OMBTS et al,
Greetings and most happy new year!
Realizing that I have been scarce at best here on the MWR&R thread for quite some time, note that rampant 'rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated.'
Injured yet again for nearly two months has given me great pause...survived some dark and broken days with inspiration from the recent NY Times best seller about Louie Zamperini (1936 USA Olympian at 5000 meters)...the book, "Unbroken" by the author of 'Sea Biscuit' so nakedly describes the trials and tribulations of a man tormented by war...lends incredible perspective on the definition of stamina, pain and suffering...therefore, my foot no longer aches...it is a mere inconvenience at best...a MUST read for the endurance athlete.
Now just over 4000 miles away from cresting the 100K benchmark and with damaged body parts, I've had to come to grips with my probable inability to actually 'compete' going forward...instead, "participating" (i.e. jogging) is likely my best option. The plan is to "do" events in a bucket list capacity rather than to go flat out in preparation and continue to break...have had to come to grips with the reality that I am probably physically beyond repair in this 43rd consecutive year in the sport although I remain so incredibly enthused....1968 seems so very very long ago.
Am continually looking for angles to stay involved and in grasping for straws to stay committed, I've determined that I may be able to dovetail two cool personal benchmarks into one and so, have challenged myself to the following:
Philadelphia Marathon 2012 in 22 months will mark exactly 40 years since my first...ran an inauspicious debut there in 1972...intend to 'run' it as slow as I did that day as a 16 year old AND hope to make the 26th mile of said event, my 100,000th mile.
I know, I know, "what a geek"...alas, it is absolutely fine to be said geek as long as one is fully cognizant of the fact that they are indeed such a geek.
Surely I shall bore y'all with progress reports on occasion but am probably mostly done with Masters Weekly Runs and Races going forward...thanks so much for putting up with my rants and raves these past few years.
Know that I shall robustly cheer each and every one of you on from the sidelines and shall do so into perpetuity.
Never forget that "the older we get, the faster we were".
warmest regards from your pal,
MF