Part IX: Was the Juice Worth the Debilitating Squeeze?
From matted hair to wrinkled toes, my entire body was coated in a tacky solution of sweat, pollen, rain water, mud, and various electrolyte drinks.
The relief of finishing opened the floodgates of nerve endings my brain had dammed up for the past 33 miles. Suddenly, the anesthetic adrenaline was gone and I became acutely aware of how raw the bottoms of my feet were. My quads and hamstrings were both pulled so tightly that their muscular tug-of-war allowed only for a shuffling gait. Stairs had to be negotiated gingerly and individually. In the span of nine hours, I was transformed from an athletic 40-something to a geriatric 80-something.
Post-Race In the Parking Lot
The recent thunderstorm scrubbed out the atmosphere, leaving the afternoon air fresh and light. Even the black top parking lot lay new and clean in the shade of towering elms there in Blue Heron.
The three of us sat around the tail gate of Jake’s truck, me, slouched into a folding chair shoveling food into my mouth, while the guys were finally able to tell me their adventures from the day. While I was running, they were sourcing ice, visiting with other support crews, and navigating obscure Kentucky backroads to get to the next aid station.
Five months of training, logging over 600 running miles, ascending over 43,000 vertical feet, burning over 77,000 calories had culminated in this glorious moment. The mission to complete the Yamacraw 50K was a success and we were soaking it all in.
Later that evening, after much-needed showers, we celebrated with dinner at a local steakhouse that was also, somehow, a Mexican restaurant. The guys waited for me and held the front door open as I hobbled my way in from the truck. Having burned over 4,200 calories, I enjoyed a big meal, complete with french fries.
The Aftermath & The Remedy
I was sidelined from running for a whole month after Yamacraw because of my knee issue. It was mentally tough being away that long, but the sacrifice was worth the reward. I earned this injury. The juice was indeed worth the squeeze.
Eager to get back at the miles, I sought professional help. Keaton, a physical therapist at Spirit Therapy diagnosed my problem as IT Band Syndrome. It’s a common issue with distance runners where the Iliotibial ligament is stretched too tightly from the hip to the outside of the knee, resulting in painful friction. With some targeted stretching routines and exercise to bring more symmetry to my leg strength, I was back to logging miles in late June. Funny how an injury can make you appreciate your abilities.
Beyond Ultra Running
More than simply becoming an ultra runner, taking on something that pushed me beyond my perceived limits was good for my soul. It showed me I had gears I never realized before. Unexpectedly, the adventure provided opportunities for some friends to rise like cream and for others to reveal themselves as detractors. More so than in failure, you find the truest friends in moments of success.
What’s Your Next Step?
I don’t know what major challenge or goal is on your horizon. I don’t even know if you have one. I do know that the first step is to identify it. The second step is to make a plan. You were built to live on-mission, not to drift aimlessly through your days. I’d rather fail with a purpose than merely survive each day, wasting the clock to an expiration date.
If you’ve identified your next major accomplishment, I wish you nothing but the best in your preparation and execution. Fair warning, much of it will be a lonely road few will understand, even fewer will be willing to join. You will have setbacks. You will hurt. You will sacrifice, but you will become better.
If you have nothing in your life to simultaneously challenge and scare you, I encourage you to find it, then formulate and carry out a plan to attack it. Succeed or fail, I guarantee you’ll be a better person for having made the attempt.
If you’d like to be a part of a positive, supportive group of people who get it and are up for a challenge; belong and become with me in The Legion of Woodsmen!
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