1. Thank you to my family and friends. This includes everyone who is part of my immediate support team- my girlfriend, parents, sister, close friends- living near and far. You girls and guys mean everything to me and I would not have the will to do what I do without you.
2. Thank you to my somewhat new product sponsor, Skechers Performance Division New England. I have been receiving shoes and clothes and support from Skechers since last fall. Due to injury, I have not actually gotten a chance to race since beginning this partnership. I am humble at the opportunity to represent such a fantastic brand. They took a chance on me with a 2:47 personal best in the marathon. While not a slow time, it is not elite. I stay true to the prove people wrong theme with my training. Skechers knows what's up and that good things are coming. If not now, in the near future because I am not planning on stopping any time soon.
3. Injury. Well this is more of a sarcastic thank you so I may as well let injury know how I really feel. Thank you for the developing hamstring pain that started last April. Thank you for having that pain affect me last fall in Chicago. Thank you for lingering through this marathon build-up and spreading to the other side as well. Thank you for IT Band pain, causing so much pain to bend my legs that I had to miss extended training time. Thank you to my recently developed left foot pain. If you're not gone by Monday I am willing to run 26.2 miles and suffer the stress fracture. Here's a little hint: just go away because again I'm not stopping.
4. Thank you for being self coached for this marathon build-up. I have learned invaluable lessons from making my own training plan and trying to follow it. I mostly learned how to adapt training when your body physically will not let you run. I listened to my body and took the most time off I've taken in years. Even with this being said, it is a miracle that I am even going to be on the start line feeling as good as I do.
5. Thank you to people who shout "Run Forrest run" at me. You are still unoriginal and you still suck.
6. Thank you to barking dogs, most of you are small and look like rats. I think I actually might pity some of you so keep barking if it makes you feel better.
7. Thank you Providence. You might be a small city but you have plenty to offer as far as running goes. You offer a city feel or places you can go and feel like you are on your own. You have plenty of hills and enough flat terrain to map out some solid tempo runs. You have treated me kindly throughout my four years here and I thank you for it.
5. Thank you to people who shout "Run Forrest run" at me. You are still unoriginal and you still suck.
6. Thank you to barking dogs, most of you are small and look like rats. I think I actually might pity some of you so keep barking if it makes you feel better.
7. Thank you Providence. You might be a small city but you have plenty to offer as far as running goes. You offer a city feel or places you can go and feel like you are on your own. You have plenty of hills and enough flat terrain to map out some solid tempo runs. You have treated me kindly throughout my four years here and I thank you for it.
These are just some of the many things I am thankful for from this past marathon build-up. While a couple are more serious than others, I have learned a lot about myself from the many setbacks I have been experiencing. I realized that I am one stubborn runner. It would have been too easy to give in and pick a different race at a different time. This would have actually been the smart thing to do. I may go out and run a 2:56 like I did last year or under my current 2:47 PR. I have no idea really but I am a little more relaxed this year. I do not feel like I have put much pressure on myself to achieve a certain goal. I am definitely thankful to not feel pressure like I did last year. This year, regardless of the time I run, I will enjoy myself more on the course on soak in running's victory lap.
David
No comments:
Post a Comment