least once.

That rain, snow, heat, cold, aren't weather extremes - just different running conditions.

1) "It don't come easy . .gotta pay your dues if you wanna sing the blues"

2) That I/we have a gift (no matter if fast or slow).

Running taught me not to trust Jeff Galloway.

That:

The world is extremely quiet at the crack of dawn

The finger can get you into a ton of trouble on a back road

with nothing to defend yourself besides a stick and a rock

Most people think 3miles is a long ways to run. We consider it a warmup

No matter how many times you've learned that wearing more clothes will keep you warmer, it's just easier to put on a pair of tights and a longsleeved tshirt

Everyone ran track in High School. They were either "pretty good" or "horrible"

Out of all those people who ran track in HS, only 1 or 2 still run

What it really means to make yourself puke

Even though it hurts so much, there's nothing more exciting than running a workout...except racing.

Non-runners think they know just as much about running as you do.

Non-runners don't know who Roger Bannister is.

Runners could probably teach a class in exercise physiology thanks to people like Jack, Tim Knoles, and others.

XC is for real men

For people with such girlish figures, we sure talk a ton of smack.

Talking smack is all good-natured.

Cross training is more boring than running.

Being injured sucks, regardless of the pretty physical therapist.

Those random sprinklers that happen to be on during the middle of a long run are the next closest thing to heaven, besides that white light you're running towards as your body moves further into fatigue.

It's more upsetting when you let down your coach than when you let down your parents.

No matter how many times you see Prefontaine, you always hold your breath, hoping he can surge over those last 100 meters.

Billy Mills winning the Olympic 10k is more beautiful to watch than porn...well...maybe not lesbian porn.

Whereas most people have heros who could beat up the Incredible Hulk, our heros wouldn't make it through one round with my little cousin...she's 3.

Most people think runners world to be the definitive source for running news, discussion, explanation, etc.

Most people are wrong.

People like Wejo, who live in cars, are role models.

Jason Rexing is god-like.

Mom jokes are a fun way to pass the time over a 10miler.

Wearing short shorts is cool.

Things didn't die in my shoes, I just ran in yesterday's downpour.

Running up a mountain, and back down is play-time; especially when running down consists of jumping over small waterfalls and wading through mountain streams.

There is a reason why my dog runs in circles. He's doing intervals.

It isn't weird to hold the name Lydiard with the likes of Einstein, Socrates, Plate, Aristotle, Newton, etc.

If your wife leaves you because you train too much you're a badass.

Runner chicks are hot, regardless of what Mr. Chest and your non-runner friends say.

Any one who goes by the name of World Class Coach #1 should be shot on the spot.

Calculating marathon splits is a good way of making the time pass over a 17 miler.

Calculating splits is a good way to pass the time in a boring class.

Anyone who yells, "Run Forest Run" deserves the finger.

See #2

Your competitors can really be your closest friends...so long as they don't sit on you for 4900 meters and then kick past you at the line.

Sometimes it's just not a day to be outside.

You're outside anyway putting in 14 for the day.

No matter how much it hurts, being fat is worse.

Puking is a cause for celebration.

No matter how high a hill is, the following one is always higher.

Soccer players are losers.

Anything in a car can be made into a flying projectile.

Random stuff happens in radom places (i.e. an army training session over your favorite tempo road at 6:00am when it's about 10 degrees outside)

People can have sex in the most random places (see weirdest training run encounters thread)

Politics has deep throaght...runners have HADD.

Running is great foreplay.

Running is great foreplay only if you're running with one of those hot runner chicks.

Shaving your legs is cool.

Shaving your legs makes your legs look better.

People seem to have issues with runners shaving their legs.

While it is stupid, attempting to squeeze in 1:30 worth of running before that huge thunderstorm hits in an hour is exciting.

No one knows where they're driving to and think that I know where I'm running to.

Throwers are the coolest people on the track team, while the sprinters and jumpers are odd. (see once a runner)

Those demons are gonna drive me to things impossible.

Everyone wants to be a miler.

Very few are meant to be milers.

That's ok.

That non-runners would never fully understand why I just spent over an hour thinking about this list.

That too is ok.

Running gives you a true sense of being alive.

Nothing is better than running...except maybe lesbian porn.

i learned not to wipe your ass with leaves! socks only...

I learned what it is like to be truely content with one's self. And have been able to feel the best feeling in the world (i.e. winning any type of race).

It also gives me a reason not to drink or do any type of drug. lol

that no matter what any one ever says: "once a runner" is the best book ever written and "without limits" (or any prefontaine movie) is the best movie ever made, and barely anyone has heard of either

Tinman,

Thanks for your advice. Fortunately, I can assure you that I have spent hours considering other careers choices, but I have found that I truly want to become a family practice/sports medicine physician (maybe a part time high school XC coach somewhere in there, too). After shadowing with a sports medicine physician over the summer, it's something I really find fascinating - not just for the money. It does upset me, however, to see my friends choosing medicine for the money and power rather than helping others and learning about human anatomy and physiology.

And at the private practice I shadowed at, the patients were meaner to the doctor! There are some twisted people out there.

To run faster, you have to run faster